Cycle Therapy - GVCC - Winter 2014 by First Choice Books

Cycle Therapy Pedaling the Economy retail sales up street injuries down happiness rises

20184 r e . 12

City of Victoria Bike Master Plan

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winter 2013 no 128winter 2013 no 128

Cycle Therapy Published by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition PO Box 8586, Stn Central Victoria, BC, V8W 3S2 The GVCC’s purpose is to get more people cycling more places more often in Greater Victoria by: • Improving cycling education and making it universal for cyclists, motorists, and others dealing with bicycling • Facilitating communication between cyclists, business, government, and other community groups • Improving facilities and infrastructure for bicycle use • Improving the legal climate for cyclists • Encouraging more people to ride bicycles more often • Developing a cycling information base To contribute to Cycle Therapy, please email: cycletherapy@gvcc.bc.ca Submissions are greatly encouraged. Still, we reserve the right to edit copy in the interest of clarity or where necessary. The views expressed in Cycle Therapy are not necessarily those of the GVCC. All articles, photos and graphics published in Cycle Therapy remain the intellectual property of the authors and artists. Visit our website: gvcc.bc.ca facebook.com/GVCCbc twitter.com/gvcc Editorial Collective: Kate Berniaz, Michael Fisher, Olena Russell Editors: Kate Berniaz, Olena Russell Designer: Ryan Mijker Contributors: Kate Berniaz, Michael Fisher, Darren Marr, Ryan Mijker, Ed Pullman, Ray Straatsma, Oliver Terry, Tony Webster, Celina O’C onnor Distribution: Brenda Boyd Bike Couriers: Brenda Boyd, Barry Edmonson, Forrest Nelson, John Perry GVCC Board of Directors President: Edward Pullman Vice-president: Ray Straatsma Treasurer: Kathleen Fraser Secretary: Brenda Boyd Director: Michael Fisher Director: Darren Marr Director: Celina O’Connor Director: Karen Quine Director: Bharat Chandramouli Director: Mike Russell Director: Jeremy Loveday Printed by First Choice Books & Victoria Bindery The GVCC is a proud member of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition.

2 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

There is a growing market in North America for all things bike related. This means bikes, accessories, and clothing for touring, recreation and transportation. Locally, this means a variety of bike shops (I counted over 20 at first glance) and related businesses, including outdoor shops to craft fairs and pop up shops that are selling the essentials and not so essential. And the demand keeps growing as more people realize the convenience and joy of biking. The business opportunities are not just for bike shops, but all businesses that can welcome people on bikes who shop. In this issue, Michael Fisher explores how Uptown is welcoming people on their bikes to their new development. Ray Straatsma provides an update to GVCC’s exciting initiative ‘Bikes Mean Business,’ which is exploring how people are travelling around Victoria to shop. Elsewhere in this issue, it was a busy fall of bike events in Victoria. A range of people reported back from Tour de Victoria, Bike to Work Day and the Tweed Ride. It was also AGM season with summaries of the events of the GVCC AGM (Welcome new Board members!) and the British Columbia Cycling Coalition AGM and conference.

Editor’s Message

The shortest day of the year has passed and once again cyclists can look forward to more light and more cycling. Happy new year and happy cycling.

Kate Berniaz There are many local cycling initatives that need your input. The City of Victoria is updating their Bicycle Master Plan. The GVCC held a very successful workshop that is summarized in this issue. As well, Rockland Ave at Cook St is being closed to cars, but made safer and more enjoyable for bikes. Finally, the consultation for the creation Dallas Road Bike Path (in conjunction with the new sewer force main) has just begun. There are some recent changes at the CT Collective. Felicity Perryman, who raised the profile of this magazine with her phenomenal design skills, is pursuing other passions. Felicity- Thank you for all your hard work that made such a beautiful magazine. Olena Russell is also leaving the Collective. In the future, we still hope to hear her perspective on being part of a car-free family through periodic articles.

