Hi WoJ’ ers,
As announced previously Wheels of Justice has joined and now represents you as members of the Bicycle Federation of Australia, giving us access at the coal face to Australia’s peak cycling advocacy and infrastructure lobby and policy development group.

BFA has a strong history of involvement in being the voice of cyclists in the heady world of political lobbying and doing its best to weave through the interests and detractions which have hampered the positive development of the all the benefits of cycling that we know too well. BFA is apolitical, and its aims and aspirations align with Wheels of Justice.

At the annual general meeting the opportunity existed for Wheels of Justice to participate more closely at a higher level, when I was invited to join the committee of the Bicycle Federation of Australia 2006-2007.

Now I am not a fan of committees per se, (remember the camel?), as they can get bogged down as we all know too well. However with dedication , purpose and drive, they can achieve much. Here the make up of the BFA committee for 2006 –2007 comprises experience, wisdom, and initiative.

I believe this committee will achieve much and with the Federal Election looming it can certainly be very active and as an example it has already developed a policy to lobby for improved funding for Local Governments to apply for local initiatives for cycling infrastructure. 2006-2007 will be an exciting year in the growth and development of the aims and projects of Wheels of Justice and I trust our access to the BFA as members and now on its management committee with input into its planning and management will have positive benefits for cyclists in Victoria.

Remember that Victoria has no national cycling representative as BV has not participated at this level and pursues its own event driven agenda, for some reason leaving Victoria out of the mix. Here is a short note reporting on the BFA’s October planning meeting and AGM in Melbourne.

More detailed notes on the planning meeting and draft minutes on the AGM will be circulated soon, but here’s a summary of key points from Chairman Jeff Ibbotsen’s report Cycle safe everyone and today, in the spirit of our new beginning, may your horse be with you

“Good Luck” to all at the Cup,

Cheers

Rob Eke

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BFA outline from Jeff Ibbotsen-Chairman - Planning meeting

There was general support for Cycle Paths to Recovery (CPR) as an issue for the 2007 federal budget and election. However, there was a feeling that a new name is named for this project/campaign – any ideas? Since the meeting Peter Strang and I have been working closely with Cr Norman Jew from Wollondilly Shire Council and Rosemarie Speidel from the Cycling Promotion Fund to further develop this proposal for federal funding of local government for cycling and walking infrastructure projects.

I’ll send a separate email on this to delegates and exec officers. There was also support for Healthy and Active Routes to Schools (HEARTS), based on Safe Routes to Schools programs that have been successful in the UK, Europe and the US. The Connecting Cycling Conference 2007 and Member group views on BFA priorities were also discussed and will be covered in the meeting notes that will be out soon.

AGM As Committee members each have two-year terms, elections were only needed to replace outgoing Committee members Peter Berkeley, Qld, and David Edwards, Tas, who were thanked for their efforts. Sam Powrie, SA and Rob Eke, Vic were elected and welcomed to the Committee.

The motions on amending the BFA Rules on being an environmental organisation were passed, as were those on membership fees, supporter donations and on amending the BFA Rules on voting. A new version of the Rules is now being prepared.