Media releases

Sydney businesses set new riding benchmark

Published 7 April 2016

For the second year in a row, Sydney has staged the most successful rides challenge in the world, with 4,465 workers from 359 businesses riding in the past month.

Participants in the City’s annual Sydney Rides Business Challenge pedalled an impressive 618,604 kilometres over a four week period aimed at encouraging staff to experience the transport, health and economic benefits associated with cycling.

The outstanding result means Sydney outperformed cities like London and Auckland by more than 500 riders, with some 20 per cent of participants being new riders who’d not been on a bike for at least 12 months.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the success of the Sydney Rides Business Challenge highlighted the benefits of riding for businesses big and small.

“The number of people taking part in the Challenge has increased year on year, showing Sydney businesses understand active transport is a really important part of our city,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Modern companies know that cities providing world class cycling infrastructure and encouraging active transport also attract talented professionals.

“More people riding or walking to work generates more productivity for businesses – and it helps ease the chronic traffic congestion that costs Sydney businesses and residents $5 billion every year.”

The Sydney Rides Business Challenge was overseen by event specialist Love to Ride, and is part of a worldwide program that has seen more than 168,000 people from 8,981 organisations in nine countries sign-up for similar events over the past 14 years.

The businesses that claimed top prize in their categories in the 2016 Challenge, based on the greatest percentage of employees who log rides over the four week period of the event, are:

• 500-plus employees: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage; • 200-499 employees: Hilton Sydney; • 50-199 employees: 4Mation Technologies; • 20-49 employees: Eco Logical Australia; • 7-19 employees: Paper Moose; and • 3-6 employees: Architects Johannsen and Associates.

Love to Ride Executive Director, Thomas Stokell, said the Sydney challenge had inspired other cities to up their cycling participation rates.

“Last year, London overtook Sydney in the number of people participating in the event, but this time around, Sydneysiders made this the Ashes of Cycling, rising to the challenge and taking back the record for entrants and distances covered,” Mr Stokell said.

“We’ve had great feedback from all the businesses involved, underscoring that bike riding employees are happier, healthier and more efficient.”

Office champion for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), Jacqui Fetchet, said: “Being a part of the Challenge has connected colleagues across the organisation as we set the pace to ultimately bring home the Challenge.”

“We got 16 new riders on bikes, dusted the cobwebs off a few others and achieved positive outcomes for our health, wallets and environment. We can’t wait to saddle up again next year to see who can catch us.”

Film and Design Company, Papermoose, has 20 employees, all of whom took part in the Challenge.

"Working on a computer all day can create all kinds of health issues down the track, so, as a keen cyclist myself, I thought the Sydney Rides Business Challenge would be a great opportunity to get myself and my fellow co-workers active," said Papermoose Digital Producer, Reese Geronimo.

“Last year we came third in our category, so this year it feels great to take first place!”

Companies involved in the Sydney Rides Business Challenge included Qantas, NRMA, Atlassian, AMP, News Corp, Allianz, Hilton hotel, Optus, Commonwealth Bank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Lend Lease, Westpac, eBay, Sydney University, Kwik Kopy, Stockland, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the NSW Heart Foundation.

For more information, 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 Matt Levinson on 0499 319 385 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au