Bicycle Network is an Australian cycling advocacy, membership, programs and events organisation headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria. Established in 1975 as the Bicycle Institute of Victoria, it subsequently operated as Bicycle Victoria and Bicycle Network Victoria before adopting the national Bicycle Network identity.
The organisation campaigns for cycling infrastructure and policy, delivers programs encouraging cycling for transport and recreation, and operates services including secure bicycle parking. It has also developed some of Australia's largest mass-participation cycling events. The Great Victorian Bike Ride has attracted more than 200,000 participants since 1984, including approximately 60,000 school students; Around the Bay exceeded 16,000 participants at its peak; and Peaks Challenge Falls Creek developed as a high-difficulty alpine endurance event with distance and climbing demands comparable to a mountain stage of a professional Grand Tour.
Volunteers have been central to Bicycle Network since its establishment and continue to support its events, advocacy, data collection, programs and governance. Major events such as the Great Victorian Bike Ride have historically required hundreds of volunteers to operate temporary campsites, catering, route support and other services.
Originally focused on Victoria, Bicycle Network expanded its operations nationally. In 2014 it opened an office in New South Wales and merged with Bicycle Tasmania, extending its organised advocacy and programs beyond Victoria. The New Suth Wales Office is now closed.
For the year ended 30 June 2025, Bicycle Network reported approximately 42,000 members, more than 300,000 registered supporters or "Friends", and more than 1,000 people contributing through its volunteer program.
History
Formation and early advocacy
Bicycle Network traces its origins to the cycling revival of the 1970s in Victoria.
The Bicycle Institute of Victoria was established in 1975 following discussions involving Victorian Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation Brian Dixon, cycling advocates and journalist Keith Dunstan. Dunstan became the organisation's founding president.
The organisation was established to advocate for people using bicycles for transport and recreation, including the development of safer and more convenient cycling infrastructure. It was initially largely volunteer-driven, establishing a pattern of volunteer involvement that subsequently became important to its advocacy, events and programs.
In April 1976, the organisation published the first edition of its newsletter Pedal Power. Early campaigns focused on bicycle lanes, bicycle-network planning and greater recognition of cycling by state and local governments.
The organisation also worked alongside the Victorian Government's State Bicycle Committee, established during the same period.
One of the significant early developments in Victorian bicycle planning was the Geelong Bikeplan. In 1978, the Victorian Government approved a five-year program incorporating engineering, education, enforcement and encouragement measures for cycling in Geelong. The project became an early Australian example of comprehensive bicycle planning.
Cycling organisations also expanded during this period. The Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club, established in 1973, became associated with the Bicycle Institute and promoted recreational cycle touring.
Growth during the 1980s
Recreational cycling expanded substantially during the 1980s, influenced by increased interest in fitness, bicycle touring and the emerging popularity of mountain bikes.
In 1984, the Bicycle Institute organised the first Great Victorian Bike Ride. Conceived initially as a one-off ride from Wodonga to Melbourne, the event attracted more than 2,000 participants. Its success resulted in the ride becoming an annual event and it subsequently developed into one of the organisation's defining activities.
The scale of the Great Victorian Bike Ride also expanded the organisation's volunteer operations. Volunteers became responsible for functions including catering, route support, campsite operations, luggage handling, rider assistance and event logistics.
In 1988, the Bicycle Institute of Victoria adopted the trading name Bicycle Victoria.
Expansion during the 1990s and 2000s
During the 1990s, Bicycle Victoria expanded its advocacy, behaviour-change programs and mass-participation events.
From 1990, the organisation encouraged the formation of local Bicycle User Groups (BUGs) across Victoria. These community organisations advocated for cycling infrastructure and policy in individual municipalities and workplaces. Many subsequently became independent of Bicycle Victoria.
In 1993, Bicycle Victoria established Around the Bay in a Day. Approximately 2,700 cyclists participated in the inaugural event. Participation subsequently increased into the tens of thousands, establishing the event as one of the largest mass-participation cycling events in Australia.
The organisation also developed Ride2Work, a program encouraging employees to cycle to work and encouraging workplaces to provide facilities for bicycle commuters. The program subsequently expanded nationally.
Harry Barber became chief executive in 1996 and remained in the role for more than two decades.
During the 2000s, Bicycle Victoria continued campaigning for improvements to cycling infrastructure in Melbourne and regional Victoria while substantially increasing the scale of its participation events.
The organisation advocated for routes including the Federation Trail and other components of Melbourne's metropolitan bicycle network.
The Great Victorian Bike Ride and Around the Bay became major fixtures of Australian recreational cycling. The Great Victorian Bike Ride reached a record participation of approximately 8,100 riders in 2004, while Around the Bay passed 10,000 participants in 2005 and exceeded 14,000 riders in 2006.