@GVCC new at the greater victoria cycling coalition •

•

Moved forward with our Bikes Means Business grants and began distributing surveys

•

Met with Mayor Dean Fortin and the city’s Cycling Task Force team several times to discuss project charter, Bike Master Plan targets and goals, options for funding, and project priorities

•

Released new issue of Cycle Therapy

•

Attended Shelbourne Valley Corridor Open Houses

•

Held successful AGM and welcomed four new Board members and six returning members

•

Attended the speed reduction workshop hosted by Councillors Gudgeon and Isitt

•

Revised the committee structure to streamline committees and encourage participation

Hosted Theme Rides: Christmas Lights Ride, Historical Tour, Architectural Tour, and Sculptures Tour

•

Hosted cycling consultation workshops to discuss network, design, education and evaluation of biking in Victoria

Attended the Flight Path opening of their new $4.2 million dollar, 10 km trail that circumnavigates the airport

•

Participated in the planning of a sustainable transportation expo

Hosted a cyclists lounge at Cenote to connect cyclists in Victoria.

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Participated in Bike to Work Day

Cycle Therapy winter 2014 3

President’s Message

by Edward Pullman

bike, walk and transit: for downtown Parking in downtown Victoria is a nightmare. Bike parking, that is. Well, it’s more of an inconvenience. Usually I find that bike parking is abundant and available. Other times, not so much. Hence the inconvenience of having to walk half a block from my locked bike to my desired destination. But downtown car parking, I am told, is a nightmare. It is too expensive. Commissionaires are ruthless in handing out tickets, scaring motorists away. If only the city would fix the parking problem in downtown Victoria, people would start coming downtown again. I can’t help but feel the need to put some perspective on these statements. Victoria’s downtown is the downtown core for the 350,000 odd residents that live in the Capital Regional District (CRD). Many travel there from within and outside Victoria for work, to shop, run errands, see friends, dine out…you get the point. If all those people chose to drive, congestion and parking would be a nightmare. Instead, we charge for parking, recognizing that parking is never “free.” From the explicit costs of constructing and maintaining parkades, to the hidden costs of productivity losses due to congestion and increased health

4 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

costs from people driving too much, to the opportunity costs of not being able to use the 11 000 parking spaces in downtown Victoria for things like housing, there is always a cost to driving and parking. Downtown Victoria will never be able to offer cheap and plentiful parking like other areas of the CRD, so why not, using the language of my economics 101 class, look at where we have a comparative advantage in transportation options and focus on improving those options. Looking at the transportation mode share breakdown, it’s pretty clear where we lead relative to the rest of the CRD: walking, public transit and, yes, cycling. Rather than fighting a losing battle to entice car drivers to come downtown and shop when they can just as easily drive and get free parking elsewhere, why not entice the more than 80,000 people who live within the 5km radius of Victoria to come downtown via bus, bike or foot with bigger sidewalks, more bus service, separated bike lanes and the like? Reducing car travel is in everyone’s interests, including drivers. It frees up road space and reduces congestion, offers better health outcomes for those who choose to use active modes of transportation, and reduces downstream costs like parking. The first step to achieving this is better options for non-car users, something the GVCC works hard to advocate for.

Bike to Work Day participants queue up for a snack from Cobs (photo: Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society)

Bike to Work Day

October 2 2013

October 2nd started off like any regular workday – a 7am alarm clock awakening followed by the sleepy morning ritual of breakfast and gearing up for the 5km bike ride to work. It being October, it was, as any Coastal BC resident learns to expect, raining out. This was no pitter-patter sprinkling, mind you, this was a pelting and unforgiving, flood the storm drains kind of downpour. Donning my waterproof suit of armour, I set out to brave the deluge and 8 to 4 workday ahead. Ten minutes later, I am at work. When I open the door, I am startled by cheering, applause, and hastened offerings of hot coffee and carrot-walnut loaf. It takes me a moment to realize that in my rushed grogginess, I had completely forgotten that it was Bike to Work (BTW) Day. I cheerfully accept the treats and accolades, feeling thankful for my workplace’s (tasty) support of green transportation choices. BTW Day is one of the many events organized by The Greater Victoria Bike to Work

