B.C.’s Bike to Work Week kicks off in Victoria
The 17th Annual Bike to Work Week in B.C. opened with bikes vs. car races in Victoria on Wednesday
Canada’s various bike to work days and weeks during the spring and summer got a unique twist Wednesday on the West Coast . B.C.’s 17th annual Bike to Work Week – May 30 to June 5 – kicked off early in the provincial capital of Victoria with Commuter Challenge races between cyclists and car drivers on May 25th. The cyclists prevailed.
It’s all part a sustained effort to show that cycling is a safe, healthy, fun and efficient alternative to car transportation. Bike to Work B.C.’s goal is to make cycling a mainstream commuting choice all across Canada, including the specific objectives of not only increasing participation during the designated week but also “boost(ing) the commuter cycling modal split to 15% by 2015.”
With city and town infrastructures changing to reflect a growing community of dedicated cyclists and an increase in commuting-specific bicycles and equipment like panniers from the bike companies, the Victoria organization has every reason to be optimistic it can reach its goals. One of the greatest challenges to prolonged bicycle commuting is the Canadian winter.
The League of American Bicyclists started the first Bike to Work Day in 1956; it became part of Bike to Work Week which, in turn, is a component of National Bike Month in the United States.
