President’s Mid-Year Report: August 2007

So far this year the CH BUG has done these things:-

• Established good communications within the BUG and with non BUG cyclists.
• Taken over running the BUG website.
• Established a BUG blog as an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences.
• Advertised our rides in the weekly Cycling Central Column in the Coffs Coast Advocate.
• Participated in and promoted the Saturday morning Community Rides.
• Had a large contingent of riders participate in the 2007 NSW Bigride.
• Participated in the Camp Quality fundraising ride to Grafton.
• Attracted new riders to our BUG rides and joined up new members.
• Started a new Thursday ride specifically designed to encourage beginning riders but with flexibility for all who turn up.
• Initiated a 100 mile ride to provide a challenge for BUG members and to extend the range of rides that the BUG offers.
• Begun to explore better connections with other adjoining BUG groups.
• Invited the NEBUG group to join us for a weekend visit. (This ended up being postponed).
• Begun to explore setting up of displays and information tables at places such as markets.
• Participated in monthly council bike committee meetings.
• Participated in bike breakfasts.
• Encouraged local school to run Big rides during Bike Week.
• Planned to participate in the Bikefest day at the start of Bike Week.
• Will have a presence at the Active Transport Day at the CHEC on 4th September 2007.

We are coming up to the one year anniversary of the Saturday morning Community Rides. These rides were established as an opportunity for the various cycling groups in Coffs Harbour, and cyclists not attached to any group, to come together for a joint ride. These rides have been very successful with between 40-80 cyclists participating each week. The BUG has participated in these rides and promoted them through its various forms of communication. Twelve members of the BUG group are regular Saturday morning riders and they are spread across the four ability groupings. As well as attracting new people to cycling these rides have assisted in raising awareness of the BUG with an increase in cyclists joining us for rides and continuing as regulars and joining as members. Ian Hogbin has done a good job coordinating these rides and in the process has regularly promoted upcoming BUG rides and also encouraged cyclists to become members of Bicycle NSW. His commitment to cycling in Coffs Harbour is commendable and as a councillor he is well placed to assist the BUG in achieving its advocacy aims.

The main thing for the BUG to do is to always keep in mind the big picture and the long term view. Fundamental in this is the maintenance of goodwill within the BUG and towards the BUG and the maintenance of goodwill between all in the cycling community and within the wider community. The BUG needs to always remain essentially a friendly, welcoming group of enthusiastic and adventurous cyclists who love to ride bikes for social, recreational and healthy lifestyle reasons.

These seem to be the three key words for us to have in mind:-

Communication, Participation, Goodwill

John Gray CH BUG President August 2007