Media releases

Get on your bike for this year’s Sydney Suit Ride

Published 14 March 2016

Bike riding CEOs, managing directors, lawyers, bankers, architects, designers and Sydney workers will get on their bikes in executive style for the Sydney Suit Ride on Wednesday 16 March.

The Suit Ride is one of the final events of the Sydney Rides Business Challenge, which finishes on 20 March and aims to get more people riding and boost productivity for Sydney businesses.

More than 3,000 staff from over 300 companies are taking part, including Qantas, Lendlease, Allianz, Telstra, Atlassian, NRMA, Hilton, Heart Foundation, eBay, ABC and the Sydney Opera House.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the Suit Ride was a stylish way to highlight the benefits of cycling to work for both employees and businesses.

“It's great that senior managers are embracing bike riding and setting such a great example to their staff,” the Lord Mayor said.

“More people riding or walking to work generates more productivity for businesses – and it helps ease the chronic traffic congestion, which costs Sydney businesses and residents $2.5 billion every year,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Over 7,000 people ride to work in the city centre each day, taking pressure off already congested roads and public transport.

“The Suit Ride is about supporting active, healthy and happy employees already riding to work and encouraging other Sydney workers and businesses to give it a go too.”

Committee for Sydney CEO, Dr Tim Williams is among those taking part in the lunchtime ride.

“Cycling is not only an increasingly popular way to commute, it’s also at the heart of the economic success of global cities,” said Dr Williams.

“Biking cities are economically vibrant cities and attract talent. Cities which are hostile to bikes wont flourish in the competition for talent and investment.

“Global talent, the highly sought after professionals that all global cities are competing to attract, see the immediate benefits of a city that makes it possible to cycle to work. Great bike networks in turn encourage employers to maintain end-of-trip facilities, which supports increased physical activity and better employee engagement.”

The Sydney Suit Ride starts at 12.30pm on Wednesday 16 March from Observatory Hill, the event is free but registration is essential. To register, visit sydneycycleways.net/events/sydney-suit-ride-2/

People who don’t have a bike can join a ‘try-a-bike’ event at Observatory Hill between 11:30am and 2:30pm.

The Sydney Rides Business Challenge offers a range of prizes for businesses and individual riders across a number of categories. To find out more visit sydneyrideschallenge.net

For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Bridget Ahern, phone 02 9265 9753, mobile 0423 505 854 or email bahern@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay Phone 02 9265 9612 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au