National Ride to Work Day
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = National Ride to Work Day
{{small|also National Ride2Work Day}}
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| status = Active
| genre = Commuter cycling social movement
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| frequency = Annually; in October
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| country = Australia
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| first = 1994
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| prev = 16 October 2019
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| participants = {{circa|100,000}} nationally
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| organised = {{bulleted list|Bicycle Network
{{nowrap|{{small|(Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston)}}}}|City of Adelaide {{small|(Adelaide)}}|Bicycle Queensland {{small|(Brisbane)}}|Pedal Power ACT {{small|(Canberra)}}|City of Darwin {{small|({{NTcity|Darwin}})}}|{{nowrap|Bicycling Western Australia {{small|({{WAcity|Perth}})}}}}|{{nowrap|North Sydney Council {{small|(North Sydney)}}}} }}
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| website = {{URL|www.ride2work.com.au}}
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The Australian National Ride to Work Day (also National Ride2Work Day) is a commuter cycling social movement and participatory event that encourages commuters to bicycle to and from work. The event is held in October annually at various location in most Australian states and territories. The event is organised by various Australians state and territory bicycle organisations and local government authorities.{{cite web |url=https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/general/programs/3603/ |title=National CBD Breakfasts |work=www.ride2work.com.au |publisher=Bicycle Network |date=October 2016 |access-date=20 December 2016 }} It is a free event for individuals to register and participate, with registrations over 100,000 in 2010. Workplace bicycle user groups are formed and workplace coordinators are encourage other colleagues to participate. Workplaces are recognised for outstanding participation.{{cite web |url=http://theconversation.com/try-cycling-on-ride-to-work-day-it-might-change-your-life-3760 |title=Try cycling on Ride to Work Day … it might change your life |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation Media Group Ltd |author=Rissell, Chris |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=20 December 2016 }}
Event synopsis
The inaugural event was held in 1994 in Melbourne, organised by the Bicycle Network (then Bicycle Victoria) with 615 cyclists. Since then, the event has grown substantially and this year{{when|date=December 2016}} there was an estimated over 60,000 active participants from all over the country.{{cite news |title=Danger in a roundabout way, part of Cycling the City - an AGE series |work=The Age |date=2 October 2006 }} In October 2006, 10,000 first-time riders and regular commuters registered prior to the event. An estimated 30,000 took part on the day throughout Victoria including sponsorship by more than 1,300 businesses.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/thousands-of-cyclists-push-for-the-record/2006/10/03/1159641326204.html |title=Thousands of cyclists push for the record |author1=Doherty, Ben |author2=Moynihan, Stephen |work=The Age |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=4 May 2007 }} 34% of those who took up riding in the Victorian event in 2006 were still riding to work five months later.
Nationally, the event features public breakfasts in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, {{NTcity|Darwin}}, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne (at Federation Square), {{WAcity|Perth}} and Sydney. The event also often includes free massage, helmet hair repair, bike engravings by police, "Spokespersonalities", high-profile ambassadors including CEOs and politicians, prizes and giveaways.
In 2005, up to 6,000 cyclists met at Federation Square to have breakfast as part of Ride to Work Day, double the number from 2004. About 10,000 Victorians are estimated to have left their cars at home in favour of the bike.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/pedal-power-pulls-a-crowd/2005/10/05/1128191753788.html |title=Pedal power pulls a crowd |author=Shtargot, Sasha |work=The Age |date=5 October 2005 |access-date=4 May 2007 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/petrol-price-fuels-surge-in-bike-sales/2005/10/05/1128191786062.html |title=Petrol price fuels surge in bike sales |author=Shtargot, Sasha |work=The Age |date=6 October 2005 |access-date=4 May 2007}}
See also
{{stack|{{portal|Australia|Transport}}}}
References
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External links
- http://www.ride2work.com.au
{{Cycling in Melbourne and Victoria |state=autocollapse}}