The weather is perfect right now to start a new tradition. Maybe you’ll consider joining in.
A number of residents around B.C. are taking advantage of a provincially proclaimed week to tout the benefits of bicycling to work or school.
Believe it or not, there’s a Bike to Work BC Society, and president Taylor Bachrach of Smithers is leading this charge – of course from the seat of his two-wheeler.
“There is nothing that beats how great you feel riding your bike to work and home,” he insisted. “It is amazing how the stress of the day just melts away. And you take time to notice the friendly people around you.”
Bike to Work & School Week kicks off Monday, May 29 and Bachrach is urging people to simply give it a try.
Even if people have never done it before, he said now is a perfect time to experiment. The weather couldn’t be better.
“We hope they discover how enjoyable biking to get places can be,” he said. But don’t go overboard, though, Bachrach advises. Start small.
How about trying one day a week for a while? That alone will make a difference in your health. And travelling at your own speed, you’ll get an entirely new perspective of the world.
You don’t need any special equipment. All you need is a bike, a helmet, and determination. Remember, for longer distances, you can always bus and bike part way.
Who knows. You might like the experience so much that you take up biking to work more often. No pressure. Just give it a shot and see where it takes you.
– R.H.
Challenge proves cycling a viable option in metropolis
Editor’s note: Just after publishing this editorial, we received a press release from HUB Cycling about an event that at least proves that cycling to work in the metropolis areas of Greater Vancouver can actually be faster than driving for taking transit.
Find out more:
Organizers have issued a challenge car and transit users to commute more quickly than their biking friends.
Ten teams of people on bikes, on transit, and in cars all took part in the annual Rush Hour Challenge – with people racing to the finish line at London Drugs in downtown Vancouver. Some came from as far away as New Westminster.
The results?
Six of the people biking and four of the people taking transit arrived first and clocked some “impressive” times compared to their counterparts in cars.
City of New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote and two of his colleagues commuted from New Westminster City hall with the mayor the first across the line after commuting by transit in just 34 minutes. Councillor Patrick Johnstone biked the 21.6km in just 49 minutes beating Councillor Lorrie Williams, who got stuck in a traffic jam, by 26 minutes.
Vancity’s rider also claimed bragging rights when he completed the 4.2 km from 4th and Yew Branch first, while Richards Buell Sutton LLP’s bike representative was the first of her team to cover the 2.1 km from the West End.
Out of the 10 teams, which also included the City of Vancouver, Bike Doctor, and Reckless Bike Stores, only one of the car drivers came close to victory – and he had to share first place with his transit riding colleague, said Emma Cunnington, HUB’s bike to work week manager.
“Biking to work is not only a healthy, enjoyable, and sustainable way to get around cities. As today’s event showed, it is often even more convenient than driving in traffic where you encounter congestion and a frustrating search for parking,”Cunnington said.
“When cities create safe and protected infrastructure for active transportation, it becomes even more convenient to choose healthier ways to travel.”
This year’s spring bike to work week is set to be the biggest yet with more than 75 celebration events being held along major bike routes, at local businesses, and at transit stations – providing people cycling with free coffee, snacks, cycling maps, and bike repairs.
Registration for bike to work week is free, and participants can create teams, map routes, log trips and see their calories burned online as they pedal towards prizes. HUB Cycling will be giving away six brand new bikes and a trip for two to Croatia with Exodus Travels.
Participants are entered into these competitions by logging their bike trips on the HUB Cycling website during the event week of May 29 to June 4.
For the first time ever, HUB Cycling will be kickstarting the week with a free open-air movie screening of E.T. at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza on Saturday, May 27 starting at 8 p.m.
Visit bikehub.ca/btww for more information.