We’re delighted to announce that Party Onbici has joined the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia (ICCIAUS), strengthening the connections between Italian cycling heritage and Australian innovation in sustainable urban mobility.
This membership celebrates the deep cultural ties between Italy and Australia while opening opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration - particularly as we prepare to bring Party Onbici to Italy following our participation in the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge.
About ICCIAUS
The Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Australia has been fostering business connections between Italy and Australia for over 45 years.
ICCIAUS serves as:
- A bridge between Italian and Australian business communities
- A promoter of trade and cultural exchange
- A supporter of Italian excellence in design, innovation, and sustainability
- A network for Italian-Australian entrepreneurs and businesses
With events ranging from the prestigious Italian Business Excellence Awards (now in its 45th edition) to Italian Design Day, ICCIAUS celebrates Italian culture while advancing business relationships between the two nations.
Italy’s Deep Cycling Heritage
When you think of cycling culture, Italy immediately comes to mind. The country has a profound relationship with cycling that spans recreation, sport, and daily transport.
The Giro d’Italia
Italy’s legendary Giro d’Italia - one of cycling’s three Grand Tours - has captivated the world since 1909. The race showcases not just athletic excellence but Italy’s stunning landscapes, historic towns, and passion for cycling.
The Giro isn’t just a sporting event - it’s a cultural phenomenon that brings communities together and celebrates cycling as an integral part of Italian identity.
Gran Fondo Culture
Italy pioneered the Gran Fondo concept - mass participation cycling events that combine:
- Challenging routes through beautiful landscapes
- A festive, community atmosphere
- Excellent food and hospitality (naturally!)
- Accessibility for riders of all levels
Gran Fondo events demonstrate that cycling can be both challenging and social, competitive and inclusive - values that align perfectly with Party Onbici’s mission.
Cycling Cities
Italian cities have long embraced cycling as everyday transport. From:
- Ferrara - where bikes outnumber cars
- Bologna - with its historic arcades protecting cyclists from weather
- Milan - rapidly expanding its cycling network
- Rome - creating new bike paths to reduce traffic congestion
Italy shows that cycling isn’t incompatible with historic urban centres - it actually enhances them.
Italian-Australian Connections in Cycling
The Italian-Australian connection in cycling runs deep:
Cadel Evans
Australia’s only Tour de France winner, Cadel Evans, spent much of his professional career riding for Italian teams including Mapei and later won the Giro d’Italia in 2014. His success embodied the strong ties between Australian and Italian cycling.
The Italian-Australian Community
Australia is home to approximately 1 million people of Italian descent, making it one of the largest Italian diaspora communities in the world. Many Italian-Australians maintain strong connections to Italian culture, including cycling traditions.
Design and Innovation
Italy’s leadership in cycling includes:
- Manufacturing excellence - legendary brands like Bianchi, Pinarello, Colnago
- Design innovation - combining aesthetics with performance
- Cycling infrastructure - pioneering approaches to urban cycling
These values of quality, design, and community resonate strongly in both Italian and Australian cycling cultures.
Why This Partnership Matters
Joining ICCIAUS creates meaningful opportunities for Party Onbici:
Celebrating Cultural Heritage
Many of our community members have Italian heritage or connections to Italy. This partnership helps us celebrate that connection while promoting the shared values of:
- Community (comunità) - cycling brings people together
- Good design (bel design) - creating beautiful, functional solutions
- Quality of life (qualità della vita) - making cities more liveable
- Sustainability (sostenibilità) - caring for our environment
Knowledge Exchange
We’re eager to learn from Italian approaches to:
- Creating vibrant cycling cultures in historic cities
- Balancing tourism, residents, and sustainable transport
- Building community through cycling events and traditions
- Designing infrastructure that’s both functional and beautiful
Building Connections
Through ICCIAUS, we can connect with:
- Italian companies working on cycling and mobility solutions
- City officials from Italian municipalities pioneering cycling infrastructure
- The Italian-Australian business community interested in sustainable transport
- Cultural organisations promoting Italian excellence in design and innovation
Expanding Internationally
This partnership strengthens our connections to Italy and creates potential opportunities for:
- Sharing insights with Italian cities developing cycling programs
- Learning from Italy’s successful cycling events and culture
- Collaborating with Italian mobility companies and innovators
- Bringing Italian cycling culture and expertise to Australia
Bringing Party Onbici to Italy: The Sustainable Cities Challenge
Our ICCIAUS membership comes at an exciting time - as we prepare to launch pilot programs in Italy following our participation in the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge.
The Sustainable Cities Challenge
The Toyota Mobility Foundation runs the Sustainable Cities Challenge, a global initiative that brings together innovative mobility solutions and cities seeking to improve urban transport.
