Tim Cochrane was one of many locals who started their morning on wheels for Go By Bike Day - as the Rotorua Bike Festival got rolling.
Using his trailer bike Mr Cochrane was on his way to drop Nina, 3, and Alfie, 5, off at school and childcare this morning.
"Both the kids ride, Nina is able to ride a pedal bike without trainer wheels ... we want to instil in them that cycling is an alternative means of transport and a fun thing to do.
"Most weekends we cycle as a family in the forest, due to the no road factor."
Go By Bike Day encourages residents to ditch the car or bus and ride to work or school.
Mr Cochrane said it was a shame it was only an annual event.
"It would be nice to have a more regular event as a tiny incentive to make an effort."
While the rest of the country had Go By Bike Day on Wednesday, the Rotorua edition was changed to align with the start of the Rotorua Bike Festival.
Sport Bay of Plenty recreation advisor Lauren Atkinson said close to 240 people took part.
"It was a great weather and great to see a mix of people, from regular commuters to first time riders. It was fun and a huge help to have the volunteers."
She said this year there were six pitstops, two more than last year.
"This worked well, the most popular pitstop was on the corner of Lake Rd and Railway Rd for riders on the Ngongotaha trail."
Melissa Gordon from Sport Bay of Plenty was volunteering at the pit stop outside Westend New World.
By 8am, after the 7am kick off, she said about 23 people had stopped.
"It's a good route for the school groups, workers from the council and Red Stag ... it's a good day for it."
At each pitstop riders were able to enter a draw to win a $100 Rotorua Cyclezone voucher, with spot prizes and fruit available.
Craig Wilson, who was cycling from Springfield into the CBD, said he was looking forward to taking part in Rotorua Bike Festival events.
Ashleigh Grant, from Healthy Families Rotorua, said she didn't normally ride to work but four or five of her colleagues had agreed to for Go By Bike Day.
"I needed something like this to get me going."