Cycling gives Matt extra gear in gaining independence

Long before 34-year-old Matt McMaugh became a legend on the northern Illawarra cycle paths, he was a toddler fascinated by anything on two wheels.

Matt's mum, Tess, said her son had always been keen on bikes, even as a tiny tot.

“That was his favourite thing… to see a bike or those little plastic toys they sit on and push,” Tess says.

“He always loved that, and we did lots of balancing stuff with him. He rode horses and we took him skiing... he's just besotted with bikes and it has been wonderful."

Matt’s childhood passion for cycling set him on a path toward life-changing independence as someone living with an intellectual disability. His parents, Tess and Ian, brought him up in Thirroul, channelling his love of bikes into important life skills.

“He used a scooter first, and then we put him on a bike and just said ‘put one leg up and push with the other’,” says Tess.

“He just did it one day, and started riding. It was fantastic. He was probably about nine. It’s given him so much freedom to ride a bike … honestly, it’s just been the making of him.”

While Matt lives with a developmental delay that remains undiagnosed, his life is defined by what he can do rather than a medical label. For Tess, watching him navigate his world, riding to the station, catching the train and living in his own unit is the ultimate reward for years of support and advocacy.

“Unfortunately, it can’t be diagnosed; we’ve tried and tried. He’s what we call developmentally delayed... but he’s such a happy, social boy and everyone adores him who meets him. He’s just so happy and content with life,” she says.

Matt lives independently in Woonona, where he cycles every day. He uses his bike for almost everything, recognised by the community in his signature helmet as he commutes to his jobs at Flagstaff and Greenacres.

“We put spikes in his helmet to stop the magpies... so everyone tends to recognise him,” Tess says.

“He’s become a bit of a local legend, which is good for us because it means if he got into trouble, people would look out for him.”

Independence wasn't achieved overnight. Tess remembers the "nerve-wracking" early years when Matt began riding solo on cycle tracks.

"We used to take him on the cycle track just for sections, and then finally we let him go by himself and we lost him a couple of times! But it was more that he stopped to go to the loo and we didn’t have mobile phones... we’ve now got ‘Find My Phone’, which is a wonderful app. He’s totally independent now,” she says.

Matt’s relationship with cycling has come full circle. First, he took part in the CycleAbility program, started by Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (IBUG) president Ed Birt, a former chief operating officer at the Disability Trust. Then Matt stepped into a volunteer role, helping young children with disabilities experience the same freedom he found on two wheels.

“Matt was helping the kids learn to ride on a Saturday, which made him feel really good. It just makes him feel part of the community and wanted, and you know, it’s lovely,” Tess says.

“It keeps us fit, too, because my husband and I ride with him during the week as well... and then I ride with him on a Saturday.. He’s just so happy with life and he thanks us all the time for everything.”

In 2022, the family volunteered at the UCI Road World Championships held in Wollongong. Matt is a part of the More Than A Cyclist Illawarra campaign, committed to promoting safe cycling in the community.

Matt was one of the first faces in the Healthy Cities More Than a Cyclist campaign, advocating for safer experiences and driver empathy on roads in the Illawarra. Now, the campaign is launching nationwide.