We Ride Australia

2024 Awards Nominations

Above: the national Cycling Luminaries Awards are a significant occasion and a chance to recognise inspirational leaders and champions for people who ride bikes from across the country. Photo Andrew Taylor.

The following fantastic nominations have been received for the 2024 Cycling Luminaries Awards. The winners will be announced at a special event hosted by Deakin University in Melbourne on 27th November.

Bike Culture Award (Programs) nominations

Equitable Commute Project

This collaboration between Good Cycles and RideKola is making a meaningful impact on lives by significantly improving mobility through a safe and active community of eBike users. The Equitable Commute Pilot (ECP) was started by placing eBike Hubs into three Building Communities developments built as part of the Big Housing Build, the largest social and affordable housing building program in Victoria’s history, building new homes for Victorians in need.

The eBike Hubs are offered alongside practical educational programs to ensure residents, who may not be culturally familiar with cycling, develop the skills and confidence to use the eBikes and navigate local roads safely for a range of trips.

Wheel Sisters

This inspiring program for culturally and linguistically diverse women in the northern suburbs of Merri-bek, Melbourne is breaking barriers and building community.

After receiving numerous requests from women over years for a biking course or a ‘hijabi’ riding group at Merri-bek’s Fawkner Festa, Faith Hunter saw an opportunity to make a real difference for the women living in the north. This area of Merri-bek is not well serviced by public transport, and car dependency is king. Coming from diverse migrant communities, many of these women cannot drive, and are thus extremely limited in their ability to move around their local area independently for exercise and social connection. With support from Merri-bek Council, Faith teamed up with bike instructor Cazz from Bike It Better and Fawkner Neighbourhood House and to create this transformative program to bring autonomy, health, connection and joy into the lives of these women through bike riding.

Darebin Loves Bikes

Inspiring everyday people to become everyday riders, this Council program is highly visible in the local community through local bike check pop-ups and eBike hubs in new affordable housing developments.

Darebin Loves Bikes inspires everyday people to become everyday riders. This innovative Council program works to build an inclusive, vibrant culture of bike riding in Darebin.

Bike riding is a healthy, enjoyable, zero-emissions, affordable way to travel. However, not everyone has the skills and confidence to ride, or access to a working bicycle. Through Darebin Loves Bikes, we’re working closely with our local partners to lift the profile of bike riding and remove barriers to participation.

The cornerstone of the program is our Free Monthly Bike Check initiative at two high-profile locations in Darebin. We’ve helped thousands of people each year to get back on their bike and learn lifelong bike-care skills. Through low-cost Bike Skills Workshops, E-bike Q & As, schools programs and the Darebin Loves Bikes e-newsletter, we give people the resources, skills, and experience they need to ride safely to school, university or the local shops.

Ausbike

More than 2,000 kids have learned to ride their bikes safely in just the first 12 months since Toby Brown established the Ausbike program in Western Australia.

The AusBike program is a learn to ride program for kids aged five to 12 (years 3-6) managed by AusCycling, the Australian national sporting organisation for cycling. With a focus of safety and confidence, the program uses fun, engaging activities to build essential bike skills.

Learning how to ride a bike when young leads to riding a bike for life. By giving kids the skills to do ride a bike confidently and safely it also teaches them the joy of riding and opens up opportunities for them such as being able to ride to and from school. This provides the foundations for riding a bike as they grow up and continuing to use it as form of exercise, pleasure and transport – whatever they choose to do.

The Recyclery - Fiona Veikkanen

The Recyclery supports the use of bicycles as an environmentally friendly travel option and fosters increased wellbeing through community connection. The Recyclery has promoted improvements to the community’s perception of cycling by making it accessible to those facing income barriers and by making it ‘cool’ to have secondhand bikes and accessories.

The Recyclery empowers climate action through long term behaviour change – by promoting cycling as an alternative to fossil fuel-based transport, reducing waste to landfill, and facilitating skill building and repair. It is an initiative of the Canberra Environment Centre.