The Challenge focuses on:
- Sustainable urban transport solutions
- Community-centered mobility programs
- Data-driven approaches to transport planning
- Scalable models that can be replicated globally
Party Onbici participated in the Sustainable Cities Challenge, which has opened opportunities to expand our community cycling model internationally, with Italy as a key market for our initial European expansion.
Why Italy?
Italy is the ideal location to pilot Party Onbici’s international expansion:
Rich Cycling Culture: Italy’s deep cycling heritage means communities already understand and appreciate cycling - we’re building on existing passion rather than creating it from scratch.
Urban Challenges: Italian cities face similar challenges to Australian cities - traffic congestion, air pollution, historic centres that need sustainable transport solutions - making our model highly relevant.
Policy Support: Italian municipalities are actively investing in cycling infrastructure and seeking innovative solutions to encourage modal shift and reduce car dependency.
Cultural Fit: The Italian emphasis on community (comunità), social connection, and quality of life aligns perfectly with Party Onbici’s community-first approach.
Upcoming Trials in Italian Cities
We’re currently in discussions with several Italian municipalities to launch six-month pilot programs in 2025. These trials will:
Test Local Adaptation: Understand how Party Onbici’s model needs to be adapted for Italian cities, cycling culture, and user preferences.
Build Local Communities: Recruit and engage Italian cyclists, creating vibrant local riding groups that reflect Italian cycling culture.
Gather Data: Provide Italian city officials with valuable insights on cycling patterns, popular routes, infrastructure needs, and the impact of community-based cycling programs.
Demonstrate Impact: Measure outcomes including increased cycling participation, modal shift from cars, CO2 reductions, and community engagement.
Create Partnerships: Work with local cycling clubs, municipalities, tourism boards, and mobility companies to build a sustainable ecosystem.
The Role of ICCIAUS
Our ICCIAUS membership provides crucial support for this expansion:
Business Connections: Access to Italian companies, city officials, and organisations that can support our Italy launch.
Cultural Insights: Guidance on navigating Italian business culture, building partnerships, and adapting our approach for the Italian market.
Network Activation: Introductions to key stakeholders in Italian municipalities interested in sustainable mobility solutions.
Australian-Italian Bridge: Leveraging the strong connections between Australia and Italy to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Credibility: ICCIAUS membership demonstrates our commitment to the Italian market and our understanding of the importance of cultural connections.
From Australia to Italy and Beyond
The Sustainable Cities Challenge and upcoming Italy trials represent an important milestone in Party Onbici’s journey:
- From local Sydney community to global mobility platform
- From grassroots cycling app to data-driven urban planning tool
- From Australian innovation to international impact
But our core mission remains the same: making cycling safer, more social, and more accessible through community.
Italy is just the beginning. Success in Italian cities will create a template for expansion to other markets, demonstrating that community-centered cycling platforms can work across different cultures, languages, and urban environments.
Shared Values, Shared Future
At its heart, this partnership is about shared values that transcend borders:
Vivere Bene - Living Well
Both Italian and Australian cultures value quality of life - spending time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, staying active, and building community. Cycling embodies all of these.
Sostenibilità - Sustainability
Italy and Australia both face challenges from climate change, traffic congestion, and air pollution. Cycling offers practical solutions while making cities more beautiful and liveable.
Innovazione - Innovation
From Italian design excellence to Australian startup culture, both nations value innovation that improves people’s lives. Party Onbici represents this spirit - using technology to bring people together for sustainable transport.
Comunità - Community
Perhaps most importantly, both cultures understand that community matters. Whether it’s the Italian piazza or the Australian local, gathering places and social connections are essential to human flourishing.
Party Onbici creates community around cycling - making it social, accessible, and joyful.
Andiamo - Let’s Ride!
As we say in Italian: “Andiamo!” - Let’s go!
This partnership with ICCIAUS opens an exciting new chapter for Party Onbici. We’re honoured to be part of an organisation that celebrates Italian excellence while strengthening connections between Italy and Australia.
Whether you have Italian heritage, love Italian culture, or simply believe that cycling should be social and sustainable, we invite you to join our community.
Together, we’re building a future where cycling is woven into the fabric of daily life - just as it has been in Italian cities for generations.
Ci vediamo sulla strada! (See you on the road!)
🇮🇹 Una nota in italiano
Siamo orgogliosi di far parte della Camera di Commercio Italiana in Australia. Dopo la nostra partecipazione alla Sustainable Cities Challenge della Toyota Mobility Foundation, ci prepariamo a portare Party Onbici in Italia. Celebriamo la ricca eredità ciclistica italiana e creiamo nuove connessioni tra le nostre comunità. Andiamo in bicicletta insieme!
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