• Nearly 1000 Islanders signed up to Jersey’s first Love to Ride challenge of the year
• Achieving higher statistics than any region in the UK
• More than 9000 biking trips logged
Jersey’s first Love to Ride challenge of the year was a huge success, achieving higher statistics than any region in the UK.
• 960 Islanders signed up
• 9,288 biking trips logged
• 66,643 miles logged in total biking trips
• 421 accounts classed as new or occasional to riding
During ‘Ride into Spring’, which ran between 1 March to 31 March, Islanders of all cycling abilities were encouraged to sign up to Love to Ride and log a bike ride. It was the first of four Love to Ride challenges being planned in Jersey this year, with the next challenge, ‘Bike Month’, launching in May. Islanders can enrol onto this challenge at lovetoride.net/jersey
This supports the Government’s Sustainable Transport Policy, and one of its key principles which recognises that fewer motor vehicle journeys will be good for Jersey. It also supports a reduction in carbon emissions as the Island works towards being net zero by 2050.
So far in 2023, the number of miles logged on Love to Ride as ‘transport’ (commute or utility trip e.g., going to work or the shop) equates to approximately 7.72 tonnes in CO2 savings compared to fossil fuel vehicles.
Those entered into the prize draw by logging a cycle ride during March are in with a chance of winning a number of different local prizes, including the top prize of a new e-bike. From today, winners will be contacted directly via phone or email by Love to Ride UK. If the winners do not respond within one week, they will be withdrawn.
Will Caiger, Head of Projects at Love to Ride UK, said: “Jersey was the biggest success of our spring campaign in the UK. Getting over 900 riders to take part in just five weeks is incredible.
“Jersey went 'bananas' with their amazing marketing around the Island and the results speak for themselves. We're delighted that the Island community got behind Love to Ride at a time of the year that is not always popular for first-time riders.”
Sustainability and Climate Change Engagement Manger, Jane Burns, said: “We are so pleased with how Islanders got involved despite some rainy miserable weather. I’m especially pleased that nearly half of those who signed up categorised themselves as new or occasional to cycling. We could see from the rides logged that over a third were logged as transport to or from work – this is great, it’s so important that we all take steps to reduce our impact on the environment, so replacing the car with cycling is a great way to do this.
“’Bike Month’ is now fast approaching, so this isn’t the time to lose momentum, Islanders can still sign up to Love to Ride and engage with the fantastic community on there while we get ready for the next challenge.”
Government of Jersey News Release