Macarthur Bicycle Users Group, Macarthur Bushwalkers, bicycles, safe cycling, beginner rides, coaching, bushwalking, clubs, bushwalks, touring, courses, Campbelltown, Macarthur, NSW, Australia

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News Flash: Advocacy, abuse, intimidation page published- Visit the Advocacy and Campbelltown Cycleways Test page - Three bicycle accidents in Macarthur in one week see news page - Letter to Campbelltown Mayor see MacBUG Advocacy page - Club meeting at Campbelltown RSL 1st Monday each month MacBUG News - new page which may help you, Purchasing a bike the personal experience, Bike Friday

"The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community." -- Ann Strong, Minneapolis Tribune, 1895

Macarthur Bicycle Users Group - MacBUG / Macarthur Bushwalkers introduction

MacBUG cyclists / Macarthur Bushwalkers are a group of individuals who accept responsibility for themselves. We have gone back to basics by eliminating club membership fees and most committee meetings.

We are a safety conscious, informal, no frills, family friendly outdoors group located in the Macarthur region of New South Wales (NSW) Australia.

MacBUG is affiliated to Bicycle NSW and supports the goals and activities of that organisation.

Bushwalking Guidelines have been obtained from the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc, bushwalking clubs, overseas organisations and the experience of our members.

The guidelines can be found on: FAQ - becoming involved.

Membership

Children are eligible to ride with MacBUG providing they are accompanied by an adult / guardian.

Come along to our regular informal "Meet & Greet" evenings held on the Campbelltown RSL premises at 7.00pm on the 1st Monday of each month. Meet fellow cyclists, talk about cycling and your adventures, help plan rides over a drink.

MacBUG Objectives

The objectives of the group are the same as those of Bicycle New South Wales:

To promote the use of the bicycle for transport and recreation as a means to improve quality of life and protect the environment.
To promote education of bicyclists and other road users in the interest of road safety.
To advocate enforcement of the rights and obligations of bicyclists.
To advocate engineering and equipment appropriate for the use of bicyclists.
To develop friendships through our outdoor activities.

With this in mind, MacBUG has just completed an evaluation from the cyclists perspective of the route from Bradbury to Campbelltown's Railway Station. A route one would logically expect cyclists to use. Although an RTA / Campbelltown Council promoted cycleway our findings were that it was anything but a bike friendly / safe route. For more information visit Cycling inadequacies of Campbelltown Cycleways Web Page and photograph gallery.

Where is MacBug

MacBUG is a South Western Sydney based cycling group / club located in Campbelltown / Camden on the fringe of Greater Sydney in the Macarthur District of New South Wales (NSW) where most of our group live. The groups intention is to service the people of the Macarthur District and anybody else who would like to engage in outdoor activities.

The Macarthur District includes the following townships, many of which are located in the Southern Highlands: Bargo, Thirlmere, Camden, Campbelltown, Cobbity, Glenfield, Ingleburn, Hill Top, Minto, Narellan, Leppington and Picton in the Wollondilly Shire, the population is approximately 225,000.

The Macarthur District is approximately 50 kilometers from the centre of Sydney and north of the Southern Highlands with Liverpool to the north and Mittagong to the south.

The area is easily accessed by public transport (NSW State Rail). Campbelltown itself sits astride the Hume Highway guaranteeing good access by road (M5 & Hume Hwy).

Beginners Rides - Health - Fitness

Can't ride a bike but would like to learn? Or would like to ride a and socialise, maybe improve your health and fitness?
If the answer is YES! Call MacBUG.
Every Saturday morning is allocated for cycling coaching / tuition / easy rides for beginners or the less fit.
Cycling is great for making friends and socialising. It's restful because we are never in a hurry. Some riders might want to stop for a coffee, take a photograph or look at the scenery. We ride as a group at an easy pace to suit all.
Get your bike down from the garage wall, blow up the tyres and check that it works.
What next?
Visit the Calendar /Bushwalk Calendar to see what we are doing. Then join one of our Saturday groups by calling 4628 2528 and book in.

MacBUG Rides

Campbelltown is not a cyclist friendly city with little being done in the way of safe cycling promotion or the development of cycleways or cycle friendly routes in the last twenty years. Therefore MacBUG rides are mainly held in the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and the Sydney cycleways. Many rides are also held in the low traffic areas of the Southern Highlands.
see MacBUG Cycling Events Calendar.

Insurance

Cycling insurance is your responsibility, it is available through Bicycle NSW and we strongly urge you to take it.
Member benefits

$20 million public liability
personal accident insurance
regular social rides calendar
Australian cyclist magazine
discounts on cycling books
discounts on cycling events

Walking with the Macarthur Bushwalkers

The Macarthur Region is in close proximity to the Royal National Park (second oldest to the US Yellowstone NP), Blue Mountains National Park and the Southern Highlands of NSW to name a few.

It is an easy run from Campbelltown to the Snowy Mountains and New South Wales (NSW) South Coast (Wollongong, Illawarra).

Bushwalk's are regularly held in the "World Heritage" Blue Mountains National Park including the Upper Blue Mountains and Lower Blue Mountains, Snowy Mountains, Wollemi National Park, Royal National Park, Barrington Tops National Park, Morton National Park, Kanangra Boyd National Park, Nattai Wilderness, Nattai National Park, Gardens of Stone National Park, our own Georges River National Park and more.

These are just a few of the many notable National Parks in New South Wales (NSW) and Canberra (ACT).

Open Invitation

If you are a bicycle owner or bushwalker and not sure where to ride or walk, join us. You are welcome on our rides, walks and social activities.
People of all religions and nationalities are welcome to join us, help us create a truly multi-cultural cycling / bushwalking group / club.

If you would like to improve your fitness, even lose weight or just enjoy a ride or bushwalk we have something for you, Email or phone 02 4628 2528 Information on how to become involved with the 'MacBUG or the Bushwalkers' ie - liability, personal costs, travel, bushwalking, cycling etc is found using this link (Group), therefore it is essential reading.

Safety and Equipment

Those of us who choose to bushwalk NSW and Australia often find ourselves in some very beautiful yet hostile environments. Many of our easier local bushwalk's are in the same challenging type of terrain.
Walkers should be prepared to meet the challenges they may encounter on their journeys.
Even easy bushwalk's are more challenging than walking in the streets or local parks.
Although we aren't a club with club formalities, we do promote safety and protection of the environment.
Safe Bushwalking is essential, don't know how? Let us teach you. Walk with experienced bushwalkers, walk with the group and benefit from our experience.

Quick guide to:

Rides and bushwalk's calendar
Rides and bushwalk's calendar, can also be found on the PushOn Web Site. This calender is updated every two months.
Macarthur Bushwalkers - First bushwalk
Equipment - clothing - food - tips - preparation for the first timer / novice.
Macarthur Bushwalkers - Backpacking - Hiking timetable
Activities from the novice to the fitter / experienced bushwalkers who wish to enjoy peace and tranquility in the bush and experience the best of Australia's flora and fauna.
Macarthur Bushwalkers - Bushwalk Grades
A list and explanation of the six Mountain Dragons bushwalk grades, these include references to distances - bush skills - navigation skills - group numbers etc.
Macarthur Bushwalkers - Safety Page
"Bushwalking Australia" safety requirements - brief introduction to bushwalking safety with related links to associated Web pages.
Macarthur Bushwalkers - Technical Links
Links to weather and tide predictions sites - bushwalking equipment suppliers - navigation - using Topographical maps - using a GPS - using a compass - water consumption / dehydration etc.