Challenge Complete



The Sheffield University Cycle Challenge has now ended. For more information about cycling in Sheffield, please visit the University webpage here. There is also a Cycle Forum at http://www.shef.ac.uk/cycleforum/index.

If you've got any questions, feel free to contact the 2010 Challenge Co-ordinator and University Travel Planner:

Darren hardwick d.hardwick@sheffield.ac.uk 0114 222 9056.

The 2010 Sheffield Cycle Challenge ran from 3 May to 4 July 2010. Overall 69% of participants were staff and 31% were students, a slight increase in the proportions in 2009 (60% male and 40% female). The Challenge aimed to get more people to cycle more regularly and was delivered in two elements:

    1. 'Cycle Wednesdays' - encouraging people to ride specifically on Wednesdays and log their trips.
      756 trips were logged over the 9 Wednesdays for the Cycle Wednesdays competition and 6,115 miles cycled.
    2. 'Bike to Uni' - encouraging people to log as many cycle trips for transport as possible.
      209 people pedalled 29,898 miles over 3,545 trips. 3026 (85%) of trips were to Uni or for other transport purposes, which saved 6,252 kilograms of CO2.

The Challenge inspired 15 new cyclists to take to their bikes. 17% of registrants were non-cyclists (cycling not at all or only a few times in the previous 12 months) and 20% were occasional cyclists (cycling a few times a month or about once per week).


Three weeks after the 2010 Challenge:

  • 73% of non-cyclists reported intending to cycle more (than they had done prior to the Challenge) in the next 6 months
  • 24% of regular cyclists reported intending to cycle more since taking part in the Challenge
  • 94% of participants would be 'very likely' or 'quite likely' to take part in the Challenge again.

For more information on the Challenge, please visit challengeforchange.com or feel free to contact us at support@challengeforchange.com.


Photo of annual university bike sale Photo of Hadrians Wall

"Keep doing the challenge - I don't cycle much but this does give me a bit of an incentive.”

“I thought it was a good idea and by logging journeys I was more motivated to cycle.”

"Enjoyed it - great way to create a sense of community and enthusiasm.”