Laman Mahkota Istana Bukit Serene, one of the sights along the proposed city ride. — Filepic
The inaugural OCBC Cycle Johor Baru on Dec 14 is expected to bring together 3,000 cyclists from Malaysia, Singapore and beyond.
They will be able to experience the excitement of riding through Johor Baru’s closed roads.
The route spanning 21km will cover the city’s iconic landmarks, starting from Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru before passing through Istana Besar Johor, Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim, Persada Johor, Johor Ancient Temple, Tasik Utara, Istana Bukit Serene, Laman Mahkota Istana Bukit Serene and Saujana.
Title-sponsored by OCBC Bank (M) Bhd and organised by Multigreen Events Sdn Bhd, the event is fashioned after the popular OCBC Cycle KL, which has been attracting thousands annually since 2015.
Among those who are awaiting the event, themed “Let’s go cycle”, with great anticipation is Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad.
“We are excited to have a community cycling event right in the heart of the city centre,” he said.
“We see this as a way to advance the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as we expect both locals and our friends from across the Causeway to participate.
A billboard for OCBC Cycle Johor Baru at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru where participants will be flagged off. Baru.
“I would also like to thank OCBC Malaysia for making this happen after two years of sponsoring JB Car-Free Morning.”
OCBC Cycle Johor Baru features a 42km ride (two loops) and 21km one-loop route.
OCBC Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Tan Chor Sen said the event underlined its commitment to Johor’s development while promoting healthy living and advocating sustainable practices.
“By transforming city streets into safe, car-free spaces, we create opportunities for people from all walks of life to come together and enjoy cycling in a vibrant and inclusive environment.”
He added that OCBC Malaysia was actively promoting the event in Singapore to encourage cross-border participation and engagement.
Apart from the 42km and 21km ride categories, there is also the 42km corporate category for teams of 10, called The JB Mayor’s Ride.
Children aged three to nine will also be able to join in the fun under the Kids’ Push Bike category in the 150m and 200m (aged seven to nine) distances.
All participants will receive a medal and digital certificate for participating, alongside goodies from sponsors.
Multigreen Events CEO Nezzam Malek said the event was focused on inclusivity and sustainability.
“We will also look to feature OCBC Cycle Johor Baru as a platform to create awareness about recycling and to practise it.”
Efforts include reducing the use of plastics and paper and utilising recyclable materials.
Recycling bins will also be placed at strategic locations for collection of banana peels, which will then be sent for composting.
OCBC Cycle Johor Baru 2025 is open to those aged 16 and above. Registration via www.ocbccyclejb.com closes on Nov 12 or when it reaches 3,000 participants.
