News article
AusBike scheme inspires kids to get in the saddle
Australia’s largest bike education programme has registered more than 50,000 participants since launching late last year.
AusBike was introduced by AusCycling in August 2023 in a bid to rectify the plunging national rate of active travel to school rate – which has fallen from 75% to just 25% over the last 40 years. AusCycling is the national sporting organisation responsible for the development, facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling in Australia, and the scheme is backed by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission.
Additionally, the general decline in sports participation and recreational activity through outdoor play was a factor behind the scheme. The lack of activity is having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of children, with the Obesity Evidence Hub reporting that one in four Australian kids were overweight or obese in 2022-23.
Over the last year or more, some 500 AusBike sessions were delivered and 100 AusBike coaches have been accredited. There have been over 5,600 Sporting Schools participants and more than 19,000 school students taking part in the AusBike programme in 2024 alone.
“It’s hard to put into words how proud we are of the AusBike programme and the success it has achieved over the last 15 months,” commented AusCycling Chief Executive Marne Fechner.
"Club and community engagement has also been a key focus for us over the last 12 months, and AusBike is a key pillar in supporting grassroots cycling."
“Yes, the programme delivers industry best-practice bike education, but you just have to see the smiles on kid’s faces at an AusBike session to understand there’s more to it than learning how to ride.
“The skills taught at an AusBike session build towards the moment a child realises they can ride a bike and what it means for their world – it’s great to be involved in providing Aussie kids with such an important life skill. Club and community engagement has also been a key focus for us over the last 12 months, and AusBike is a key pillar in supporting grassroots cycling: it can be the first step towards riding for leisure or transportation, or competitively as part of a club.”
Recently, the programme gained international recognition and was announced as a finalist at the inaugural UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards in the Cycling for All category.
Image: Amber Faust on Unsplash