These events were supported by large volunteer workforces. Around the Bay involved more than 400 volunteers by 2006, while Great Vic developed an extensive volunteer operation capable of supporting several thousand riders as the event travelled through regional Victoria.
In 2005, the organisation formally adopted the name Bicycle Victoria Incorporated following constitutional and incorporation changes.
Bicycle Victoria also became involved in the development and operation of secure bicycle parking at railway stations. The first Parkiteer bicycle parking facility opened in 2008.
National expansion
The organisation progressively expanded beyond Victoria during the 2010s.
In July 2011, Bicycle Victoria began using the name Bicycle Network Victoria as part of its transition towards becoming a national organisation. It adopted the public name Bicycle Network in 2013.
In 2014, Bicycle Network opened an office in New South Wales and merged with Bicycle Tasmania, creating Bicycle Network Tasmania.
The expansion accompanied the organisation's transition from a Victorian membership and advocacy body towards a national organisation delivering advocacy, programs, events and member services.
The legal entity name Bicycle Network Incorporated was subsequently registered, while Bicycle Network became the organisation's national public identity.
Organisation
Charity status
Bicycle Network Incorporated is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation and registered Australian charity.
The organisation has been registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission since 3 December 2012.
It is endorsed for income-tax exemption, GST concessions and an FBT rebate but is not endorsed as a deductible gift recipient.
Leadership and governance
Bicycle Network is governed by a board elected by its members.
As of 2026, James Garriock is president of the board. Garriock was first elected as a director in 2019 and was subsequently re-elected.
Alison McCormack became chief executive officer in August 2022, succeeding Craig Richards. She was the organisation's first female chief executive.
Richards was chief executive following the retirement of long-time chief executive Harry Barber, who had held the position from 1996.
Board members are not paid.
Membership
Membership is available by subscription.
Bicycle Network provides members with services including bicycle-riding insurance, legal assistance, information and discounts.
For the financial year ending 30 June 2025, the organisation reported approximately 42,000 members and more than 300,000 Friends, its term for non-member supporters registered with the organisation.
Volunteers
Volunteers have played a substantial role in Bicycle Network since its establishment. The organisation originated through volunteer cycling advocates in 1975, and volunteers subsequently became important to its events, advocacy, data collection, programs, administration and governance.
Volunteer involvement became particularly significant through the development of the Great Victorian Bike Ride. The supported touring format requires a temporary event operation to move between regional communities with the riders. Volunteer roles have included catering, hydration, campsite operations, route support, rider assistance, luggage and equipment handling and other logistical functions.
In 2016, approximately 350 volunteers supported several thousand Great Vic participants. ABC News described the event operation as a temporary "mobile city".
Volunteers have also supported Around the Bay, Peaks Challenge Falls Creek and other Bicycle Network events. Around the Bay involved 525 volunteers in 2009, when 15,609 cyclists participated.
Volunteer activity extends beyond event operations. Volunteers have maintained equipment, assisted with bicycle counts including Super Tuesday, contributed to advocacy and administrative activities, and was on Bicycle Network's board.
More than 2,000 volunteers contributed to Bicycle Network activities during the twelve months to May 2020. Some volunteers have maintained involvement with Bicycle Network events and activities for more than three decades.
For the year ended 30 June 2025, Bicycle Network reported that more than 1,000 people had contributed through its volunteer program.
Finances
Bicycle Network is funded through a combination of membership, donations, cycling events, behaviour-change programs, campaigns and other products and services.
For the year ended 30 June 2025, the organisation reported operating revenue of approximately A$10.16 million, total income of approximately A$10.26 million and an operating surplus of A$214,601. It reported total assets of approximately A$5.59 million.
The surplus followed an operating deficit of approximately A$1.18 million in the previous financial year.
The 2023–24 financial report recorded revenue of approximately A$4.55 million from rides, A$3.41 million from memberships and donations, A$1.05 million from behaviour-change programs and A$745,000 from campaigns.
Advocacy and programs
Bicycle Network advocates for increased bicycle use for transport and recreation and for improvements to cycling infrastructure, road safety and active-transport policy.
Its advocacy has included campaigns for separated bicycle infrastructure, safer road environments, minimum passing distances, bicycle parking and increased government investment in active transport.
Cycling infrastructure
The organisation campaigns at local, state and federal levels for the construction and improvement of bicycle routes.
Bicycle Network has participated in planning and advocacy associated with numerous Victorian cycling projects, including metropolitan bicycle corridors and infrastructure delivered through major transport projects.