"The Home of Cycling in SA"

This Friday 21st January the Tour Down Under, Stage 4, starts from Norwood. This day is particularly special because not only do we get the see the world's best racing cyclists take off from the Parade at 11 a.m., we are also hosting the sunrise start of the Mutual Community Challenge Tour at 6.30 a.m. This is significant because this is the race that is open to any rider who wishes to have a go. The participation rate has continually grown since its inception in 2003 and this year more than 8000 people are expected to ride.

I am personally very excited to see the popularity of cycling growing in SA, not just as an elite sport but as an everyday activity that a huge section of our community can take part in, at a wide range of levels. I hope to see our culture adapting to accept bicycle users of every ability, and for the whole gamut of reasons that people may choose to ride a bike.

Even more encouraging is to see from the most recent NPSP Council Meeting (Council Meeting Agenda 17/1/11 page 2, Item 9.1) that the Mayor Robert Bria has proposed that the Council acknowledge the Norwood Cycling Club for its contribution to cycling in South Australia and Australia by commissioning an historic sign post and a cultural walk plaque.

In conjunction with this year's Tour Down Under, the Council is promoting Norwood as "the Home of Cycling in SA".

Acknowledging the historical contributions of Norwood Cycling Club is likely to be just one of many actions that the Council may take in the upcoming years to promote and encourage cycling as a valuable and practical mode of transport, recreation and healthy activity. In the context of sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, it is clear that the bicycle has a large role to play in our future.

Both myself and the Council's newly appointed Sustainability Officer Kelly Overeem have attended the Australian Cycling Conference this week. (I was attending on behalf of the Bicycle Institute of SA in my capacity as Secretary). This was a conference aimed squarely at urban planners, transport planners, stakeholders from the Transport, Public Health and Recreation sectors,  and local and state government policy makers.

The Conference presented a wealth of practical ideas combined with long time vision that I hope the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters will be able to integrate into its planning and development, and in the process take the position of "leader", not "follower" as it works to truly make Norwood the home of cycling in SA.