Bicycle Industries Australia Ltd. News Welcome  I hope everyone has had a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year period. The year has started with Australia heavily affected by severe flooding in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, bushfires in Western Australia and Northern Queensland hit again by Tropical Cyclone Yasi. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected either personally or professionally by these events.
As an industry we also support and congratulate all members who have chosen to give generously in time, product and money to those affected.
January also saw record numbers attend the Tour Down Under in South Australia. The race showed both the strength of the current bunch of Australian cyclists as well as the growing popularity of the sport itself. With improving television coverage, the growth in participation in cycling is being reflected in these high class professional events.
The ABS stats for 2010 showed again that for the 10th year in a row, bicycles have out sold cars. More significantly is that the 2010 number showed an increase of over 12% from the previous year and by 70% since 2001. The number of spectators attending the tour, when combined with an increase in bike sales in 2010, start to provide some positive indicators for the Australian bicycle industry. These numbers alone do not mean there won’t be challenges, but there are certainly indicators to demonstrate positive opportunities for the industry.
Regards Peter
Peter Bourke
General Manager
GST Threshold We have continued our campaign as a member of the Fair Import Alliance to address the current situation regarding the GST threshold for international online imports. In several meetings with Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten, we have backed the Productivity Commission Inquiry.
As previously reported, we will be submitting to the inquiry and need your support to ensure that an accurate and reflective response can be made. Case studies, examples and data of the impact of international online trade, government regulations and access to government data will support this submission. Further information can be found at GST Threshold on imported goods - January 2011
As an industry body, we need your support and assistance if we are going to continue to lobby to address the current situation. If this is an issue which affects you as an industry member, I ask you for your involvement.
Bicycle Sales Statistics The 2010 Australian import figures for bicycles has shown a strong improvement from the previous year. 1,313,446 bicycles were imported in 2010, a rise of over 12% from 1,154,122 in 2009.
After excellent growth in the June to September months in comparison to the previous year, there was concern with a large fall in October. With solid figures in November and December, it appears the market has stabilized and we look forward to 2011. Floods Information Several states of Australia have been affected by the floods. Many people are only now starting to come to grips with the long term reality of the situation. There is support both physical and emotional available which a number of people have not yet accessed. This support does include financial, advice on tax or insurance issues, mental health, building services, housing and transport. Please make any family, friends or colleagues who need this support aware of it. Australian Standards Two issues have been raised regarding compliance with AS/NZ2 1927:2010. These issues may only affect a small number of wholesalers and retailers, but it is provided to ensure all of the industry is compliant with current standards.
Tyre Pressures
Under Australian Standards AS/NZS 1927:2010 all tyres must have pressure marked in kilopascals. As the majority of tyres in Australia are not marked in kilopascals, compliance with the standard can be achieved by including a conversion chart with in the bicycle owner’s manuals attached to all new bicycles. A number of manuals checked by the BIA do not contain this chart and will need to be adapted to meet Australian Standards.
2.8.3 Tyres
Inflatable tyres shall have the inflation pressure recommended by the tyre manufacturer moulded into or onto the side wall of the tyre in letters not less than 3 mm in height. Where the recommended pressure is stated in units other than kilopascals, the equivalent pressure in kilopascals shall be shown in the instruction manual.
NOTE: Compliance with this requirement may be achieved by the inclusion in the instruction manual of a conversion table which gives the kilopascal equivalents for the various recommended tyre pressures stated in imperial units on the side walls of bicycle tyres.
Chain guards
Chain guards must be fitted to all bicycles. This is regardless of whether they are geared, single speed or children’s. The type of guard is described in the standards extract below. Please contact SAI Global for details.
2.9.1 Chain guards
Bicycles shall be equipped with a chain guard shielding the upper junction of the chain and chain wheel (drive sprocket) to prevent entrapment of clothing or body parts. The chain guard shall be as follows: (a) Children’s bicycles A guard enclosing at least the upper junction of the chain and chain wheel. (b) Other than children’s bicycles A guard shielding the upper junction of the chain and chain wheel (drive sprocket) against the entrapment of clothing or body parts. It shall be either - (i) a fixed guard or a front derailleur chain guide that shields the chain for a distance of at least 25 mm measured prior to the first point of engagement of the chain with the chain wheel (see Figure 2.5); or
(ii) a disc of impact resistant material attached to the chain wheel with a diameter not less than 10 mm larger than the diameter of the chain wheel measured over the tips of the teeth (see Figure 2.6).
