Big Bike Film Night

Kiama BUG, Special events

Big bike film nightThe Big Bike Film Night is returning to Wollongong.

  • When:Tuesday 11th August @ 7:00 pm
  • Where: Gala Cinema Warrawong

The 2026 collection is geared to inspire, with a breathtaking range of short cycling films that celebrate the fun, adventure, and inspiration that cycling enables; showcasing 2.5 hours of moving bike films that has everything a cycle-centric audience could want.

Thanks to prize sponsors, presenting partner Ng? Haerenga Great Rides of New Zealand, attendees will be in the draw to win a  5-day, all-inclusive Great Rides cycling holiday to New Zealand! Five days cycling the best trails across New Zealand’s South Island, starting and finishing in Queenstown. 

Simply buy a ticket to attend a Big Bike Film Night Australian screening and complete an entry form. (Flights included).

More info: Big Bike Film Night website >>>

Watch the Trailer….

More on e-Bike changes

regulation, , ,

Fat Bike with pedestriansWhile new federal legislation is being introduced in regard to the importation and sale of e-Bikes, each state appears to be applying their own interpretation and implementation of the federal regulations.

This ABC article discusses some of the likely outcomes in NSW….

European safety and performance standards have been introduced from March for new e-bikes, following in the footsteps of WA.

An e-bike marked as “EN 15194” now meets the manufacturing requirements to keep it acting like a bicycle rather than a motorbike.

It means e-bikes must have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and pedal assistance has to cut out at 25km/h.

Additionally, no assistance will be provided if the rider is not pedalling at 6km/h or more.

The government says the standard also includes battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent alteration of power or speed limits.

Read the full story at the ABC >>>

New eBike Laws – What’s Changing

cycling, Kiama BUG, Planning, regulation, , ,

eBike commuterFederal and state governments are consolidating their plans around new rules for e-bikes.

Following the decision in 2025 to reintroduce the European standard for e-bikes on Australian roads, the Commonwealth has now amended the import rules for e-bikes by re-inserting EN15194:2017 into the definition of an e-bike in the Australian Design Rules.

The Department of Transport and Border Security uses this definition to decide if a product is an e-bike that can be imported into Australia.

Such an e-bike must meet all the requirements of EN15194:2017 including having a maximum continuous power of 250 watts, a maximum assisted speed of 25km/h, and a maximum throttled-controlled walk-mode speed of 6km/h.

Significantly, the standard now also contains an anti-tampering provision to prevent the power and speed limitations being altered by sellers or owners.

A retailer manufacturer or retailer cannot provide a code, controller setting, device app, mechanical device, throttle in a box or any other functionality for consumer modification.

From our local state perspective, NSW e-bike laws are changing in stages between 2026 and 2029, to become aligned with the national regulations.

New e-bikes sold in NSW must now be marked to show whether they meet the EN 15194 standard or not.

From March 2029, e-bikes that aren’t certified to EN 15194 will no longer be legal to ride on roads, cycleways, shared paths or other public areas in NSW.

The links below provide information about what has changed at a national level, and how these new regulations are being applied in NSW…

 

KBUG AGM and Annual Dinner 2026

Kiama BUG

Attention all Kiama BUG members….

The 2026 Kiama BUG Annual General Meeting and Dinner will be held on Wednesday 22nd July, at the Oak Flats Bowling Club.

The function will commence at 6:00pm.

Our AGM will be held at 6:30pm, followed by Dinner at 7:00pm

Please review the information below – to either:

  • RSVP for the AGM and Dinner
    and/or
  • Nominate for the Kiama BUG Committee

Please RSVP by Friday 17th July.
Continue reading KBUG AGM and Annual Dinner 2026 →

The Man With the Yellow Kombi

Kiama BUG

Gallery of reconditioned bikesIn the quiet suburb of Manly Vale, NSW, one man is proving that small actions can have a big impact. 

Alan Ventress, a 75-year-old retiree, has become something of a local hero, dedicating his time and energy to rescuing abandoned bicycles and giving them new life. His remarkable journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that offered him the time to reflect on waste, community, and how he could make a difference.  

It all started when Alan noticed an increasing number of bicycles left out for council cleanups, often in good condition or requiring only minor repairs. Disheartened by the wasteful habits of what he calls a ‘throwaway society’, Alan felt compelled to act. 

