Ben Mikic Foundation for Young Cyclists

On April 27th 2007, Ben Mikic, a talented 15 year old racing cyclist from Mittagong, NSW, was tragically killed in a collision with a car during a training ride. Ben had proved himself as a gifted athlete in Road, Track and Mountain Bike Racing. Ben’s life goal, like many teenage cyclists was to ride in The Tour de France. Unfortunately, his gifted athletic ability was not enough to keep him safe on the road.

With the support of our patrons, Brad McGee and James Williamson, both friends and mentors of Ben, The Ben Mikic Foundation (BMF) has been established with the goal of making Australian roads a safer place for young cyclists. Our hope is to save the lives of other young cyclists.

BMF has appointed a team of capable, experienced individuals, passionate about helping young cyclists, to put into action a 5 point Road Safety plan:

1. Working with the State and National Cycling Bodies, BMF is bringing a Defensive Riding Training Program to every cycling club in Australia. The goal is for every club to appoint an accredited Road Safety Coach and mandate that every young rider (pre-drivers licence age) is trained in Road Safety before joining training rides or races.

2. Working with the RTA and Police to escalate road safety awareness for school children. There are already programs in place where the Police visit schools but this happens only occasionally. A more visible and structured program is being promoted.

3. Lobby government to accelerate the building of cycle lanes and other initiatives to create a safer environment for cyclists on Australian roads.

4. Lobby government and the RTA to increase the investment in making drivers more aware of cyclists and their safety.

5. The Ben Mikic Road Safety fun ride is an annual event aimed at attracting racing cyclists through to families. The event promotes cycling safety for the riders and the broader community.

In addition to the Road Safety plan, BMF has 2 initiatives to encourage young racing cyclists;

• The Ben Mikic Cup is an annual prize for the winner of the under 17’s track race at the Bowral Carnival held at Dunc Gray every October
• Through Ben’s club, Southern Highlands Cycling Club, BMF provides support each year for a talented, up and coming junior rider.

BMF is run by a team of passionate volunteers. Every cent donated goes to making the road a safer place for our children. Your support is greatly appreciated.