E-bike incentive program - Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government launched the first ever state rebate for the purchase of e-mobility devices in Australia. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, particularly from daily commuting and was an initiative of Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25.

Rebates of 12 percent of the purchase price were available for e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and personal mobility devices like e-scooters and e-skateboards (PMDs), up to a capped limit for each category of device. The maximum rebates was $500 for e-bikes and $1,000 for e-cargo bikes.

Rad Riders - Boot Camp Youth

As both a charity and a multi championship winning brand, Rad Riders helps disadvantaged kids and youth become equipped to trail blaze big, meaningful and connected lives through our training, events and shows.

Since 1996 they have provided over 450 riders with positive and helpful solutions to the problems of kids and youth homelessness, neglect, poverty and domestic violence, saving lives from bullying, depression and anxiety, rehabilitating the drug addicted and activating disengaged community spaces.

Boot Camp Youth is a highly disciplined, fast paced environment where engaging youth on their BMX bikes work, ride and train for two hours any or all afternoons of the week after school. Boot Camp Youth aims to assist members positively change to become happy, motivated, polite, stronger, faster and completely courageous.

Motion by the Ocean

– Motion by the Ocean Inc is a Western Australian charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of seniors
and those with limited mobility through our core program, Cycling Without Age Sorrento. We believe that
cycling is a joyful, multigenerational activity that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy.
Our program connects volunteers with seniors and individuals who can no longer ride a bike themselves.
Many of our volunteers are returning to cycling after years away, motivated by the opportunity to make a
meaningful difference. Through leisurely rides along Perth’s northern beaches, our participants can share
their stories, relive cherished memories, and experience the simple pleasure of cycling again.
Our bikes are more than just a mode of transport; they are a means of preserving and sharing personal
histories. Each ride is an opportunity for connection and storytelling, ensuring that valuable experiences
and memories are not lost with time.

Built Environment Award (Infrastructure) nominations

College St cycleway - City of Sydney

At only 650m, this contested bikeway is a key link in the CBD and is back with the support of 72% of Sydneysiders who support bikeways. This means bike riders will have a safe and separated, two-way cycleway linking them to the north, south, east and west of central Sydney.

 

 

 

Toowoomba Safe Streets

A first in Queensland, cycling prioritised with 30km/h speeds and road upgrades to prioritise bike traffic. A Safe Active Street prioritises cycling where cars need to yield to cyclists, with painted lanes making all road users aware of the changed conditions.

Jointly funded by Toowoomba Regional Council, the world-best practice Safe Active Street is a key link in Toowoomba’s West Creek active transport network.
The design has included the use of additional streetscaping, including planting semi-mature trees, speed bumps, formalised street parking and road markings and signage, along with the introduction of a 30km/h speed limit. These features help all road users recognise the change in the street environment.

 

 

Mary to Bay Rail Trail

Unique native flora and fauna and shade feature in this impressive volunteer-built 11km Rail Trail in the Fraser Coast region. Funding provided by Fraser Coast Regional Council and the Queensland Government has been instrumental in supporting the project’s delivery.

Spanning an impressive 11 kilometres, this Rail Trail section has been meticulously developed over the past two years by dedicated Fraser Coast Bicycle User Group volunteers.

The new section extends from the Takura Trailhead, formerly known as the Takura Railway Station, on Pialba-Torbanlea Road adjacent to Koppers Wood Products, to a point 3.8 kilometres west of Churchill Mine Road.

 

 

St Kilda Road bike lanes

Completed in 2023, bike traffic is up 220% on a year earlier.

Years in the planning and overcoming several political, financial and practical challenges, the dedicated bikeway now provides a disruption-free 4.5km trip both ways between the city and St Kilda in wide car-free lanes, an experience that once seemed an impossibility. The risk of dooring, once a significant problem on the street, has virtually been eliminated. Other safety features of the project include cyclist hook turns, coloured bike lane surfacing, and priority movement for cyclists at traffic light intersections.

