We Ride Australia

Cycling Awards

About the 2024 awards

National leaders, industry and academic figures and champions for cycling celebrated the 2024 Cycling Luminaries Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday, 27 November.

NATIONAL AWARD RECIPIENTS HONOURED IN MELBOURNE

The winners of the national Cycling Luminaries Awards were announced at the annual Awards event in Melbourne on Wednesday, 27th November 2024.

The Awards, hosted by Deakin University, also featured the launch of the RideScore Active Schools Evaluation Report by Deakin’s Professor Neil Coffee.

Distinguished Professor Rachel Huxley, Executive Dean of Deakin University’s Faculty of Health, provided the opening Key Note at the event which celebrated the inspirational leaders, outstanding programs and infrastructure making the choice to ride a bike easier, more convenient and safer across the country.

2024 Award recipients are:

  • Leadership Award – Anthony Aisenberg

  • Bike Culture Award – Equitable Commute Project, Victoria

  • Built Environment Award – Toowoomba Safe Streets, Queensland

The Cycling Luminaries Award for Leadership: Anthony Aisenberg

Professor Rachel Huxley presents Award to Anthony Aisenberg, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

Anthony Aisenberg, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

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

As an Urban Planner and the Founder of CrowdSpot, a company specialising in map-based community engagement and data collection, Anthony Aisenberg is one of our most innovative leaders in user-generated data and public engagement and is making a significant contribution to people who ride bikes and better communities in Australia.

The Cycling Luminaries for Built Environment Award: Toowoomba Safe Streets

Brian McKay – Toowoomba Council, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

Brian McKay – Toowoomba Council with Professor Neil Coffee, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

 

A first in Queensland, cycling is prioritised on Pearce Street in Toowoomba with 30km/h speeds and road upgrades that prioritise bike traffic. The world-best practice Safe Active Street is a key link in Toowoomba’s West Creek active transport network.

The Cycling Luminaries Award for Bike Culture and Behaviour Change: The Equitable Commute Program

The Equitable Commute program; Chris Arnott – RideKola and Adam Lana – GoodCycles, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

The Equitable Commute program; Chris Arnott – RideKola and Adam Lana – GoodCycles, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

The Equitable Commute program; Chris Arnott – RideKola and Adam Lana & Jaison Hoernel- GoodCycles, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

 

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.

Early data shows the bikes have logged over 300 hours journey time already and are being used for a variety of reasons, with 60% of journeys less than 30 minutes. The partners say they are particularly proud of the partnership for providing access to bikes for transport in these social and affordable housing developments and introducing safe use to a new wave of riders.

Cycling Luminaries Awards and launch of the RideScore Report event pics

Deakin University Distinguished Professor Rachel Huxley, Professor Neil Coffee, Colleen Penny, Chair Pete Williams, Shane Byrne WeRide Director, Dr Steve Kaye – WeRide Director, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

WeRide Chair and Awards MC, Pete Williams, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

Deakin University Distinguished Professor Rachel Huxley, 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

Peter Bourke, Executive Officer. 2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

2024 WeRide Cycling Luminaries Awards event at Deakin Downtown. Photo: Jay Town

Awards host – Deakin University

 

NEWS (7 November 2024): Finalists announced for the Cycling Luminaries Awards – more here.

WeRide together with Deakin University will host the Luminaries Awards in stunning Deakin Downtown, offering the next level of sophisticated venue for the Awards networking and drinks function.

The event will also feature the national launch of the highly successful RideScore Active Schools program evaluation by Professor Neil Coffee from Deakin University, one of the lead authors of the Report.

The Cycling Luminaries Awards builds on more than two decades of recognition of the leaders, projects and infrastructure that have made Australia a better place to ride a bike and will be announced at the event at Level 12, Tower 2, Collins Square at 727 Collins Street in Melbourne.

Book your free ticket to the Awards and celebrate with peers and leaders in cycling nationally: eventbrite.com.au/e/cycling-luminaries-awards-tickets-1052383125257.

NEWS (7 November 2024): Finalists announced for the Cycling Luminaries Awards – more here.

Above: the 2024 Awards function will be held in Deakin Downtown. Photo Deakin University.

Download the ‘How to get to Deakin Downtown’ PDF here.

TICKET BOOKING LINK: eventbrite.com.au/e/cycling-luminaries-awards-tickets-1052383125257

2023 Cycling Luminaries Awards

Held in Parliament House Canberra, the 2023 Awards were hosted by the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling group and were also the occasion of the launch of the 2023 Australian Cycling and e-Scooter Economy Report launched by Assistant Treasurer, Stephen Jones.

Above: the Member for Indi and Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Cycling, Dr Helen Haines, opens the 2023 Cycling Luminaries Awards in Parliament House.

Launch of the Australian Cycling and e-Scooter Economy Report by Ernst and Young

Above L-R: Senator Janet Rice, Hon. Andrew Wallace MP, Dr Helen Haines MP, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones MP, WeRide Chair Pete Williams, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor MP & Zaneta Mascarenhas MP (in front)

Charlene Bordley (Adventageous) – winner of the 2023 Leadership Award

Charlene Bordley from Addventageous made a significant impact on cycling and community development in Western Sydney. Her pioneering program, “Her Cycling Connections,” empowers women and breaks down cultural barriers to cycling.

Photo: Andrew Taylor.

Causeway Link Alliance – winner of the 2023 Built Environment Award

The Causeway Link Alliance is building Perth’s stunning $100m Pedestrian and Cyclist Bridges that will traverse the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) via Matagarup (Heirisson Island) in two s-shaped curves that represent the movement of the Waugyl (rainbow serpent).

Bicycle Network – winner of the 2023 Bike Culture Award

Photo: The Hon Angus Taylor MP, Dolet Manon, Bicycle Network and Andrew Wallance MP – co-chair Parliamentary Friends of Cycling.

Photo: Andrew Taylor.

Bicycle Network’s Open Street’s program is changing the way families view their daily journey to school to reverse the dramatic decline of the last 50 years in walking and riding to school. 10 Open Streets Days have been conducted in the last 3 years with more schools interested.

ReVOLVE Recycle – Special recognition for Social Impact

Zaneta Mascarenas MP – Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of Cycling group, Bronwyn Clark – CEO Growth Areas Alliance with Guido Verbist and Sienna Young, representing Revolve ReCYCLING.

Photo: Andrew Taylor.

Revolve ReCYCLING has ensured around 5500 bikes have been kept out of landfill, another 1500 bikes have been redeployed to riders including around 500 for free to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds. They have worked with 12 NSW Councils, 10 schools to distribute the bikes to disadvantaged kids. Revolve also employs three people from disadvantaged backgrounds in a staff of 10.

 

Past Award winners and nomination procedures can be viewed for each category by following the links below:

 

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Sponsor to be announced shortly