Commuters are being encouraged to think differently about how they travel to and from the Maroochydore CBD, with those who get to the new city centre without using their car to score a free caffeine fix.
It comes as the CBD prepares to host a celebration of cycling with a night criterium race through the streets of the city centre on Friday, October 20.
As part of Sustainable Travel Week, from October 16 to 20, a weeklong program of events, rewards and free activities will promote sustainable travel.
Anyone who rides, skates, scooters, walks, carpools or catches a bus into the city during the week will be rewarded with a free coffee from The MET’s Colombian Coffee Co cafe and a chance to win a $1000 bike voucher.
SunCentral CEO Amanda Yeates said Sustainable Travel Week was the perfect opportunity to make a change for the better in your daily commute.
“By embracing sustainable and eco-friendly travel options, not only are we helping to reduce our environmental footprint and congestion on Sunshine Coast roads but it’s great for our mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
Sustainable Travel Week will also include activities at The MET such as live music lunchtimes, bike checks and fix it workshops. See the full program here.
Sunshine Coast Council mayor Mark Jamieson said the weeklong event supported council’s Integrated Transport Strategy.
“This unique new initiative is being launched by SunCentral in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council’s ThinkChange program,” Cr Jamieson said.
“With a week of activities planned in the city centre, I encourage commuters to make Sustainable Travel Week the week they make a positive change for the better by riding, skating, scooting, walking, carpooling or taking the bus to and from work.”
Friday night’s criterium race is part of the third instalment of Cycle Sunshine Coast, which runs from October 19 to 22.
The schedule includes five elite National Road Series stages for men and women, the street criterium under lights in the CBD and a mass-participation community ride.
In Friday’s street criterium, riders will take on a fast-paced 900m circuit in the heart of Maroochydore, hitting speeds well over 50km/h.
Australian Cycling Academy CEO and Cycle Sunshine Coast event organiser Matt Wilson encouraged locals to come and support riders, plus join in on the action.
“We’re super excited Cycle Sunshine Coast to get underway next week, this year promises to be better than ever with a few new editions such a great new criterium circuit around the Maroochydore City Centre,” he said.
Local roads will be impacted from 5pm until 9pm on October 20 due to the night criterium. For more information on road closures visit Cycle Sunshine Coast.
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