Bicycle Network and seven other Australian bicycle organisations are calling on the federal government to act rapidly to leverage active modes of transport in national efforts to reduce carbon emissions by 2050.
In a submission to the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, the group calls for a specific group of zero/low emissions light vehicles, bikes, e-bikes and micromobility to be expressly identified as a subset of the light vehicles category in the roadmap and its action plan.
The combined submission states that the organisations are “deeply concerned that the roadmap’s suggested pathway for reducing road transport emissions does not include mode shift away from car driving towards active modes like walking and bike riding for local trips”.
The Australian bicycle group includes We Ride Australia, Bicycle Network, Bicycle Queensland, West Cycle, Bicycle NSW, Pedal Power ACT, AusCycling and Bike SA, which have a combined national membership of 141,500 and represent the 9.52 million Australians who rode a bike in 2023.
Bicycle Network CEO Alison McCormack says the group also advocates for the more than 75% of Australians who would take up riding a bike for transport if they were provided with a safe, connected infrastructure network.
“Now is the time for all levels of government to work together to create a rapid pathway that deploys active transport to reduce carbon emissions from road transport. Bikes and e-bikes can replace second cars and help us create healthier, more accessible, equitable and liveable communities,” Mc Cormack says.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development’s roadmap, and its resulting action plan, are part of the government’s efforts to decarbonise transport and transport infrastructure down to an ambitious Net Zero Target by 2050.
In our combined submission, the bike organisations state that: “Reductions of transport emissions to 2030 through rapid mode shift to active transport presents a significant opportunity but it must be explicitly funded and planned for as part of the national Roadmap Action Plan.
“Active transport initiatives and interventions are available immediately and can be deployed quickly to achieve a rapid mode shift by 2030.”
The groups also say the roadmap must recognise that responsibility for many solutions rests largely at the local government level to operationalise, at the state and territory government level to plan, and at federal government level to lead with supporting measures, policy and investment.
The submission calls for a national policy framework to include:
• A plan with all actions articulated as responsibilities and assessment and data requirements clearly stated.
• Federal leadership for moving people in a national policy framework and endorsement of globally recognised street design principles for the movement of people regardless of mode and location.
• A clear articulation of the vision for Net Zero transport that is nationally developed, federally led and articulated and delivered by all state and territory jurisdictions through a public awareness and information campaign.
• A positive provision policy applied for inclusion of consideration for public and active travel modes in all transport projects funded by the Australian government.
• A comprehensive approach to planning and urban design based on a user hierarchy with pedestrians at the top, then active travel and public transport, freight and shared vehicles followed by private motor vehicles last.
• A comprehensive commitment to disability standards in all transport projects, stations and infrastructure to guarantee equitable and accessible mobility for all.
• Promotion of uptake of e-bikes and e-cargo solutions for local transport trips and last-mile delivery with tax incentives, parity of FBT provisions for bikes and e-bikes with EVs, and purchase incentives for light electric vehicles and bicycles.
• A national scheme for walking and riding to school with skills training to boost participation.
• A national safe speeds framework to guide adoption of low-speed neighbourhoods and zones that create safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling.
You can read the combined submission here.
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