On Tuesday 2nd June, council transport officers set off from Bryn, near Ashton-in-Makerfield, at 8.30am heading for the office in Wigan town centre – by car, by bus, by train and by on- and off-road bike.

Senior engineer Peter Wickett, who cycled the five miles along the A49 into town in 20 minutes, says: “I was just beaten by the car, which was half a minute faster.”

The council’s streetworks co-ordinator, Tony Hemmingway, was that driver. He of course had the door-to-door advantage over the bus and the train. Tony says: “Of course, for many the car is always the obvious choice even for fairly short journeys. But even when in comparatively light traffic, I was barely ahead of the bike and have paid a lot more for my journey too.”

In third place, and cycling using off road routes, was assistant engineer Mike Orrell. The council’s sustainability manager James Noakes was next with his train journey (“I had a ten minute walk to the station!” he reminds us). Last but by no means least, senior engineer Emma Barton arrived in from Wigan bus station, relaxed and having read her newspaper.

With a number of schools still on holiday, the quieter roads were a help for the drivers but, adds Peter Wickett, the serious issues behind the fun challenge are about health, stress and money: “The headline from this is that coming by car or bike into Wigan is pretty much comparable," he says. "But the hidden costs of motoring; from wear and tear on your car, petrol, parking, as well as for the roads themselves, means that the fitness friendly bike remains the best for our commute, as well as the healthiest for our commuters.”

National Bike Week runs from 13 to 21 June. There are three key events in Wigan, offering practical help and advice. The public can meet cycling fanatics, local transport experts and council sustainability officers at:

- Atherton Crabtree Lane: 17 June 10am – 4.30pm
- Leigh Bradshawgate: 18 June 9.30am – 4.30pm
- Wigan Market Place: 19 June 9.30am – 4.30pm