Revelstoke Bike to Work Week 2011 takes place from May 30 to June 5. This is the final article in a series by committee member Alex Cooper. This week’s article is a primer to Bike to Work Week.
Welcome to the third annual Revelstoke Bike to Work Week.
The goal of Bike to Work Week is in the name to encourage people to leave their cars at home and bike to their workplace. Last year 310 people on 46 teams took part in Bike to Work Week. Together, they cycled a total of 7,813 kilometres, burned more than 145,00 calories and helped off-set about 1,813 kilograms of carbon emissions.
Why bike to work? For one, it’s healthy. For another, it’s good exercise. It’s also more social than driving. Lastly, it’s better for the environment as cycling produces no carbon emissions.
What’s in store for this week?
On Saturday is the car/bike commuter challenge. This year, two routes have been set up and one car and cyclist will race along each route, making five stops along the way. At each stop, they will pick up a tag and the first person to make it to Grizzly Plaza with all five tags wins.
The goal is to show that riding a bicycle can be just as fast, if not faster, than driving a car. The race starts at the community centre at 10 a.m. and is expected to wind up at the farmers market about 30 minutes later.
Once the race is up, the North Columbia Environmnental Society will arrive at the plaza with the winners of the Great Bike Giveaway.
Monday, May 30, is the official start of Bike to Work Week. To help people out, celebration stations will be set up at Grizzly Plaza and at Queen Victoria Hospital from 6:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Coffee, muffins and fresh fruit will be served and Flowt Bikes will be on hand to provide free tune-ups.
Bike to Work Week runs until June 5. Right now the long term forecast is calling for warm weather and mostly sunny skies. Lets hope that holds up.
After it’s done, we’ll be holding our prize draw. There are prizes for team leaders, for the most kilometres biked by a team and individual, the most days bikes, the highest percentage of participants from a workplace and more. The grand prize is a free bike from Specialized.
If you haven’t started a workplace team yet, it’s not too late. Simply visit www.biketowork.ca/revelstoke, create an account and then get your team registered.
Once that’s done, go see Suzanne at the community centre or Brendan at Flowt Bikes for your team leader package. After that, its a matter of getting your colleagues on board and on their bicycles. Hopefully a few of them will take up biking to work permanently.
As well, team leaders are eligible for special draw prizes and they get a free T-shirt.
Hope to see you out there on your bicycle!
