Tag Archives: e-bikes

Four Years Later: DIY E-trike Meets Builder’s Needs

In 2019 and 2020, Cortes Currents ran a series of articles about e-bikes on the island, interviewing owners about the pros and cons of their electric-assisted rides. One of the featured bikes was quite unusual: an electric sidecar cargo trike, designed and built by local resident Gabriel Dinim.

It’s now four years later, and Currents checked in with Gabriel about his DIY personal EV. It has been his primary transportation for the last four years, and he’s quite satisfied. We asked him whether he’s ever found the trike inadequate and needed to borrow a car:

The only time I’ve borrowed a car, was when I had to go to the clinic for early blood work and they had to measure the cortisol — and I didn’t want to arrive there all stressed out from riding. And it was cold — so I borrowed a car to do that. Aside from that, No…

I mean, I did borrow a car sometimes to move firewood around — which I could do with the bike, but it takes so many trips, you know. I can put 80, 90 pounds of firewood in the bike. But it’s so much easier to borrow a van and put a thousand pounds of firewood in it and just transport it.

Otherwise, yes, it’s met all of my needs. In the winter, too, I’ve ridden in two, three below zero. Just long johns, wool pants — just lots of gear.

Continue reading Four Years Later: DIY E-trike Meets Builder’s Needs

Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast applauds BC legislation for safer driving rules

Editor’s Note: 13 of the 92 respondents to the SRD study CORTES ISLAND ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS REPORT (2022) stated bicycles were their principal mode of transportation. During 2021, there were a number of reports of cars passing cyclists without due care on Cortes Island. The idea of building bike lanes on Cortes periodically comes up. During the 2018 election, George Sirk suggested, “They could use Ministry of Transportation right of ways and fund the program with revenues from the Gas Tax. There are inexpensive routes between Manson’s Landing and Smelt Bay, in Whaletown between Robertson Road and the ferry, and between Squirrel Cove and Tork Road.”

In a recent interview Quadra Island’s Director, Robyn Mawhinney, told Cortes Currents, ” … There’s a lot more commuting that’s been happening by bike and electric bike, and it would be really nice to support those alternate methods of transportation with safer lanes on the sides of roads.” 

There is an extensive network of bike paths and dedicated bike lanes in Campbell River. One of the city’s goals is to increase the number of trips taken by bike to 5% by 2036. So far, 438 people have signed up for the city’s Spring GoByBike Week: June 3rd to 9th, 2024.

By Jordan Copp, Coast Reporter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Sunshine Coast active transportation group is applauding BC legislation that imposes new safe driving distance rules for drivers passing vulnerable road users. 

Several updates to the Motor Vehicle Act aimed at enhancing safety for cyclists and pedestrians were announced on April 4.

The predominant change is that the distance drivers must maintain when passing cyclists and other vulnerable road users has increased to 1.5 metres from one metre on highways with a posted speed limit above 50 km/h.

Continue reading Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast applauds BC legislation for safer driving rules

Electric Is Better – Even On A Remote Island

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on April 14, 2019. At least one more EV has come to Cortes since then, possibly more. BC’s EV infrastructure has grown (The Plugshare map shows 18 EV charging stations in Campbell River, 2 on Quadra and 1 on Cortes Island) and the latest EVs have an average range of 468 km per charge.

British Columbia’s EV tipping point may be closer than you think. When you factor in the cost of gasoline, the average electric vehicle is already substantially less expensive that a gas car. Level three charging stations, capable of delivering an 80% charge in 30 minutes, are creeping up the east coast of Vancouver Island, BC. There are now seven stations along the coastal route between Sidney and Campbell River and sixteen in the Greater Victoria area. (In addition, there is a Tesla Fast charging station in Nanaimo and another planned for Campbell River.) Now even people in remote locations like Cortes Island are going electric. On Saturday, April 12, 2019, three of the island’s six (and counting) E-car owners explained why electric is better — even on a remote island. 

Continue reading Electric Is Better – Even On A Remote Island

Kate Maddigan, CCEDA’s new Economic Development Officer

The Cortes Community Economic Development Association (CCEDA) recently hired Kate Maddigan as its new Economic Development Officer (EDO). 

Colin Funk, the President of CCEDA, explained, “I have known Kate pretty much the entire time I’ve been on Cortes, I think I’m coming up to my 10th summer here. I’ve been on a few boards with her when I was active with Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI). We live pretty close together in the south end of the island. So like many, we bump into each other at the store or on the trails and such.”

Cortes Currents asked Maddigan about some of the work she has done in the community.

Continue reading Kate Maddigan, CCEDA’s new Economic Development Officer

How did you celebrate Earth Day?

Squirrel Cove resident Nancy Beach sent in these pictures of her husband Loyd on his electric trike, with the notation, “Happy belated Canada…. er…. Earth Day. Supporting Cortes Forest, B.C. Old Growth, the Canadian & U.S. Constitutions, Human Rights, Nature, Beyond War, Divine inspiration, Fun in the sun, singin’, dancin’ & on & on ……..  “

Continue reading How did you celebrate Earth Day?