To work by bike

In May 2025, the 15th edition of the May Challenge to commute by bike, on foot, or by jogging will take place.

A month without a car, but on our own power. For the fifteenth time, the AutoMat association is inviting participants to the May Challenge "To Work by Bike, on Foot, or Jogging." The challenge traditionally engages tens of thousands of people across the country. It successfully changes people's transportation habits and highlights the need for infrastructure for non-motorized movement. Over 15 years of the May Challenge, more than 100,000 individual participants have taken part, with over 25,000 people participating last year. The principle is simple: just register as an individual or a team of 2-5 people, pay the entry fee, and during the month of May, travel as sustainably as possible while recording your journeys in the system. The challenge is not about the number of kilometers covered, but about consistency. Teams that achieve 66.6% or higher consistency in the May Challenge (2/3 of their May commutes to and from work are done without motorized transport) will be entered into a draw for attractive prizes from the partners of the May Challenge after the challenge ends. In Balance The 15th edition of the "To Work by Bike" challenge has the subtitle "Path to Balance." "In everyday life, we seek a balance between work and personal life, and we also strive for a balanced state in our health. Incorporating movement into daily life helps with this. Active participation in the May Challenge is a great opportunity to contribute to better mental and physical well-being," explains Anna Kociánová from the AutoMat association. The idea has also been supported by a new visual design for the event by illustrator Markéta Černá, which appears on the original t-shirt that every registered participant will receive. Companies in Motion The May Challenge also serves as an unconventional team-building activity. For companies, it is an opportunity to do something for sustainability and social responsibility and to showcase it. "Employers pay the entry fee for 80% of the challenge participants, and they particularly appreciate the camaraderie across teams and the positive motivation for a healthier lifestyle. Healthier employees also take fewer sick days and are more creative," adds Anna Kociánová from AutoMat. A marketing package is prepared for companies that they can use in internal communication as well as externally. Accompanying Events and Voting An integral part of the challenge includes T-shirt events, bike rides, and final parties with prize draws organized by co-hosts in more than 50 participating cities. Participation in the May Challenge also nominates candidates for the titles of Cycling Employer and Cycling City of the Year. Concurrently with the challenge, there is also the "To School by Bike" event aimed at schoolchildren, students, and educators. More User-Friendly Participant System New features for the 15th edition of the "To Work by Bike" challenge include a new participant system for registration, recording journeys, and displaying accompanying events and results. "We have been working on a more user-friendly system at AutoMat for quite some time. We are a non-profit organization, and our capacities and resources are limited, while our core activity remains professional and advocacy work. But I hope that this year we will make the experience of the entire challenge more enjoyable for thousands of participants. And that they will carry a positive attitude towards active transportation into the following weeks and months," concludes Lucie Rýzlerová from AutoMat.