Cycle Instead Bike to Work Challenge

Established in 1997, the Bike to Work Challenge was conducted for ten years as part of the annual Cycle Instead Bikeweek program. In 2007 it became a key event of the new spring campaign. In 2008, this popular six-week challenge ran from Tuesday, 2 September to Monday, 13 October. The 2009 Bike to Work Challenge will be held from Monday, 7 September to Sunday, 18 October this year. Book your diary for this six-week challenge and start thinking about people for your team. Watch this space for more information about this annual event! The event aims to encourage people to cycle to their place of work or study.

Replacing some car trips with cycling has benefits for the individual, the community and the environment. It also results in better health, increased physical activity and a reduction in fuel costs and traffic congestion.

The challenge has also become a means of encouraging more women and novice riders to take up cycling for commuting and recreation.

The challenge is co-sponsored by the Department's Bikewest Branch. Visit the Cycle Instead in Spring BIke to Work Challenge website to find out more.

A record 1783 participants registered for the challenge in 2008, in 250 teams from 97 organisations.

Workplaces in the private and public sector were encouraged to register as many teams as possible for what turned into friendly rivalry for the titles of 'the best team/company with most cycling kilometres completed' and 'the team that recruited most novice riders'.

Visit the Cycle Instead in Spring Bike to Work Challenge for inspirational stories and photographs of this year's participants.