Full bike racks are a common thread of life at the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), which is why it was so easy for the institute to get behind National Ride2Work Day this Wednesday.
National Ride2Work Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of commuter bike riding and encourages Australians to embrace bike riding to work as a healthy, economically and environmentally responsible mode of transport.
According to the event's organiser, Bicycle Network, two thirds of Australians aren’t getting enough physical activity each week.
But as one of the most practical and effective ways of combating the health risks associated with a lack of physical activity, cycling to work provides Australians with a cost effective and time efficient way of exercising.
Bicycle Network says commuting to work will save the average Australian between $6,000 and $15,000 per year in money that would typically be spent on vehicle expenses. That’s not to mention the money that would otherwise be spent on gym memberships or exercise classes.
Inner city trips of up to 10km during peak hour are also faster by bike than by any other form of transport.
Beyond its focus on breeding Victoria’s elite sporting talent, the VIS is a strong supporter of maintaining physical activity throughout all aspects of life and encourages practical community-based initiatives like National Ride 2Work Day.
“Our job is to keep our athletes performance ready, but that also extends to encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle among the community that is ultimately going to produce that athletic talent,” said Director of People and Community, Daniel Simons.
“Not only is bike riding to work one of the simplest and most effective things we can do at an individual level to minimise our impact on the environment, it’s also a great way of commuting to work and feeling fresh and energised in the process.”
The event comes as Melbourne was named as one of the top ten cities in the world to explore by bike earlier this year by the CNN travel guide.
