Media releases

Sydney workers gear up for mega bike challenge

Published 18 February 2016

More than 1,600 Sydney workers are gearing up to get on their bikes from Monday (22 February) for the Sydney Rides Business Challenge – the biggest event of its kind in Australia.

The four-week challenge starts on Monday with free breakfast, coffee and bike tune-ups from 7am–9am in Hyde Park for riders.

Over 260 companies have already signed up to the challenge, including Atlassian, Qantas, Westpac, LinkedIn, eBay, Hilton Sydney, Allianz, AMP, Lend Lease, NRMA, RPA Hospital and Sydney University.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the Sydney Rides Business Challenge is all about encouraging more people to ride to benefit their health and support Sydney’s economy.

“We know healthy employees are more productive employees, so there are clear benefits to businesses who support riding,” the Lord Mayor said.

“More than 7,000 people already ride to work in the city centre each day – that’s the equivalent of 116 full buses or seven packed Sydney trains. Bike riders are more likely to shop locally, and greater numbers of people riding to work can help ease chronic traffic congestion, which costs Sydney businesses and residents $2.5 billion every year.

“The Sydney Rides Business Challenge is about encouraging more employees to ride, not only for better transport, but for better health and for fun.”

Last year’s challenge was won by IT giant Atlassian, which has also been awarded BRW’s “best workplace in Australia” for the past two years running. The Australian start-up was recently valued at almost $US6 billion after listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Atlassian CEO Scott Farquhar attributes a large part of their success to valuing its employees’ health and encouraging them to lead active lifestyles.

“Happy and healthy employees perform better. It’s as simple as that,” said Mr Farquhar.

“We’ve seen first-hand that employees who ride to work are more efficient and alert during the working day. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone in the Atlassian team to get involved in the Sydney Rides Business Challenge.

“Last year we had close to 100 staff participate and because of the great feedback, this year we’re aiming to double that number.”

Registrations for the challenge are still open at sydneyrideschallenge.net.

The Sydney Rides Business Challenge runs until 20 March and a range of prizes are on offer for businesses and riders across a number of categories.

People who don’t own a bike can also join in three free lunchtime ‘try-a-bike’ events between 11.30am and 2.30pm:

  • Hyde Park North on Wednesday 2 March
  • Baragaroo Reserve on Wednesday 9 March; and
  • Observatory Hill on Wednesday 16 March.

Mechanics will be on hand for free bike checks and tune-ups.

For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney: Louise FitzBaxter, phone 0414 775 275 or lfitzbaxter@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay, phone 0443 182 647 or email pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au