Transport options  |  2 Feb 2026

Share this story

Christchurch teen Riley Taylor is all ready to start a month long of cycling as part of this year’s Aotearoa Bike Challenge.

The 16-year-old has signed up for the annual challenge with his school, Riccarton High School. The challenge is open to riders of all levels and special prizes are up for grabs specifically for high school students who get involved.

Riley bikes to school every day and visits the Christchurch Adventure Park at least twice a week. The passion for cycling is a family affair.

“It was my dad, Ken, who first took me up to the adventure park a couple of years ago. We used to bike up to the top but now I get an annual chair lift pass. He hasn’t been going up as much as he broke his collarbone, but I still go up a lot with friends or on my own.”

The Taylor family also regularly use the cycleway that goes near their house and goes into the central city.

“Biking is good for fitness, especially if you do it a lot. It’s an efficient way to get places as you don’t get stuck in traffic like you would in a car,” says Riley.

People who register for the challenge can take part as an individual, with their workplace, high school, or social group. Every ride of more than 10 minutes counts, whether for fun, fitness or transport.

Points are earned for every kilometre travelled, every day participants ride and every person they encourage to take part.

Last year 6133 people in the Greater Christchurch area took part, clocking up 1,218,074 kilometres on their bikes. Of these, 674 were new riders in the challenge and this year organisers are hoping for even more to join.

Find out more about the Aotearoa Bike Challenge and sign up to join Riley and other Christchurch high school students.