The Sunshine Coast's Slow Food Cycle is gearing up for its third annual ride on July 27, with organizers expanding capacity to accommodate 550 cyclists set to explore local farms and food producers.
Inspired by Pemberton's successful 18-year-old cycling event, the Gibsons version has grown rapidly since it started.
What began with 250 riders in year one doubled to 500 last year, selling out completely.
"Our goal is to support the local food ecosystem and get people exposure to the people that actually grow the food around here," explained Heather Anderson, a director at Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC), the advocacy group behind the event.
Anderson said the route will feature returning favourites like Gibsons Farm and Grounded Acres Organic Farm, plus exciting additions including The Butcher on Venture Way and the return of Shady Hazel Farm after a year's absence.
A major draw continues to be the farm tours, where riders can go behind the scenes at participating farms. Anderson said Grounded Acres offers insights into local water challenges, while Gibsons Farm showcases their animals and children's programs.
New this year are tours at Persephone Brewing and The Hideaway Homestead, where firefighter and farmer Dan Stein raises animals and demonstrates the full farm-to-table cycle.
Safety remains the top priority for organizers, Anderson emphasized this is not a closed course. Professional traffic management services will assist with highway crossings and the busy Persephone intersection, especially during ferry arrivals.
“We can't close the roads in Gibsons in the same way that you can on a singular road in a rural community, we have to make sure that we're not introducing hazards for our riders or for vehicle traffic,” she said.
The day concludes with a celebration at Persephone featuring live music from 4 to 7 p.m.
Registration is currently at 40 per cent capacity, with spots still available. Anderson said they typically see the largest registration surge in the last three weeks before the event and that about a quarter of the riders come from Vancouver.
Anderson shared that for many participants, the event is their only chance to cycle alongside hundreds of others in a safer environment, creating a unique community experience.
Registration and more information about the event can be found on TraC’s website.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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