With gas prices on the rise, more and more people are contemplating alternate ways to commute to work, and the humble bicycle is being promoted as a clean choice over gas-guzzling vehicles.
Bike to Work Week, taking place in B.C. from May 30 to June 5, encourages people to embrace cycling to work as a healthy habit - saving money, the environment and toning those calf muscles at the same time. This will be the 17th annual official B.C. Bike to Work Week, with events taking place in 17 communities across the province.
One Squamish business is leading the way, offering the incentive of entering a draw for a three-month pass for clients who cycle to The Yoga Studio during Bike to Work Week.
"Our inspiration is cutting carbon emissions and co-creating a healthy and environmentally sustainable community," said co-owner Lydia Zamorano. "Our home here is on such precious land, and we have some of the best bike trails in the country. It just makes sense to encourage commuting on bicycles. In addition, it feels so wonderful to practice yoga, breathing and meditation after a nice ride outside."
According to celebrated environmentalist David Suzuki, "the bike is still a marvel of ingenuity. In fact, it may well be the most efficient form of transportation yet invented."
Bike to Work Week has helped endorse this sustainable form of transportation within the workforce. Bike to Work B.C. is a non-profit society that hosts the annual event around B.C. to encourage people to use bikes as their primary transportation choice. Office teams and individuals will compete throughout the week for the most mileage completed via bicycle, with prizes awarded to the top businesses and teams.
The provincial government is also chipping in, committing $178,000 to Bike to Work B.C. to promote cycling to work. The investment supports ongoing work to create new, safe and high-quality cycling trails, bike lanes, bike lockers and more, thanks to Bike B.C., a provincial strategy to encourage people to ride bikes, rather than drive cars.
The District of Squamish (DOS) is a keen supporter of Bike to Work Week, Kim Muller, DOS public information clerk, said on Tuesday (May 24). "It is a fantastic initiative that DOS participates in each year," she said, adding that individual departments register as teams and track their progress during the weeklong event.
Said Zamorano, "I live downtown and try to bike everywhere I can... I think Squamish is set up quite nicely for a bike-commuting town."
"The paved walkway that goes under the highway provides a nice access for bikers... on their way from Valleycliffe. Maybe the one-way street coming from Valleycliffe to the underpass could be paved so that it would be safer for people with bicycle child-carriers," she suggested.
Zamorano recommended that Squamish model itself after Copenhagen, Denmark, "and have community rental bikes that are affordable to rent for the day. In Copenhagen everyone cycles - pregnant women, kids and seniors... it is so mainstream," she said.
Identifying the biggest barrier to cycling to work in Squamish, Zamorano said, "Truthfully, I think that the rain is the biggest detriment to commuter bikers, which we can't do anything about... so I think one solution is getting some good rain gear and creating an intention to get on the bike at least three times a week to get to work or run errands," she said. "In addition to feeling great, you will do your part for clean air and save gas money simultaneously."
To find out more on Bike to Work Week, or to register as a team or individual, go to www.biketowork.ca.
