Join Bicycle NSW for comprehensive insurance and advocacy.Join Us Today

There are many Agencies and Departments who have an affect on the cycling environment through their activities.  The range of agencies interested in bicycle policy is wider than most other policy areas due to the multi-faceted Benefits of Bicycling.  These benefits span transport, health, the environment and economics, thus affecting a large number of Government portfolios.

Bicycle NSW has prepared the following information to assist bicycle advocates to understand the jurisdiction of each agency and to get a clearer picture of the complex interaction of these agencies in delivering bicycle-friendly environments.

Australian Bicycle Council

The Australian Bicycle Council (ABC) is a national Government body whose main areas of work are the Australian National Cycling Strategy and the maintenance of the Cycling Resource Centre.

The ABC coordinates the implementation of the Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16 and provides a forum for the sharing of information between stakeholders involved in the implementation of The Strategy.  The ABC reports annually on the progress of The Strategy to the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI).

The ABC also acts as a jurisdictional forum providing input to Austroads on technical matters and provides a cycling perspective on Austroads research and the development of Austroads publications.

Click here to visit the Australian Bicycle Council web site.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an independent Commonwealth Government statutory Agency. The ATSB is governed by a Commission and is entirely separate from transport regulators, policy makers and service providers.

While the ATSB’s primary function is to improve safety and public confidence in the aviation, marine and rail modes of transport, they also perform research and investigations in areas that affect bicycle users.

Click here to visit the Australian Transport Safety Bureau web site.

Austroads

Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. Austroads members are the six Australian state and two territory road transport and traffic authorities, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Australian Local Government Association and the New Zealand Transport Agency.

Austroads purpose is to:

– promote improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes.
– provide expert technical input to national policy development on road and transport issues.
– promote improved practice and capability by road agencies.
– promote consistency in road and road agency operations.

Austroads creates a number design guidelines for road and transport.  Click here for more information on Planning & Design guidelines including the Austroads Guides relating to bicycles.

Click here to visit the Austroads web site.

Bureau of Transport Statistics

The Bureau of Transport Statistics provides data from sources such as the Household Travel Survey and the Census of Population and Housing.

Click here to visit the website of the Bureau of Transport Statistics.

Cityrail

Cityrail manages the delivery of rail services to the Sydney rail network which extends as far North as Newcastle, as far South as Nowra and as far West as Lithgow.

Cityrail provides information on the carriage of bicycles on the Cityrail Conditions of Travel web page.

Click here to visit the Cityrail web site.

National Parks and Wildlife

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), within the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.  

NSW National Parks and Wildlife manages more than 860 national parks and reserves.  That is more than 7 million hectares comprising landscapes from rainforests and rugged bush to coastal landscapes and outback deserts.  

Enormous opportunities exist in National Parks for eco-tourism, utility cycling and recreational riding.  National Parks offer some of the most pleasant and safe conditions for cycling.  Quiet fire trails are fantastic for touring and mountain-biking while roads through National Parks are often scenic and carry low traffic volumes.

Bicycle NSW encourages the creation of environmentally-sensitive bicycle facilities in National Parks that encourage utilisation of parks.  The bicycle is the most environmentally friendly form of transport (besides walking), doing little damage to paths and adding little to the environment in terms of noise or air pollution.

Bicycle advocates who are interested in lobbying for improved bicycle facilities in National Parks must be sensitive to the issues that affect flora and fauna of the proposed facility.  For example, well-lit bicycle paths create a safer environment for cycling, but in National Parks, providing lighting for a bicycle path will affect nocturnal animals which generally hunt at night.

Click here to visit the NSW National Parks and Wildlife site.

NSW Dept. of Health

The NSW Department of Health supports the NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research and monitors the performance of the NSW public health system.  Their vision is for the people of NSW to be: “Healthy People – now and in the future”.

While much of the resources of The Department is consumed by the enormous task of running the health system, some resources are used for health-related research and programs that encourage a healthy lifestyle.  Given the many Physical Health Benefits and Mental Health Benefits of riding a bicycle, there is a strong argument for The Department to be a strong ally to Bicycle NSW in creating a better environment for cycling.

Click here to visit the NSW Department of Health web site.

NSW Dept. of Planning & Infrastructure

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure works closely with local government, stakeholders and the community to support sustainable growth in NSW.  The Department’s work includes:

– Long-term planning for the State’s regions.
– Driving well-located housing and employment land.
– Assessing State significant development proposals.
– Ensuring the planning system is efficient and effective.

The Department is responsible for many planning functions that affect the cycling environment including the formulation of entire precinct plans for the development of greenfield sites.

Click here to visit the Department of Planning and Infrastructure Website.

NSW Dept. of Sport and Recreation

The purpose of the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation is to assist the people of NSW to improve their well-being through participate in sport and recreation.

