Easy rider: Jason Downs wants more people to cycle to work. Picture: Carlos Furtado
DESPITE having lost half of his right foot and the big toe of his left foot in a motor accident, it hasn't stopped Blacktown's Jason Downs from supporting Ride2Work Day on October 17.
The 47-year-old Family Referral Service advisor in Mt Druitt cycles about an hour to work daily, rain or shine.
The "double amputee" will be among more than 150,000 people participating in the nation's biggest celebration of two-wheeled, human-powered transport.
"I am doing it for my health and environmental reasons as well as enjoy the great feelings I got from the exercise," Mr Downs said.
"More people should be encouraged to cycle to work or for leisure to improve their general fitness."
But Mr Downs wouldn't say it was safer to cycle than drive a car as he was badly hurt in an accident with a car at Flushcombe Road in 1998 and had several "misses". "It has made me more careful and wear protective helmet and clothing," he said.
He has five bikes including those abandoned by other cyclists and his super bike costing $1500.
Mr Downs said the government should build or extend more cycleways like the M7 cycleway from Mt Druitt to Blacktown to promote greater safety.
Ride2Work program manager Cory Boardman said Ride2Work Day had come a long way since it was a Melbourne-only event in 1994 and just 615 riders took part.
He said it had proven its ability to not only be a great one day event but an excellent catalyst for introducing healthy transport behaviours longer term.
"This year we're expecting 50,000 official registrations and in excess of 150,000 participants across the country, the biggest in the program's history," Mr Boardman said.