Transportation

Vancouver’s Record-Breaking Bike to Work Week

By Roy L Hales

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There prize draws, free tune-ups, coffee and snacks at 48 events across Metro Vancouver. More than 6,300 people registered through HUB Cycling’s website, a 47% increase over last year. They logged over 260,000 km, enough to circle the earth 6.5 times! Those are a few of the highlights of Vancouver’s Record-Breaking Bike to Work Week (October 26-November 1).

HUB Bike Shorts features

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The finale, on Sunday, was  HUB Bike Shorts features local and international films about cycling, including winners and finalists in the 2015 VeloBerlin film festival.

“We want to show off some of the compelling stories caught on film from here and abroad,” said Erin O’Melinn, Executive Director at HUB Cycling.

I could not go, but saw several tweets about a youtube video called “Building Workforce Vitality Through Cycling.” This film follows the manager of a VanCity branch from her home in Coal Harbour as she cycles to work on Main Street.

“This video shows how cycling to work supports individual quality of life, health and vitality…and can have the same transformative effect on workplace culture.” – HUB Cycling .

It has the polished “feel” of a commercial, but also excellent shots of the bike route along Vancouver’s waterfront. I like it.

Vancouver’s Record-Breaking Bike to Work Week

In their press release, HUB

“Bike to Work Week welcomes new people to commuter cycling, and we get the most amazing letters with stories of how energized, healthy and happy they feel after having biked to work,” said Laura Jane, Bike to Work Week Program Manager. “We also get a chance to celebrate the growing number of people who keep cycling through the fall and winter months, which are mild and bike-able for most people.”

Fall 2015 Bike to Work Week Organizational Winners:

  • Best in School: Hamber Secondary School
  • Best in Health: Provincial Health Services Authority
  • Best in Business: MEC
  • Best in Not-For-Profit: Science World
  • Best in Higher Education: University of British Columbia
  • Best in Government: City of Vancouver
  • Best in Other: Vancouver Law Courts
  • Best Workplace (1-10 Employees): Climate Smart Businesses Inc.
  • Best Workplace (11-25 Employees): Grin Technologies
  • Best Workplace (26-100 Employees): Pulse Energy and Zaber Technologies (tie)
  • Best Workplace (101-250 Employees): Centre for Hip Health and Mobility
  • Best Workplace (251-500 Employees): Arc’teryx Equipment Inc.
  • Best Workplace (501-1000 Employees): Vancouver Public Library
  • Best Workplace (1000+ Employees): University of British Columbia
Courtesy HUB Cycling
Courtesy HUB Cycling

Jane said the goal is for Bike to Work Week participants to continue to work after the street-side events have ended. “Three quarters of people who hadn’t previously biked to work before our Spring 2015 Bike to Work Week were still cycling at least once a week afterwards,” she said.

“Bikes are a very cost-effective mode of transportation for both individuals and cities. Cycling also has the additional benefit of improving health and fitness, which reduces health care costs,” explained Jane. “We encourage local governments to keep investing in bike infrastructure improvements so people of all ages feel comfortable riding to work or school.”

Cycling In British Columbia

According to stats from HUB, 25% of British Columbians ride bicycles weekly or daily, 42% cycle at least once a month and almost 70% of adults cycle at least once a year.