How the Social Deck helped shape the Queensland Cycling Strategy.
If you didn’t already know, cycling is a great way to get around! We recently had the privilege of working with QLD Department of Transport and Roads to develop the new Queensland Cycling Strategy.
The Social Deck team has always had a passion for cycling, so the chance to contribute to encouraging more cycling in Queensland has been a great opportunity.
We all know cycling is great for our health. Exercise clears our minds and helps us de-stress. Cycling’s also a great way to get from A to B. But it’s the value cycling has for our communities that we really love.
Our work on the new cycling strategy for Queensland saw us engaging with cycling stakeholders, as well as telling the stories of everyday Queenslanders who love to cycle, for a whole range of reasons.
Like Ebrahim, a refugee from Afghanistan, who within a week of arriving in Australia bought a bike to get to University and his English lessons. Cycling made it possible for him to engage in his local community and provided an affordable means of transportation to get around and explore his local area.
As part of developing the new Queensland Cycling Strategy, The Social Deck also wrote the Queensland State of Cycling Report. This shows that there’s still a lot to be done to encourage more cycling, with cycling to and from school being a big priority.
Take for example Scott, a QLD school vice principal. He used to ride his bike to school each day and now he encourages his students to ride to school too. Scott says when cycling is made easier and more achievable for kids to get to and from school, parents are more likely to encourage their kids to ride. Dedicated bike paths are key. Community can be built along cycle ways!
The strategy is also reflecting lots of work happening across Queensland communities. In North Queensland, Councils are focusing on deriving the benefits of cycling tourism with a focus on building infrastructure to host major mountain biking and other events.
Right on our doorstep, the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council are creating more cycling tracks, which are designed to be both community-focussed and health conscious. These cycle ways are safe as they are segregated, which also makes them family-friendly. They lead to homes, community centres, workplaces and the local shops, meaning transportation is very achievable via bike.
Queensland is leading the way, starting to take advantage of the benefits of cycling to our communities and encouraging a state that has ‘more cycling, more often’.
Read more about our work with the Queensland Transport and Main Roads here.
