Bikes Botany Bay Launches
Update (August 2014)
Bikes Botany Bay was formally launched on Monday 23 June 2014 at South Sydney Graphic Arts Club. The community’s response to the launch was overwhelming with approximately 25 community members and local representatives contributing to an energetic discussion about issues and prospects for cycling in the Botany Bay area and agreeing to create Sydney’s newest community cycling group. Present at the meeting were representatives of local and state agencies, other local cycling groups, local councilors, the Member for Coogee Bruce Notely-Smith and the group’s new Patron, former Premier, Kristina Keneally (obscured by the “conductor’s arm” 🙂 in the photo), all of whom expressed their intention to support the group.
Bikes Botany Bay will serve as the “go to” contact point for all things cycling in the region ranging from social rides, “how to” guidance as well as advocating for improved cycling infrastructure. The group has already won a seat on Botany Council’s Traffic Committee, set its sights on winning a cycling link between the Bourke St cycleway and the Cooks River cycle path as well as making representations to the upcoming Airport Master Plan and WestConnex upgrade works for the Wentworth Ave/Botany Rd intersection upgrade and will be looking to win other cycling outcomes in the Botany ports precinct.
Bikes Botany Bay is a not-for-profit community organisation open to all community members (from 2-102 years of age) wanting to ride and encourage cycling for transport.
The group is presently structuring its campaigning efforts but will look to hold more public meetings, social rides and events in the coming months and is asking that anyone interested in joining or supporting the group keep in touch through its website or by liking “Bikes Botany Bay” on facebook.
(June 2014)
BIKESydney, with the support of ArtCycle, is launching a new community cycling group in the Mascot and Botany Bay area, Bikes Botany Bay.
The community-led group will provide a much needed presence in the area for all things cycling, including social rides, events and advocacy.
Our push for a local cycling presence is borne of, on the one hand, the great opportunities for gatherings and local rides (La Perouse, foreshore rides, local parklands such as Joseph Banks Park) and on the other, the need for local support for prospective safe cycling infrastructure opportunities. (Let’s get our kids riding …again.)
BIKESydney has had early engagement on prospective projects such as the Mascot Link (that would connect the Cooks River Cycle Path with the Bourke St Cycleway – imagine that: a safe, off-road, inter-regional route…), the Mascot precinct urban rejuvenation project and the upcoming Sydney Airport Masterplan, all of which offer meaningful scope for good cycling outcomes for all types of riders. There’s a real opportunity to get everyone riding again, including families.
BIKESydney will catalyse the group by offering its guidance, resources and connections but will look to eventually hand-over the running of the group to local riders and residents. Local representation and personality is best.
First however, we just want to get some local cycling fun happening. Please come and join:
Bikes Botany Bay
Inception Gathering
6pm
Mon 23 June 2014
South Sydney Graphic Arts Club
(just a block away from southern end of the Bourke St cycleway and Mascot station)
It will be an informal gathering although we’re hoping to have a presence from local stakeholders. The focus of the meeting will be to meet-and-greet and to perhaps cook-up some local rides. The fun of cycling always comes first. Get involved at whatever level works for you (events, coffee rides, park meetups, social rides, training rides, change-making, whatever…).
If you can’t join us on the night, please ‘like’ Bikes Botany Bay on facebook or leave a comment of support below.
