50,000 Aussie kids learn to ride with AusBike

Australia’s foremost bike education program is celebrating a major milestone, with AusBike reaching 50,000 registered participants across Australia since launching late last year.

When AusCycling unveiled its new bike education program in August 2023, it faced some daunting challenges, none more so than the national rate of active travel to school that was in alarming decline, plunging from 75% to just 25% over the past 40 years.

The general decline in sport participation and activity through outdoor play was also having a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of children, with one in four Aussie kids overweight or obese in 2022–23 according to the Obesity Evidence Hub.

Fast-forward 15 months, and AusBike has made inroads on arresting these challenges, with the program passing the remarkable milestone this month: 50,000 registered participants from every state and territory have now taken part in AusBike across all delivery formats, including club and centre programs, school holiday sessions, and Sporting Schools courses.

On the way to reaching the 50,000 milestone, AusBike has notched up some other remarkable numbers:

• More than 500 AusBike sessions delivered.
• More than 100 AusBike coaches accredited.
• More than 5,600 Sporting Schools participants.
• More than 19,000 school students participated in AusBike in 2024 alone.

The program also recently achieved international recognition, announced as a finalist at the inaugural UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards in the Cycling for All category. The UCI commended AusBike for its exceptional contribution to increasing cycling’s positive social and environmental impact, promoting active mobility, and fostering of everyday cycling.

Backed by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission, AusBike has been able to successfully achieve its stated aim at launch of getting more Aussie kids back on their bikes.

AusCycling Chief Executive Officer, Marne Fechner congratulated the AusBike team and said the program played a key role in getting more Australians involved in cycling.

“It’s hard to put into words how proud we are of the AusBike program and the success it has achieved over the last 15 months. Yes, the program delivers industry best-practice bike education, but you just have to see the smiles on kid’s faces at an AusBike session to understand there’s more to it than learning how to ride,” she said. 

“The skills taught at an AusBike session build towards the moment a child realises they can ride a bike and what it means for their world – it's great to be involved in providing Aussie kids with such an important life skill. Club and community engagement has also been a key focus for us over the last 12 months, and AusBike is a key pillar in supporting grassroots cycling: it can be the first step towards riding for leisure or transportation, or competitively as part of a club.

“I also want to congratulate the AusBike team. Our dedicated and hardworking Community Development Coordinators and their support network have delivered an incredible number of sessions and provided critical feedback as we refine and improve the program. We are excited about AusBike’s future and getting more Aussie kids back on bikes – on to 100,000 participants!”

Federal Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP, said AusBike was helping Aussie kids to lead active lifestyles.

“AusBike has helped 50,000 kids across the nation get off screens and onto bikes in the outdoors. From wobbly first timers to budding BMX bandits, this milestone shows that kids of all abilities are gearing up for an active life on two wheels,” Minister Wells said.

“The Albanese Government is proud to be investing $2 million in the AusBike program as a legacy of the UCI Road Cycling World Championships.”

Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Officer Kieren Perkins OAM congratulated AusBike on the milestone. 

“The ASC is proud to support programs that help Australians get active and enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits that being involved in sport and physical activity brings,” he said.

“We believe that sport has a place for everyone and by catering for children at any stage of their bike riding journey, AusBike is encouraging children that may not have hopped on a bike before to give cycling a go.

“AusCycling’s impressive performance at the recent Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is helping show Australians of all ages what’s possible and inspire the next generation to ride safely and have fun.”

Based on the CORE4Skills – an evidence-based framework for developing, practicing and embedding fundamental bike skills – AusBike continues to offer industry best-practice bike education for kids aged 5 to 12. For more information, or to find a centre nearest you, visit ausbike.au

The Australian Sports Commission is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport at all levels. Their role is to increase involvement in sport and enable continued international sporting success through leadership and development of the sports sector, targeted financial support and the operation of the Australian Institute of Sport.

AusCycling is the national sporting organisation responsible for the development, facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling in Australia, representing over 55,000 members and 450 cycling clubs across BMX, Mountain Bike, Para-Cycling, Road and Track.

Photos: AusCycling