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The aims of the first Statewide Cycling Conference are, through a mix of workshop sessions and presentations, to exchange information and develop Statewide strategies, communication channels and actions to effectively promote lifestyle cycling throughout Tasmania. The conference will be officially launced by Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and is being chaired by TBC Tim Stredwick. Delegates from all TBC member organisations are taking part. The program will include topics

• Strategic Planning for Cycling Infrastructure
• Cycling Infrastructure and Design
• Education – The Missing Link Between Encouragement and Infrastructure
• Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) – An Essential Element of Cycle Advocacy
• Valet Bicycle Parking
• TBC AGM
• Tasmanian Bicycle Council – The Future

Valet Parking Volunteers needed  Sat. 4th and Sun. 5th October Royal Botanical Gardens Spring Festival Open Saturday 10.30am to 7pm and Sunday 10.30am to 4pm. Have a great few hours of fun checking in bikes for Tulip Festival visitors, doing your stuff for BIKETAS whilst encouraging others to help the planet! Free Lunch and "uniform" provided. BT will be set up to cover two entrances to the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Lower Domain Bike Path Entrance and the Upper Main Entrance. Please consider helping out at any of the yellow or red times above, ( red - not covered at all at present )! If you are willing to volunteer a few hours, please send your mobile phone contact number to <derek.pennington@iinet.net.au>

Positive advocacy group Healthy Transport Hobart is putting on a car park celebration of bicycle transport this Saturday, 20th September 10am-12 noon. All road users are invited to come down, enjoy some fresh fruit, a coffee and a variety of newspapers. Anyone can make use of the complementary valet bike parking and show Hobart ’s support for healthy, sustainable transport options. The group will be occupying two car parks just north of the Elisabeth St Mall.

Healthy Transport Hobart (HTH) is a recently formed group of concerned students who seek to promote cycling as a healthy, sustainable and alternative mode of transport. Read more here.

The group would like more people to be aware that:

• Cycling for 30 mins each day reduces the risk of Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes and Obesity by 50% - WHO.
• Congestion costs the Australian economy $21 billion each year – Bureau of Transport & Regional economics.
• Cycling as transport has zero green house gas emissions.

The RACT is introducing a new breakdown service - for cyclists. RACT Group Chief Executive Greg Goodman says the new service - Bike Assist - recognises the growing popularity of bicycles in Tasmania's mix of commuting and leisure activities. "More and more Tasmanians are using bicycles for commuting, family leisure, and exercise. It's a trend the RACT wants to encourage and support, especially given the health and environmental benefits associated with cycling," Mr Goodman said. Bike Assist will be offered as a complimentary benefit to all existing and new RACT Roadside Ultimate members. More than 41,000 Tasmanians have Ultimate cover. (from the RACT website) ... read more

Whether the monthly critical mass rides that occur on the last Friday of every month in many cities around the world promote a positive cycling message or not is a debate cycle advocates love to discuss, endlessly! The contentious issues revolve around how law abiding the cyclists are, particularly the action of ‘corking’ which in effect obliges cyclist in the mass to cross a junction on a red lights. From critical mass to courteous mass is only a small change on paper but a large charge in attitude, one of encouraging a cooperative and considerate road space for us all to share. A courteous mass will undoubtedly become split at traffic lights and perhaps because a critical mass stays ‘en masse’ it does make a bigger statement. But lets be honest, to be courteous and considerate hurts or angers no one and arguably sends a far more positive cycling message to other road users.

So it was with courtesy in their minds that around 200 cyclists set off from Franklin Square Hobart, Friday 29 August for the inaugural Courtesy Mass. Read the rest of the article by Tim Stredwick.

A big invitation to all cyclists of all backgrounds to get yourselves down to Franklin Square by 5.15 for free stuff or 5.30 for the start of the ride! The route will avoid fast flowing traffic, major intersections and be relatively flat and slow! Check out this Video to amp yourself up! It sounds like participants are going to be in for an amazing experience!

The health, environmental and financial benefits of cycling should be hard to ignore with the 100 cyclists expected to show up on the ride from Franklin Square to Salamanca Place! Opposition Leader Will Hodgman and Green's Hobart City Council Alderman, Bill Harvey, have promised to make an appearance on two wheels. Rumour has it that there will be free cyclist fuel, puncture repair kits and reflective vests. The rides unofficial police team have promised to ensure all road rules are followed and that the ride will take up only one lane.

SPOKE is Bike Tasmania's FREE bi-monthly publication.
SPOKE is mailed or emailed for free to members two months before it appears on this website.
All the SPOKE back issues can be found here.

• general meeting
• election of executive and committee members
• any important business that can’t be carried over to next meeting
• order meals
• half hour slide show of an epic journey from the Caribbean coast to Peru

If you want a sneak peak at the awesome slides check out www.andesbybike.blogspot.com although it may spoil the punchline.

• Idling in traffic jams adds about 13 million tonnes of CO2 to Australia’s annual emissions. Off-peak commuting makes a difference.
• Driving an average car produces 0.33 kg CO2 per km. Compare that to:
• Hybrids or very efficient cars produce - 0.14kg CO2/km
• Catching a bus - 0.008kg per person
• Catching a train - 0.003kg per person
• Walking or riding - 0kg per person, unless you need a packed lunch/Sherpa.

