Aotearoa Bike Challenge clocks up the kilometres

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The fifth national Aotearoa Bike Challenge has encouraged thousands more New Zealanders to cycle, with more than 24,700 people from over 2,400 organisations taking part, including over 4,325 new riders.

Throughout the month of February participants made more than 291,193 trips by bike, cycling an impressive 4,410,528 million kilometres in total, resulting in a saving of 252,032 kg of CO₂ being released(external link).

The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is a fun, free competition that incentivises people to improve their health and wellbeing with one 10-minute ride enough to give them the chance to win some great prizes.

“It was great to see so many New Zealanders committed to getting on their bikes this February even with the changing COVID-19 alert levels,” says Robyn Elston, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Senior Manager, System Design.

“The Aotearoa Bike Challenge is an opportunity for more New Zealanders to experience just how easy it is to incorporate cycling into everyday life and improve their health and wellbeing. Getting about by bike is often an efficient way to get around our towns and cities, and for many Kiwis who choose to ride to work, it’s a great way to start and end their day.”

To get more New Zealanders to give cycling a go, workplaces across the country were encouraged to sign up for the challenge and to motivate staff to take part.

To give riders an extra incentive, there were over $18,000 worth of prizes up for grabs including a  Moustache eBike powered by Bosch eBike Systems, a $1000 Bookabach voucher, a Converted e-bike conversion kit and much more.

View all results from the 2021 Challenge(external link)

 * Cycling NZ is in 3rd place but cycling industry organisations are not included on the leader board 

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