Ride2Work Day
Tim READ (Brunswick) (09:49): How do members of Parliament get to work? Well, judging by the large car park and the small bike shed, which is barely bigger than two car spaces, not enough of us ride in. I acknowledge some of us do have a long commute. Nevertheless we are not alone. Two-thirds of Australians do not get enough exercise, transport emissions are going up instead of down and road crashes and congestion are so common and predictable that they get a special time slot on the radio. So we do need to get more Australians out of their cars and onto their bikes or travelling on foot or by some other means. It so happens that Ride2Work Day is coming up in two weeks – next sitting Wednesday, 18 October – so I would urge all members and parliamentary staff to join me riding their bikes into Parliament if they can.
Juliana Addison: It’s a long way.
Tim READ: The member for Wendouree is excluded. Bikes are now an established means of transport in inner Melbourne, and we are seeing people going in on e-bikes in their work clothes. We are seeing people on cargo bikes delivering their kids to school. We are seeing businesses opening up on bike paths. So congratulations to Victoria’s first Minister for Public and Active Transport. Let us hope that means more people on bikes. (Time expired)
The SPEAKER: Order! The member’s time has expired. It is a fair way from Bendigo too.