Lily Tuck
Despite a large number of cyclists in favour of the shire joining Bicycle Network’s Super Tuesday count in 2027, the Mount Alexander Shire Council has instead chosen to conduct their own count.
Next Tuesday, May 5, the council will conduct an active transport data collection. The count will take place between 7.30 am and 9.30 am, across 15 sites. It will record the number of pedestrians, cyclists, people using mobility aids or scooters, and people with prams. Direction of travel and time intervals will also be noted.
A community-led petition, submitted to the council in April, urging the council to take part in Australia’s largest standardised commuter cycling survey, has gathered 355 signatures.
Petition organiser and local bike shop owner Matthias Bringezu said he is disappointed with the outcome.
“A hastily organised count, two months later than the Super Tuesday, will not provide data comparable, nor will it get that reach as data collected and made accessible by Bicycle Network,” he said.
Despite his reservations, Matthias is encouraging cyclists to make the best of it, calling for May 5 to be ‘Ride to Everywhere Day’, asking riders to be visible on tracks, roads and bike lanes across town.
The petition raises concerns about data quality and the need for Castlemaine’s cycling figures to align with state and federal methodologies, arguing that without comparable data, the town risks missing out on infrastructure funding and its cycling community remains undercounted.
Responding to the petition during question time, the Director of Infrastructure, Michael Annear, said that the council would not join Super Tuesday and would instead conduct its own count using staff and volunteers.
“We believe we can collect data and maximise the resources available to us by undertaking the count ourselves,” he said.
Super Tuesday costs between $300 and $415 per site, with Bicycle Network coordinating local volunteer recruitment. Each volunteer nominates a non-profit to receive a $70 donation. The Bicycle Network handles all data collation, analysis and final reporting.
In response to questions regarding the estimated cost of the Active Transport data collection, a council representative told the Mail that the count will take approximately 20 hours of staff time.
“The council will collate and analyse the data and share results with the Active Transport Working Group, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). The data will also be used to inform priorities, future investment, and to support future funding applications,” they said.
In an update posted to his petition, Matthias outlined his concerns surrounding the timing and reach of the council’s approach.
Super Tuesday is held nationally on the first Tuesday of March, when Castlemaine averages a daily maximum of around 25°C. The council’s count will take place in May, where temperatures are presumed to drop to 16°C according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
Matthias pointed out that the data collected will not be comparable or have the same reach and accessibility as the Bicycle Network’s.
In the lead-up to Tuesday’s count, Matthias is asking every Castlemaine cyclist to be visible: wear high-vis, light up and take their usual routes.
“We should focus on the positives and make the best of it,” he said.
“If you are a cyclist, you should be seen on the tracks, roads, and the few bike lanes we have that morning. Wear high-visibility clothing, have your lights on, stay safe and make it count,” Matthias said.
A formal council response to the petition is due within two scheduled meetings. Whether it addresses the question of nationally comparable data, the door, Matthias says, remains open for community-funded Super Tuesday participation in 2027.