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Bicycle-Friendly Business Profiles
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Have ladder, will pedal
Eric began window washing in Ontario as a summer job to work his way through business school. While travelling across Canada earlier this year, he was inspired to start his one-man pedal powered window washing company in Victoria after witnessing a similar operation. "I can't remember what small town I was in, but I saw a man hauling a ladder behind his bike and thought; Hey, that's a good idea." With a milk crate full of buckets and water bungeed to his bike and a ladder firmly attached to a dolly trailing behind, Eric admits that the makeshift system he uses to haul his gear around is not the most sophisticated, but it gets the job done. "I'm not an engineer so the system is a bit crude, but it works. Right now I'm trying to figure out a safe way to attach wheels to a ladder that is a bit longer so I can do bigger jobs." Eric says that the reaction on the street to his bike-powered business has been positive, especially among business owners. "Many of the more entrepreneurial minded business people I work for really appreciate what I am doing. And the bike is a great conversation starter with people walking by."
With his gear loaded and marketing slogan firmly in place (I'm cheap, but not a
streaker) Eric is hoping to turn his one time summer job into a full time career. "I
like having my own business," he says. "There is a certain amount of freedom that comes
with being your own boss." Right now, most of Eric's business comes from word of mouth
referrals. If you are interested in having Eric stop by and give you a free estimate on
your windows, give him a call at 361-3169. Performance Bicycles It may be a bit of a stretch from radio announcer in Timmins, northern Ontario to a bike shop at Quadra and Reynolds but this is where Wayne Clayton finds fulfillment. He and Pam FitzGibbon, GVCC corporate members, have been running Performance Bicycles since 1985 and don't seem about to quit any time soon, in spite of the punishing hours. Pam moved to Victoria from Penticton to study languages (French and Spanish) at UVic. She is a member of the Saanich Bicycle Advisory Committee. This friendly, welcoming shop caters to all sorts and conditions; from kids, commuters and Sunday cyclists to snazzy racing types. "Every time somebody comes in here and buys a bike, I feel we're doing something really worthwhile" says Wayne. He's also proud of helping some overweight, under-exercised people who haven't ridden in years, rediscover cycling and shape up in the process. "Getting the right fit is very important" adds Pam, "It makes such a difference, we always make sure our customers leave here with a bike that fits their height and reach." Wayne has been closely involved with the South Island Mountain Bike Society in the past, but had to drop out of the executive once running a business started to take more and more of his time. "At one point, I found myself attending eleven meetings a month." He and Pam are proud to have helped create Hartland Mountain Bike Park.
Performance Bicycles is located at 3949 D Quadra, near the intersection of Quadra and
the Galloping Goose. Bringing Home the Broccoli, by Bike - Capers Community Markets
The carts are sturdy but light and have a large bin with a watertight lid that will allow you to get a sizeable quantity of groceries home without the fuss and expense of adding panniers to your bike. Capers wants the trailer back within five days or there will be a rental fee imposed to encourage you to return it promptly for others to use. There is a bike rack directly across the courtyard outside Capers, so you can leave your bike while doing your shopping. Hopefully this is the start of a trend for stores becoming more aware of cycling issues and concerns and we'll see more ways that people can access community resources other than by car. Article by Greg Ruffell For more information on Capers and the WildOats family of markets, go to http://www.alfalfas.com Switchbridge Tours
With a convenient location on Tyee that allows easy access to the Galloping Goose, Sheridan and Gibson are hoping Switch Bridge Tours will attract recreational cyclists. Gibson points out that increased sophistication in bike technology in recent years makes it much easier to attract and cater to recreational riders. Using new Norco hybrid bikes, he stresses features such as shock absorbing saddles and smooth shifting gears which make it possible for recreational cyclists to spend hours on a bike in maximum comfort. While many of their initial clients have been local, Gibson says there is a strong interest among the tourism industry in Victoria for what Switch Bridge Tours has to offer visitors. "Recent surveys say that cycling is ranked as the number one recreational sport for men and number two for women," says Gibson. "Cycling should be a major focus for tourism in Victoria, especially with the Goose right here." In fact, both Sheridan and Gibson say the Goose is one of the major reasons they decided to make a go of Switch Bridge Tours. "It showed a lot of foresight by the government to create the Galloping Goose," says Sheridan, "and without the Goose, a business like Switch Bridge wouldn't be possible." Cyclists and rollerbladers can rent equipment from Switch Bridge Tours, or take part in one of their packaged cycle tours with a CanBike II certified guide. Packages range from the Malahat Adventure, a daytrip on Pacific Wilderness Railway up the Malahat with a cycle around Shawnigan Lake, to a full three-day van-supported Island Explorer package that includes stops at Cobble Hill and Saltspring Island. Anne, a naturalist and photographer, also organizes a one-day Blossom Cycle of Victoria that highlights many of the cities finest gardens. Also in the works is an event called Wheel Fun Days, a co-promotion with a local potter where participants create pottery in the morning and ride in the afternoon. To book a tour or rent a bike or rollerblades you can call 383-1466 or e-mail: switchbridgetours@shaw.com.
