This month Christchurch is promoting it’s Bike Wise Battle encouraging commuters to ditch their four wheels and hop on two in the name of health, fun (some would say) and the environment. Today in particular is their Go by Bike day and some of those Zoners who don’t walk to work have rocked up on their metal steeds.

Christchurch’s position on the Canterbury Plains makes it is a cycling cummuter’s dream due to the lack of hills and the abundance of cycle lanes, although we still have a way to go if measured by Chicago’s efforts to get folks sweaty before work. The McDonald’s Cycle Center (located in Millennium Park) provides secure bike parking, lockers, showers, towel service and bike repair amongst others. In fact the city’s Mayor, Richard M. Daley , has his own Bicycling Ambassadors to promote bike safety and his goal of making Chicago the most bicycle friendly city in the US.

If you’re still reading, here’s a few facts for you…

• The first two wheeled rider propelled machine was invented by Baron Karl de Drais de Sauerbrun, in France in 1818. It was entirely made of wood.

• On a bicycle you can have your cake and eat it. A moderate half-hour each-way commute will burn 8 calories a minute, or the equivalent of 11kg of fat in a year.

• On a bicycle you can travel up to 1037 kilometres on the energy equivalent of a single litre of petrol.

• On a bicycle you protect yourself against the ‘Western diseases’ of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and stress (although car doors can cause the occasional freak-out).

Matt Armstrong

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