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November 7 2011
One of the world’s leading engineering, architectural and
environmental consulting companies, GHD recently won the Sydney
Rides Challenge for its category (200-499 employees) by
encouraging 44.4% employee participation in the event.
The initiative is a City of Sydney initiative to
encourage more people to cycle more often and to celebrate the
growth of this sustainable mode of travel. The event took place
from September 26 to October 16 and involved 3143 riders, including
645 new riders.
The challenge was the product of a behaviour
change strategy that GHD prepared on behalf of
Council in 2010 to complement its infrastructure investment with a
suite of interventions to address the social barriers which limit
cycling participation for inner Sydney residents and visitors.
One of the key recommendations in the strategy was
a workplace cycling program, which seeks to increase participation
in cycling in inner Sydney, by engaging Sydney businesses and their
staff. The program seeks to build the profile of cycling and to
increase peoples’ confidence in their ability to cycle safely and
comfortably.
GHD Sydney Manager David Kinniburgh noted, “This
was a great initiative and GHD was proud to participate.
Winning was a bonus, but it was just great to see people who hadn’t
cycled for years getting out there and enjoying being on a bike in
beautiful Sydney”.
Above: GHD Hydrology &
Civil Services Service Group Manager Mia Barnard takes a test ride
in Hyde Park on one of the “Try a bike” days organised by City of
Sydney.