About the Challenge

The City of Kitchener, with sponsorship from Ziggy’s Cycle and Sport Ltd., is hosting another Bike2Work Challenge, building upon the 2012 Challenge by providing even more bicycles and enabling any person (18+) who lives or works in Kitchener to participate!

The Bike2Work Challenge provides residents with an opportunity to try commuting to work by bicycle. Up to 16 bicycles, valued at approximately $1000, will be awarded to successful participants who: 

• Complete an average of 3 round-trip bicycle commutes from home to work each week during the month of June 2013
• Write a short weekly blog update about their experiences as a bicycle commuter
• Share their experiences with the broader community in a challenge wrap-up video 

The Bike2Work Challenge demonstrates that cycling can be a convenient, sustainable, and enjoyable way to get around for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. By sharing their commuting experiences online with the broader community, the 16 participants have an opportunity to inspire and motivate their friends, family, and co-workers to try cycling to work, school, or around the city. 

Why Bike2Work? 

Cycling offers a variety of benefits to individuals, communities, and the environment, including:

• Reduced traffic congestion and parking demand. As more people use their bicycles as a means of transportation, the demand for parking decreases and fewer cars fill up our roads.
• Improved health and wellness. A large number of Canadians do not meet the minimum levels of physical activity per day. Cycling allows people to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle and is an excellent form of exercise. Cycling is also known for reducing stress and improving mental health.
• Affordability and accessibility: The CAA estimates that it costs over $8,000 per year to own and operate a personal vehicle. In contrast, a simple bicycle can cost less than $100 and serves as reliable means of transportation without requiring fuel of any kind.
• Improved air quality: Unlike other modes of transportation, cycling does not emit any harmful emissions and has minimal to no adverse impacts on the environment.
• Creating vibrant urban areas: Cycling places more people on our streets and contributes to livelier urban areas where people are more engaged with their surroundings.
• Supporting other forms of transportation: Cycling complements other modes of transportation including walking and transit use. When these modes are integrated properly, people have greater choices when travelling around their community.

To learn more about what the City of Kitchener is doing to promote and encourage cycling in the community, please visit www.bikekitchener.ca.