Oxford cycle challenge clocks up 76k miles

Forty-eight organisations and 1,120 people took part in the Oxford Cycle Challenge this summer.

76,000 miles – the equivalent of circling the world three times – were cycled in the city over the three weeks last month.

The challenge was designed to encourage people to get on their bikes and saw Oxford face off against arch rival Cambridge to see which city could encourage the most new cyclists onto a bike. Cambridge eventually pipped Oxford, with 131 cyclists getting back into the saddle after more than a year compared with 117 in Oxford.

NHS Oxfordshire’s Becky Hitch said: “The Oxford Cycle Challenge is a fun way to encourage more people to cycle more safely, more often. It’s been fantastic to see so many Oxford businesses and organisations supporting the Challenge.”

Challenge Co-ordinator Dan Harris added: “When people get back on a bike and they experience what it’s actually like to cycle, they realise it isn’t hard or scary but it’s actually fun and easy. It’s very encouraging that so many people in Oxford have been inspired to cycle for the Challenge. If more people start cycling it has great health and cost benefits for the individual, but also helps to reduce congestion and pollution for all of us.”