Living Sustainably Issue 6 - National Ride to Work Day

An estimated 90,000 regular and first-time riders from all states and territories joined the inaugural National Ride to Work Day on 17 October 2007 saving greenhouse gas emissions and reducing congestion on roads.

NSW Assistant Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, the Hon. Verity Firth, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and other state members of parliament joined about 10,000 Sydneysiders in riding to work.

About 700 cyclists attended a free celebration breakfast hosted by Lend Lease in Millers Point. At the breakfast Assistant Minister Firth awarded telecommunications company, Optus and Greystanes Public High School each with a Safe Riding Training Package for up to 10 people as the biggest corporate and community teams respectively registered for the Ride in NSW.

Simon Smith, Deputy Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW (DECC) who regularly pedals to his CBD office, led the 80 plus member DECC team, which was one of over 3000 workplace teams registered for the national event.

Mr Smith sees bicycles playing an important role in promoting a sustainable Sydney. 'Bicycles cut transport related pollution and greenhouse gases as well as being a great source of exercise that reduces obesity and increases productivity at work' he said.