Rather than hopping in your car for that next trip around town, why not jump on your bicycle instead?

With the Biketober Business Challenge only a couple of weeks away and prizes up for grabs, Lismore City Council is urging local businesses to sign up and encourage their staff to jump on their bikes for at least 10 minutes during October.

The challenge is being organised by Get Healthy at Work, a NSW Government programme that aims to create healthy workplaces and improve the health of working adults across the state.

As a lover of bikes, I love riding my bike and take every chance I can to ride my bike around Lismore. I also live close to town - so it’s a pretty easy decision to use my bike as a practical way to get to places while getting exercise. 

So, what if you work in town but don’t live close to town? 

Options

Why not think about car pooling to work and having a bicycle at the workplace that employees can use to go about their business in town?

Or take your bike into town in your car and use the bike while in town for the day?

Lismore Mayor Isaac Smith said “it’s not just about who can cycle the furthest or the most often, but who can encourage the most people to give cycling a go”.

“It would be great to see someone jump on their bike for the first time and go to work during this challenge,” he said. “It’s about getting fit and healthy and staying that way.”

Glenys Ritchie.

Bike sale spikes

Glenys Ritchie, another lover of cycling - and an avid proponent of the proposed rail trail for the Lismore area – said Covid-19 has been “horrible, but it’s been great for cycling and walking”.

“There’s been spikes in bike sales everywhere and people are out there cycling and walking more,” she said.

“There’s also been a 20% increase in people using rail trails and getting out and being active.”

Biketober Business Challenge

Last year, 3798 participants from 392 organisations took part in the Biketober Business Challenge, including 613 new riders, riding a total of 932,900km – that’s more than 23 cycles around the world.

For information and to register for the challenge visit http://www.lovetoride.net

Individuals who are not part of a workplace are welcome to take part. All individuals who live or work in NSW and are eligible to win spot prizes.