Melanie Godel, left, fills out prize entry forms as Rick Milne prepares to complete his commute at the Bike to Work Week celebration station hosted at the China Steps in downtown Nanaimo May 26.

Melanie Godel, left, fills out prize entry forms as Rick Milne prepares to complete his commute at the Bike to Work Week celebration station hosted at the China Steps in downtown Nanaimo May 26.

Participation nearly doubles for Bike to Work Week

NANAIMO – In 2014, 475 cyclists were involved in event to promote cycling in city.

Organizers are chalking up Bike to Work Week 2014 a big success as rider numbers nearly doubled for this year’s event.

This year, 475 Nanaimo cyclists – an 80 per cent increase over 2013 – pedalled to improve their health, help the environment and see their city from a different vantage point.

All that pedal power burned an estimated 500,000 calories, the equivalent of 1,300 Nanaimo bars. Bike to Work week riders rode more than 17,000 kilometres and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more 3,800 kilograms during this year’s event, which ran from May 26 to June 1.

Twenty-four per cent of participants in 2014 identified themselves as new riders.

For more information, please visit the Nanaimo Bike to Work Week website at www.biketowork.ca/nanaimo.

Nanaimo News Bulletin