Switch Bridge Tours is at 800 Tyee Road, just up from the Selkirk Trestle. The Cycling Horticulturist The truck pulls up and the heavy artillery is rolled out; giant gas-powered lawn mow- ers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, etc., all ready to do battle with Mother Nature. After two years working for one of these outfits, Traviss Corry decided there must be a better way of doing things. So he started his own business and now employs four people in garden design, landscaping, maintenance and organic lawn care. The Cycling Horticulturist and Company use bicycles and customized trailers to transport their modern-design, human-powered tools, making them completely emission and chemical-free. (Rather than herbicides, these gardeners use a device which neatly plucks weeds out of the ground, roots and all). They specialize in native plants and meadowscapes (gardens requiring no fertilizers and minimum care) and have garden maintenance contracts all over the city, from Oak Bay to Colwood. Website: http://bike.to/thecyclinghorticulturistandco Cottage Pirouette Bed and Breakfast
Breakfast is an event at Cottage Pirouette, served in Canadian and Japanese style, on Royal Doulton china featuring a variety of homemade breads and jams. You are welcome to begin your day with a leisurely breakfast on the patio and coffee, tea and fresh home baked cookies are always available in the main dining room. In the other dining room, enjoy the relaxing sounds of the piano and harp. In the evening you can enjoy a barbecue in the backyard or relax in the hot tub. What more could you ask for! Check out Cottage Pirouette on their excellent website for more information and great links to interesting attractions in and around Victoria. By Reuben Hamm
Cottage Pirouette Bed & Breakfast
Oak Bay Beach Hotel & Marine Resort
Other adventure activities include whale watching, rail trips, a day cruise to idyllic Roche Harbour on San Juan Island, hiking tours, golfing on some of the most beautiful courses in North America, gentle kayaking tours by moonlight, sunset dinner cruises, and garden tours - the possibilities are endless. Visitors can custom design a travel package, including accommodation and choice of activities - ensuring the perfect getaway.
Contact the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marine Resort The Cycle Tourism Advisory Committee was launched in the fall of 2000 with a plan to promote our bike-friendly paradise to the world. Committee Chair Brian Hobson, Operations Manager of the hotel and also Chair of Oak Bay Tourism, has a vision to make Greater Victoria a world-renowned cycle tourism destination. The Committee comprises representatives from tourism associations, cycling advocacy groups, bike-related businesses and the hospitality industry. A new website was launched in February: http://www.cyclingvictoria.com - a one-stop resource for tourists interested in how they can incorporate cycling into their vacation. For more information contact: bhobson@islandnet.com or by calling Brian at the hotel: 598-4556.
Pacific Biotechnologies Inc. http://www.prtgroup.com/pbi/
PBI, a Victoria-based biotechnology firm of 20+ employees, realized the importance of
promoting cycling as an alternative mode of commuting to work.
During the winter, cycling was minimal; only the diehards braved the unceasing rain and
darkness. The previous summer, one of the staff was injured in a hit-and-run car-bike
accident. However, as favourable weather approached, and with some encouragement from the cyclists, other staff started to talk about cycling: its benefits and feasibility as a commuting method. One by one, bikes piled up in the entrance hallway. In response,PBI purchased & installed a CORA bike rack, 2 feet from the front door.. Bike To Work Week was a big hit with staff, who formed a team: the 'Evergreen Cyclones' and encouraged each other in their efforts to pedal their way to work. A map of Victoria was posted in the lunch room, with each cyclists route drawn out and travel time by bike-versus-car, noted. This provided a quick & tangible way for everyone to understand and compare the different commuting options Cycling increased four-fold, from 10 to 40%! Most cyclists used the Galloping Goose as part of their route to work, finding it a pleasant and efficient access route.. This is just one example of how a group of people can get together to make their workplace and community better through: reduced pollution and traffic congestion, and greater health and well-being! We at the GVCC take our hats off to PBI for purchasing the bike rack and for being a workplace that promotes cycling. Right on! |
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The next time you spot a well-worn mountain bike dragging a ten-foot ladder down Cook
Street, chances are you're seeing Eric Heide in action. Eric, owner and namesake of
Eric's Window Washing, is one of a growing number of small business owners in Victoria
doing their business by bike. "At the level that I am at, and with the price of gas and
maintenance costs for a car what they are," says Eric, "a bike is certainly more
economical than a car."
Tired of his office job
and wanting to put a bit of fun back into his life, Peter Gibson went in search of a
new career. "I saw people coming off the Goose on bikes and rollerblades with big
smiles on their faces," says Peter, "and I thought, I want to get involved with people
who look like that." So, together with Anne Sheridan, a former whale watching tour
operator, Gibson launched Switch Bridge Tours, a new Victoria tour operation that
caters to cyclists and rollerbladers.
This charming 1930s home is located in
a quiet neighborhood, minutes away from Victoria's Inner Harbour. It is down the street
from (a replica of) Anne Hathaway's Cottage, within easy walking distance of boat
docks, hiking/cycling trails and rock cliffs suitable for climbing. To top it all off,
for cycle tourists, ample garage storage for bikes! Your hosts, Lorraine and Hiroaki,
are genuinely friendly folks who relish the opportunity to make new friends in an
ambience that reminds you of the home to which you always wanted to return! They offer
a good variety of stylish bedrooms, comfortable mattresses (important for active
people) and well equipped bathrooms.
