Cycling advocacy collaborations
The newly formed National Bicycle Organisations Networking meeting, led by WeRide, Australia’s national independent cycling advocacy organisation, met in early November. Pedal Power engaged with interstate counterparts to coordinate a unified approach for the upcoming federal election, with discussions led by WeRide’s Executive Officer, Stephen Hodge. The agenda covered the essentials of WeRide’s election campaign, emphasising that a consolidated national strategy would strengthen the cycling sector's voice across Australia. WeRide’s efforts focus on leveraging cycling’s significant health, economic, and environmental benefits, as outlined in their recent comprehensive economic report.
Key points included understanding the federal election timeline, with the latest possible date being May 17, and sharing learnings from recent elections in NSW, the ACT, and Queensland. The group highlighted that advocating for policies together on a national level would allow for greater impact, especially in encouraging infrastructure investments that could enhance cycling safety and accessibility nationwide. They also discussed the significant economic contributions of cycling in Australia, with WeRide’s data revealing an $18.6 billion impact and the creation of over 60,000 jobs.
Pedal Power is an enthusiastic participant in these regular meetings with our national counterparts, which offer valuable opportunities to share insights on strategies for attracting members, improving outcomes from insurance, and collaborating on policies and approaches to e-scooters and e-bikes.
