As of last Thursday, it’s no longer just the mayors of the Sunshine Coast who are expected to choose alternative transportation this May.
All of the elected officials on the Sunshine Coast are being challenged by Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) chair Lori Pratt to get moving for Active Transportation Month.
Pratt introduced the challenge at last Thursday’s SCRD board meeting, saying she was inspired by Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish’s suggestion to track walking distances. “Let’s be active and let’s be examples. Either examples or horrible warnings,” joked Pratt.
Pratt, who sent the rules to Coast Reporter and circulated the challenge to all governments on the Sunshine Coast the following Monday, dubbed it the “ferry to ferry challenge.”
Politicians have been tasked to track the distance they cover by foot, bus, bike or carpool to work or meetings. The person who covers the most distance – the equivalent of the 80.2-kilometre distance between Earls Cove and Langdale or more – wins the challenge.
Officials can also track other physical activity such as “walking, running, kayaking, swimming and pogo sticking, et cetera,” said Pratt, who will donate one-month SCRD recreation passes as prizes for the winners and for a draw.
“I’m going to try to take the bus here a few times, which is going to be difficult because I’ll have to at least drive to Sechelt and bus maybe in from there,” said the Halfmoon Bay director at Thursday’s meeting.
Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast is the group behind the initiative, which is also behind Bike to Work Week, which runs at the end of May. They have asked local governments to help with promotion.
Last week, the Town of Gibsons declared May as Active Transportation Month and in March, Beamish challenged Sechelt Mayor Darnelda Siegers to use an “active transportation” option. He promised to bike to every council meeting in May.
At Thursday’s SCRD board meeting, Siegers told Beamish, “Yes, I am taking you up on the challenge – I’m getting a hitch put on my car next week and I’m going to have an electric bike for the month.”
– With files from Sean Eckford
