Wow! Almost a month since my last post, unfortunately the end of the ski season, preparations for a new fiscal year and, most importantly mountain biking have kept me pretty well tied up over these past 4 weeks. But here I am.
Today was the first day of the first annual Greater Vancouver Bike to Work Week. It was also the first day in a long time that I managed to pedal my butt the whole way from my home in Hastings-Sunrise to my work at Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver (I have ridden part way there and all the way home several times). I've been dreading this almost 18 km (mostly uphill) trek for weeks but, now that its been done I've got to say that it mostly wasn't that bad. Besides whats uphill one way is all downhill the other right? (hopefully I still feel this way tomorrow morning).
The Greater Vancouver Bike to Work Week event has been modelled after a similar event, now in its 12th year in Victoria. Sponsored by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition, Bike to Work Week is a fun event designed to create friendly competition between organizations and individuals to get people onto their bikes as a healthy alternative for commuting to work. According to the VACC, some of the most important reasons for biking to work is that it allows us to:
1. Get out of traffic.
2. Get healthy. Cycling to work allows us to use our commute as a part of an exercise routine.
3. Cut down on our personal greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Engage our communities, meet our neighbours, breath some fresh air and enjoy the beauty of our landscape.
During Bike to Work Week the VACC and local businesses, municipalities and volunteers will be hosting commuter stations throughout the GVRD. These are essentially gathering places for cyclists that offer up free refreshments, mechanical expertise and opportunities to win prizes. For more information on Bike to Work Week, the VACC, the location of commuter stations and cycling in the community go to http://www.vacc.bc.ca/ . Its not too late to get involved and keep in mind that Bike to Work Week also marks the beginning of Bike Month, another reason to keep the car parked for a while.
One note of concern regarding many of the fellow cyclists that I encountered on my ride this morning... we're an awfully serious bunch aren't we? Not a smile or a wave from a single person that I met and I just can't understand why everyone seemed so serious on such a fantastic day. Cheer up everyone, just think of all the great things that you are doing for yourself and our environment!
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