Australian Cycling Environmental and Health Foundation

The Australian Cycling Environmental and Health Foundation, trading as We Ride Australia, is a registered Australian charity dedicated to promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy mode of transportation. Established in 2000 by the Australian bicycle industry as the Cycling Promotion Fund (CPF), it was re-launched on 1 July 2017 as an independent, not-for-profit charitable organization[2].

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Australian Cycling Environmental and Health Foundation include:

• Advocacy: Advocating for policies and investments that make cycling accessible, safe, and convenient for all Australians.
• Environmental Impact: Contributing to sustainable transport choices to address climate change, particularly for short trips.
• Health Benefits: Promoting the physical and mental health benefits of cycling, improving community livability, and reducing traffic congestion.
• Infrastructure Development: Building the case for investment in cycling infrastructure to support these goals[2][3].

Activities and Programs

The foundation engages in various activities and programs to achieve its objectives:

• Ridescore: One of its key initiatives is the delivery of Ridescore, which aimed to increase the number of children riding bicycles[4].
• Research and Reports: It also develops reports like the We Ride Australian Cycling Economy Report to provide evidence supporting cycling's role in the national agenda[5].

Governance and Funding

The organization is governed by a board of directors and operates with a focus on national-level advocacy, participating in key Ministerial Councils and lobby groups. Its primary source of funding is through membership dues from bicycle industry members[1][5]. Despite operating on a relatively modest budget, the foundation has continued to expand its activities and influence in national cycling policy discussions[5].

[1] https://www.weride.org.au/who-we-are/ [2] https://www.weride.org.au/about/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d5e1cea3-3aaf-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60/documents/77935011-53f6-ea11-a815-000d3ad1f9f4 [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d5e1cea3-3aaf-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60 [5] https://thelatzreport.com.au/news/other/new-directors-strengthen-we-ride-australias-board/