Queensland Government collaborates to encourage walking and cycling

Overview

Action 2.8: Collaborate across Queensland Government to encourage walking and cycling, particularly for transport.

Lead agency: Queensland Department of Health

Status: Complete

Achievements

Recognising the importance of physical activity like riding bicycles to people’s health and wellbeing, Queensland Department of Health facilitates the Physical Activity Group.

Comprising several departments across Queensland Government, the group regularly shares research and information on interventions and the benefits of physical activity, guiding and strengthening initiative development.

We are sharing information on physical activity trends, information on national programs such as Move It AUS – Participation, and continuing to promote physical activity, like bicycle riding, in new state initiatives, such as a Southeast Queensland City Deal and the Keep Queenslanders healthy (Our Future State priority). Connecting departments with relevant evidence can help demonstrate the benefits of physical activity to people’s health and wellbeing as well as the social and economic benefits gained from more bicycle riding.

We have also made it easier for local governments to find grant information for building and connecting cycling infrastructure by including it on the Queensland Government Grants Finder (Cycle Program) and the Local Government Association of Queensland’s Grants and Funding webpages.

Next steps

We will continue to hold regular interdepartmental meetings to share information and collaborate across Queensland government to get more people bicycle riding, walking and physically active.