PEOPLE across the region pedalled West Yorkshire to victory in last month’s Winter Wheelers – a fun, friendly advent calendar cycle challenge.

It was run through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme aimed at encouraging more people to travel by bike or on foot.

More than 890 people across West Yorkshire cycled nearly 88,000 miles during Winter Wheelers, with participants saving more than 21,000 lbs of CO2.

In 2017, 740 people across West Yorkshire cycled nearly 72,000 miles during Winter Wheelers, making this year’s event the biggest and best yet.

The Combined Authority joined forces with Winter Wheelers organiser Love to Ride for the UK-wide event aimed at giving people some extra motivation to keep cycling throughout December and celebrate and enjoy winter cycling with an advent calendar for grown-ups.

Councillor Kim Groves, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said: “Well done to everyone who took part in Winter Wheelers. Once again West Yorkshire topped the UK leaderboard, which is testament to our region’s appetite for cycling.

“We know encouraging more of us to travel by bike or on foot not only boosts people’s health and saves individuals money, it also brings wider environmental and economic benefits, which is why we want to make cycling and walking a natural choice for short, everyday journeys.

“Whether you cycle every day or whether you haven’t been on a bike in years, if you’re cycling for transport or for fun, whatever time and wherever you’re going, our online cycle challenges help provide that extra bit of motivation, especially at this time of year.”

CityConnect runs online challenges throughout the year in partnership with Love to Ride.

Registering on the Love to Ride website allows participants to log miles, set goals and earn badges for cycling to work for a week, riding 100 miles or encouraging a friend or colleague to take part, with friendly competitions taking place between individuals and workplaces.

Love to Ride can be easily connected to many popular cycling apps such as Strava and Ride Report, which will then automatically record rides on Love to Ride and enter riders into daily prize draws for winter riding gear.

Register for Love to Ride at www.lovetoride.net/cityconnect.

From route information to free adult cycle training and support for businesses, find out how CityConnect can help you at https://cyclecityconnect.co.uk/makeyourmove/.