SECURE PARKING FOR DARWIN’S BICYCLE COMMUTERS

22/08/2005 - More secure parking at public transport facilities across the city will make it easier for Darwin cyclists to ride a bike and get around town.
Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, today announced Darwin cyclists would share in $2.4 million over two years from the latest round of national Cycle Connect grants.
"The Cycle Connect programme provides funding for secure bicycle parking to be installed at public transport hubs in our major urban centres and I'm delighted that Darwin is to benefit from this again," Senator Campbell said.
The Australian Government's Cycle Connect grant, in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, will deliver $120,000 for secure bike parking enclosures to hold approximately 100 bikes at bus interchanges and ferry terminals over the next year.
"Cycle Connect is helping hundreds of people ride part of the way to work, with $1.2 million in grants in 2005-06 to local councils and transport authorities to build cycle lockers and secure cages at train and bus stations," Senator Campbell said.
"The Cycle Connect programme is helping hundreds of people ride part of the way to work, with $1.2 million in grants in 2005-06 to local councils and transport authorities to build cycle lockers and secure cages at train and bus stations," Senator Campbell said.
"This initiative covers public transport networks by offering facilities for those who find it too far to walk to their local station but who are happy to cycle. Additional secure parking helps the community to reduce reliance on cars.
"Substituting short car trips with bicycle rides is one way of keeping fit and healthy, while reducing congestion, greenhouse gas and pollution at the same time.
"For every three kilometres that are cycled rather than driven, we save about a kilogram of greenhouse gas emissions.
"One-third of car trips taken by Australians are less than three kilometres long and many trips could be taken on a bicycle if people were confident their bike would be secure while they are at work."
Senator Campbell said the Australian Government was pleased with the response to the Cycle Connect programme, which involves locker schemes, applications for high security bicycle cages as well as a solution for larger scale parking.
Cycle Connect is a part of Measures for a Better Environment - an Australian Government initiative developed in collaboration with the Australian Democrats.