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| Bipartisan Backing of Bicycle Boom |
| 08/09/2007 |
| Canberra |
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The Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Tony Abbott MP today launched
the landmark document Cycling > Moving Australia Forward at Parliament
House.
Minister Abbott was joined by Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation and
Health Promotion, and Shadow Minister for Local Government, Senator Kate
Lundy and former editor of The Age, Michael Smith - each highlighting the
tremendous potential of cycling to address key challenges facing Australia;
soaring transport emissions, up 30% since 1990, as well as obesity, rising
fuel costs and traffic congestion.
Minister Abbott said "Cycling is a clean, green and healthy way to travel.
At a time of rising obesity and fuel costs, there has never been a better
time for Australians to get on their bikes".
Tony Abbott also used the occasion to announce that the Commonwealth
Government will provide funding of $30,000 to the Cycling Promotion Fund to
do a scoping study on what sort of approaches will work in getting more
people to get on their bikes with the objective of getting adults engaged in
physical activity.
"Today marks a turning point for cycling in Australia. Once considered a
marginalised activity, cycling is now our 4th most popular physical activity
for adults and 1.3 million new bicycles are sold each year, outnumbering
cars for the seventh consecutive year" said Stephen Hodge, 6 time Tour de
France competitor and group spokesperson.
Coinciding with the launch was the announcement of the Australian cycling
sector's key asks in the lead up to the federal election. "We are calling on
all political parties to support our proposal for federal funding for
cycling. Promoting smarter transport choices and improved bicycle
infrastructure will help Australia tackle some of its greatest challenges in
the health, environment and economic sectors." says Hodge.
"Cycling is a practical, low cost and healthy way for people to lower their
impact on the environment, cut their petrol costs and stay healthy. Federal
support is needed to make cycling a real choice for more Australians."
For more information on how to make Cycling heard at this election,
please visit Vote4Cycling.com.au.
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