Biking to work is faster than driving according to the 2015 Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge. Twenty cyclist/driver teams put their wheels to the test seeing who – following all of the rules of the road and parking legally – could get to the downtown Victoria finish line first on May 20.
Of the 20 teams, 14 cyclists beat their motorist by one to 10 minutes, with an average commute time of 18 minutes. Two teams were tied. Teams began from their own starting points, including: Esquimalt, Saanich, Victoria, Colwood, Langford, View Royal, Cadboro Bay and Oak Bay, ending at the Starbucks on Fort and Blanshard streets.
For the most part, cyclists travelling from the further reaches of the community still beat their car-counterparts. Cyclists travelling from Colwood, Langford and View Royal had an average commute time of 28 minutes.
The commuter challenge was a prelude to the 21st annual Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week that kicked off Monday. In a recent survey, 90 per cent of respondents who started biking to work during Bike to Work Week are still riding today. Workplace teams can still register online until May 31 at www.biketowork.ca/victoria.
Sportsview lounge offered a reprieve
The recreation commission maintains that Sportsview Lounge and Grill will continue as usual.
Closure during the slowest months, utilization of that space to add revenue through summer camps and hosting additional cultural events culminated in the eatery at Oak Bay Rec meeting its budget for the first time in years. Though that budget is set at a loss.
Those efforts, combined with the expected addition of ‘culture’ to the parks and recreation mandate, as well as costly estimates to renovate the space, add up to a reprieve for next year. Sportsview closes at the end of the month and reopens in September.
Oak Bay sets out to bond with neighbours
Oak Bay now has a First Nations Task Force “to work with the CAO to continue in a direction set out in the OCP in building bridges with First Nation partners,” said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen.
Three council members serve on the task force, councillors Tara Ney, Eric Zhelka and Tom Croft.
Little works, big results
The Avenue Gallery proved even small things can make a big difference. The popular Oak Bay gallery hosted a special exhibition and sale, A Little Something … in May, with partial proceeds going to Victoria Hospice. The event resulted in a donation of over $2,700 from the gallery and artists.
Walk for dog guides
The Purina Walk for Dog Guides is celebrating 30 years of supporting Canadians with physical and medical disabilities, and Victoria is hosting one of more than 200 walks taking place across the country this spring.
The annual event raises funds for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, a national charitable organization which breeds, trains and places service dogs with qualifying applicants.
The Victoria walk is Sunday (May 31) at Ogden Point. Registration and sign-in begins at 9:30 a.m. To register or donate, please go online to purinawalkfordogguides.com.
