Index
Ride to Work Uni Day: An Environmental Winner
In July 2011, Cadel Evans became the first Australian to win the Tour de
France, the world’s most prestigious race in professional cycling. This
victory may have inspired another Australian champion - Ride to Uni
Day (in conjunction with Ride to Work Day), with the environment being
the winner on the day.
Myotherapy Student, Robert Degger provided relaxing massages at Ride to Uni Day.
City cycling enthusiasts.
Muffins and coffee moving fast at the Ride to Uni breakfast at the city campus.
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With marginally better weather than last year’s event, it’s no surprise that more participants than ever donned their helmets and hit the road for the annual Ride to Uni Day (in conjunction with Ride to Work Day). On Wednesday 12 October more than 120 staff and students from three RMIT Campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick) cycled to Uni and benefitted by supporting the environment and improving their health.
Upon arrival, around 80 of those participants enjoyed a healthy breakfast of organic muffins from RUSU Real Foods, fresh fruit and Fair Trade coffee from Jasper Coffee. Free Massage was also available from graduating Myotherapy student, Robert Degger, and the breakfast participant’s went into the draw to win one of three $100 Cecil Walker Cycle vouchers and Hoyts double movie passes. In addition, the RMIT Brunswick Campus held a festival and market day which included stalls and music. The day concluded with a leisurely ride along the MoreArt Trail with the Campus’s bicycle club “Brunswick Pedal Pushers”, with a complimentary drink for riders on arrival.
Craig Allen, Project Officer, Environment with Property Services and organiser was building on the success of last year’s event; Mr Allen was thrilled to see more participants turn up for the breakfast this year. “It’s fantastic to see this event grow from strength to strength every year” Mr Allen said. “The RMIT community really gets behind Ride to Uni day and commit to an environmentally sustainable lifestyle”. Myotherapy student Robert Degger; an avid cyclist, he was “happy to be associated with such a great event and give my time to support the cyclists. Hopefully there will more of these events which bring a community of cyclists together in a social setting”. Rachel McCathy, who won a $100 Cecil Walker Cycle voucher said that “My ride to uni is not only a great time to think and feel energised for the day ahead”
Among the Ride to Work Day participants was Ian Palmer, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Business. Mr Palmer said “I did my first ride-to-work four years ago and was an instant convert! I enjoyed it so much and wondered why I hadn’t been doing it for years. I’ve been pretty much a bike commuter ever since that day”. Now a regular on the day, Mr Palmer believes “Melbourne’s a fabulous city for riding – and the ride to work each year is a great way to get people to think about getting involved.”
Also riding was Professor Tony Dalton, Distinguished Research Fellow, Global Studies, Social Science & Planning believes Ride to Work Day is an important day as it “helps to celebrate the increasing number of people who are riding to work and encourage others to get on a bike and start riding to work”.
Mr Allen expressed gratitude to RMIT’s Human Resources and to long term supporter of the event Jasper Coffee with additional thanks to Hoyts. Mr Allen also congratulated all the winners of the $100 gift vouchers - Tina Katselos, Dougal Austin and Rachel McCarthy.
Ride to Uni Day is run by the Bicycle Network Victoria in conjunction with state and territory cycling organisations across Australia and held every October so keep it in mind for next year and give your health and the environment a boost.