The BC Legislature grounds were flooded with cyclists, motorists and onlookers for a race between bicycles and vehicles held to advocate for Capital Bike’s 30th annual ‘Go By Bike Week.’
The commuter challenge has been held almost every year since Go By Bike Week was launched in an effort to demonstrate the benefits of cycling to work rather than driving.
In this year’s event, 20 teams of two—one being a cyclist and the other being a driver—raced from various locations throughout Greater Victoria to the BC Legislature grounds.
According to the results of the race, 86% of the cyclists beat their motorist counterpart, with the three winning motorists having been from teams commuting from the West Shore.
Several city officials and politicians from throughout the region took part in the race, including Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto, Victoria Councillor Matt Dell, Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock, Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill Grace Lore and many more also attended.
Also taking part were representatives of organizations such as Saanich Police, SD61, Camosun College, Victoria Pride Society and more.
“This is a fantastic morning and I had the honour of racing my MLA, Grace Lore, from her home in Fernwood,” said Mayor Alto.
“I of course went in that gas-guzzling vehicle which is a bit embarrassing but there you go, and of course Grace beat me, naturally, which is the whole point of this today.”
She continued by saying that this event and the fact that Lore won is just another example of why cycling in Victoria is “absolutely the way to go for the future.”
Alto spoke to the fact that Victoria has been working with Capital Bike to ramp up its cycling network and create more safe routes for cyclists to comfortably commute to work and leave their vehicles at home.
“I’m not a cyclist by nature because I don’t cycle regularly but I’ve supported every single decision we’ve made in the last 10 years about biking because it’s the right thing to do,” Mayor Alto said.
“We know the future of the city is not in single occupancy vehicles.”
(More below)
30th annual Go By Bike Week
Go By BIke Week happens tri-annually every year to advocate for having people ride their bikes to work instead of driving and this is the 30th year of its existence since it was started by John Luton.
The Commuter Challenge has served the purpose of being the event which starts the three week countdown to Go By Bike Week which goes from June 3rd to June 9th.
During that week, Capital Bike sets up stations across the city to hand out free goods to cyclists and those using other forms of active transportation.
Participants in Go By Bike Week are encouraged to log their bike commutes online in order to win prizes which include bikes, e-bikes and more.
In total, the prizes are valued at around $25,000.
Additionally, during Go By Bike Week, those who are cycling about town will receive 10% off at Working Culture Bread if they arrive by bike and BC Transit will allow cyclists to ride for free all week long.
If you’ve never participated in Go By Bike Week before, it is a great way of getting you to where you need to go while simultaneously improving your mental and physical health.
