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<H1>Time for PS to harness pedal power</H1></DIV>
<DIV class=byline>BY NATASHA RUDRA<BR></DIV>
<DIV class=date>1/08/2008 12:00:00 AM</DIV>
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<DIV class=summarytext><STRONG>ACT public servants may have to cycle to their
next meeting if the Bicycle Federation of Australia gets its way.</STRONG>
<P>The group wants ACT Government departments to replace their car fleets with
pushbikes.
<P>Public servants will be able to use the bicycles to run work errands and go
to meetings in nearby suburbs.
<P>Federation executive director Peter Strang spoke to Government
representatives yesterday at a forum hosted by Labor MLA Mary Porter.
<P>He said cycling to appointments was easy, cost-effective and did not leave
workers breathless or sweaty.
<P>A bicycle fleet would also reduce the Government's carbon emissions and help
public servants stay fit.
<P>A similar scheme is in place at the Australian National University and at the
Mental Health Foundation of the ACT.
<P>Ms Porter said a bicycle fleet would be part of the Government's sustainable
transport plan, but it would be up to individual departments to buy bikes for
staff.
<P>She said many MLAs already cycled to work, but declined to speculate on
whether Chief Minister Jon Stanhope would soon be seen pedalling to functions.
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