With many Australians heading back to the office for the first time in a long time, National Ride2Work Day next Wednesday 10 November is the perfect opportunity to rethink your commute.
With celebrations paused in 2020, Bicycle Network is excited to host a free community breakfast near our office in Hobart, as well as celebrations at four key bike routes heading into Melbourne.
A number of councils in Melbourne will also be shouting bike riders a free coffee from a local café as part of a Ride2Coffee scheme that gives those who work in the suburbs or still stuck at the home office a good excuse to jump on their bike next Wednesday.
See what's on near you this National Ride2Work Day.
Bicycle Network General Manager of Behaviour Change Leyla Asadi encourages all Australians to use National Ride2Work Day as an opportunity to kickstart a new healthy habit.
“Lockdowns lifting presents many of us with an opportunity to rethink how we get around our cities, and incorporating a two-wheeled commute into your routine is a great way to beat the return-to-work traffic, reduce congestion and boost your personal health. It’s also great fun, and the easiest way to get your recommended daily 30 minutes of exercise”, said Ms Asadi.
Now in its 29th year, Bicycle Network’s Ride2Work program is one of Australia’s biggest behaviour change initiatives. Bicycle Network’s research shows that almost half of the people who ride for the first time on National Ride2Work Day go on to become regular bike commuters.
And more regular bike commuters is exactly what our cities will need to flourish now the cafes, restaurants, schools and workplaces are starting to open up.
“Some of our biggest city councils, like Melbourne and Sydney, have seized the opportunity through the pandemic to reshape our transport networks and laid down lots of new bike lanes,” Ms Asadi added.
“National Ride2Work Day is a great opportunity to test a new route to work on a commute by bike with a friend or colleague and show governments that we need more permanent bike infrastructure to support sustainable cities full of healthy and happy commuters.”
Increased interest in recreational bike riding has been well publicized throughout the pandemic, with overflowing paths and sold out bike shops. National Ride2Work Day encourages those riders to extend the weekend's fun into your daily routine and make your commute count.
While lockdowns have restricted Bicycle Network’s capacity to organise community breakfasts around the country, many local councils, community groups and workplaces have made plans to celebrate, and bike riders of all ages and abilities are encouraged to get together in a responsible manner to celebrate the joys and benefits of commuting by bike.
To register for National Ride2Work Day, find out what’s happening near you and get tips to help you start riding and make your workplace bike friendly visit ride2work.com.au.
LEARN MOREMAAP Clean Living Challenge
Bicycle gear maker MAAP has pledged to offer $75 discounts off purchases of $250 or more for anyone who logs 120 minutes of riding instead of car driving between 2 and 15 November – just in time for National Ride2Work Day!
To log your commute head to https://www.strava.com/challenges/MAAP-Clean-Livin-Challenge.
As an added benefit, $1 for every commute logged will go toward helping Bicycle Network keep advocating for more places for people to ride.
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