brand SA as the cycling state?

Premier Jay Weatherill has suggested re-branding South Australia:

-- 891 ABC Adelaide on Thursday 10-May-2012 
http://blogs.abc.net.au/sa/2012/05/premier-jays-plans-to-rebrand-sa.html

--
 The Advertiser of Thursday 10-May-2012

--
 Adelaide Now on Friday 11-May-2012 
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/travel/news/branding-south-australia-anew/story-fn3015fd-1226352715557

-- The
 Indaily of Friday 11-May-2012 on page 2 
http://www.indaily.com.au/?iid=62849#folio=2

Heather asks: We have TDU plus AC members say the best state for cycling, when the beach and hills are so accessible and the weather mild. How about branding SA as the cycling state?  What other cycling attributes? How would you promote us as the cycling state? What are the benefits?

Tags: adelaide

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Permalink Reply by hozozco on May 21, 2012 at 9:41

Re-branding SA?  What was wrong with 'SA - Going All The Way' /sarcasm

We (SA) have a population of a little over a million people.  We should not expect to have a strong world-wide presence.  I think a major spending campaign to improve our profile would probably be better spent targeting niche markets.

Now I'm not sure what those niche markets should be, but lets say we think we are a great place for IT conferences - target those.  A safe place for gay and lesbian holidays (the pink dollar) - lets target those.  A great place for cycling holidays (I'm not sure it is, but if the experts say so) - lets target those.

I suspect we do not have the funds, or the profile to be known everywhere.

I mean, large numbers of Americans (and others) think that Australia is in Europe!  Let's spend this sort of money carefully.


'Re-branding' us as a cycling friendly state would be great - if we were a cycling friendly state.  I think we would need to be really cycling friendly before it was worth crowing about, and we're just not by international standards.  It might work for promoting SA to VIC and NSW, but I think they know who we are already!

Simon

Permalink Reply by heather on May 21, 2012 at 9:50

I take your point that SA needs improving to be a cycling friendly state. Would branding be a way to get government funding for more and better cycling infrastructure? Would branding encourage drivers to look for cyclists?

However, SA is becoming known overseas via TDU. I collected a cycling petition, including at TDU. I was surprised by the number of people in cycling gear who were from interstate and overseas. Nice to chat to so many cyclists. Then premier Mike Wran announced that of all the events in SA, TDU attracted the most visitors.

Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on May 22, 2012 at 2:22

I think there is the issue that if people come to "SA the cycling state" and find things just average they will be disappointed.

People who have had a poor experience will not be good ambassadors.

If people were to come for a cycling holiday would they need something like the Riesling Trail  for most wine districts for the wine buffs.

Some sort of reasonably serviced bushland trails that were easily accessible for the nature buffs.

While there are all sorts of interesting cycling activity's

Finding a good range that would cater for a variety of fitness and skill levels could be challenging.

the next challenge would be how and who would make money from it.

After all wouldn't responsible government be looking to maximise return for any investment?

Spending millions of dollars to create a handful of jobs may be viewed as a folly (or should I say a Foley) by many especially non-cyclists.

Permalink Reply by RD6 on May 22, 2012 at 21:09

FUIC state

Permalink Reply by VeloAvenger on May 22, 2012 at 23:05

Isn't the draw of cycling that you don't need to travel a long distance somewhere special to enjoy it?

Permalink Reply by heather on May 23, 2012 at 8:03

Cycling in South Australia is increasing and data shows that of any Australian State capital city, Adelaide has the highest percentage of people cycling to work.

From Towards Zero Together – South Australia's Road Safety Strategy 2020, page 24.
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/73335/South_A...

Permalink Reply by Doddsy on May 23, 2012 at 22:28

"South Australia the least Cycling unfriendly"

Permalink Reply by colin christensen on November 12, 2012 at 13:22

Census data on mode of gettign to work:

In 1976 Adelaide would be the envy of the nation. In 2011 it is disgraceful, trending the same way as public transport in Adelaide while, unlike all other capital cities, driving is on the up-and-up.

Make your leaders do something more than sprout slogans and pretend that the rest of the world is watching some great sea-change in South Australia. Cos the change doesn't look like it is happening.

Informed riders need to agitate.

Permalink Reply by heather on November 12, 2012 at 14:14

Colin, thanks. Interesting and worth quoting to authorities. Please provide the reference, e.g. web link or document plus page number.

Permalink Reply by Andrew K on November 12, 2012 at 14:48

More alarming is this one:

Perhaps they should brand SA as "the driving state" ;)

Permalink Reply by heather on November 12, 2012 at 14:58

I was disappointed when I read in a Prospect Council document a comparison of two ABS Census figures (not the last one). The number of Prospect residents driving to work had increased, and the number driving to work alone had increased. If people cannot cycle or use public transport for 5km to 10km, what hope is there for sustainable transport and the planet!

Permalink Reply by colin christensen on November 12, 2012 at 21:49

Sorry about the failure to reference it Heather. I got it all from http://chartingtransport.com/2012/10/30/trends-in-journey-to-work-m... which is where Andrew's came from too.

(Methinks Don Dunstan could make cycling a popular focus for the community at large.)

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