 

Event Bike Rack Hire

Event Bike Rack Hire is an innovative business driven by a clear vision: Provide, Promote, and Participate in the use of quality, secure, temporary bike parking infrastructure for community events.

Victorian Super Highway - the Veloway

Delivering faster and safer trips for cyclists between the city and the inner west as the West Gate Tunnel Project is delivering a new 2.5-kilometre cycling super-highway. The four metre wide track will be completely separated from traffic and suspended between Footscray Road and the new elevated road above – which will be the first of its kind in Australia.

Mr Remarkable MTB Park

The new 38km mountain bike trail at Mount Remarkable National Park, traversing the western flank of the mountain in the Flinders Rangers, near Melrose 270km north of Adelaide, includes 1500m of climbing elevation and a near continuous 6km descent that links the trail to the ground level of the nearby Willowie Forest mountain bike trails.

Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp

The project features a new elevated linear bike ramp into the northern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a three metre wide deck that removes the hazard of navigating the existing stairs, providing a safer north-south cycle link across the Harbour and improving accessibility for all bike riders.

Garden City Cycleway - ACT

The new active transport route will better connect the suburbs of the inner north with the City, reducing traffic congestion and shaping a liveable, sustainable city.
Positioned east of Northbourne Avenue, it will run through Watson, Downer, Hackett, Dickson, Ainslie and Braddon before joining Canberra’s main cycling network on Bunda and Allara streets mirroring the highly used Sullivans Creek path on the western side of Northbourne Avenue.

Leadership Award nominations

Jaison Hoernel

The CEO of Good Cycles is using the bike for positive social change and supporting young people who face barriers to employment.

Good Cycles is a social enterprise where Jaison is responsible for services across a range of enterprises including bike share maintenance, retail, servicing, logistics, asset maintenance and commercial horticulture.

For his work in the social enterprise space and using the bicycle for positive change, Jaison has been a key figure in Good Cycles mission to break down barriers of employment for young people and to create safe and meaningful jobs to shape more livable communities.

Jaison has over 20 years of professional experience in the bicycle industry in Australia and internationally. With influential roles across the industry, Jaison’s depth of expertise is highly regarded. He has enjoyed success in establishing one of Australia’s most successful and highly regarded commuter and specialty bicycle retail shops, holds an MBA (Executive) from RMIT and has a highly developed financial acumen.

 

Anthony Aisenberg

Responsible for Australia’s largest crowd-sourced bike data project and the smash hit ‘unconference’ Transport Camp, Anthony brings his expertise and passion to create better connections for vibrant cities.

Anthony is an Urban Planner and the Founder/Director of Crowd Spot and has brought Transport Camp – a global phenomenon – an ‘unconference,’ to Melbourne and other cities.

Bike Spot is a program that identifies places people like to ride, or more often don’t feel safe to ride. In 2023, Bike Spot received over 70,000 responses.
Bike Spot was funded by the Amy Gillet Foundation, but when they went into liquidation, Anthony chose to invest his own time and money to ensure the results were published, accessible and able to be used in transport planning.
Anthony is improving rising opportunities for all Australians.

 

Sarah Cleggett

Sarah started Kidical Mass Adelaide in 2021 with the ‘Babes on Bikes’ protest ride and has become a voice for safer school zones and crossings.

Forging new links with schools and community organisations, Sarah’s advocacy has seen council areas drop their residential street speed limits and the funding of a new street crossing, changes that provide a significant benefit to cyclists now and into the future.

Sarah initiated a protest ride through the City of Adelaide involving families, particularly women and children in 2021, called “Babes on Bikes”. It was well attended despite Covid restrictions and helped her identify a community to assist in growing her idea.

It rapidly became evident that a similar well established community organisation already existed in many other countries – “Kidical Mass”!