The Department recognises the vital role sport and recreation plays in binding communities together and that participation in physical activity creates a broad range of benefits for all members of the community.

Click here to visit the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation Site.

NSW Police

The NSW Police aim to protect the community and property by:

– preventing, detecting and investigating crime.
– monitoring and promoting road safety.
– maintaining social order.
– performing and coordinating emergency and rescue operations.

These activities provide key social functions that improve the cycling environment in NSW.  The promotion and monitoring of road safety aims to provide a safe environment for all road users, which is critical to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicycle users.

In the event of an accident, the NSW Police provide emergency services coordination and the ability to investigate the cause of the accident.  Their role as investigators in cases where bicycle users are harmed by the actions (whether intentional or unintentional) of other road users is key to creating a safe environment for cycling.

The NSW Police also provide assistance through their representatives on Regional Traffic Committees and Local Traffic Committees as well as by providing support for cycling events such as the Spring Cycle.

Click here to visit the NSW Police web site.

Premier’s Council for Active Living

The Premier’s Council for Active Living (PCAL) aims to build and strengthen the physical and social environments in which communities engage in active living. It comprises senior representatives from across government, industry and the community sector. It was established in 2004 and follows on from the NSW Physical Activity Taskforce, which met between 1996 and 2002.

Click here to visit the Premier’s Council for Active Living web site.

Railcorp

Railcorp manage the delivery of rail infrastructure including rolling stock to the NSW freight and passenger rail network.  While Transport for NSW provides policy and planning functions across transport (including rail), Railcorp owns the land and rolling stock required.

Click here to visit the Railcorp web site.

Click here to read the Cycleways on the Rail Corridor standard prepared by RailCorp.

Roads and Maritime Services

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is a NSW State Government agency established on 1 November 2011.  It is a delivery agency responsible for implementing strategy defined by Transport for NSW by building and maintaining roads as well as a through a variety of other services.

The RMS delivers the infrastructure necessary to fulfill the NSW Bike Plan which includes bicycle infrastructure both on-road and off-road.  While it is Transport for NSW who are responsible for strategic planning, not RMS, the decisions made by RMS still have a significant impact on the cycling environment in NSW.

Click here to visit the Roads and Maritime Services web site.

Roads Australia

Roads Australia is a not for profit, non-political industry association which embraces stakeholders in the Australian road transport sector.  Roads Australia was formed in 2005 by the Federal Minister for Roads, Hon Jim Lloyd MP as the National Peak Body for Australia’s road transport stakeholders.

Roads Australia represents the interests of the network and its stakeholders in areas such as safety, integration with other systems, research, use of improved technology, resource allocation and improved asset utilisation.  It draws attention to the importance of our road network to the economic and social fabric of our nation. Roads Australia seeks to ensure that information and decision-making in relation to our road transport is well informed and reflects an appropriate level of priorities.

Click here to visit the Roads Australia web site.

Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) owns and manages some of the State’s most significant assets.  Many of these sites cover areas where key bicycle infrastructure projects have been proposed or have been constructed.  These sites include:

– Sydney’s heritage and cultural precincts at The Rocks and Darling Harbour.
– White Bay Power Station.
– Rozelle railway yards.
– Ballast Point.

The SHFA states that they have: “identified the need for sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability at the very core of its place management of Darling Harbour and The Rocks.  Darling Harbour and The Rocks are among the first precincts in NSW to target eco-footprint reductions which aim to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of these precincts by 80 per cent from 2001 levels by 2020.”

An example of the commitment to sustainability made by the SHFA can be seen in the refurbishment of the heritage-listed buildings at 88 George St.  The relatively inexpensive addition of bicycle storage facilities was one of the simple additions made to the refurbishment plan, thus allowing the building to become Australia’s first 5 Star Green Star Office Design rating in December 2007.

Bicycle NSW welcomes the sustainable vision presented by the SHFA and looks forward to their continuing leadership through policies that encourage bicycle use among tenants, residents and users of their precincts.  This includes provision of end-of-trip facilities such as bicycle storage as well as the design of public space to encourage bicycle transport.

Click here to visit the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority web site.

Transport for NSW

Transport for NSW is responsible for transport planning and policy across NSW as well as the coordination of agencies such as the Roads and Maritime ServicesRailcorp and a host of other transport providers and delivery agents.

Transport for NSW has assumed the responsibilities of the Transport Construction Authority (formerly the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation) which was responsible for construction of major rail projects in Sydney such as the Chatswood to Epping line.

Transport for NSW is responsible for the development of the  NSW Transport Masterplan and the NSW Bike Plan 2010 which are key documents that affect the planning and delivery of bicycle facilities and programs in NSW.

Click here to visit the Transport for NSW web site.