Tag: Animals

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Bushfire koala’s cycling ambassador

As many of you know, the East coast of Australia is on fire.

Devastating bushfires continue to take lives, destroy homes and towns, raze vast tracks of forests and kill millions of animals.

Yet amongst such devastation, there are also stories of hope, kindness and survival.

Many cyclists may already be familiar with Adelaide rider Anna Heusler’s koala video that went viral.

Anna was riding with a group of friends in the Adelaide Hills when they saw a koala sitting in the middle of the road. With parts of the Adelaide Hills ravaged by fires, wildlife that are not killed, have been injured and displaced.

On the day Anna was riding, it was 42C and this koala was desperate for a drink.

Anna stopped to give the koala a drink. The koala, who has since been named Kodak, drank 8 bottles of water from the cyclists. They then ushered him off the road to safety.

The moving video of this encounter has been seen worldwide and brought attention to the desperate plight Australian wildlife is experiencing during these bushfires – and particularly for koalas.

Read more about Anna’s encounter here.

Since finding Kodak, Anna has a Thirsty Koalas project on Go Fund Me and has been working tirelessly volunteering for Koala rescue and rehabilitation to support their long-term survival.

Anna Heusler. Image: Chick who ride bikes.

Support the koalas

In support of Koala Rescue and Anna’s hard work, Chicks who Ride Bikes have re-released a limited edition Koala jersey where 100% of the profits will go to Koala rescue and rehabilitation.

Grab a koala cycling jersey now

Image: Chick who ride bikes.

Order a limited edition koala jersey and 100% of profits go towards the International Koala Centre of Excellence.

Supporting the koalas is a great way for cyclists to show they care, support bushfire efforts, see out 2019 and start the new 2020 year (and decade) on a positive note.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by the bushfires.

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Animals on Bikes – Tourist Trail

The new year break is a time when many families hit the road for an annual holiday.

Cars full of people travel up and down the Australian East Coast heading to their favourite travel destination.

If you find yourself travelling through Central NSW, why not check out the Animals on Bikes tourist trail?

Animals on Bikes is a 120km creative ‘paddock art’ installation of…. well…. animals on bikes… that you can see from your car as you drive along.

What is Animals on Bikes?

Originally, the inspiration for the project (started by Christine Western), was to capitalize on local tourist services and attractions, such as the Dubbo Zoo.

But as 8 years of drought continued to ravage local farms, it also become a way ‘to boost morale and improve the economic health of our rural-reliant central west communities’.

Animals on Bikes started in 2009 as a series of 45 creative 2-metre high sculptures and some smaller ones created by local farmers, farmers wives, Men’s sheds, bus drivers, preschool kids, playgroup mums and other locals.

Now, there are over 100 sculptures on display.

All installations are located off the main highway, between Molong and the Dubbo Zoo, via Cumnock and Yeoval. You can download a map and self-drive a route that suits you.

Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes

This project is quite remarkable.

Its impressive that the local community galvanised to link into, and extend, the local region’s tourism industry in creative and unique ways – as well as showcasing the talent, humour and ingenuity of local residents.

Many rural areas are being negatively affected by new highway developments that bypass communities – a theme immortalized as per Radiator Springs in the Disney movie ‘Cars’ for instance. This project is a great example of one community’s proactive approach to redress this.

What a great idea – and what an awesome theme!

See Animals on Bikes for more information. Here’s a few Animals on Bikes.

Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Rosie the Red Backed Spider. Animals on Bikes
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Australian Traveller
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes
Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019.
Image: Animals on Bikes

A big thanks to Claire Tracey, who suggested this story after seeing Animals on Bikes on a trip from Brisbane to Canberra. Thank you! We love it!