Having identified a committee she went on to chair and organise the first ever “Kidical Mass Adelaide” event in September 2022 which had an even better turn out than her initial ride in 2021.

The second “Kidical Mass Adelaide” protest ride was held in September 2023 and was even more successful.

Since then are group has become more recognised in the wider Adelaide community as an advocacy group which can help get things done. A first tangible result was successfully lobbying for a pedestrian actuated crossing for Grange Road, to provide safer access to Allenby Gardens Primary School, which was announced, funded and programmed early in 2024.

Active lobbying to City of Adelaide and numerous other councils for lower speed limits in suburban streets has now resulted in almost all residential suburbs in Adelaide with a 40 kph speed limit on residential streets. Lobbying continues for a 30 kph limit.

The third “Kidical Mass Adelaide” was supported by the City of Adelaide with an all-day cycling promotional event, “Super Cycle Sunday,” to help promote “World Car Free Day”, children cycling and Kidical Mass Adelaide.

Sarah’s leadership has been fundamental to the growth and successes of Kidical Mass Adelaide.

Matt Harrington

Combining Warburton’s scenic natural environment and village atmosphere, with the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination would promote a healthy community and put Warburton on the national and international tourism radar. The project includes up to 177 kilometres of trails across three main zones: Mount Donna Buang, Mount Little Joe and Mount Tugwell.

Under the stewardship of Matt Harrington, the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination project will not only build world class trails but set a new benchmark for environmental stewardship in trail building, it will also achieve significant economic, jobs and health benefits for the community.

Max McCardle

Max led the team that delivered the Cycling Infrastructure Training Course which was a collaboration between the Amy Gillett Foundation, the Australian Government and Safe Systems Solutions. Attended by 1,000 people in less than 12 months, the course experienced incredible demand due to a simple, online format, high-quality content, and the leadership of the Safe System Solutions team, headed by Max.

This project highlighted the value of upskilling practitioners in cycleway design methods and tactics for implementing best-in-class cycleways. More skills in the sector will see better projects delivered, creating more streets where people feel safe riding a bike. This is the ‘upstream’ initiative that will (hopefully) have significant impact in years to come.

Faith Hunter

After life in Amsterdam, Faith was frustrated by the lack of infrastructure and programs and believed that there were many stories needing to be shared.

In addition to using her skills as an author and editor to tell the stories, Faith has an unparalleled commitment to local projects around the Moreland/Meri-Bek Local Government area, serving as secretary and convenor of the Moreland/Merri-Bek Bicycle User Group, as a Critical Mass ride organiser and co-presenter on 3CR’s Yarra Bike radio show.

Dustin 'Dusty' Moore

Dusty is the Urban Mobility Planner at the Department of State Growth (TAS) and is leading the national conversation as the chair of Cycling Walking Australia New Zealand.

He has a strong interest in sustainable development and fostering approaches that promote better strategic planning. In his role Dusty has been the driving force behind Tasmania leading Australia in promoting e-Bike purchase and use, driving the introduction of Australia’s first ever e-bike incentive purchase scheme in November 2023.

Dusty has also led the Government’s review of e-bike regulations, identifying changes that would allow more people to ride for transport and grow the use of bikes for last mile freight.

Karen O'Connor

In 2018, together with a local aged care facility, Karen brought one of the first ‘Cycling Without Age’ trishaws to WA. She then gave up work for over a year to establish Cycling Without Age in WA and later the national body, Cycling Without Age Australia.

Cycling Without Age is a community service that connects those no longer able to ride for themselves with their community and the outdoors by giving them free rides on trishaw e-bikes piloted by volunteer cyclists.

Karen exemplifies the spirit of Cycling Without Age – Joy, Community and Kindness and has been responsible for thousands of elderly and those living with a disability getting back on a bike.

