Bike ride day a hit

CITY Square was cyclist central with people riding to work, enjoying the hive of activity and taking advantage of a free breakfast.

Chloe Coleman with a clown from the Coffs Coast Community Circus. Picture: Leigh Jensen

CITY Square was cyclist central with people riding to work, enjoying the hive of activity and taking advantage of a free breakfast.

Coffs Harbour City Council made the most of national Ride to Work Day yesterday, teaming it with a local twist - On Ya Bike Coffs Day.

It was a jam-packed morning of bikes, bikes and more bikes with the official count at more than 220.

Starting with free spin classes courtesy of the Coffs Coast Health Club, followed by group rides, a cyclists' breakfast and bicycle-inspired fashion parade - a constant strand of people could be seen getting involved in On Ya Bike Coffs Day.

After the early morning rush, a second wave of cyclists - this time with training wheels and tiny bikes - took to the city centre, with families enjoying story time, entertainment by the Coffs Coast Community Circus and riding on a track set up to teach kids about road signs and pedestrians.

Council's road safety and transport officer Anne Shearer said the event was a great show of community support.

"We have been running this event for the last few years and since it was moved to City Square numbers have trebled," Ms Shearer said.

"People rolled in and out all morning with people meeting in the city centre to go for group rides and it has been a great atmosphere."

She said the idea was to encourage people to get on their bikes and make the most of health and environment benefits.

"In the Coffs Harbour local government area there is 60km of cycleway and we find that every time we add a link people start using the track more - the message is build it and they will come."
 

Originally published as Bike ride day a hit