40,000 take to cycling

More than 40,000 New Zealanders gave cycling a go during Bike Wise month.

More than 300 cycle-friendly events were held around the country during February, including 59 Go By Bike Day breakfasts and 50 mayoral challenges.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is thrilled with the numbers who took part.

Road user behaviour manager Michael Cummins says if each participant cycled just 2km during the month that would total 80,000km or around 37 trips from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

"Cycling is a fun, sustainable, healthy and cost-effective way to get around.

"We hope everyone who took part will continue to use their bikes all-year-round," Mr Cummins says.

Go by Bike Day drew around 11,000 participants who swapped cars for bikes and enjoyed free breakfasts around the country.

More than 8500 people from 533 organisations competed for the title of most bike-friendly workplace.

Together they logged 1.5 million kilometres, burning off 193mkilojoules or the equivalent of 15,000 Big Macs.

Mr Cummins says the workplace challenge cyclists saved 244,152 kilograms of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 4300 cars driving 10km to or from work each day.

- © Fairfax NZ News