Rediscovering the joy of two wheels, workers from across Greater Manchester cycled an impressive 79,004 miles over three weeks as part of a project supported by Foundation.
Organised by CTC, the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation, The Workplace Cycle Challenge saw 90 organisations compete to get their employees cycling for at least 10 minutes during the Challenge period that ran from the 7th to the 27th June 2010.
Employees logged details of their cycle trips on the Challenge’s website to put themselves, and their organisation, in with a chance of taking home a prize. There were six size categories to give any workplace, big or small, a good chance of winning.
The results of the challenge have now been published with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust winning the corporate category (500+ employees), for achieving 5.5% staff participation, and Action for Sustainable Living winning the small category (7-19 employees) with 100% staff participation. Additional spot prizes and 200 cinema tickets were also awarded to some of the individuals who took part.
Overall, 1,236 people took part in the Challenge, logging a total 79,004 miles. Additionally, 5,564 of the 8,208 cycle trips logged were for transport, rather than leisure, purposes which CTC reports has resulted in 14.7 tonnes of CO2 being saved. Participants have also improved their health and fitness and have burnt the equivalent of 700 pounds of body fat!
Explaining the aim if the Challenge, CTC's Cycling Development Officer, Ian Richardson said: “The Greater Manchester Cycle Challenge has provided the first step for many people towards changing the way they travel in Greater Manchester.”
The competition will return next year but to encourage people to continue cycling, the website can still be used by cyclists to log details of their trips and keep track of their total mileage, CO2 saved and calories burned.
A grant of £42,500 from Foundation helped support this year's running costs and will contribute towards the 2011 Challenge.
For more info visit http://www.gmworkplacechallenge.org.uk/