The chain guard brackets shall be sufficiently strong to ensure that the chain guard is held in.
Consumer Protection Laws As of 1 January 2011, Australia has a single, national consumer law: Australian Consumer Law (ACL). The ACL includes unfair contract terms law, law guaranteeing consumer rights when buying goods and services, product safety law, law for unsolicited consumer agreements, rules for lay-by agreements and new penalties, enforcement powers and consumer redress options. The ACL applies nationally and in all states and territories.
The ACL will replace different national, state and territory laws that set out consumer rights and business obligations when selling goods and services with a single, national set of rules. The ACL is a national consumer law which is to apply to all business sectors. It covers general standards of business conduct, prohibits harmful practices, regulates specific types of business-to-consumer transactions, provides basic consumer rights for goods and services and regulates the safety of consumer products and product-related services.
Please seek independent advice if you are unsure of your legal rights under any section of this law. Please note - these laws do not apply to any product purchased from a retailer located outside of Australia.
BIA Membership As an industry body, we can only work and advocate on your behalf, if you support us. Greater membership is important for two equally valid reasons; firstly, it gives us a basic level of financial resources to actively support the industry and secondly; but just as important, when talking to the government we have a stronger voice representing the entire industry, not just a part of it.
Membership of the BIA is a modest investment, but ensures your voice is heard and supports effective action with government and affected industry sector. I have attached a membership form to the BIA and welcome and encourage you to become part of your industry body.
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Cycling Promotion Fund News  2010 Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards The nominations have opened for this years Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards. The awards, to be held at Old Parliament House in Canberra in May 2011, recognise and celebrate the achievements of the Australian bicycling community and all levels of government in promoting and supporting activities that encourage more participation in bike riding. We are pleased to have the National Heart Foundation as the Principal Partner for the second time this year, as we continue to acknowledge the health benefits of getting more people riding. For more information on the history of the awards, nominations and categories please visit the Australian Bicycling Achievement Awards website. Since their instigation in 2002, we have enjoyed continuing support from all major political parties. We look forward to another strong event to further enhance the position of cycling in the policies of these parties. Submissions to Australian Government Inquiries Bicycle Industries Australia and the Cycling Promotion Fund will respond to a number of key government enquiries and policy White Papers in the first quarter of 2011. They include:
Draft National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS)
Given the strong focus on safety the CPF has prepared a joint submission to the draft NRSS with the Amy Gillett Foundation (AGF). With significant input from key members of the CPF Expert Advisory Committee, the AGF Board and other safety experts. Our submission argues that the Strategy does not adequately recognise cycling and walking as vulnerable road users. That the relative safety of these two modes is a very good indicator of road safety overall and it also argues for a range of measures such as training, better infrastructure and recognition of related national policies that can contribute to road safety, such as the National Cycling Strategy 2011-16.
Draft National Urban Policy
This discussion paper has been drafted by the Major Cities Unit of the Dept of Infrastructure and Transport to address issues of the future productivity, sustainability and liveability of our cities. Our submission to this paper will focus on the benefits that increased bicycle riding would provide to areas such as social isolation, chronic disease, obesity, congestion and pollution.
Budget Submission
The Cycling Promotion Fund will draft a budget submission to the Department of Treasury addressing key areas where we can provide evidence that increased cycling would provide an economic benefit to Australia. The main points will be broadly drawn from our policy document ‘An Australian Vision for Active Transport’ launched jointly with the National Heart Foundation, Australian Local Government Association, Bus Industry Confederation and the International Public Transport Association in 2010. Asia-Pacific Cycle Congress The Queensland Government has officially announced the 2011 Asia Pacific Cycle Congress will be held in Brisbane September 18 to 21 2011. We will circulate further information as it becomes available. Australian Bicycle Dates
For a comprehensive listing of International bicycle shows, see the Bike Europe calendar.
Cycling Promotion Fund Annual Report 2009/10 The Cycling Promotion Fund Annual Report can be downloaded here (PDF file, 1.2M). For hard copies of the report, please contact the CPF office. Return to top >
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