Biggest Bike Ride sets challenge for local employers

Pedal to help your employer win Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride’s Business Challenge!  All employees working for an employer that’s in the West of England Partnership Area (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire) are invited to join over 7000 riders in one of the UK’s biggest free, non-competitive cycling events.  Each year the number of people riding to work is growing. The Business Challenge helps promote cycling as a practical way of commuting to work or making short journeys in and around the city.

The challenge is to have the highest number of employees taking part, relative to the size of the employer.   It’s free to enter and you can sign up for the Business Challenge on the day of the event - after completing the ride, go to the certificates stand at the finish to have your name and employer recorded.

Winners of the 2009 Business Challenge, Halcrow Group Ltd “As a consultancy that promotes sustainability to our clients, it is important to ‘practice what we preach’. We are delighted to accept the award for the Business Challenge, which reflects our ongoing commitment to encourage sustainable transport use amongst our staff. We wholeheartedly support cycling as an activity which improves mental and physical health and fitness, contributes to a reduction in vehicle congestion and reduces both personal and business expense, as well as reducing Halcrow’s carbon footprint."

National business law firm Bond Pearce are sponsors of this year’s Challenge, Partner Jon Bower said: "We are delighted to be supporting the council, Cycling City and Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride in this year's event.  Since moving to our base at Temple Quay 4 years ago with excellent cycling facilities, we have seen a significant increase in the proportion of our staff who cycle to work.  It can be the quickest form of commute in the city and some of our staff even travel to meetings with clients by bike. 

"As a firm we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and actively promote sustainable travel both inside and outside of work.  The Biggest Bike Ride is a great opportunity to promote cycling even more in the city and particularly within local businesses, many of which offer cycle 2 work schemes and other incentives to encourage their staff to cycle.  We are looking forward to seeing many local businesses taking part in the ride."

Please remember, everyone taking part in Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride will need to register for the event by completing a Rider Registration Form.  You do not need to complete a separate registration form for the Business Challenge.

ALL employees can help their organisation win, including full-time, part-time, job share, temporary or casual employees.   There are five routes ranging from 9 to 38 miles and you can ride with colleagues, with family and friends, for fun or for charity.  This year Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride is supporting the Lord Mayor's Appeal for Children with the Evening Post.

Participants can register for the ride at www.bristol.gov.uk/biggestbikeride, or by calling 0117 9063701. Further details about the ride can be found at www.betterbybike.info/bristols-biggest-bike-ride-0

One lucky participant that registers before 1st June 2010 will find a ‘Golden Ticket’ in their Rider Information Booklet. They will receive a prize of a £200 voucher.