The organisers of a local sustainable travel campaign are asking residents to support a national bike challenge this month. 

‘Get SMART, Get Moving’ was launched late last year by WAO to encourage more environmentally conscious ways of travelling around the Upper Clutha. 

Now it is getting behind the Aotearoa Bike Challenge, a friendly competition to see where people can compete as individuals, workplaces or in groups to see who can cycle the most in the month of January.

“As well as taking part in the challenge ourselves within the Wao team, we will be sharing one reason to bike every day in February through our social media to encourage everyone to keep logging in more cycling miles,” Get SMART, Get Moving said in a statement.

“More and more people are already commuting to work and around town on their bikes, we want to help this trend grow with this campaign.” 

Sign up at the Aotearoa Bike Challenge website to earn points and be in to win prizes including a brand new bike. 

The ‘SMART’ in Get SMART stands for sustainable modes of active and resourceful travel, something WAO trustee Monique Kelly says is crucial for reducing carbon emissions.

“We know that in Aotearoa 50 per cent of our total emissions come from transport; and we also know that in the next decade this number needs to be reduced by half to stay below the +1.5 degree global warming threshold,” Monique said. 

“Get SMART aims to be a catalyst for this reduction and seeks to compel Wānaka locals to consider how they can make a real difference by choosing a more sustainable mode of travel such as carpooling or biking.”

Follow Get SMART, Get Moving on social media and find more about the Aotearoa Bike Challenge here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App