Family Cycling
Wheel Life column - 27 May, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

We're certainly not the only family in Victoria who make a habit of cycling for transportation. Here are descriptions of some others we know.

Rosemary Mann and Nedjo Rogers have lived most of their adult lives without a car. They chose a home in James Bay partly because the area is so accessible to nearly everything they need. Rosemary walks and uses transit, while Nedjo prefers to bicycle. Car-free living provides enough savings that they each only need part-time jobs to support their family, a luxury that many over-worked parents would appreciate.

"There's really no down side to bicycling", Nedjo explained as he leaned his bicycle onto a post while delivering their children to school. Three-year-old Charlotte rides with her dad on a bike seat. Until recently, seven-year-old Sasha rode a trail-a-bike attached to his father's bike, an excellent option for children age 4 to 7. He now rides his own bike.

They're not even bothered by cycling in rain. They just turn it into a game instead and become deep sea divers. "Sasha loves it!" Nedjo explained.

Robert Mari and Aida Puim have one car between them, and both work from home. Their recent move to Fairfield from Oak Bay allows Robert to bicycle their daughter, Jazmyn, to school. Robert said, "Cycling is a wonderful byproduct of our move."

Robert, a software consultant and musician, enjoys taking Jazmyn to school by trail-a-bike as well as doing chores around town by bike. When asked what he likes best about cycling, he replied emphatically, "I love not using the car!"

Al and Marne Smickersgill, a two car family, live far from their work and school destinations but are still determined to make cycling a bigger part of their lives. Al parks his car near Mattick's Farm in Saanich and cycles along the scenic Lochside Trail to work in Sydney three days a week. His goal is to bicycle to work more frequently, both for health reasons and to counteract high gas prices.

Riding to work is on the agenda when Bike to Work Week takes-off June 5 through 9. Monday June 5 is Share the Road Race, a friendly contest between drivers and cyclists to see who can get the first cup of hot coffee at the downtown Starbucks (Blanshard and Fort) without violating traffic rules.

The Commuter Challenge, a weeklong competition between workplace teams, rewards companies that get the most commuters cycling. There are three categories, depending on the size of the workplace.

All participants are eligible for prizes, including a new Peugeot Hybrid or a 24 speed mountain bike. The draw for prizes will be held Friday at CFAX On-the-Goose, a live broadcast from 4 to 7 pm with Terry Moore on the Switch Bridge over Highway 1. Local bike shops are also donating bike equipment prizes and will be staffing Bicycle Support Stations along the Galloping Goose all week. For more information, call the hotline at 413-800, or visit http://www.biketoworkvictoria.ca.

But no matter who wins the Bike to Work Week prizes, we'll all be winners when more of us choose to cycle or walk for transportation.