• Six Charles Sturt campuses will host bike riding events to support NSW Bike Week
• Events encourage students and staff to consider cycling as a way to improve health and adopt environmentally friendly transport options
• Events are free and include different giveaways such as free food, drinks, competitions, prizes

Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) is encouraging staff and students to strap on a helmet and join their campus’s bike riding events being held next week to mark ‘NSW Bike Week’.

Charles Sturt in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Orange and Wagga Wagga will host free ‘guided bike riding’ events for all of the University’s staff and students.

The events are being held to coincide with Transport for NSW’s ‘Bike Week’ (Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 September) which aims to raise the profile of cycling as a healthy, easy, low cost and environmentally friendly transport option for short trips.

The University is also hosting a social media photo competition for staff and students to post photos captured on their bike rides to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #NSWBikeWeek and #CharlesSturtUni. The competition is open until Friday 27 September.

CSU Green partnership coordinator Michelle Wilkinson said the University was eager to host bike riding events to support the Transport for NSW initiative.

“This initiative aligns well with many of the programs, competitions and events Charles Sturt University has to encourage our staff and students to be more environmentally sustainable and lead healthy lives,” Ms Wilkinson said.  

“The University’s bike riding events and photo competition are a great excuse for our staff and students to get in their daily exercise, reduce their carbon emissions, and have a go at winning some prizes.”

Professional cyclist Mr Neil van der Ploeg, who recently started teaching in the Charles Sturt School of Community Health, will be joining the Albury-Wodonga bike riding event to show his support of NSW Bike Week.

For the past four years Mr van der Ploeg has been competing in professional cycling races across Asia and Europe and is now working on Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program project at Charles Sturt.

To attend any of the bike riding events, staff and students can RSVP via email to csugreen@csu.edu.au.

CSU Green is Charles Sturt’s program and business area dedicated to driving forward the University’s commitment to creating a sustainable future for all.

The full event schedule for the bike riding events is:

• ‘Bathurst Ride To Uni Day’ is on Monday 23 September starting at Pulse Café at the Bathurst campus. The event includes a free breakfast at the café and a guided bike ride around the campus.
• ‘Wagga Wagga Ride To Uni Day’ is on Tuesday 24 September starting at 7.30am at Trail Street Café. The event includes a free breakfast at the café and a guided bike ride to the Wagga Wagga campus departing from the café at 8am.
• ‘Orange Ride to Uni Day’ is on Tuesday 24 September starting at Bills Beans Café, 148 McLachlan Street. The event includes a free breakfast at the café and a guided bike ride to the Orange campus departing from the café at 8am.
• ‘Albury-Wodonga Ride To Uni Day’ is on Wednesday 25 September starting at the Albury Railway Station. The event includes a free coffee and a guided bike ride to the Albury-Wodonga campus. Bike rides depart from the Albury Railway Station at 7.45 am or from at Corrys Road 8.15 am.
• ‘Dubbo Treasure Hunt Bike Ride’ is on Wednesday 25 September starting at 11.30 am at the Dubbo campus. The event includes a ‘treasure hunt’ bike ride around the Dubbo campus and prizes for the best-dressed person, best-decorated bike and best bike bell.
• ‘Port Macquarie Ride To Uni Day’ is on Thursday 26 September starting at 6.30am at the Port Macquarie campus. The event includes a guided bike ride to Drury Lane where riders will receive a free breakfast and coffee.