The Bike to Work Challenge in Switzerland is the country's largest bicycle promotion and corporate health campaign, running annually across May and June. This year, part of the challenge occurred during a prolonged heatwave in Geneva. Laura Casorio, who serves as the executive secretary of the Foundation for Aid to Reformed Protestantism, has always considered herself a bike rider “only under perfect conditions—not too hot, not too cold, not rainy,” she said, often opting for public transportation with climatization. “But with this heatwave, I tried once to stand at a bus stop and it was just impossible,” she said. “Riding a bike, though hot, at least exposes one to some air, which is nonexistent while standing and waiting in the sun.” Sometimes, public transport was delayed or canceled because of the heat. “That's why I think I will use my bike more than I did before, even during summer,” said Casorio. “Climate change has already happened, and these are very small signals.” The biggest signals were also visible around Geneva: while biking to work, cyclers saw that the surrounding mountains are nearly without snow. "I hope that, with new editions of the Bike to Work Challenge, more colleagues will join,” Casorio added. “It is one of the possible—and somehow easy and fun—ways to be in harmony with the values promoted by the WCC.” Rev. Dr. Elaine Neuenfeldt, Global Gender Justice programme manager at ACT Alliance, reflected that one month of biking to work was about more than just a commute. “It is more than cycling: it is about enjoying outdoors, staying active but also about doing this in a group, with colleagues,” she said. “This might be a very little action - but small choices can have a positive impact, even if these are small.” Neuenfeldt added that biking to work is an small action that is part of a larger movement caring for God's creation. “I will continue to cycle and would for sure, repeat this next year!” she said. Marco Venanzoni, project accountant at the WCC, bikes to work all year round—whether it’s snowing, raining, or very hot. “I like the Bike to Work challenge because it brings together colleagues,” he said. “We share some experiences, some funny situations, and we discover a little bit more of each other—hobbies and so on. I am happy to participate each year in this challenge, just for fun and to share stories and experiences with colleagues.” Laurent Veyrat-Durebex, WCC Human Resources manager, who organized the teams at the Ecumenical Centre, said he greatly appreciated the very positive feedback from the participants in the Bike to Work initiative. “The fact that it is structured as a challenge, with a friendly internal competition element, adds an engaging and motivating dimension,” he said. "I believe that participants would be keen to repeat the experience next year, not just for one month but for the full two-month duration of the challenge.” Most of those who took part are already convinced advocates of cycling as a means of transportation, Veyrat-Durebex added. “It would be wonderful to encourage colleagues who are more reliant on their cars to join the initiative, as well as our colleagues in Jerusalem and Nairobi—and potentially in other locations too,” he said. “Expanding participation across a broader range of employees and offices could further strengthen engagement, wellbeing, and our commitment to sustainable mobility, which is fully in line with the WCC's objectives and ethos.” The WCC and sister organizations had 14 participants who collectively rode 1,940 kilometers over 208 bike days. Over all of Switzerland, 111,170 participants biked 30,559,595 kilometers. | 
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