Businesses challenged to get on their bikes

23 January 2007

Registrations for the annual national Bike Wise Business Battle are now open.

The Bike Wise Business Battle, from 19 February to 4 March, is a fun competition that encourages more people to give biking a go. Each organisation or department competes to see which one can get the highest percentage of staff to ride a bike for at least 2km or 10 minutes. They then register their biking on the Health Sponsorship Council’s website.

There are five categories to give different sized organisations a sporting chance at prizes including office shouts, bikes and associated gear. In addition, all Christchurch participants get a Coffee Culture voucher and go in the draw to win a Raleigh commuter bike from John Bull Cycles.

Last year CPIT was a winner in the South Island with 13 per cent of staff hopping on a bike. It won a box of Push Play and Bike Wise prizes and money for a shout for everyone who biked.

CPIT Bike Wise Business Battle participant and IT Division Administrator Franka Stoop regularly bikes 7km from Hoon Hay to work in the CBD. Much of the trip is on marked cycle lanes and it takes her 30 minutes door-to-door at an easy pace. She says this is about the same time it would take to drive, especially when the schools are back.

"I’m not a big recreational rider. I use the bike as a form of transport to get from A to B. I save on parking and petrol and it didn’t take long to get the purchase price of my bike back. I’ve got a city bike, which is very comfortable to ride," says Franka.

Franka also finds biking to work allows her to get fit at the same time.

"Even if you just bike to work three times a week you do notice that you get fitter. You feel you are getting a workout without losing any time or money," she says.

For more information about other bike events on in Christchurch this summer visit the Christchurch City Council’s Season of Cycling website.

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