Events help bring the joy of riding to more Queenslanders

Overview

Action 2.3: Support bicycle riding events, including:

• Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge
• The Big Beach Ride
• Bike with: Brisbane, Toowoomba, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
• Rail Trail Adventure
• Cycling cultural events
• Other events to grow cycling participation.

Lead agency: Department of Transport and Main Roads

Status: Complete

Achievements

Between 2019 and 2022, we supported Bicycle Queensland (BQ) to deliver a wide range of events and activities encouraging more Queenslanders to ride.

In 2019–2020, the Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge, Big Beach Ride and National Ride to Work Day events attracted almost 5000 participants.

Several community events planned for 2020–2021 could not proceed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included 'Bike with' events at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich, as well as the Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge. BQ successfully delivered 'Bike with' events in Redlands, Brisbane, Logan and Toowoomba, and a Brisbane Valley Rail Trail Festival, with more than 500 people taking part in these events.

In place of the cancelled community events, BQ created an innovative online bike challenge called Pedal Queensland, which attracted over 700 participants who virtually rode more than 313,000km. In addition, BQ delivered several smaller, in-person and online workshops including bike basics, bike maintenance and a bike skills workshop designed specifically for women, with nearly 300 participants.

The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic presented a high level of risk to community events in 2021–2022 so we supported BQ to deliver online bicycle maintenance workshops and women's road cycling and mountain biking skills development programs, collectively engaging over 140 participants.

Next steps

We will continue to support BQ to deliver community initiatives that promote the benefits of riding a bike and encourage more people to ride.