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Feature Stories

 

Media Release 1st September 2004
John Stephenson

Bike Week 2004

The annual Bike Week is on again from 18th to 26th September 2004.
The aims of Bike Week are to:

  • Encourage people of all ages to participate in a bike ride
  • Encourage safe riding by all participants
  • Encourage the recreational enjoyment and fitness benefits of cycling
  • Promote cycling as a practical alternative means of transport especially school and TAFE students and people travelling to and from work.
  • Promote the ongoing activities of Warrumbungle Wheelers Bicycle Users Group (WWBUG)

WWBUG are organising 2 rides and a lot of promotion. The main event will be a community Market Day bike ride on 26th September 2004 starting at 11.30pm at Neilson Park. The ride will be led by experienced riders and will follow a scenic course on and off road around town. This will be a great ride for everyone and especially young and novice riders. A Youth Ride will also be held during Bike Week. Apart from an enjoyable ride, participants will receive information about safety and road rules.

Publicity for Bike Week will include: a new pamphlet promoting the benefits of cycling - for health, fitness, environment and personal budget; an update of Coonabarabran's premier cycling website, www.coonabarabran.com/cycling; posters and advertisements.

The popularity of cycling is on the way up, coinciding with the Tour de France, Tour de Bungles, Olympics and the current Coonabarabran Bike Plan community survey. Bike Week is our chance to celebrate the fun, fitness and friendliness of cycling in Coonabarabran.

 

 

* 2nd March 2004+

 

BUG Banner Launched

 

The Warrumbungle Wheelers Bicycle Users Group launched their new banner in Nielson Park in front an enthusiastic market day crowd on Sunday 22nd February 2004.

The banner features WWBUG’s cartoon image of a happy cyclist in the Warrumbungles under the stars.The banner will help promote bike riding in Coonabarabran with an emphasis on safe cycling.



Caption: Members of WWBUG launch new banner in Nielson Park, l to r: Vanessa Roberts, Martin Rehwinkel, Nila Cain, John Stephenson and Milton Judd.

Production of the banner was supported by the RTA who have been very active in promoting cycling as a safe, enjoyable alternative transport. You can see the banner at the start of regular WWBUG rides.

The launch was followed by a 10km ride around town. The next ride will be this Sunday, 7th March. The 16km ride starts at 9am and finishes at the National Park Visitors Centre followed by morning tea. It will be a relatively easy ride with a long down hill stretch through the park.

Contact for more information.


* February 2004

First ride of the Year for Coona Cyclists

 

In February a group of 12 cycling enthusiasts including 4 children left Coonabarabran at 6.30am for a leisurely ride along Timor Road. The destination was a date for breakfast at the Warrumbungle Holiday Cabins. Its a great time for riding because the air is cool and there are few vehicles. Bike riding is a very different travel experience compared to a car. Its an ideal way of seeing and hearing the countryside.

 

Ride, food, satisfied

 

On arrival at the camp the children managed to burn off more energy by playing and enjoying the playground whilst the adults relaxed and chatted over a delicious and bountiful breakfast prepared and served by hosts, Liz and Col Welsh.

The group, all members of Coonabarabran’s own Warrumbungle Wheelers Bicycle Users Group (WWBUG) then returned on their two wheels to Coona. The early morning ride was enjoyed by all and the weather conditions were perfect.

 

(LEFT: Artwork by local Artist John Stephenson)

* 2003 

Bike Week 2003

 

Coonabarabran’s Bike Week 2003 events have been judged to be a great success. Three events were organised by the Warrumbungle Wheelers Bicycle Users Group with funding from the RTA. The RTA is keen to encourage cycling as an alternative transport as well as encouraging safe riding and community respect for cyclists. The 3 events were a market day ride, a youth ride with a demonstration of road rules by Constable Martin Rehwinkel and a promotion to encourage children and youth to ride to school.

 

73 postcards were returned to WWBUG with comments of why people enjoying bike riding in Coonabarabran as well as their suggestions for improving safety and enjoyment.

 Sam Thomas receives his new
bike helmet from John Stephenson

Manager of the Coonabarabran Community
Centre and member of WWBUG.

“This was a terrific response from the community” commented Milton Judd, President of WWBUG. People said they enjoyed cycling because it is fun, social, healthy and a great way to see the town and surrounding bush.

A majority of respondents suggested there should be more cycleways, a bike park for children to learn road rules and a bike plan for the Shire. The postcard project was a great way to get community feedback on cycling issues and has impressed the RTA who have distributed the card to all their Road Safety Officers around the state.

 

An incentive to encourage people to return the postcard included prizes purchased or given by Donna at Toyworld and Garry at Baglees Cycles. First prize of a new bike was won by Carmel Evans and second to fifth prizes of new bike helmets were won by Margaret Groombridge, Sam Thomas, Ashley Cooke and Guy Goode.

 

WWBUG have planned a ride programme to the end of the year. This information is available on their website, www.coonabarabran.com/cycling