Cyclists claim top honours in Auckland event

Cyclists claim top honours in Auckland event

Cyclists claimed victory on Auckland’s roads yesterday morning, winning three legs of the Commuter Challenge that this year included 12 Ponsonby Rugby Club members.

The Urgent Couriers event pits bikes against cars and buses in a race during peak-hour morning traffic to prove which mode of transport will get Aucklanders to work the fastest.

Competitors for each transport mode departed from Mt Roskill, New Lynn, Ellerslie and Birkenhead at 7:15am, racing to Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour.

And while many Aucklanders were sitting in traffic, Auckland B captain Sam Anania proved that fitness does pay off by leading the way from Mt Roskill to be the first challenger across the finish line, with a travel time of just 16 minutes.

Right behind in second place was his teammate, Sam Fifita who arrived by car from Mt Roskill in 18 minutes, followed by Brad McCullough, who cycled from Ellerslie in 23 minutes.
Overall, the event was a cycling conquest, with cyclists winning three of the four legs from east, south and west.  A slow harbour crossing denied victory to the North Shore cyclist, beaten by bus challenger Leo Tailiu who took 23 minutes to commute from Birkenhead.

Former All Black and Ponsonby Rugby Club President Bryan Williams also took part in the challenge, racing by car from New Lynn in 32 minutes, just a minute behind Auckland Maori captain Brad Tauwhere who cycled from the same point.

Urgent Couriers’ managing director Steve Bonnici says the event proves the best way to get around our city is by bike.

“We hope that by running this event each year Aucklanders’ will change their behaviour and stop using their cars so much.  By making a small change individually, together we can all make a big difference.

“It’s not always easy for people to leave their car at home every day, but taking the bus or biking to work, even once or twice a week, can make a difference to your health, the environment and reduce congestion on Auckland’s roads,” he says..

This is the third year the Commuter Challenge has been held. In last year’s event, the first competitor to cross the finish line was also the cyclist from Mt Roskill.

The last to arrive at the destination, with a travel time of 46 minutes – twice the time of the North Shore bus – was Ponsonby captain Mark Hooper who caught a bus in from New Lynn.

The Commuter Challenge and the Go By Bike Breakfast are both part of Bike Wise Month.

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