(**caltrop:A metal device with four projecting spikes so arranged that when three of the spikes are on the ground, the fourth points upward, used as a hazard to pneumatic tires or to the hooves of horses. )

One of our members has also reported getting a flat bike tyre, possibly from this spike, but south in Taroona. "I did get one in the rear wheel on Monday at Taroona 10k south of Hobart. They're pretty long and because they go in at right angles they go right through the tyre and into the rim" ...Paul Gregory - Hobart Mercury article

• Coached indoor cycling sessions, not spin classes. 
• Fully adjustable chain driven indoor bikes
• Virtual Reality Cycling - Sessions will utilise big screen video display to correspond to the ride

• from the ABC News website on 8th Olympians' fury over hit-and-run
• from the Sydney Morning Herald on 9th Cycle pack smash- driver questioned
• from the ABC News website on 9th Police interview man
• from the ABC News website on 9th Kersten in on-air clash with 'goose' driver
• from the ABC News website on 13th driver charged over cyclist hit-run

For the last three years Rosney College have organised the Salamanca 6 Hour Human Powered Vehicle Race. Through Bicycle Tasmania’s improved insurance policy, in 2006 BT had a men’s team, and last year we had both men’s and women’s teams. Members ride a “human power vehicle” (which has at least three or more wheels) around a twisty 700 metre circuit right next to Salamanca Place for 6 hours. Riders generally swap every 5 to 10 laps. Last year there were about 20 teams ranging in age from primary school kids up to kids-at-heart. For more details read here. Photos will be posted picasaweb.google.com.

• The Tour de Femme had 60 women take part
• The Hobart Rivulet History Ride had a good turnout and the notes produced by Ambrose are brilliant
• The Century Ride had 174 riders, ride times are here
• The Half Century Ride had 81 riders, ride times are here

• Half and Century Riders Over Tasman Bridge
• Half and Century Ride Checkpoint
• Slow Ride competition - we need a few more competitors next year!
• Blind-Folded competition - we need a few more competitors next year!

• Sat 15 Judbury Loop Family BBQ Ride (free to BT members)
• Sat 15 North West Recreational Cyclists ride details here
• Sun 16 Century Ride (free to BT members) - registration from 8am, start at 9am - police escorted ride over the Tasman Bridge
• Sun 16 Half Century Ride (free to BT members) - registration from 8am, start at 9am - police escorted ride over the Tasman Bridge
• Sun 16 Round the River Ride - registration from 11am; start 11.30am
• Sun 16 Nyrstar Cycling Sunday at the Cenotaph - 12.30pm to 2.30pm
• Sun 16 Cygnet Coast Road Loop
• Sun 16 Family Ride - registration from 11am; start 11.30am

You can buy tickets and food for the Cycling Sunday at the Cenotaph.

10.a.m. Silverwater Park, Woodbridge.
Includes free barbecue and a healthy drink
Free registration at 9.30 a.m. for 10.00 a.m. start.

Here are the full details.

• 1.47 million Number of bikes bought in 2007, outselling cars for the eighth year in a row.
• 1.3 tonnes a year Amount of greenhouse gases saved by a person converting their 10 km commute from car to bike.
• 22% Growth in commuter bike trips in Australia between 2001 and 2006 — including a whopping 42% in Melbourne!
• 10%-30% Increase in number of bikes on major commuter routes across Australia in 2007.
• 8% Proportion of peak-time (7am-10am) vehicles in Melbourne in 2007 that were bikes — compared to 4% in 2006.
• 90,000 Estimated total number of riders who participated in the 2007 National Ride to Work Day — formal registrations up 186% on the previous year.
• 2 to 3 times The reduction in exposure to air pollution on a bike, compared to being in a car on the same road.
• 38 fatalities From road cycling per year in Australia since 2000. This contrasts with 52 per year in 1990s, when road cycling was less popular.

Tips for Drivers

• Scan the road for cyclists.
• When turning or entering an intersection look for cyclists and give way as you would for any other vehicle.
• Give cyclists a minimum of 1m clearance when overtaking.
• Before opening your car door look behind, including checking blind spots for cyclists.
• You must not drive, stop or park in a bicycle lane however you can cross a bicycle lane to turn left, enter private property or park in a parking lane.
• Cyclists can legally ride two abreast, be patient as you approach and overtake only when it is safe.

Tips for Cyclists

• Obey the road rules including stopping at traffic signals and stop signs and giving way at intersections.
• Ride predictably in a straight line, signal your intention to turn or change lanes.
• Look for other vehicles at intersections; never assume a driver has seen you.
• Keep to the left and ride at least 1m clear of the kerb and parked cars; watch for unexpected opening car doors.
• Be seen. During the day wear bright coloured clothing. At night wear light coloured clothing and use a white front light and red rear light.
• Riding two abreast is legal however don’t hog the road and allow others to overtake safely.

• Sat 8 Adult Rider Course
• Sun 9 Mt Wellington Challenge
• Sun 9 Woodbridge Family Ride
• Mon 10 Labour Day Kate Tamayo Tour De Femme (free to BT members)
• Wed 12 National Ride to School Day
• Wed 12 Hobart Rivulet Ride
• Thurs 13 Bike Ride Maintenance Course
• Thurs 13 Creating a Cycle-Friendly Workplace Seminar
• Sat 15 Judbury Loop Family BBQ Ride (free to BT members)
• Sun 16 Century Ride (free to BT members)
• Sun 16 Half Century Ride (free to BT members)
• Sun 16 Round the River Ride
• Sun 16 Nyrstar Cycling Sunday at the Cenotaph
• Sun 16 Cygnet Coast Road Loop
• Sun 16 Family Ride

In a letter to the Mercury editor, Doug says "...no cyclists should pay rego fees - they don't cause any wear and tear on the road surface, don't use up parking space, don't cause traffic jams, don't pollute, don't require expensive imports of petrol or cars, don't kill people, they keep themselves fit, therefore lowering healthcare expenditure. Come to think of it, they should be paid". Doug also noted that pedestrians don't pay a pavement fee.