Changing Gears

Our key objectives:

• Provide a compelling business case to governments that quality cycling and walking infrastructure is vital for healthy, fair, prosperous and liveable towns and cities
• Convey a united voice of action to governments to fast-track agreed priority cycling infrastructure projects
• Ensure elected officials understand that communities need, want and vote for walking and cycling infrastructure
• Gain funding commitments for visionary infrastructure projects across NSW
• Communicate the essential need for, and benefits of, cycling infrastructure clearly and succinctly to the media and the public

The overarching aim? To entrench and elevate active transport as a mainstream government priority for investment.

"We know people want to walk and ride more. But governments are not keeping pace with the demand for investment," says Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean.

"The people of New South Wales cannot wait 2, 3 or even 4 decades for more critical active transport infrastructure to be funded and built. It is time for a new approach.

"Changing Gears will borrow the lobbying strategies of the 'big end of town'. Other groups are very successful in garnering funding, subsidies and support to protect and grow their industry segment. For example, the airline, trucking and agriculture industries have successfully negotiated improved conditions, funding and subsidies through illustrating their value and impact to the Australian economy.

"We will make it crystal clear to elected politicians that active transport solves many intractable issues. Whether they care most about cost-of-living, fuel security, housing growth, the night-time economy, tourism, poor health, air pollution, congestion, biodiversity - or just getting re-elected - they can absolutely not afford to overlook the urgent need to invest at scale in walking and cycling."