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Bike City Community Partners
Bike City Community Partners Program
Wollongong was awarded the prestigious UCI Bike City label in early 2021 in recognition of its long-term commitment to cycling and the hosting of the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, which came to Wollongong, in September 2022.
Wollongong is now one of only 20 Bike Cities around the world, including Vancouver, Paris, Copenhagen and Glasgow. Wollongong is proud to be the first Australian city, and the first regional city, to receive this prestigious label.
Destination Wollongong is working with Wollongong City Council to activate the Bike City status and ensure that the community benefits in a variety of ways from this prestigious label.
The Bike City Community Partners program was established to engage with a variety of community organisations who, in some way, promote participation in cycling in Wollongong. The Community Partners meet regularly with Destination Wollongong to be briefed on Bike City events and projects, share their cycling activities and create synergies with other partners, that has seen productive collaboration.
The Bike City Community Partners are listed here – for members of the community to contact should they be interested in being involved with them.
Community Partners
Wollongong City Council focussed on supporting people of all ages and abilities to cycle across the city. Whether you’re riding to work, to study or for recreation, Council is committed to creating safe, accessible and fun connections for everyone.
In recent years, Council has opened big facilities like the Cringila Mountain Bike Park and the Illawarra Criterium Track. For local routes, they’ve invested in a dedicated east-west on-road link along Smith Street. There’s also a continuing program of upgrades to existing shared paths and cycleways right from Helensburgh in the north to Windang in the south and as far west as Yallah.
The city’s love of cycling is also represented through Council’s programs, events, celebrations, public art and more.
AusCycling works across all aspects of cycling and riding in Australia, from grassroots to elite. We represent all disciplines and participants at every step of their riding journey.
Formed in November 2020 from 19 separate governing bodies, their goal is to unite, connect and grow cycling and riding in a sustainable, innovative, and inclusive way.
CTNSW was established by Fred David and grew out of Fred’s passion for cycling, connecting people through meaningful relationships and wanting to share the surroundings of his hometown in Wollongong, NSW, Australia. Fred has had a career in motor mechanics and as a senior pastor, giving him the ability to teach and guide people to have a connected experience in the bike. Fred has focused on developing a platform to share his love of cycling and encourage people to explore the great outdoors on two wheels.
In 2019, together with his wife Janet, they made the decision to expand their support for the community and formed the company Igknight to invite the experience of cycling to people with disability.
Destination Wolllongong is encouraging visitors to explore the best of cycling in Wollongong Visitors can discover scenic routes, cycling trails, and bike-friendly attractions that cater to riders of all levels. They can immerse themselves in the natural beauty of this coastal city as they pedal along the breathtaking coastline and lush escarpments.
From thrilling mountain biking trails to leisurely rides along the Grand Pacific Drive, Wollongong offers a cycling paradise.
For visitor cycling information visit the Cycling Page of this website.
Thanks to all people that support the Cancer Council, they’re making great strides towards their vision of a cancer free future.
The local Cancer Council Team have staged cycling events and promotions and support the concept of healthy transport & lifestyle.
Cycling Without Age is a global, non-for-profit organisation founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Ole Kassow. It was established in 2012, and today, the organisation is represented in 42 countries all over the world, including a local chapter in Wollongong.
The concept of Cycling Without Age is taking elderly people (or those with disabilities) out for bike rides in specially built trishaw bikes piloted by volunteers. The bike rides are free of charge. Thei mission is to build bridges between generations and help prevent loneliness: we provide the elderly people an opportunity to avoid social isolation and remain active in their community by taking them out on bike rides and allow them to ‘feel the wind in their hair’.
A multi-sport events company dedicated to lifestyle sports development, creating new standards in competition, format, equipment and competitors.
Since their humble beginnings in 1999, they have become the go-to-team for delivering successful mass participation and multi-sport festivals across the country.
Next up is Ride Wollongong 2024 – on 8 and 9 September. This event – originally staged as a legacy Event to remember the UCI Road World Championships includes a Community Ride, Cycling Expo and Races.
Get involved in competitive road cycling races or the free community ride. Celebrating the legacy of the 2022 UCI Road World Championships, the Festival of Cycling has something for everyone to enjoy, in the beautiful city of Wollongong!
In January 2011 a group of people got together to solve two of the biggest problems in our region: unemployment and waste. Just down the road, another group of people got together to solve the unsustainable food system. The groups merged to become Green Connect and in the ten years since, a series of smart, capable, motivated people have each added their skills, knowledge and effort to create jobs that care for people and planet.
Green Connect support active transport initiatives and programs and recycling of bikes.
