Brisbane is hosting Australia’s first-ever hackathon about bike riding BikeHack19 later this month.
In a similar vein to a 3 Day Start Up or tech Hackathons, this event is focused on solving a problem. In this case, the cycling challenge is…..
How can bike riding be more accessible and appealing in Queensland so people ride bikes more often?
This event is not focused on changing policy, but it is an exploration of any other possibilities that could include bike tech, gamification, design, data, support services or new business ideas.
Anyone over the age of 18 can participate as long as they are not a government employee.
When I went earlier this week to BikeHack19’s info night, I was sitting next to a tech start-up entrepreneur on one side and an engineer on the other. Other people I spoke to came from widely diverse backgrounds including sociologists, researchers, students, town planners, public health academics and programmers. I was surprised at how few cyclists there were.
Here’s the event schedule.
BikeHack19 is promoted as being an opportunity to meet new people and expand networks. As well as working with fellow hackers in teams over the weekend to process their ideas, there are also industry experts, advisors and funders on hand to suggest and mentor teams throughout the process.
Previously, I participated in a 3 Day Start-Up (3DS) intensive which ran 40 Griffith PhD candidates through an entrepreneurial practical intensive on how to develop aspects of their PhD research into a start-up business. It was fun, but very intense. Five key reflections emerged for me from my 3DS experience – insights that I will need to revisit as I consider if I will participate in BikeHack19.
It was interesting to see some of alternative views about BikeHack19’s purpose and objectives being voiced on Reddit. In many cases, online forums and interest groups have a wealth of ideas and comments on localised issues.
Ideas, resources and profiles
A long list of relevant data and an array of resources have been collated to help generate the best ideas – here is a few:
BikeHack19 provides a comprehensive list of data and resources – check it out!
Queensland Bike Strategy’s recent bike riding updates and case studies.
To help focus and refine ideas, the organisers commissioned Enhance Research to look into the issue using a 3-phase research design. They collated findings into 3 ‘profiles’ on the common type of bike riders in Queensland and their motivation.
These profiles (see them below) inform the three challenge categories and can be used as a stimulus ‘target market’ for the teams.
Cash Prizes
Overall, there is $25,000 in prize money – much more than other similar events.
The $25,000 is divided into four cash prizes.
Overall team with best idea: – $10,000
One (1) overall winner prize of $10,000 for ‘best overall idea’ and three category winner prizes ($5,000 each) will go to the teams that come up the best ideas that address each of the three categories:
- Active Transport – $5,000 prize
- Happy, Healthy Families – $5,000 prize
- Tourism and Recreation – $5,000 prize
Winners will be determined by a judging panel on the Sunday night. Prize money will be distributed to each member of the winning team, equally with no strings attached.
What is expected by the end of the weekend?
There are no hard and fast rules on what is expected as a finished ‘product’ to be pitched in the final presentation on Sunday evening. The focus is more on teams working through stages of ideation, process and development of solutions to the challenge.
So if you have an idea about how to get more Queenslanders on bicycles – check out BikeHack19 and pitch your idea.
Who knows maybe your idea will win!
To be part of BikeHack19 will cost you $30. Register here
BikeHack19 is proudly presented by Fishburners Brisbane in collaboration with Aaron Birkby, and is supported by Aurecon and the Dept. of Transport and Roads.
Here are the three profiles:
All images from: BikeHack19 or from the event info night PPT by Enhance Research.