ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Most of us remember the first time we mastered the art of riding a bicycle and the exhilaration we felt, along with the ability to access true independent freedom as a child it also provided other major benefits not only to the participant, but also society in general. It gave our community better general health!
Unfortunately today with many people we find a plethora of impediments that hinder this benevolent activity, for some it’s poor infrastructure, access to end of point change/shower facilities, bicycle security, simply fear of riding on our busy roads or a combination.
At AWP, we believe much of this can be resolved when we consider obesity related disease alone costs Taxpayers $56.6 billion PA according to this 2005 report found here.
Without even considering other cost factors such as environmental and trade deficit pressures rising from importation of fuels and motor vehicles we start to see how important the bicycle can be in playing an important role for both social health and economic benefits.
Currently less than 1% of Australia’s transport budget is spent on cycling, which, when considered can reduce the financial burden on the budget bottom line in so many ways.
It has also been found that every cycling trip in Australia saves the economy $21 found here.
Reductions in:
Some of the things AWP believes should be implemented are:
Unfortunately today with many people we find a plethora of impediments that hinder this benevolent activity, for some it’s poor infrastructure, access to end of point change/shower facilities, bicycle security, simply fear of riding on our busy roads or a combination.
At AWP, we believe much of this can be resolved when we consider obesity related disease alone costs Taxpayers $56.6 billion PA according to this 2005 report found here.
Without even considering other cost factors such as environmental and trade deficit pressures rising from importation of fuels and motor vehicles we start to see how important the bicycle can be in playing an important role for both social health and economic benefits.
Currently less than 1% of Australia’s transport budget is spent on cycling, which, when considered can reduce the financial burden on the budget bottom line in so many ways.
It has also been found that every cycling trip in Australia saves the economy $21 found here.
Reductions in:
- Reliance on imported fossil fuels
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Hospitalisations
- Imported motor vehicles
- Carcinogenic particle emissions
- Infrastructure costs
- Obesity
- Congestion/Travel times
- Depression
- Public transport expenditure
- Health system costs
- Trade deficits
Some of the things AWP believes should be implemented are:
- Financial support for cycling groups, clubs and organisations
- Balanced and proportionate Federal funding in road infrastructure projects
- The expansion of on/off road infrastructure specifically for cycling
- Funding for secure bicycle parking facilities
- Installation and or financial incentives for end of trip storage/showers and lockers
- Introduction of Fringe Benefit Tax for bicycle lease/purchases
- GST exemption on all new bicycles and parts sold via an Australian retail store
- Increase expenditure on cycling infrastructure and programmes to 2% of Federal transport budget
- Federal inquiry into the effectiveness of vulnerable road user laws such as safe passing distance measures
- National Safe Passing Distance Laws
3.2 million Aussie children are not doing enough exercise to meet the government's physical activity guidelines. That's enough children to fill 6,000 jumbo jets!
