From the Chancellery
Closing the fitness gap
This
year got off to a flying start with cyclists from over 20 countries
landing in Adelaide for the eleventh Tour Down Under. As South
Australians, we can be extremely proud that the Tour Down Under is
now the first race in the prestigious UCI Pro Tour calendar, making
Adelaide the first stop in the world cycling ‘premier league’. As a
university, we can be equally proud of our nine-year relationship
with the Tour, and the fact that in 2008 we became sponsors of the
Pro Tour’s first national team anywhere in the world – a beautiful
link with the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of UniSA.
UniSA’s strategic partnership with the Tour and the State of South Australia is indeed an excellent example of the pivotal role a modern university plays in today’s society. It is a partnership that is based on a set of shared values and goals, primarily to provide opportunities for people to realise their potential and achieve their dreams.
We are in the business of developing graduates who are committed to excellence, who approach their professional lives with a global outlook, and who are ethical and environmentally-conscious decision-makers. These qualities were reflected in the UniSA-Australia team this year, who showed considerable form and tenacity in the face of tough road conditions and the unfortunate withdrawal of team leader Baden Cooke, due to an unavoidable crash.
But UniSA’s commitment to cycling extends far beyond the competitive nature of the Pro Tour: we have now developed a research program on cycling and offer a PhD scholarship focused on cycle tourism. We are also excited about what can be done for cycling in South Australia and what that might do for the health of South Australians and our environment. Can Adelaide become one of the world’s best cycling cities for commuters, comparable to Amsterdam, Portland and Copenhagen?
The interest for cycling is certainly growing. The State Government has spent $95 million on cycling-related projects to date, which has taken the State’s bike tracks from 480km (2002) to 720km (2009). This has also included a 32km bike path named after Adelaide cyclist Amy Gillett (and UniSA student), who was tragically killed in a bike-related accident in Germany in 2005.
This year I was delighted to (again) take part in the 155km Mutual Community Challenge Tour from Burnside Village to Angaston, alongside many other UniSA staff members. We were joined by former Chancellor David Klingberg, who participated for the first time and raised over $5000 for cancer research. It was wonderful to see the number of recreational riders exceed 7000, a monumental increase from the 700 riders who took part in 2003.
This figure is particularly heartening in the face of research that shows Australia is exercising less as a nation, and the increasing evidence that cycling can help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart attacks and obesity, and improve overall life expectancy. Additionally, the Australian Greenhouse Office has reported that cycling 10km each way to work instead of driving can save about 1.3 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
It is my belief that with an improved cycling infrastructure, South Australia’s carbon footprint will be lessened and our community can live a happier and healthier life. The record crowds that turned out for this year’s Tour Down Under inspires hope of a fitter and more environmentally-conscious city. So with this in mind I encourage each of you to dust off your BMXs, leave the car behind, and break-away into an active and rewarding 2009!