Editor's note: This is part one of a five part series from Coast Reporter and Transportation Choices (TraC) concerning commuter cycling on the Sunshine Coast during the annual Bike To Work Week May 27 to 31.
In 2012, more than 300 Coasters rode their bicycles almost 15,000 km during Bike to Work week putting the Sunshine Coast in fourth place of the 26 participating B.C. communities. That was double the 2011 results.
The event's success spoke volumes to the passion for biking on the Coast. Led by the non-profit society TraC, the event attracted sponsorship from the provincial government, Sunshine Coast Credit Union, Coast Reporter and the Sunshine Coast Regional District. A dozen small businesses from the Coast also provided excellent prizes, cash donations and registered their own staff teams to participate.
Two schools also joined in last year - extending the ridership to hundreds of school students. It was really encouraging to have Rpberts Creek and Gibsons elementary schools get on board - with both staff and students participating.
"The students seemed calmer and more able to focus for longer periods of time, during Bike to School Week," said Gibsons principal Deborah Luporini. "We attributed it to the exertion of energy prior to coming to school and then again at the end of the day."
This year, TraC is hoping that four schools will take part in the inter-school challenge.
"Starting kids early with safety awareness ignites a lifelong love of riding," said Martin Prestage of LIFECycle. "It supports students' confidence to ride to school instead of being dropped off every day by car."
We know biking is excellent for our health. Studies show it also improves the work/school performance relative to non-cyclists. Biking increases community connectivity too. People get out, meet and relate in ways they might not when in vehicles. And it is one easy way to reduce your personal and business transportation emissions and reduce demand on fossil fuels.
"Imagine if more people biked," said Johan Stroman, former community energy manager with the Sunshine Coast Regional District. "Five hundred people riding bikes to work four months of the year could reduce our community emissions by 72 tonnes - that's sizable. It's one piece of the puzzle in conserving energy and addressing climate change."
For free registration to Bike To Work Week go to www.biketowork.ca and click on the tab "Register Team."
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