Today on the podcast, we interview Stephen Hodge, a professional and elite cyclist who has entered the Olympics and has completed 6 Tour de France, 4 Tours of Italy and 4 Tours of Spain.
Stephen is currently the Government Relations Manager of the Australian Cycling Promotion Foundation and the National Advocate of Active Travel. His role includes building relationships with Parliamentarians and NGOs to increase the investment in cycling infrastructure, improving implementation of bicycling framework policy, and generally improving the environment for cycling whether for recreation, commuting and other aspects.
He also runs his own consultancy firm Day and Hodge Associates and is a member of the Urban Policy Dialogue, which is a group that brings together national bodies in transport, property, local government, health research and promotion and the social community sector to advise the urban minister in policies relating to urban issues.
In this episode, we cover:
The background of Stephen’s cycling journey
How he sees cycling as a solution to create better communities
The benefits of better public transport systems so people can be more active in their trips by walking and cycling and becoming healthier in the process
Bicycling in Copenhagen where it is a way of life and an accepted and mainstream way to get around
Difference in priority between government parties with their emphasis to support and allocate budgets for cycling infrastructure
How large corporate developers are ahead of government in making provisions for cycling
How close relationships with other industry groups helped to integrate cycling in national discussions in different sectors
Reasons for the rebranding of the Cycling Promotion Foundation’s statement to “We Ride”
Cycling Without Age (CWA) Initiative
Links
Cycling Promotion Fund
We Ride website
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