Bike Wise Month a cycling success

More than 40,000 New Zealanders got on their bikes and gave cycling a go at a series of events that took place across the country as part of February’s annual Bike Wise Month.

During February, more than 300 cycle-friendly events were held throughout the country, including 59 Go By Bike Day breakfasts on 17 February, 50 Mayoral Challenge events, and hundreds of other events and group rides.

NZTA National Manager Road User Behaviour Michael Cummins said Bike Wise Month aimed to get as many New Zealanders as possible out on their bikes and experiencing the benefits that cycling offers.

“We’re thrilled with the number of people who took part in Bike Wise Month this year. If each person cycled just two kilometres during the month, that’s a total of 80,000 kilometres cycled, or roughly 37 cycle trips from Cape Reinga to Bluff” Mr Cummins said.

“Cycling is a fun, sustainable, healthy and cost-effective way to get around. We hope everyone who took part will continue to use their bikes for transport, leisure and exercise all year-round.”

Bike Wise Month Highlights:

• Go By Bike Day – On Wednesday 17 February around 11,000 people swapped their cars for bikes to take part in Go By Bike Day. Breakfasts. Breakfast events, including free food and entertainment, were held in 59 locations around the country.

• Mayoral Challenge - Held on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month: New Zealand towns and cities competed for the honour of the most ‘Cycle Mad City’ title by getting as many people as possible to follow their Mayor on a short ride around town. Upper and Lower Hutt Cities were crowned the winner of the Challenge, with more than 1700 residents taking part.

• Bike Wise Challenge – 8855 people from 533 organisations of a similar size competed against each other to see who could get the highest percentage of members/staff. The winning organisations were Landcare Research, Beca Christchurch, AECOM Christchurch, Child Development Service Mid Central Health and Public Health South Queenstown. Over 600 participants were first-time cyclists, and 70 percents of trips made by participants were for transport purposes.

For detailed information on Bike Wise Month visit www.bikewise.co.nz

ENDS