While most of us were sleeping, Wollongong was the word on everyone's lips at a special event in Copenhagen overnight where we won the prestigious UCI Bike City Award for our Community Partners Program.
The award was announced at the UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards. It recognised Wollongong's Bike City Community Partners Program, an initiative of Destination Wollongong and supported by Wollongong City Council.
The program brings together more than 25 local organisations, from cycling groups and charities to community health services and service clubs, who work collaboratively to ensure cycling is accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
"This is such an exciting achievement for our city and I'm so proud of the work that has happened across the community to ensure our whole community has access to a range of cycling infrastructure,'' Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said.
"It is really humbling to think that the decisions we're making here to encourage about on-road cycleways, supporting access to cycling opportunities for all and encouraging people to consider cycling as a social and recreational activity, a mode of transport and as a sport is being recognised on the international stage.
"It's a clear demonstration that the UCI legacy has lived on in Wollongong well beyond the 2022 championships we were so fortunate to host.''
Wollongong City Council has a strong commitment to supporting and facilitating a wide range of cycling initiatives, as well as delivering a wide range of infrastructure to support riding opportunities.
"We have a clear vision when it comes to cycling in our city,'' Wollongong City Council Director Community Services Kerry Hunt said.
"We want to provide the opportunities, the facilities and the infrastructure that supports everyone to ride where, when and how they choose. For some people, it's to get them to work or study, for others it's about health and wellbeing and for many in our community it's about a more sustainable way of life.
"Plus, by facilitating the delivery of cycling infrastructure, we've also been able to offer and support events that have a cycling focus or support people to enjoy riding as a recreational activity whether that be along one of our stunning beach-side cycleways or through the award-winning Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park.
"What is particularly important about this award is that it recognises cities that have shown exceptional leadership in promoting cycling as a tool for positive environmental and social change. This is exactly what we're working to achieve.''
Destination Wollongong General Manager Jeremy Wilshire said welcomed the global recognition of the community-focused program.
"This award belongs to the people of Wollongong. Our community partners are the heart of this program, they've made cycling safer, more inclusive and more inspiring," Mr Wilshire said.
The Bike City Community Partners Program includes organisations such as The Disability Trust, Cycling Without Age, Healthy Cities Illawarra, Illawarra Cycle Club, FrameRunning Wollongong, the MS Gong Ride, Rotary and Lions Clubs, and the Ride Wollongong Festival of Cycling.
