Follow up letter

Log of Correspondence Detailed Summary Summary of Annexures Defined Terms

5 Ronald Ave, Harbord NSW 2096
ScribePJ@TPG.com.au
0412 045.224 mob 9114.6689 home ph

16 April 2008

Department of the Environment and Water Resources
John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace
PARKES ACT 2600

Refer Ms. Beth Riordan, Assistant Director, Community Partnerships Team
Australian Greenhouse Office (02) 6274.1994ph

* Community Project Join a Green Team -

(a) is entirely consistent with

(i) Australian Bicycle Council's "Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010"; and

(ii) NSW RTA "Special road rules for cyclists"

(b) will enable 100 circa Community Bicycle Groups across Australia market their existence to attract and thereby assist thousands of new Cyclists over the 2 year Project Life to acquire requisite cycling skills and knowledge to mitigate cycling dangers

(c) Department of Environment and Water Resources to provide tangible evidence in a Media Advertising Campaign this July that it is assisting Australians to -

(i) enjoy cycling for local commuter transport and recreation under TravelSmart; and

(ii) thereby heed IPCC's May 2007 recommendation for humans to exhibit a "shift in lifestyle" which leaves a small Personal Carbon Footprint

* Detailed Summary explains a straightforward Three Phase Promotion Strategy involving $20,000 Forecast Cost of Media Advertising within 3 months of 2008 Tour de France where Australian, Cadel Evans, is race favourite which should ensure follow-up audiences on SBS "Cycling Central"

I refer to my -

(I) to you dated 15 April 2008 which

(a) sets out how Community Project Join a Green Team can reduce CO2 emissions which falls within TravelSmart's charter, in particular:

* "TravelSmart is essentially a voluntary program that aims to inform and motivate people for changing their travelling behaviour through personal choice."

* "3. What opportunities are there to collaborate with external stakeholders to accelerate your sustainable transport programs?"

(b) provided 3 identical CDs which auto-open at my which provides over 350 circa embedded URLs to the Detailed Summary and the 50 circa Defined Terms -

(Please ignore any opening warning message from Internet Explorer about restricting ActiveX Content from your computer. Click on Yes to allow ActiveX, because ActiveX in this CD ROM won't damage your computer. ActiveX merely allows drop down menus.)

(II) 'phone call to you on Monday afternoon, 14 April, when inter alia you mentioned Australian Bicycle Council which manages and coordinates The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010; and

(III) 'phone call to you on Tuesday afternoon, 15 April, when I asked if I could post to you a and an updated CD ROM which sets out how Community Project Join a Green Team falls within Australian Bicycle Council's "Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010".

The purpose of this Follow-up Letter is to inform that I have summarised both of the following which are entirely consistent with the objectives of Community Project Join a Green Team -

a) Australian Bicycle Council's "The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010"; and

b) NSW RTA "Special road rules for cyclists"

Re a) above, below are pertinent extracts from The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010 followed by my comments:

          " *    Creating infrastructure and facilities that support increased cycling
     *    Enabling and encouraging safe cycling
     *    Providing leadership and developing partnerships to support and promote cycling in Australia
     *    Developing the skills needed to undertake actions that will increase cycling."

"Promoting cycling has also been seen by some as supporting a relatively dangerous activity when the reverse is
true, since cycling promotes good health and longer life. Even so, one of the major additional barriers to increased
cycling trips lies in the perceptions of the general public. Cycling in an urban environment which may be seen as
‘too dangerous’, especially by women, a group under-represented among cyclists.
The attitude and behaviour of drivers of motor vehicles towards on-road cyclists is a crucial factor in public
perceptions of the danger of cycling. Any action plan must therefore include targeted marketing activities as
an essential element in tackling these impediments."

"This will involve institutional arrangements, management systems, communications and community education, including events and promotion. In many cases it will be necessary to remove barriers to cycling, such as the lack of cycling skills and confidence, so that more Australians cycle.
Cycling is also an area where there is the potential for valuable partnerships within and across the bicycle industry, cycling non-government organisations and private businesses, including major employers."

"4.6 Priority 6 Increased Professional Capacity
Develop the skills needed to undertake actions that will increase cycling
Whether in primary schools, universities, government departments, bicycle shops or elsewhere, people equipped
with an understanding of the benefits of cycling, and appropriate technical skills, will be needed to complete the actions listed under the first five strategies."

"4.4 Support developing and implementing behavioural initiatives that improve cyclist safety, such as programs to increase the conspicuity and helmet wearing by cyclists, and general compliance with road rules."

"4.7 Promote the benefits of cycling, using effective and safe routes, to support the National Road Safety Strategy 2001-2010 aim of encouraging alternatives to motor vehicle use to reduce exposure to road trauma."

