ABOUT BMF

BMF Committee:

Purpose:

• To educate young cyclists and schoolchildren to adopt safe riding practices.
• To encourage and support promising young cyclists with the potential to make a career in the sport or become lifetime cyclists.
• To work with governments, motoring organisations, the police and cycling organisations to ensure that:

1. Cycle lanes are incorporated into existing roads commonly used by cyclists as well as all new roads.
2. Policies, practices and laws are ‘effectively’ framed, implemented and adopted by all road users, particularly car drivers, to ensure that cyclists are able to safely share the roads with truck and car users.

• To promote safe car driving practice in relation to cyclists and other road users.
• To promote safe road cycling practice and encourage cycling organisations and associated stakeholders to act in concert to ensure that individual cyclists act to share the roads safely with other users.  

BMF has appointed a team of capable, experienced individuals, passionate about helping young cyclists, to put into action a 5 point Road Safety plan:

1. Working with the State and National Cycling Bodies, BMF is bringing a Defensive Riding Training Program to every cycling club in Australia. The goal is for every club to appoint an accredited Road Safety Coach and mandate that every young rider (pre-drivers licence age) is trained in Road Safety before joining training rides or races.
2. Working with the RTA and Police to escalate road safety awareness for school children. There are already programs in place where the Police visit schools but this happens only occasionally. A more visible and structured program is being promoted.
3. Lobby government to accelerate the building of cycle lanes and other initiatives to create a safer environment for cyclists on Australian roads.
4. Lobby government and the RTA to increase the investment in making drivers more aware of cyclists and their safety.
5. The Ben Mikic Road Safety fun ride is an annual event aimed at attracting racing cyclists through to families. The event promotes cycling safety for the riders and the broader community.
   In addition to the Road Safety plan, BMF has 2 initiatives to encourage young racing cyclists:
   - The Ben Mikic Cup is an annual prize for the winner of the under 17’s track race
   _ at the Bowral Carnival held at Dunc Gray every October.
   - Through Ben's club, Southern Highlands Cycling Club, BMF provides support each
   _year for a talented, up and coming junior rider.

Strategies

Educating young cyclists and schoolchildren.

• Determine the ideal safety equipment to be worn by a cyclist and fixed to his/her bike.
• Develop and implement a training program to ensure young cyclists adopt safe riding practice. 
• Determine the ideal safety equipment to be worn by child and fixed to his/her bike.
• Develop and implement a training program to ensure young children adopt safe riding practice.

Encouraging and supporting young cyclists

• Establish an annual Ben Mikic racing event.
• Provide financial support and training to the most promising young riders in the SHCC.

Campaign to have cycle lanes built into existing and new roads.

• Generate support from cycling organisations, motoring organisations, community organisations to have cycle lanes built into existing roads commonly used by cyclists and all new roads.

Ensure existing laws enhance safety for cyclists

• Review existing laws to ensure they are most appropriate in enhancing safety for cyclists and lobby for changes if required and new laws if deemed necessary.

Campaign to ensure laws are promoted and adhered to by road users.

• Work in tandem with motoring organisations, cycling organisations, roads departments and the police to heighten awareness of safe driving and riding practice.

Establish a sponsorship and fundraising program

• Target governments, equipment manufactures, cycling organisations, car organisations and all appropriate stakeholders to sponsor the work of the BMF to ensure that the risks to young cyclists on our roads are dramatically reduced.
• Locate BMF donation tins at sites likely to attract support for the foundation from the public.

Seek to acquire 'charity status'

• Investigate the advisability of establishing an association with the WSC foundation to achieve charity status for BMF.

Local infrastructure projects

• Ensure WSC investigates the safety issues associated with the Bessemer Street/Bowral Road junction, the current risks being taken by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians likely to lead to accidents; with the objective of upgrading the traffic light system and pedestrian crossings to make certain there are no further fatal accidents at this junction.
• Support a local initiative designed to create a ‘safe’ cycling track for young riders and their families from Picton along the old rail loop to Mittagong, (linking with existing track to Moss Vale).
• Support the SHCC’s intent to upgrade the veladrome.

Promote the Ben Mikic Foundation

• Mount an ongoing publicity campaign to both promote the BMF and also to generate funds from the wider public