Gear up for a car-free commute as District of Squamish celebrates Annual Bike to Work / School Week

Fasten your helmets and leave your car keys behind – the District of Squamish is gearing up for Bike to Work / School Week, May 29 to June 4, 2017. The annual week-long campaign encourages residents of all ages to commute by bike to school or the workplace with the goal of converting your drive to a ride on a regular ongoing basis.

“We are fortunate to live in a bike-friendly community with safe and accessible trails and commuter routes,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “When we bike to work, we support a healthier, more active lifestyle, and we reduce our carbon emissions.”

Residents are invited to participate in the following Bike to Work / School Week activities: 

• Monday Morning Group Ride:Kick off Bike to Work Week with a group ride departing from the following meeting locations:
  • Republic Cycles – Departs 7:30 a.m.
  • Tantalus Bike Shop – Departs 7:40 a.m.
  • Government Road at North Side of Mamquam Bridge – Departs at 7:40 a.m.
  • Squamish Adventure Centre – Departs 7:50 a.m.
  • Valleycliffe (Guilford Drive and Clarke Drive) – Departs 7:50 a.m.

Groups will finish at Corsa Cycles in Downtown Squamish where they will be treated to coffee, snacks and a bike mechanic to give your ride a check. Monday, May 29 approximately 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

• Wednesday Afternoon Celebration Station: Ride by the community garden and bike path at the intersection of Mamquam Road and Highway 99 for a snack break courtesy of Nesters Market Squamish. Wednesday, May 31 between 4 and 6 p.m.

• Local Business Competition: Earn most bike-friendly business bragging rights! The District of Squamish is giving away four bike racks to the businesses with the most logged kilometres per capita during Bike to Work Week. Enter a team of colleagues and log your kilometres for a chance to win! Contest runs May 29 to June 4.Visit https://www.biketowork.ca/registration to register.

• Social Media Competition: Is your workplace bike rack overflowing? Tag your #Squamishbikerack photos and tell us how your workplace would benefit from a new bike rack for your chance to win one, courtesy of the District of Squamish.

• Bike Drive: Donate your used kids to adult-sized bike requiring little to no maintenance and help us get more people on bikes! Your bike will support the Squamish Helping Hands Society and HASTe BC (Hub for Active School Travel) bike program that provides working bikes to local school students. Donations will be accepted at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre Arena on Saturday, June 3 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Bike to Work / School Week is also an opportunity to check the safety of your bike and to ensure your workplace has safe bike storage options for staff. For more information about Bike to Work / School Week visit http://www.biketowork.ca/squamish.

May 27, 2017