“The thing about bike riding is that you can do it at any level – and you don’t have to be fit to start.” – Ray Davis

Bicycle Victoria is working on a number of programs designed to help new riders to get started or return to bike riding, as well as helping irregular riders to ride more frequently and enjoy it more.

It's a broad group, including  those that may be riding once every few weeks, to those who haven't ridden since they were a child and others who have never ridden a bike. They are men, women, seniors, the middle-aged and children.

They live in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Some work, others don't.  Some come from a disadvantaged background or have a particular health issue.

The common theme for this group however is that they would like to be more physically active but they are prevented from doing this because of one or more 'barriers'.

"I was nervous about starting to ride...but found a nice group of people to ride with. My friends and I get a real buzz out of cycling" – Katie (70)

Many organisations want to help people get active

Bicycle Victoria – through an expanding series of Coaching and Encouragement programs – is helping to link those that want to get active with a range of partners who not only can, but want to help people to get active. 

The Time to Ride Program: Our latest effort

The Time to Ride Program is a pilot program funded through the Department of Victorian Communities, with project management being conducted by Bicycle Victoria.

But this program is only possible through the generous contributions of a team of public, private and community sector partners, not to mention the tireless efforts of many individual volunteers in the local communities.

Time to Ride is targeting people who lead relatively inactive or sedentary lifestyles (i.e. undertake two or less half-an-hour sessions of moderate-intensity physical activity each week).

With promotion commencing in July 2005, we aim to have 200 participants aged 50+ (50% aged 60+) commencing the program in September in one of three regions: Ballarat, Wangaratta or in the combined municipalities of Darebin and Moreland in metropolitan Melbourne.

Apart from assisting these 200 participants to get active by bike, another key purpose of the programis to gain an insight into the barriers tobeing physically active by bike (and steps we can take to overcome these) for this group in general, and tofurther develop the local cycling world in each of the three participating regions.

Participants and partners

Prospective participants or partners wanting to get involved in any of our Coaching and Encouragement programs are encouraged to contact Bicycle Victoria on Freecall 1800 639 634 (country callers) or (03) 8636 8888.