CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

30 January 2009

To: The Chief Reporter

From: CCC Communication Team

Bike Wise Business Battle begins Sunday

Bike Wise Month starts on Sunday with a number of organisations already lining up with an eye on top honours in the Bike Wise Business Battle.

The Bike Wise Business Battle challenge, the annual workplace-based challenge designed to encourage staff to take up cycling, begins Sunday and the Christchurch City Council Marketing and Events team is convinced that the city will beat the corporate participation for last year - 4000 - by a large margin this time.

Nationally, 96 organisations (with a total of 283 departments) have already signed up for the challenge.

The month-long Business Battle challenge focuses on organisations promoting cycling with its employees. It offers prizes in different categories (small to large businesses) for achieving the highest percentage of staff cycling during the month.

The idea is to entice more rookies – first-times cyclists or those who seldom cycle - out of their cars, off their couches, and onto their bikes, says Marie-Ann Martin, Marketing Advisor with the Council.

“The great participation last year clearly shows that more businesses are ‘buying into’ the idea of having employees ride in/ride out of work. By providing showers at work and being more understanding to the needs of cyclists, our businesses are building up the culture of cycling and contributing to a healthy population and a safer environment”, she says.

“Bike Wise Month is all about lifting cycling’s profile and getting even more Kiwis to realise or re-discover how enjoyable and convenient it is”.

editors notes

• Bike Wise Week is a nationally coordinated week of cycling activities and promotions. The annual cycling celebration has become so popular that a full month is now needed to accommodate more than 500 events held around the country.

• The Christchurch City Council promoted the Bike Wise Business Battle programme – a fun inter-business challenge to encourage more people to give biking a go. Last year over 4,000 people took part in the Christchurch Business Battle alone (nationally 10,000 took part).

• On Wednesday 18 February 2009 New Zealanders are encouraged to ditch vehicular transport and 'go by bike' instead. People can bike to their local event where they will be rewarded with a healthy breakfast. The event will take place in over 50 centres throughout New Zealand

• Bike Wise Month is funded by the NZ Transport Agency and the Ministry of Health. Activities are coordinated around the country by schools, councils, sporting groups and cycling enthusiasts.

• In 1996, Christchurch City became one of the first councils in New Zealand to adopt a Cycling Strategy, signifying the importance of cycling as a means of transport.

• Christchurch is a cycle friendly city with major investments in infrastructure improvements such as cycle lanes and paths, as well as intersection controls, making cycling safer and more attractive for people.

• For more details about the fun and family-friendly Bike Wise events happening in Christchurch and Canterbury and around the country, check out http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Cycling/Bikewise/

ENDS

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