mmg.com.au

National Ride2Work Day encourages workers around the country to get on their bikes.

On Wednesday, district riders will join 150,000 others from across the country as they don their lycra and get riding.

The Ride2Work Program is a national program that encourages thousands of Australians thinking of commuting by bicycle to give it a try.

The day aims to get existing riders to share their knowledge and experience with their peers and support new riders.

Ride2Work program manager Cory Boardman said Ride2Work Day had proven to not only be a great one-day event, but a catalyst for changing behaviour in the long term.

‘‘We surveyed first time participants in last year’s event and five months later 38 per cent were still riding at least weekly,’’ Mr Boardman said.

Mr Boardman said riding a bike to work was one of the best ways to integrate physical activity into a daily routine.

He said it took just three hours of riding a week to reduce the risk of heart disease by more than 50 per cent.

Echuca Regional Health staff will take part in the event, with puncture repair kits donated by Ash Hall Cycles on hand in the event of any mishaps.