A City of Sydney challenge for bicycle commuters has become so popular it will roll out across New South Wales in October.
Following the success of the City’s multi-year Sydney Rides Challenge, NSW Health’s Get Healthy at Work program will take the concept state-wide under a new identity: “Biketober Business Challenge”.
The challenge will show people how easy and enjoyable riding a bike can be by encouraging employees to sign up and compete against other businesses across the state.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was thrilled to see the popular bike riding challenge grow beyond the city’s boundaries.
“We created the Sydney Rides Challenge for local businesses three years ago, and year on year we’ve seen more people get involved, get active and gain confidence riding safely in Sydney,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Last year more than 4000 staff from 400 businesses took part. They pedalled an impressive 768 000 kilometres, the equivalent of riding to the moon and back.”
“People started taking part from as far away as the Blue Mountains and beyond, so the appetite for the challenge to go state-wide was clear.”
“From Wollongong to Wagga Wagga and Newcastle to Broken Hill, I’m looking forward to seeing workplaces across New South Wales get involved.”
During the 2017 challenge, companies including Westpac, Qantas, the Hilton Hotel Sydney, NRMA and CarsGuide.com.au supported their staff to try riding, have fun and win prizes.
Professor Chris Rissel, from the NSW Office of Preventive Health, said the Biketober Business Challenge was a fun, free and easy way for people in NSW to be more active.
“Regular physical activity has important health benefits such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Riding a bike to work and for business trips is a convenient, accessible and highly effective way to integrate incidental physical activity into your daily routine”.
“Riding a bike can be a great way for you to achieve the recommended levels of weekly physical activity without even going to the gym”.
“Business owners also stand to benefit. Supporting employees to ride can help manage transport demands while enhancing your organisation’s corporate image and benefiting the wider community.”
“The Biketober Business Challenge is about rethinking how you get around each day, trying something new and having fun in the process. You only need to register one ride to be part of a movement that’s good for health and good for business across New South Wales. And you might just win a prize along the way!”
Details: Biketober Business Challenge is a free workplace health program designed to encourage employees to try riding a bike at work and to adopt healthy behaviours. Workplaces across NSW will challenge each other to register the most riders, with prizes for category winners.
Where: Throughout New South Wales
When: 1 to 31 October 2018
Cost: Free
To register, visit lovetoride.net/nsw
Image: Surry Hills, Sydney. 6th April 2016. Creative Agency Papermoose participated in the Sydney Rides Business Challenge and won in their category for 100% participation. Brogan Galceran, Mark Taylor, Yingna Lu, Amber Theron, Reese Geronimo and Carl Tindall. Credit: Katherine Griffiths