A number of local business have taken top spots in February’s nationwide bike competition –  and also nabbed top spots in regional categories.

Tauranga’s Beca, Tonkin + Taylor, Aurecon, GHD and Pattle Delamore offices all contributed to their workplaces taking top three spots on the national leaderboard for organisations their size.

Lysaght Consultants and Tauranga City Council both placed 4th nationally for workplaces their size and Rotorua Trails Trust was 3rd nationally for organisations with 3-6 staff.

The nationwide month-long Aotearoa Bike Challenge is organised by Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency and the international company Love to Ride and is supported locally by Tauranga City Council. The aim is to get more people choosing to bike as transport.

You can read more about Bike Month and Aotearoa Bike Challenge from our February article here. 

Over February, 203 workplaces in the Bay of Plenty took part with 2599 participants logging 27,753 rides and travelling 410,826 km.  Across the region riders saved 19,936kg of carbon dioxide emissions on commuter trips.

Lysaght Consulting ABC team champion Ingrid Jensen said the Lysaght team had a combined love of keeping fit and a healthy body, healthy mind philosophy making for a fun working environment.

“We have a very low turnover of staff and staff have always been encouraged to participate in multi-sport events along with the many other team building and community events held throughout the year,” she said.

“You could say we are a very competitive and driven bunch that like a challenge and we pride ourselves on our culture as is evident when staff jump on board and work as a team.”

The challenge is complemented by Sport BOP’s Bike Month, supported by Travel Safe, which provides people of all ages with opportunities to improve their cycling skills and increase their confidence to ride their bikes. Events included learn to ride sessions, guided historic rides, maintenance workshops and the annual Go by Bike Day.

Travel Safe Team Leader Sonia Lynds said the Aotearoa Bike Challenge and Bike Month were great ways to change people’s travel habits in a positive way while promoting an active lifestyle.

“Sometimes all we need is a nudge in the right direction. A bit of competition can be enough to get people biking more often or start a new riding to work routine,” she said.

Riders clocked up points each time they rode their bike for at least 10 minutes or encouraged others to do the same. Their points contributed to their final workplace total.

The seven workplace categories range from 2000-plus staff down to 3-6 staff members.

• Content supplied by Tauranga City Council. 

Results for Bay of Plenty region:  

2000-1999 staff

1. Bay of Plenty District Health Board (6th nationally)

500-1999 staff

1. Tauranga City Council (4th nationally)
2. Lakes District Health Board
3. Trustpower

200-499 staff

1. Scion Forest Research (5th nationally)
2. Beca Tauranga (7th nationally and, as part of national office, 2nd for workplaces 2000+ staff)
3. Rotorua Lakes Council

50-199 staff

1. Aurecon Tauranga (11th nationally and, as part of national office, 2nd for workplaces with 500-1999 staff)
2. Mercury Rotorua
3. Rotorua Police Station

20-49 staff

1. Lysaght Consultants (4th nationally)
2. RAPHS (5th nationally)
3. Tonkin + Taylor Tauranga (11th nationally and, as part of national office – 1st for workplaces with 500-1999 staff)

7-19 staff

1. Tiaki Engineering Consultants Ltd (4th nationally)
2. WSP –  Whakatane
3. Ignite Architects – Tauranga
4. Pattle Delamore (as part of national office – 1st for workplaces with 50-199 staff)

3-6 staff

1. Rotorua Trails Trust (3rd nationally)
2. CK Coaching
3. Bureta Physio + Wellness