Consider Biking To Work Or School This Week
Prince George, BC – It is Bike to Work Week across British Columbia and the local coordinator is hopeful some new riders will take on the challenge…
Laura Sapergia is a member of the Prince George Cycling Club's Urban Cycling Coalition and has high hopes for the week ahead. "I'm hoping to see some sun and some lilacs blooming – that's always a really nice part of having Bike to Work Week at the time that we do," she says with a laugh. "It's absolutely gorgeous. But we're really looking foward to seeing a ton of new riders."
As of yesterday afternoon, there were 41 local teams registered, with a total of 299 riders – 88 of which are new to the challenge. While Prince George has participated in BTWW for six years, Sapergia says this is the 5th year the club has hosted the event. She says the provincial BTWW group has a brand new website up-and-running this year that is really user-friendly. "People can register themselves and their teams and log their kilometres on the site. It shows your stats, so you can compare your efforts to other teams, to other cities, all kinds of things like that."
Sapergia says past years have seen as many as 400 riders and 60 teams involved locally. She points out, it's not just for those commuting to work – it's open to students riding to school, home-based business people who cycle for supplies or to a meeting. For more information, or to register, go to www.biketowork.ca/prince-george
An official kick-off goes later this morning, with a breakfast outside City Hall.
Comments
Kudos to the Cycling Coalition. You know, it saddens me to see so many people, younger than me by far, so out of touch with how fun physical activity can be. People, who due to sentient life styles and bad diets at 40 or 50 (younger?) are unable to enjoy their own bodies capabilities any more. I ride a bike and walk as often as I can, and plan on doing so until I can’t manage it. Getting on a bike brings a smile to my face and lets loose a bit of the inner child we all have, if we choose to admit it!
When I lived in the lower mainland I pedaled to and from work daily; regardless of the weather. It was about 20km each way and was actually quicker then transit. While not as quick as driving it was a heck of a lot more relaxing. It was a great way to relieve stress on the way home. Instead of sitting in traffic fuming about the day’s events I was getting fresh air and exercise.
Now that I live less then a minute’s walk from the office I get my cycling kicks with the kids after school!
Fresh air in lower mainland traffic? In any traffic for that matter.
Posted by: seamut on May 26 2014 10:11 AM
Fresh air in lower mainland traffic? In any traffic for that matter.
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What traffic? Just gotta learn to pick your routes properly.
excusemebut, I totally agree. I had been riding a 20 year old mountain bike for years and about 4 years back I put out a few hundred bucks and bought a nice hybrid bike for commuting from a local bike shop who helped fit me exactly to the bike. That first ride home was a revelation! I hadn’t felt that way since I was a kid ripping around on my bmx. Biking is fun, it’s easy, and it’s affordable. I’ve decided to spend more because I commute with the bike more than I do with the car, and like anything else, you get what you pay for. I feel great when i get to work, regardless of weather, and even better when I get home (all uphill). PG can be a challenging place to ride, but it’s getting better every year as more and more people get out there.
Biking to work or “school” this week? Bad week to announce riding yer bike to school. Work? That’s another story. Keep working to pay taxes. Gas taxes collected may go down but it all balances out. Just wear yer helmet and watch out for semis.
Opposite folks in China. They have millions of bike riders there and since their standard of living is going up many will be able to forgo bikes and buy a car. Here in “the west” we are ridding ourselves of cars and riding bikes. Go figure, eh?
mikmak….it is fun isn’t it, good on you. I bought a moderately priced hybrid as well, I have been riding it for a few years now with nothing to maintain but a few tires, and a bit of cleaning. The technology is great, they shift like a dream. Harbinger…that is happening in India as well, but I read as well that China has vowed to take millions of older cars off of the road shortly due to air pollution standards. Cars will become more and more restricted and expensive perhaps?
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