The 8th edition of the January “Bike to Work, Walk or Run” challenge is motivating people toward sustainable transport

A week of commuting to work using active and sustainable modes of transport, even in spite of the weather. That is what hundreds of people on bikes, scooters, and on foot from all over the Czech Republic will attempt as part of the 8th edition of the January “Bike to Work, Walk or Run” challenge. The event takes place from January 12 to 18, and registration is already open. The organizing association AutoMat aims to highlight the fact that we need to think about the sustainable future of our cities—and our own health—all year round. Last year, more than 1,500 people took part in the January challenge, temporarily giving up transport modes that produce unwanted emissions.

How to join the January Challenge

The principle of the January Challenge is simple. It all starts with a free registration for individuals. For one week in January, participants commute (not only to work) using active transport—by bike, scooter, on foot or running, possibly combined with public transport or train—and log their trips into the system.

If they achieve sufficient regularity of 66.6% and are lucky in the draw, they can win a team voucher for participation in the main May Challenge 2026.

Participants can track their sustainably covered kilometers in a ranking system, but performance is not the focus of the January Challenge. For the health of both ourselves and our cities, what matters most is consistent active travel and a change in lifestyle and commuting habits.

“The January Challenge is a great way to test your will to travel actively even in more difficult conditions. The hardest part is always starting and riding for the first time in less-than-ideal weather. After that, the barrier becomes much smaller. Now, neither snow nor rain stops me, and I cycle in the city all year round. We would like to pass on this motivation and healthy habit. The January Challenge is also a way to prepare for the team-based May Challenge, which then lasts a whole month,” says Lucie Rýzlerová, project lead of Bike to Work at the AutoMat.

We also call for protecting vulnerable road users

The organizing association AutoMat has long and systematically focused on year-round support for active mobility.

“We provide practical guides, such as a video series on how to start cycling in traffic, and we also advocate for winter maintenance and the construction of safe cycling infrastructure. This is also the focus of our Call Zero initiative for zero traffic deaths, which anyone can sign and which we plan to present to politicians as a topic for the upcoming municipal elections,” explains Anna Kociánová from AutoMat.

“Experiences from European cities confirm that even winter is not a reason to stop using active transport. We can take inspiration from Norway, Denmark, or Finland. In Helsinki, for example, it has already been possible to reduce fatalities among vulnerable road users in traffic accidents to zero,” adds Anna Kociánová from AutoMat.

Plans for May

The January Challenge is a precursor to the main seasonal event—the 16th edition of the “Bike to Work, Walk or Run” May Challenge. Last year, nearly 23,000 participants from across the Czech Republic took part, mainly challenging their transport habits, social assumptions, and sometimes their own comfort.

According to the final participant survey, over 98% of them reported gaining motivation to continue using active and sustainable transport even beyond the challenge.

Until the end of January, it is possible to purchase the most affordable entry fee in the form of a printed or electronic participation voucher. Registration opens on February 1, 2026.

More details can be found at dopracenakole.cz.

The event is organized by AutoMat.

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