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Cycling gets $115m boostIn 2008, for the ninth year in a row Australian bicycle sales have exceeded motor vehicle sales. As a result, the Victorian Government has decided to inject, a well overdue $115 million into cycling infrastructure within Victoria.This follows the Australian Government decision to invest $40 million (as part of the stimulus package) to the Cycling Promotion Fund (represents Australia’s Bicycle Industry) to build bikeways.  Mr Stephen Hodge, spokesperson for the CPF said ‘A $40 million investment in bikeways will play an important role in tackling some of today’s most pressing issues—obesity epidemic, climate change, congestion on our roads, petrol prices—while also helping to create hundreds of local jobs,’.Recent census figures show a 28% increase in riding to work across Australian capital cities. This growth is largely centred in areas with superior levels of bicycle infrastructure. Quick Fact: Over 50% of car trips in Australian cities are under 5km and 30% are less than 3 km For more information: visit www.cyclingpromotion.com.au or take a look at the Victorian Cycling Strategy (March 2009). |
