Harnessing the skills of our local Communities! February 2008 The Board of Bicycle NSW realises that its most valuable resource are Bike User Groups and for some time the Board has been deliberating how best to harness the depth of knowledge and skills throughout the BUG network.

At the August 2007 meeting, the Board of Bicycle NSW ratified the formation of a BUG’s Committee as a formal Board subcommittee, chaired by Bicycle NSW Board vice-president Andrew Dodds. Members of affiliated BUGs across NSW are encouraged to join the BUG’s Committee. “Bicycle NSW is very aware of the important role played by BUGs. They encourage people to ride bikes, provide an invaluable source of information for people who are new to cycling and lead the way in campaigning for better local facilities” said Andrew. “The local knowledge of the BUGs is critical for achieving a number of important initiatives that have been identified as part of the Bicycle NSW Strategic plan, initiatives such as the gathering of rider count data from around the State and providing information on issues relevant to their local area.   “As major stakeholders, BUGs are in a position to make a significant contribution to policy development at Bicycle NSW and with the formation of the BUG’s Committee there is now a clear means by which their voices can be heard at the Board level.”   Some BUGs are involved in a broad range of activities, other than rides (fete stalls, public meetings etc), and the BUG’s Committee is framing risk management protocols for these other public activities of affiliated BUGs. The first task for the BUG’s Committee is to define the BUG affiliation process. Affiliation is the central process by which Bicycle NSW is able to extend Public Liability Insurance cover to BUGs. All BUGs will need to be affiliated and to this end we need to know which BUGs still exist and wish to be affiliated with BNSW. “It is important that the BUGs themselves are involved in the design and development of the affiliation framework and process, so an ‘evolutionary’ 3-step process is proposed over the next 8 months to the end of April 2008,” explained Andrew. AFFILIATION PROCESS Step 1 – Each BUG wishing to be affiliated will need to complete and submit an application form to the BUG’s Committee by the end of November 2007.* The BUG’s Committee will consider these applications and make recommendations to the Board of Bicycle NSW for BUG affiliation BUG Affiliation Application forms can be downloaded from the PushOn website. Step 2 – Each BUG will need to submit an “Annual Report”, the format of which will be decided by the BUG’s Committee and may include information such as financial details, an update on activities and plans in Advocacy and Rides, together with any other relevant information. This will need to be submitted to the BUG’s Committee no later than 31 December each year. The BUG’s Committee may then make recommendations to the January meeting of the Board of Bicycle NSW regarding BUG affiliation. Step 3 – Over the following 3 months, the BUG’s Committee will develop recommendations for the broader BUG/Bicycle NSW affiliation framework and processes Why do we need to be affiliated? Proper documentation needs to be drawn up to enable the issuing of Public Liability “Certificates of Currency” to BUGs when they are involved in these activities. This process is scheduled to be in place by the end of November this year. A nationally recognised ride leader accreditation scheme is being established that will, among other things, be designed to provide insurance cover tailored specifically for ride leaders. This part of the BUG’s Committee's work relates directly to the core purpose of Bicycle NSW in getting more people on bikes more often. The accreditation program is scheduled to be operational early in 2008.   This plan is designed to provide a clearer definition of BUGs and their relationship to BNSW. It will also allow BUGs to have a more direct and formal line of communication with the Board of BNSW, allowing YOU to have more say in the direction of YOUR peak cycling Organisation.   For further information about BUG affiliation and the work of the BUG Committee, contact: Andrew Dodds 0403 999 899   * NOTE: The BUG’s Committee may need to consider that those BUGs who choose not to complete and submit the BUG application form to the satisfaction of the BUG’s Committee may be deemed no longer affiliated (and therefore not covered by Bicycle NSW Public Liability Insurance) after the 30th November 2007. Similarly, BUGs that do not provide an Annual Report each year by 31 December may also be deemed to be no longer affiliated. This is an updated version of an article originally published in  PushOn Magazine 'WHERE MEMBERS AND BUGS OF BNSW MEET' Vol. 31 No. 10, October 2007. Online here.