Workers from across Greater Manchester have clocked up over 25,000 miles (that’s once around the world!) as a cycle challenge supported by Foundation approaches its halfway point.

The Greater Manchester Workplace Cycle Challenge is a free competition that has been organised by CTC, the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, with the help of a £42,500 grant from Foundation. The aim of the Challenge is for workplaces to get as many of their employees as possible to ride a bike for just 10 minutes over the three week Challenge period that started on the 7th June and runs until Sunday 27 June 2010.

Employees are currently busy logging details of their cycle trips on the Challenge’s website to contribute towards their workplace’s ranking in the competition. As an added incentive there are various prizes up for grabs too.

There are 75 organisations registered with the Challenge including Manchester City Council, Carlsberg, the BBC and IKEA. So far, 2757 cycle trips totalling 25,191 miles have been logged. As well as creating carbon savings through the reduced use of car journeys, participants are improving their health and fitness and have burnt the equivalent of 223 pounds of body fat!

“The Greater Manchester Cycle Challenge will provide the first step for many people towards changing the way they travel in Greater Manchester. The fun and friendly competition will offer encouragement and support to get back on a bike again for the first time in years and will motivate people to make journeys by bike to work” says CTC Cycling Development Officer Ian Richardson.

To follow the Challenge’s progress and view the latest updates visit www.gmworkplacechallenge.org.uk