As the pioneer for the regional Academy model in Australian sport, the Illawarra Academy of Sport is a not-for-profit sporting organisation that exists to provide localised training and education opportunities for talented young athletes, coaches and administrators across the Illawarra region. Each year the IAS provides development support to over 250 athletes, 45 coaches and 25 administrators.
The IAS operates through the Illawarra’s geographic region comprising the five local government areas of; Wollongong, Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee.
The IAS Road and Track Cycling Program is designed to support the developmental needs of the regions emerging talented cycling athletes by providing industry leading high-performance sport development programs.
The aim of the program is to provide additional skill development in the performance pathway, in addition to their daily training environment and club training.
Frame Running Wollongong (FRW) is a not-for-profit community activity created to support children in the Illawarra with a disability or impaired balance, by providing a sporting service where they feel safe, secure, supported and equal. FRW aims to enrich the lives of children with a disability by participating in the sport of Frame Running and is the only provider of Frame Running in the Illawarra Region.
They provide a safe, supportive and equal environment where children feel empowered to experience the freedom of running on custom-designed 3-wheel bike-frames. They focus on early intervention and disability participation in sport, led by a team of passionate parents of children with disabilities, a physiotherapist and dedicated volunteers.
They offer a sibling support program and parent support get-togethers, encouraging the whole family to participate.
Guided by their core values of integrity, collaboration, equity and inclusivity Healthy Cities works in partnership with local government, universities, and other community organisations to reduce the prevalence of disease and prevent hospitalisation by improving health and wellbeing outcomes in communities that need it most. Physical activity and active transport are key strategic pillars to achieve this for physical and mental health benefits for people and helping to reduce carbon emissions, traffic congestion and noise.
Healthy Cities are involved in a number of cycling events and programs including “More than a Cyclist Illawarra” Ride2UOW and Safe and Active Routes to Schools.
Our Active Transport Taskforce is a network of organisations and individuals working to improve urban environments to encourage active transport.
The Illawarra Bicycle Users Group Inc is a member-based volunteer organisation affiliated with Bicycle NSW. They advocate for cycling to be the most attractive and inclusive mode of transport and recreation for everyone and actively help to better cycling and increase participation in cycling in the Wollongong and Shellharbour Local Government Areas.
Sign up to become a member on their website – the annual fee is $5. Our members receive a 15% discount on Bicycle NSW membership. Consider joining Bicycle NSW to help elevate our voices at the State level.
Illawarra Bicycle Users Group stages events throughout the year. Its Women’s Network held a Fancy Women’s Bike Ride on 1st Sept 2024. The event aims to change perceptions of cycling for women and gender diverse people who have low participation rates of cycling in the Illawarra and will contribute to growing a fun and inclusive culture around cycling.
igknight provides disability and aged care support to people in their home and/or in the community, across the Illawarra Region including the city of Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Janet and Fred David are the owners of Igknight Pty Ltd. Fred and Janet have a strong foundation in supporting and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. With Fred’s background in ministry, supporting young people through difficult lifestyle changes, and Janet’s background working for ADHC as a Registered Nurse, they have built an organisation focused on including people in the community, no matter their disability.
In 2017, Fred established Cycle Tours NSW, a tourism business focusing on customised cycle tours. In 2018, his passion for cycling and community support led him to provide individual support to people with disabilities. They want to support you in living your best life and being included and connected in your community.
Since 1975, MCCI has been working to deliver services and programs that promote equity, harmony, and social inclusion, and that build community capacity. Their vision is for a cohesive multicultural society that embraces, celebrates and values diversity.
Recognised by Multicultural NSW as a regional peak body, MCCI’s deep connections to the community are strengthened by their membership that comprises 58 multicultural associations representing the diversity of modern Australia.
MCCI have been involved in spreading the cycling message across the many communities of the Illawarra and running cycling promotions and events.
Ride4Rotary is an annual Illawarra based charity cycling event that is now in it’s 11th year. The ride is an all-inclusive cycling event open to all ages and abilities and targeted to families and family participation.
The live ride takes place at the Wollongong Velodrome in Unanderra every May and there is also a virtual option so participants can ride anywhere, anytime for as much or as little as they like and still be involved.
The event encourages everyone to get outside and jump on a bike (even if just for 10 minutes), promoting physical and mental health and wellbeing.
All money raised goes to assist funding SYFS Education, Employment and Education programs supporting vulnerable and at-risk young people improve quality of life and attain independence via education, training and career pathways.
The Illawarra Cycle Club is located in Wollongong with its new criterium track at Lindsay Mayne’s Park, Unanderra, now functional and open to the public. Club racing is held on Thursday afternoon during Summer (daylight savings) from 5-7 pm. Check their calendar for information on the upcoming track, road, criterium races, and group training rides.
