Evaluation

The bicycle recycling project aims to encourage and enable active living in a number of ways – primarily by promoting increased cycling in the local area.

The extensive cycleway network in Fairfield City already illustrates many of the design considerations set out in the ‘Walking and cycling routes’ section of Designing Places for Active Living. While the bicycle recycle project is not an example of built form as such, it provides a social dimension that complements the physical infrastructure. The provision of access to bicycles at the clubhouse and the range of associated community activities run by the WSCN combine to promote awareness of local cycleways and encourage and enable community members to make greater use of them.

The project relates to other design considerations contained in Designing Places for Active Living as follows:

• Walking and cycling routes leading to local destinations and focal points such as shops, schools, parks and public transport stops.

The WSCN is a local destination and focal point in its own right, and can be accessed via the local cycle network. Weekly and monthly community rides leave from the clubhouse and are designed to familiarise riders with local cycle routes and how they can be used to access local destinations, including shops and cafes, schools, parks and public transport stops.

• Connect local walking and cycling networks to regional routes linking centres and facilities

The WSCN facility is connected to the local cycle network. A major east-west regional cycle route (the ‘Bay to Mountains’ shared path along Orphan School Creek) runs past the showground and connects to the north-south rail trail.

Overall the program helps to:

• provide low-cost access to bicycles for people who could not afford a new one
• provide access to a bicycle for people who want to try cycling for the first time and do not want to commit to buying one
• raise awareness of the extensive network of local cycleways and encourage their use by the community
• promote bicycle use as an alternative means of transport to access local destinations
• promotes the health and environmental benefits of cycling
• support the growth of local cycling culture
• support the business of local bicycle shops by growing the market for bicycles. People may start off on a recycled loaned bike and develop a passion for cycling which puts them in the market for a new and better bike.

While an increase in cycling as a form of ‘active living’ delivers a range of health benefits for the community, this project also fulfils a number of social objectives. At its outset the project provided employment training opportunities for local long-term unemployed people. A number of the original ‘Work for the Dole’ participants subsequently found work but returned to the project as community volunteers and club members.

Now a volunteer-run club, the WSCN continues to build social capital, providing training and support for community members and holding a range of community cycling events that encourage new people to become involved. The WSCN now has its own member base, a website for promotion and undertakes a calendar of free weekly and monthly community bike rides.

WSCN ride leaders and coaches are accredited with Cycling NSW, and have participated in a number of coaching programs. In 2008 they worked with the  Sydney South West Area Health Service, providing basic cycle skills courses, and leading cycleway tours for local high school students as part of the NSW Health-funded Cycling Connecting Communities project. In 2008 a number of WSCN members also became accredited cycle skills coaches with the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program, an Australian Sports Commission initiative that provides primary school-aged children with access to free, structured physical activity programs in the after-school hours. These WSCN members are now coaching AASC ‘learn to ride’ and skills development courses for children in two local primary schools, and the club has provided approximately 50 bicycles to local schools as part of the program. The courses have proven extremely popular, with many children riding a bicycle for the first time, and learning to ride through the program.

In addition to positive health and social outcomes, the project also delivers environmental benefits, encouraging people to reduce car use by using a bicycle for local trips, and reducing waste by reusing bicycles that would otherwise be sent to landfill or left lying around unused. Since the project’s launch, over 200 bicycles have been refurbished and recycled into the local community.

Awards

Fairfield City Council was awarded the ‘Local Government Award for Special Initiative to Encourage and Promote Cycling’ at the Cycling Promotion Fund Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards 2007, in recognition of the WSCN bicycle recycling project, and Council’s other initiatives to promote cycling, such as the provision of 100kms of cycleways.

The Nalawala Urban Sustainability Hub, of which the WSCN clubhouse is a part, was awarded the ‘Local Government Awards – Best Specific Environmental Initiative’ at the United Nations of Australia World Environment Day Awards 2008.

Also in 2008, the WSCN was awarded the ‘Landcom Sustainable Community Award’ by Keep Australia Beautiful NSW.