Thirroul’s Edward Birt is the new president of the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (iBUG). His role at the volunteer organisation adds to an already impressive cycling CV.
Ed is Wollongong’s Bicycle Mayor, the local representative part of the global Bicycle Mayor Network run by BYCS, an Amsterdam-based NGO. In 2021, Ed cycled more than 5000km across Australia, averaging about 250km a day, raising about $30,000 to buy bikes for the CycleAbility program run by the not-for-profit Disability Trust, where he is the chief operating officer.
It was this day job that drew him into the advocacy side of cycling.
“As I was turning 50 [in 2021],” Ed says, “I really wanted to set up a program for people with disability to get on bikes and enjoy cycling, because I see a lot of dependency created for people with disability who may not be able to get their driver’s licence or own a car.”
Today the shipping container in the Disability Trust’s Spring Hill car park is packed with custom bikes, which cost from $8000 each.
“We’ve got trikes, we’ve got adult bikes with stabiliser wheels. We’ve got adult balance bikes, which are cool, we’ve got e-bikes, we’ve got hand cycles, we’ve got all sorts of things. We just want to see more people with disability on bikes.”
The free CycleAbility program runs on the last Saturday of each month in the trust’s car park, which is empty on weekends. Ed says, “People can go round and round, get their confidence – cycling’s all about time in the saddle.”
When Ed meets the Flame at the Disability Trust’s cafe, he has just ridden to work, from Thirroul to Spring Hill. “It’s 24 kilometres and it takes about 50 minutes,” he says. “I’ve always been a cyclist. It’s just been a normal part of my life. The most logical way to get from A to B.”
Like many cyclists, Ed has felt the pain motorists’ abuse, including a truck driver who once threw an egg at him on a highway. He would like to see a cycling culture revived in Australia. “That culture has atrophied and effectively died and now everything we do is in our cars. And we are used to throwing stuff in our cars. They’re so convenient.
“They’re about 1600 or 2000 kilos in weight to carry a 70 kilo animal. It’s a very inefficient form of getting a 70 kilo parcel to its destination.”
For local cyclists, speeding cars are a big problem, says Ed, who supports the 30 Please campaign. And, finally, cars are antisocial. “People don’t connect with their community. They’re inside a bubble … there’s a lot of rage associated with cars. They’re just bad for us. They’re a bad habit.”
Ed took over from outgoing iBUG president Beth Robrahn in July. The group now has more than 100 members. “We write to council and get involved with their strategic planning around what the city looks like.”
iBUG will have an expo stall at September’s first Ride Wollongong festival, a 2022 UCI Road World Championships legacy event, “the start of a great annual event”, Ed says. “We’ll have community rides, all ability rides, family rides, as well as some races. I’m looking forward to supporting some of the people that we have coming along from CycleAbility, zipping down Marine Drive and up around Flagstaff Hill, and feeling safe to do so.”
Outside of work and iBUG, one of Ed’s favourite things to do is go for a ride with his family.
“I ride regularly with my parents still and my nieces and nephews, as well as my son … it’s very nice to go out for the day because the journey then is the destination.”
For anyone feeling disheartened about the state of the world, Ed says don’t let feeling powerless stop you. “Do it anyway … buy a bicycle.”
Read more about CycleAbility in If I didn’t have a bike, I wouldn’t get out as much and watch our short film here
