Dear Better Street supporter

With the 2025 federal election fast approaching, Better Streets is rallying political support for safer, more walkable and bike-friendly cities. From major organisational endorsements to eye-catching media campaigns, we’re turning up the heat—find out how you can help! Read the full article here.

📢 Better Streets is all about building strong partnerships with organisations, and we’d love to hear your thoughts! 🤝 If your organisation is already a coalition member or is interested in joining, please take 3 minutes to fill out our survey. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping our collaboration and initiatives.

National updates

📖 How much does Australia invest in walking, wheeling and cycling from its road budget?

Read how Australia spends $714 per person on roads every year – but just 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling or watch and share the Instagram story [Source: The Conversation, co-authored by Better Streets board member, Tepi McLaughlin].

💰 Better Streets Budget submission

Australia spends 800 times more on roads than walking and cycling. Better Streets is calling on the government to fix it—with just $15 per person per year. In the lead up to the 2025 federal election, Better Streets lodged a pre-budget submission to Treasury making the case for more investment [Read more].

🚶‍♂️🚴 Deep dive - Federal Election Ask #1 - Comprehensive Regional Networks

Our proposed National Active Transport Infrastructure Program would fund Regional City Networks. To start with 15 regional cities and rapidly growing peri-urban areas to build connected walking and cycling paths, inspired by Wagga Wagga’s highly successful 56 km network [Read more].

New South Wales

🎤 April Event - Stronger Together: What We Can Learn from Camcycle’s Success - a talk with Roxy, the CEO of Britain’s most successful city cycling advocacy group. Over the years Camcycle has raised significant funds and secured projects to improve cycling in Cambridge, UK. Come and have an in-depth discussion with Roxy and learn how you can employ this in your local context. The date & location are to be confirmed.

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🚜 Bathurst Transport plan - It’s an exciting time for better streets in many towns in regional NSW - now, with funding from Transport for NSW’s ‘Get NSW Active’ program to create a new active transport strategy, it looks like Bathurst could get a chance at better streets, too. Read more or Watch more

Western Australia

🐌 100 years to build the network. Just in time for the 2128 Olympics - WestCycle analysed that at the current rate of spending on “active travel” in Western Australia (WA) – an average of $75 million a year for the past eight years, it will be at least 50 years and potentially more than 100 before the WA Long Term Cycling Network is complete. (Source: WA today)

Queensland

⛺ Transport camp Brisbane 2025 recap

There's a unique buzz about an Unconference. Thanks to Transport Camp Brisbane 2025 for bringing together a diverse group, including several Better Streets folks, to explore solutions for better mobility for people. The energy was high, and the commitment to change by so many people across the city was inspiring! Photo source: Space for Cycling

✨Volunteer spotlight

In this week’s Volunteer Spotlight, meet Catherine Meister, one of the volunteers powering our Federal Election advocacy campaign.

"The status quo in Australia is not good enough. I love to cycle and walk, but the biggest barrier is feeling safe. Between navigating terrible sidewalks, stroads, and bike lanes that suddenly vanish, you can't help but wonder how many more people would be walking and cycling if we made it more accessible (we certainly have the weather for it!)

Make an Impact—Volunteer with Us! 💪🤝

We are looking for more volunteers to help us in this important campaign! If you are passionate about making a difference and can commit to volunteering your time (ideally 3 hours/week), please submit your interest to Sam Johnson, Vice President of Better Streets, sjohnson@betterstreets.org.au.

Thank you for your unwavering support as we continue to create better streets for all!