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MEDIA RELEASE

1/05/07

'Healthy Cities Illawarra Peddles Pedalling for Work'

Healthy Cities Illawarra has partnered with PowerCor Pushies to ditch the work car and get around town on two wheels. And much to the delight of staff, using the work bike for meetings is no sweat.

Healthy Cities Illawarra staff are now trialing an electric power-assisted pushbike to make getting to meetings and appointments around town quicker, healthier, and more environmentally friendly.

The potential for a bike as a work vehicle became obvious when it took staff longer to drive into central Wollongong, find a park and walk to the location of the meeting than it did simply to walk straight from the office. Healthy Cities Illawarra has a small bike fleet for staff use for just this purpose.

There were some barriers, though. The office was just far enough away to make walking time-consuming enough to be off-putting. Also, if the weather was warm, cycling or walking might mean the staff could need a shower before walking into a meeting!

Healthy Cities Illawarra staff member Ben Grounds said “The electric bike overcame many barriers walking or cycling presented as a work vehicle.”

“The electric assistance means there’s no need to get worked up and sweaty, and no need to be worried about fitness. Parking is never a hassle, and the more people ride a bike, the less traffic congestion and air pollution is created,” said Mr Grounds.

Any hills en route are also dealt with swiftly by the electric assistance.

Healthy Cities Illawarra runs the Illawarra Active Transport Taskforce, and has been advocating for sustainable transport for many years. Manager Frank Wallner said “It is exciting to be able to consolidate our activities in the area of sustainable transport by leading the way with ‘work bikes’, and we would encourage other businesses and organisations in the area to implement similar ideas.”

For more information contact:

Ben Grounds 4226 5000

Frank Wallner on 4226 5000.