The Illawarra Cycle Club road racing circuit is located at the top of Mount Keira. The roads are entirely closed to traffic, providing a safe environment for riders of all abilities. The course contains many great vantage points for spectators to catch the action and a start/finish line at the picturesque Robertson’s Lookout. Roads are closed to traffic from 1 pm on race day, with the public able to utilise the course before races start at 1:30 pm.
These races link with the Wollongong 2022 legacy objective of promoting sport and active participation by increasing the opportunities for bike riders to experience racing in a safe, closed-course environment.
Australia’s most epic ride takes place each November, from Sydney to Wollongong – on either a 54km or 82km course, riding through the closed road course in the Royal National Park and along Seacliff Bridge to Lang Park.
By taking part in the Ride, participants raise much needed funds for Multiple Sclerosis Plus– assisting MSP with over $1 million of funds for vital MS research, delivering close to 230,000 NDIS services and assisting over 1200 clients.
MS Gong Ride also introduces 10,000 riders each year to the landscape and attractions of Wollongong. MS Gong has collaborated with The Disability Trust to introduce an All-Abilities section of the 87 km MS Gong Ride.
Representing the Bulli, Wollongong and Lake Illawarra PCYC Clubs in conjunction with local Rotarian volunteers have been involved with the UCI Bike City Partners initiative since inception.
Lake Illawarra PCYC has an on-site Training facility for people to learn how to be safe on the roads when cycling and work closely with local schools in training our young cyclists.
For further information, please contact Dorothy Hennessy OAM, Chair, dothennessy@gmail.com.
Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for our local community, a few of our club members participated in the volunteer program for the UCI World championships race, held in Wollongong 2022 and loved being a part of the bike community spirit.
The South Coast and Tablelands Scouting Region stretches from Helensburgh in the North to the Victorian Border in the South, and incorporates areas West to Goulburn, Queanbeyan and Jindabyne.
Scouts offer a healthy dose of ‘adventure’, including an awesome range of outdoor activities. Adventure can mean any exciting, novel or unusual experience, and Scouts offers such a huge range of opportunities that there’s always something new to try. Scouts are separated into age-based sections. All Sections share a steady diet of self-respect, confidence, leadership, teamwork, creativity, environmental awareness and community involvement, and there are plenty of events and activities in which everyone can get involved together.
SCT Scouts also manages the Mount Keira Camp Site in Wollongong – with a selection of cycling adventures included in their programs.
The Disability Trust has been actively promoting cycling for several years as a way for all people to get moving as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Their organisation has been running the CycleAbility program in Wollongong and surrounding areas for the past two years which gives people with disability with no experience a chance to learn the basics of cycling and improve their skills so that they can be capable cyclists.
They currently offer both 1:1 and group-based sessions with a structured ride plan. These sessions welcome all ages with any bike riding skills level and have a core focus on building bike riding skills.
If you would like to know more about the program, please visit the website.
The Lions Club of Wollongong was chartered in 1957. It is the oldest Lions Club in District 201N2.
They are a group of people of all ages and and skill sets, dedicated to making a positive difference to not only the local community, but any community that needs a helping hand.
They raise considerable funds for the community from Driver Reviver, monthly Bunnings BBQs, the distribution and sales of Lion’s Christmas cakes & puddings, Youth of the Year awards, spectacles recycling and supporting the environment with tree and shrub planting to prevent erosion.
The Club manages the District 201N2 Freedom Wheels project. This project provides funding for Freedom Wheels bikes provided by the Technical Aid to the Disabled organisation. Since 2009 there have been over 49 bikes funded by this project.
The Sisters’ Cancer Support Group (SCSG) is a community based, not-for-profit, registered charity organisation that provides support for women from multicultural backgrounds who are affected by cancer. They understand a cancer diagnosis affects not just the patient but the whole family and community. They support the cancer patients as well as their families and friends.
The Sisters’ Cancer Support Group works with multicultural communities and health professionals to educate our communities about cancer prevention, cancer screening, self-care and healthy living after treatment.
Community education sessions are culturally safe, sensitive and inclusive. The sessions are supported with language interpreters and resources where possible. The Sisters’ group organise cycling for their members with many members riding safe cycles and cycling for the first time.
Flagstaff provide life skills and work for people with a disability in a supportive and inclusive environment.
As a registered NDIS provider, Flagstaff offers community programs & businesses with the purpose of providing employment for people with a disability and encouraging a world that only sees abilities.
Flagstaff’s social enterprises include print, mail & digital services, fine foods (frozen meals), Coffee with a Vision, commercial laundry services, recycling collection services, glove laundering, packaging & assembly, and group services such as industrial products, sewing, woodwork & lawn mowing.
Flagstaff’s NDIS division, Life Choices, offer a number of person-centred life skills pathways and activities for people with a disability including Health, Fitness and Wellbeing – that includes being assisted in safe cycling.