Workplaces in York are being invited to take part in a free competition to encourage more people to ride bikes as part of the 2013 York Cycle Challenge – and potentially win a bike worth £1,000.

More than 81 businesses and 1,500 people are set to take to the streets over the three week period from 1 to 21 July for the annual event.

The challenge is supported by City of York Council’s i-Travel initiative, made possible by £4.6 million of government funding which the council successfully bid for in 2011.

Unlike other cycling events, The York Cycle Challenge is all about encouraging people to simply hop on a bike so that they can experience the benefits of riding first hand.

Participants can cycle anywhere they like, anytime they like, over the three-week period and organisations that can encourage the largest uptake of staff to bike ride for just 10-minutes or more will win prizes.

The York Cycle Challenge was run in the region in 2012 with much success and three months after the event, 40 per cent of the non-cyclists who took part were cycling regularly each week.

There will be a live league table on the challenge website showing which organisations are currently in the lead at www.lovetoride.net/york

There are a whole host of prizes that people can win just by participating, including a bike worth £1,000 from CycleStreet, 200 cinema tickets and more prizes are to be revealed shortly.

TSYS and Jamie’s Italian are among 81 businesses that are already signed up to ‘The York Cycle Challenge’. Registrations are still open and it’s free to participate. For more information please visit www.itravelyork.info