"5.3 Support the development and implementation of community education programs that encourage more people (particularly adults, including those new to cycling) to cycle for transport, recreation and health.

"d. The Council will draw on input from road agencies, the cycling industry and bicycle users on cycling issues, and will take appropriate account of the views of the ATC and the Austroads Council."

"l. The Council may invite participation from others from time to time on specific issues."

Target Sales Market establishes >200 existing and future Community Bicycle Groups across Australia without an existing team jersey.

A bright, colourful dedicated team jersey provides entity and identity which attract potential new Cyclists to Community Bicycle Groups.

Community Project Join a Green Team -

A) targets local district Community Bicycle Groups which are formed by Australians with a Sense Of Community and a desire to express their concerns over Climate Change however cannot afford to pay the one-off artwork costs for a distinctive dedicated team jersey because they usually have <40 cyclists and are not financially assisted by a bicycle shop;

B) will assist 100 circa Community Bicycle Groups attract more than 2,000 Cyclists by enabling them to order a Join a Green Team Team Jersey which displays their Team Name because a team jersey provides entity and identity which potential new Cyclists are attracted to; and

C) by enabling Community Bicycle Groups across Australia to obtain a bright Join a Green Team Team Jersey in the next 2 years, thereby materially "increasing the conspicuity and helmet wearing by cyclists, and general compliance with road rules".

Most forms of cycling involve material dangers. A safe, effective way for a non-Cyclist to become a proficient/self-confident commuter cyclist is to join a Community Bicycle Group rather than cold-turkey on their own. Bicycle User Groups are required to teach new Cyclists all requisite cycling knowledge and mitigate liability by warning cyclists of all obvious dangers.

For example, Muggaccinos Bicycle User Group provides -

(a) the highly comprehensive Tips for new road cyclists;

(b) a full explanation of Risk Warnings; and

Re b) above, below is an extract from NSW RTA "Special road rules for cyclists"

"The right clothing - To make it easier for other road users to see you, wear bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night."

The Approved Appearance of the Join a Green Team Team Jersey is highly visible, both day and night, being -

(i) bright green; and

(ii) with a "horizontal lime fluorescent strip 25cm wide and 2cm high across the opening of the three pockets" on the back.

The writer has explained Community Project Join a Green Team to at least one cyclist in each of 6 different NSW Bicycle User Groups that do not have a dedicated team jersey. Each of the 6 representatives of those Bicycle User Groups was enthusiastic to order a Join a Green Team Team Jersey in lots as low as 15 due to -

(I) Agreed Prices For Long And Short Sleeve being circa 30% cheaper than designing a dedicated unique team jersey;

(II) Team Name appearing on the jerseys;

(III) ease of ordering on the internet; and

(IV) displaying their green values/priorities.

Summary:

A) Community Project Join a Green Team -

(i) accords with the strategies/objectives of The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010" and NSW RTA "Special road rules for cyclists"; and

(ii) will enable the Project Developer to market the Join a Green Team Team Jersey to over >100 existing and forming Community Bicycle Groups, whereupon interested Community Bicycle Groups may easily purchase on the internet a highly visible Join a Green Team Team Jersey that displays their Team Name which provides entity and identity which assist attract potential new Cyclists.

(B) A safe and effective way for non-Cyclists to become proficient, confident commuter cyclists is to join a Community Bicycle Group as Bicycle User Groups -

(a) are required to teach new Cyclists all requisite cycling knowledge;

(b) provide Risk Warnings for listed ride invitations (ie. risk mitigation); and

(b) engender self-confidence amidst a LCCBSG.

The afore-extracted clause 4.6 "Priority 6 - Increased Professional Capacity" from The Australian National Cycling Strategy 2005-2010 notes:

"Develop the skills needed to undertake actions that will increase cycling.
Whether in primary schools, universities, government departments, bicycle shops or elsewhere, people equipped
with an understanding of the benefits of cycling, and appropriate technical skills, will be needed to complete the actions listed under the first five strategies."

Philip Johnston is -

(I) equipped with an understanding of the benefits of cycling, and appropriate technical skills; and

(II) seeks to meet you, or your delegate, in Canberra to discuss this straightforward project to assist >100 existing and forming Community Bicycle Groups attract and assist >20,000 Australians -

(a) enhance their cycling knowledge and skills to mitigate the obvious dangers of cycling as summarised at the beginning of the by assisting Community Bicycle Groups overtly market their existence to interested Australians; and

(b) experience the joys and benefits of cycling wearing a Join a Green Team Team Jersey which inter alia display selected Sanctioned Green Theme Slogans.

Yours sincerely

Phil Johnston
Ride Organiser and President Muggaccinos Bicycle User Group
Director of KOMpm Pty Ltd