The Bicycle Challenge has changed the habits of locals who became actors in their own town, promoting cycling in their daily life!
In total five companies agreed to participate in this campaign, which lasted for 3 months and it was successfully completed on 18th December 2017. The companies which participated were ΚΕΟ, BSM CY: Bernhard Shculte Ship Management, MAM Baby Cyprus, Marlow Navigations and Ygia Polyclinic Private Hospital.
Participants kept a logbook in which they were recording their daily cycling activity including the kilometers and the time they spent from home to work and back home. In general, the average age of the participants was 40-50 years old. Most of the participants were particularly interested in the electronic data of the route while many of them said that during this campaign had the chance to develop their skills regarding the internet, something that was completely new for some of them.
By completing the action, all of the information was collected and each participant had its final report on which he/she could find the kilometer of distance and the time he/she spent during the 3 months’ period. In addition, from each company, the participant who spent most of the kilometers was awarded, while all of the participants were given a certificate of participation and gifts.
Undoubtedly, during the campaign participants were acquired with the knowledge, ability and experience of cycling in their daily life. Participants were very enthusiastic and have shown a motivation to use their bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation. It was particularly interesting when one participant said that he never thought to cycle to work before, but this campaign had motivated him to buy a bicycle and use it on a daily basis, while others expressed their willingness to continue cycling from home to work after the completion of the action.
The benefits of the whole program were remarkable, as it contributed to the development of a cycling culture as an alternative mode of transportation and the adoption of a different way of living which is environmentally healthy and friendly.