Bike to Work Week after Week after Week
Wheel Life column - 10 June, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute
|
Bike to Work Week after Week after Week |
|
Although BTWW is officially ending, this can actually be the beginning of a healthy, long-term relationship between you and your trusty two-wheeled buddy. This need not be a boring, monogamous relationship. It can be as kinky as you want. You can alternate biking with other vehicles. If your commute is long, you may develop a three-way relationship with busing or driving (use a bikerack for part of your trip). And nearly everything you do while cycling OCCURS IN PUBLIC VIEW, to titillate any exhibitionist tendencies you may have. Use common sense when choosing a bike as your commuting partner, and wear plenty of protection: helmet, cycling gloves and padded shorts. A little drink for you and some lubrication for the bike helps everything proceed smoothly. And you don't need to limit yourself to serious commuting, try to maintain a balanced relationship that involves some recreational cycling too. Besides plenty of actual cycling, BTWW has also involved a slew of official announcements and events. Some highlights are described below. * * * * * On Monday, Victoria was proclaimed "the cycling capital of Canada," based on a survey showing that 5% of regional commute trips are by bike, more than in any other Canadian city. More than 7,000 people in Greater Victoria are estimated to bicycle for transportation every day. This didn't please officials in Ottawa, who pointed out that they have more bike paths, or in Montreal and Toronto, which Bicycling Magazine rated first and fifth best cities for cycling in North America. Victoria has never been included on Bicycling's list. Which raises an interesting question. Shouldn't we be judged based on what we have actually done to improve cycling conditions, rather than simply relying on the good fortune of favorable climate and demographics? If so, then there is far more to accomplish before we can boast about being the nation's cycling capital. Perhaps, as a start, we could devote 5% or more of all transportation expenditures in the region to bicycle transportation improvements, which would represent a substantial increase over current budgets. * * * * * On Wednesday the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC) asked local police to crack down on bicycle traffic violations. GVCC president John Luton said, "Cyclists are at least as much danger to themselves as are motorists. If we can get more riders complying with traffic laws, cycling will be safer, accident numbers will go down and respect for cyclists will go up." The GVCC wants enforcement to focus on four types of violations:
To insure that cyclists know their responsibilities and rights, the GVCC also announced the release of "Bike Sense: The British Columbia Bicycle Operator's Manual," which answers common question you might have about cycling. It includes chapters on choosing equipment, being visible, traffic skills, safety, bicycle traffic laws, what to do if you have a crash, and where to get more information. The Manual is an attractive and clearly written booklet with excellent illustrations. It is available for free at local libraries, recreation centres and police stations throughout the province. Copies can also be obtained from the GVCC by calling 480-5155 or email bikesense@gvcc.bc.ca. A big congratulations and thanks to writers and artists Sara Stallard, Bo Martin, George Allen, Tom Sutton, Joan McIntosh and Dale Hitchcox for a well done job! * * * * Victoria is not the only city sponsoring events to encourage alternative transportation. Last February 24, Bogota, Columbia sponsored a Car Free Day, during which the city's seven million residents walked, cycled and rode transit to get around. It was successful and highly popular. Surveys afterward showed that 87% of the citizens support the Car Free Day, and 89% reported no transportation problems. Earlier this month the Car Free City organizers won the prestigious Stockholm Challenge Award, which honours innovative solutions to social and environmental problems (http://www.challenge.stockholm.se). For more information on Car Free Days visit http://www.ecoplan.org/carfreeday. * * * * Today, June 10 is Bike to Market Day. The Moss Street and James Bay markets are joining together to provide special activities for cyclists, including a Bike Trivia & Treasure Hunt. Pick up Bike Trivia questions at either market, then cycle or walk your answer to the other market to become eligible for a Raffle Prize Draw. The markets will also have various bicycle services provided by community organizations, as well as a wide selection of tasty bicycle fuel options. * * * * We are pleased to report that the Pacific Wilderness Railway, which took over the E & N railroad line, plans to retro-fit part of a baggage car to carry bikes. They hope to have this service operating by this September. That should make it much easier for cyclists to travel between Victoria and points north on Vancouver Island. |
|
|
Bike to Work Week (BTWW) has
been a tremendous success, thanks to many supporters' hard work and enthusiasm, and no
thanks to the weather. But this proves an important point: if you can bicycle commute on
drizzly weekday mornings and survive to read this column on Saturday, cycling will be easy
when conditions improve.
