NSW - the Discovery Series. It’s a way to bring back some of the elements of the Big Ride but without the overheads and financial exposure that brought those to a regrettable end. Discovery rides are being formulated internally by Tony Henderson to help promote cycling experience outside of Sydney and to highlight the many beautiful areas we have in this state to explore on a bicycle. We hope it will also promote the further development of regional cycling facilities and cycling tourism opportunities in these areas. The first Discovery ride is scheduled for Orange in March 2012.
Advocacy
In short, we rolled up our sleeves and got stuck- in! With the invaluable assistance of our advisers Warren Solomon, Chloe Mason and Tony Arnold we made a number of submissions on key projects and to the NSW Parliament’s StaySafe inquiry; we began issuing press releases on topical items; we appeared alongside members and BUGs at project reviews; we attended council meetings; we made ourselves known to the relevant ministers. Our COO, Liz Hole, and I travelled across the state and ensured we supported cycling advocates across the state including in Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Parkes, Woy Woy, Newcastle, Woolongong, Eurobodalla and Grafton.
We put rail trails on the transport agenda; we prodded the government to allow folded bicycles for free on city lines and added more flexibility on inter-city trains; we helped provide focus with HarbourLink Fast-Track; we supported the City of Sydney’s commitments to cycleways; we assisted our friends in Coffs Harbour secure a better cycle facility on the old Pacific Highway. We participated in rallies for safer cycling, for the Sydney Greenway. We spoke at conferences, met with politicians from all sides. We spoke up for the needs of cyclists at RTA road safety and design meetings; insisted on better facilities at bus and train interchanges. We came up with designs for bicycle rest stops and a Member, Cynthia Miall, helped us with a new concept for a ramp on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We participated in the allocation of funds for the Coastline Cycleway program.
We disarmed our harshest critics by highlighting
our proud history of cycling – who knew that 3,000 ANZACs were sent to the Western Front in World War I on bicycles? And we held up the indisputable facts of under-investment and our last place ranking in cycling participation as reasons for us to do better and expect better from our government.
Soon enough we were being sought for quotes on nearly every cycling issue, invited to government meetings, asked to provide submissions. Blogs got friendlier, our critics more measured, Members wrote supportive notes on their renewal forms: “at last” they said. Other organisations are now coming to us for advice on how they too can become as engaged. Collaboration opportunities with other cycling organisations are now opening.
We are still far from where we ought to be, but we are now undeniably back on the scene again delivering cycling advocacy on behalf of our Members and the community.
Membership
2010/2011 was disappointing in terms of membership growth - but certainly not surprising. Until we could provide people a reason to join we had to rely on those who stuck with us and were willing to see us get our house in order over this year.
Last year we examined our membership data and surveyed our Members to see why they joined, what they were happy with and what was disappointing them. With 80% of our Members coming through personal referrals, we simply had to better understand what would please our Members most.
From our database and 1300 responses we learned that our Members are currently: • Mostly from greater Sydney - 77%
• 61% men – though 45% of Spring Cycle registrants are female; in contrast only 16% of bicycle commuters are women
• 60% are over 41 years old; 40% over 51; only 5% are 18-30
• 62% register as single adult • 70-80% will renew their membership
Our online Member survey found that our Members find insurance the most important membership
- - 7 - - annual report 2010-11
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