Read the full story at Bicycle NSW >>>

The Long Road to Bike-friendly Australia

cycling, Health, Planning, , ,

Cyclists in the cityState governments and local councils have a strategy to increase participation in walking and cycling activities – referred to by planners as “active transport”. Doing so would improve citizens’ health and air quality, reduce emissions and traffic congestion, and increase accessibility and liveability, the strategies say.

Yet cycling participation rates remain relatively stagnant in Australia, barely shifting in the past decade. Some experts argue cycling has more scope to grow than walking because of the amount of short daily trips many people take within cycling distance of their house or as part of shared trips with public transport. While there are recent reports of surging e-bike sales as fuel prices soar, it seems that a widespread bike riding culture remains elusive.

Read the full story at the ABC >>>

Report a Cycling Hazard

cycling, Health, Safety,

Samp Send SolveHave you encountered an unsafe cycling environment – a damaged cycleway path, or a tree branch blocking a path? Or maybe a dangerous bollard, or a safety sign that requires maintenance? Or any other hazard that could contribute to a cycling accident?

Rather than just riding on past the potential hazard, Kiama BUG is encouraging all members to use the Snap Send Solve app to report the safety hazard to our local councils. 

Be sure to have the Snap Send Solve app installed on your phone.

  • Stop safely near the hazard;
  • Snap a photo of the safety hazard;
  • Send a report on the spot. No frustrating forms or phone queues;
  • The app automatically recognises your location and sends your report with a photo to the responsible authority for review. And to hopefully Solve).

Learn more, and Get the app >>>

eBike Regulation Changes Coming to NSW

regulation, Safety, , ,

eBike on one wheelThe NSW government has announced “measured and staged reforms aimed at improving safety for riders, pedestrians and the wider community”.

These changes include:

A power output enforcement has been introduced from this month, while a minimum age requirement for riders is also currently being explored.

e-bikes must now meet the EU standard (EN 15194), so they behave like a bicycle rather than a motorbike.

This means e-bikes must now have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and pedal assistance has to cut out at 25km/h.

Additionally, no non-pedalling assistance (with a manual throttle) can be provided above 6km/h.

The government says the new standards also includes battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent the alteration of power or speed limiting software.

 

e-Rideables Crackdown in WA

cycling, Health, regulation, Safety, , ,

Teenagers on a fat bikeIn the lead up to Christmas 2025, the NSW government announced a number of regulatory changes to the sale of e-Bikes, including reduced motor size, maximum top boosted speeds, and the application of throttles. This was in addition to an announcement of revised Federal import restrictions made earlier in the year.

The NSW Government is yet to announce how the regulations will be enforced in NSW.

However, Western Australia appears to be taking an aggressive approach to enforcement, with WA Police urging parents to closely monitor their children’s use of e-rideables, after an operation in Perth saw dozens of juveniles charged and multiple electric scooters and off-road bikes seized and destroyed.

Operation Moorhead was launched in response to community concern about dangerous and anti-social riding behaviour.

Read more at ABC News >>>

KBUG Autumn Cycling Tour 2026

Kiama BUG, Tour, ,

Cycling in AutumnThis year’s Kiama BUG Autumn Cycling Tour is heading west to visit the city of Orange, during the week commencing Monday 9th March 2026

There will be three days of riding….

  • Tuesday 10th March
  • Wednesday 11th March
  • Thursday 12th March

 

 

Latest Information

Organisation

Our base for the trip will be the Colour City Caravan Park in Orange. Each ride will start from the Park.

We will be basing our rides around the ride routes listed on the Ride Orange website.

These rides will mostly be on public roads, on surfaces suitable for all types of bikes.

More specific information about each of our daily rides is available in the Orange Tour Information Doc below.

Participating riders will need to organise their own accommodation, staying in the area from Monday 9th March, to be ready to roll on the Tuesday morning, when we will be leaving the Colour City Caravan Park at 8:00 am. 

If booking online at the Colour City Caravan Park, make a note that you will be staying with the Kiama Cycling Group.

Travel time from Kiama to Orange is around a 4-5 hours, via either the southern Goulburn/Crookwell/Blaney route, or the northern Campbelltown/Katoomba/Blue Mountains route. 

To assist in the organisation for the trip, please register at the link below, before Friday 27th February.