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Kenn Beer

As Principal Engineer at Safe System Solutions, Kenn was instrumental in the development of a unique training program in 2020/21 through the Cycling Auditor Training Pilot delivered in partnership with Bicycle Network Tasmania and supported by the Department of State Growth. It created the model for later expansion and delivery to around 1,000 traffic designers under the Safe Cycling initiative.

The hands-on approach to the training gives planners and engineers in the course insight into the hazards vulnerable road users face and sharpens attendee’s skills in identifying hazards and providing solutions for cycling infrastructure.

Honorable Bart Mellish

The Queensland government has committed to a significant expansion and upgrade of the state’s bike routes, as part of a $315 million investment in paths and infrastructure for active transport over the next four years.

The major projects earmarked for completion include a $35.1 million bike bridge over Birdwood Road in the Brisbane suburb of Greenslopes, $22.5 million to plug gaps in the Riverwalk in the suburb of Kangaroo Point and $9.6 million in upgrades to the bike network in South Brisbane, West End and Highgate Hill.

Outside the capital, projects in the pipeline include $20 million for a cycleway component of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, $9.4 million for stage 2 of the New England Highway Bikeway and $41.5 million for the Cairns Southern Access Cycleway, co-funded with the federal government.

According to the Queensland government, every dollar spent on bike infrastructure has a return of nearly $5, through improvements in public health, reduced congestion and lower transport costs.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish has said “every person who rides a bike or walks to work, school, to socialise or to go to the shops means less traffic and less pollution, and can also mean savings on transport costs.

“It’s not only cheaper than using a car but it’s much better for your health and we think Queenslanders deserve world-class active transport facilities.”

Honorable Catherine King MP

As federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Region Development and Local Government, Catherine King is responsible for committing $100 million to a new national Active Transport Fund that will upgrade and deliver new bicycle and walking paths.

The fund will support zero emissions travel, provide a safer environment for cyclists and pedestrians, and promote active and liveable communities and applications have opened nationally for projects to be undertaken from the start of the 2025-2026 financial year.

Safe and accessible active transport options, like walking and cycling, help boost social connection, promote healthy choices and make our cities and regions more vibrant places to live.

Duncan Murray

Duncan Murray was the founding chair of the Amy Gillett Foundation, honouring the legacy of Amy Gillett who was tragically killed while training in Germany.

From the AGF, Duncan extended his impact on the cycling community chairing and coordinating the formation of Auscycling as the national sport cycling body in Australia. Bringing together 19 bodies with a distinct history is not an easy task, which Duncan was able to lead and achieve.

Now the national governing body for sport cycling in Australia, AusCycling covers the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX, BMX freestyle, e-cycling sports, para-cycling, and recreational and commuter riding.

In 2024, following the demise of the AGF, Duncan led a process to enable it to relaunch 6 months later – continuing to drive the safety narrative for all road cyclists in Australia.

David Elliott

David is a geographer and sociologist, with a passion for access to opportunities for everyone. This passion and background as a lifelong cyclist have driven his vision to make cycling safer and more accessible across Adelaide.

In addition to supporting his fellow South Australians following his election to the City of Adelaide Council in 2022 and role of Chair of the Infrastructure and Public Works Committee in March 2024, David has been active in volunteer roles with Bike Adelaide and the Australian Walking and Cycling Conference.

It was David’s motion that was unanimously adopted that led to City of Adelaide becoming the first Local Government in Australia to offer e-Bike purchase incentives for residents.

Richard Bunning

Richard is Senior Lecturer in the University of Queensland Business School, where his passion collide at the intersection of physical activity, travel, and events.

His key research includes active sport tourism for mountain biking, cycling, running, rock climbing, hiking, with his work crosses over to active transport through bikeshare, e-scooters, and more generally micromobility where he has become one of Australians experts on active tourism usage and related impacts.

Richard is a board member of Bicycle Qld and passionate about delivering the opportunities for all Queenslanders in active transport