Ballarat pedalling into the second year of Biketober

This October, Biketober is coming back to Ballarat, for another month of fun with a free and friendly biking challenge for the entire community to participate in.  

Last year 177 people from Ballarat joined the challenge, which included 49 new riders. Ballarat totalled 120,837 kilometres over 4,910 rides which reduced carbon emissions in our city by 1,073 kilograms.  

Biketober is the state’s biggest bike challenge. Riders who hop on their bikes and encourage others to do the same throughout October have the chance of winning amazing prizes.  

To take part, all you have to do is register at www.lovetoride.net and get riding. You can ride to work, for leisure, for exercise, with friends and family, any way you wish to ride.  

The initiative is for everyone, especially non-riders. It’s a great chance to try it out and join up with an experienced rider to enjoy an active mode of transport.  

Biketober is an initiative run by Love to Ride and supported by local councils across Victoria. Love to Ride has 5,361,962 kilometres ridden, which includes 4,290 riders, and counting.    

Love to Ride, Regional Manager, Christina Sorbello said at a time when environmental issues, wellness, and money-saving are an important factor for many, there has never been a better time to ride a bike.  

“We aim to create positive change through our cycling programs and to promote healthier, happier people, places and businesses,” she said.  

Last year Biketober encouraged many new riders to cycle and 41 per cent of those occasional riders rode regularly in the six months following Biketober.  

Biketober aligns with the City of Ballarat’s Cycling Action Plan 2017 – 2025 which seeks to help transform Ballarat into one of the great cycling cities. This program specifically supports two goals of the plan:  

• Change travel behaviour to increase bike riding, particularly focusing on those groups not currently cycling.
• To help build an everyday bike riding culture in Ballarat so that it is seen as a legitimate use of the road with mutual respect between riders and drivers.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said Biketober is a great chance to give bike riding a go, why not try it to ride to the shops, work or simply to get outside.  

“Active transport is a great way to get around our city, why not try one of our safe separated shared paths to move between home and work, or simply to get out and be active,” he said.

Excitingly Central Highlands Water are coming on board this year to support and promote the Biketober initiative.  

Central Highlands Water Managing Director, Jeff Haydon said hydration is vitally important to ongoing health, and we’re committed to delivering water for life, to over 187,000 community members, every day  

“We care for a range of reservoir parks across the Central Highlands region that people can ride to, or through, and offer over 100 Choose Tap drinking water fountains where cyclists can stop along the way,” he said.  

“We’re excited to champion Biketober and encourage locals to get cycling for long term health and wellbeing.”

As a Ballarat resident, registration is simple and free. Follow the instructions at www.lovetoride.net to fill in your details and link your profile to your workplace or club, for some friendly competition!

Anyone aged 13 years and over can participate, and those under 13 years can participate with their parent or guardian creating a parent profile on Love to Ride.