Gibsons is the first local government on the Sunshine Coast to proclaim May as Active Transportation Month.
Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC) wants Active Transportation Month to build on the idea of Bike to Work Week.
In a March 19 presentation to Gibsons council, TraC director Dave Hawkins said as well as biking and walking they’ll be encouraging people to take transit, use scooters, or drive an EV.
Hawkins was back in the Gibsons council chamber April 16 to hear the proclamation read by Mayor Bill Beamish. He said the group has now hired a coordinator to help plan and publicize the calendar of events, which will include Bike to Work Week, which takes place across B.C. during the last week of May.
He also said he expects Sechelt Mayor Darnelda Siegers to take up Beamish’s challenge to use an active transportation option to get to and from meetings at the municipal offices. Beamish has pledged to ride his bike.
“Mayor Siegers did read the article (“TraC wants May to be Active Transportation Month,” Coast Reporter March 22), saw the gauntlet that you have thrown down and is prepared to respond,” Hawkins said.
“I did challenge her to a bike race, also, down Cowrie [Street in Sechelt], so we’ll see if that happens,” joked Beamish.
TrAC representatives were also at the April 18 meeting of the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s transportation advisory committee.
Alun Woolliams told the committee that they’ve brought together a 10-person group to work on the event with their coordinator and they’re hoping local governments will help with advertising and promotion.
More information is available at www.transportationchoices.ca.
