Wollongong has won an international UCI Bike City award, recognising its Community Partners Program. Photo: Destination Wollongong.
Wollongong has scored an international coup, claiming one of cycling’s highest honours and in the process pushing aside Abu Dhabi and the Italian city of Treviso.
Overnight (20 June), the city was awarded the prestigious UCI Bike City Award for its Community Partners Program, which brings together more than 25 organisations to ensure cycling is accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
The program is led by Destination Wollongong and supported by Wollongong City Council.
The announcement at the UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards, in Copenhagen, recognised the initiative as a world-leading example of how cities can use cycling to deliver meaningful social and environmental change.
Destination Wollongong general manager Jeremy Wilshire said the global recognition was a powerful endorsement of what could be achieved when a community pulled together.
“This award belongs to the people of Wollongong. Our community partners are the heart of this program, they’ve made cycling safer, more inclusive and more inspiring,” he said.
The winning initiative was judged by an international panel of mobility, sustainability, and cycling experts.
Wollongong was awarded UCI Bike City designation for hosting the 2022 UCI Road World Championships and its long-term commitment to cycling infrastructure and culture.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said it was an exciting achievement for the city.
“I’m so proud of the work that has happened across the community to ensure our whole community has access to a range of cycling infrastructure,’’ she said.
“It is really humbling to think that the decisions we’re making here about on-road cycleways, supporting access to cycling opportunities for all and encouraging people to consider cycling as a social activity, a mode of transport and as a sport is being recognised on the international stage.
“It’s a clear demonstration that the UCI legacy has lived on in Wollongong well beyond the 2022 championships we were so fortunate to host.’’
The Bike City Community Partners Program includes organisations such as The Disability Trust, Cycling Without Age, Healthy Cities Illawarra, Illawarra Cycle Club, FrameRunning Wollongong, the MS Gong Ride, Rotary and Lions clubs, and the Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling.