Bike to Work Day booth (photo: GVBTWS)

by Celina O’Connor

Society (GVBTWS). Its other flagship event – Bike to Work Week – occurs in late spring and has been going strong in Victoria for the past 19 years. The GVBTWS estimates that participants cycled a total of 309,600 kilometres during this year’s BTW Week, for a total reduction of 71,827 kilograms in greenhouse gas emissions. BTW Day serves as a friendly fall nudge to keep the cycling momentum going throughout the year. Despite the rain, 69 people cycled to my workplace on BTW Day this year and 26 received prizes donated by 13 local businesses. 250 cyclists from across Victoria also attended BTW Day celebration stations where participants enjoyed free hot beverages and baked goods, technical bike assistance, and the chance to get caught up on the latest cycling news at the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition’s information booth. Theresa Gulliver, Program Manager/Event Coordinator for the GVBTWS, is especially fond of the celebratory spirit of BTW Day. In her opinion, “seeing cyclists’ smiling faces, rain or shine, as they arrive at celebration sta-

tions beaming from their ride is the best part about Bike to Work Day.” And for those of you looking to promote cycle commuting at your workplace, Theresa has two suggestions: “The best way that workplaces can support biking to work is to provide secure bike facilities and to identify a champion to be a Bike to Work team leader” says Gulliver. Victoria employers, pay heed: something as simple as providing a secure bike cage and/or incentivizing staff to participate in BTW Day/Week can do wonders to promote bike commuting to and from your workplace. Chances are your staff will be happier for it too. Personally, knowing that I can securely store my bike and take a hot shower at work encourages me to get on my bike and brave the elements year-round. The occasional offering of cookies and door prizes to congratulate me for biking to the office certainly doesn’t hurt either. Celina O’Connor is a Victoria-based, full-time commuter cyclist with an affinity for homemade Sunday brunch, secret swimming spots, and any excuse to go camping. Cycle Therapy winter 2014 5

GVCC and BCCC Annual General Meetings by Ray Straatsma and Kate Berniaz The GVCC’s AGM was held on October 16 at the Selkirk Montessori School. In addition to meeting the statutory requirements, the AGM included updates on the year’s activities, the election of new Board members, and a guest speaker. As well, the Board used the meeting as an opportunity to canvass members about what infrastructure improvements they wanted to see in Victoria, including routes and spot improvements. The Board was excited to welcome four new members. Their profiles are on page 7. Erin O’Melinn, the Executive Director for HUB- Your Cycling Connection (formerly the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition) was the guest speaker for the evening. She gave an introduction to the organization and spoke about their current projects, especially their business program. HUB has undertaken extensive outreach to businesses, particularly in relation to the separated bike lanes in downtown Vancouver. Through building relationships with the business community, HUB has gained an important ally in getting more and better cycling facilities in Vancouver. The British Columbia Cycling Coalitiona (BCCC) held their AGM and 2nd annual conference in Burnaby, October 25-27, 2013 (the first was held in Victoria last fall). The BCCC supports and represents local cycling organizations across BC and helps address cycling issues at the provincial level. The conference attracted representatives of cycling groups from Kelowna, Prince George, Comox as well as groups such as Trails BC and HASTE. Both Ray Straatsma and Edward Pullman attended on behalf of the GVCC. Panels and speakers addressed strategic issues, cycling education and shared programming ideas and organizational challenges. This year’s conference featured an ongoing Twitter feed and live streaming video of most sessions. Ray Straatsma was elected to the BCCC Board along with seven new representatives. We expect continued collaboration with the BCCC on both the local and provincial cycling scene.

Consider a Membership with the BC Cycling Coalition! http://bccc.bc.ca/join/ 6 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

Arbutus Cove Guest House The perfect overnight bike getaway from Victoria and surrounding communities. Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront boutique guest house located on the Galloping Goose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria on the Sooke Basin, a 3 hour ride. 3 private deluxe rooms, each with their own entrances, queen beds and full bathrooms share a huge waterfront deck with hot tub await the cycling visitor. A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile Pub for supper and a breakfast is served before your departure. June 15 - Sept. 14 $150 ( for 2) Sept. 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2) Reservations: www.arbutuscoveguesthouse.com

New GVCC Board Members Celina O’Connor Hello cycling friends! My name’s Celina and I’ve been a commuter cyclist for the past 10 years. I first started road cycling on the busy streets of Montreal and have been wheeling my way around the corridors of Victoria since 2007. I felt inspired to join the GVCC Board of Directors because I am already an unapologetic cycling evangelist in my day-to-day life. I am convinced that biking is bar none one of the most sustainable, healthy, affordable, convenient, and fun ways to get around and never shy away from spreading the good word to friends and new acquaintances. Joining the GVCC Board seemed like the logical next step in my efforts to help spread awareness, appreciation, and access to one of the greatest forms of transportation around. Happy riding, folks – I look forward to seeing you out there.

Bharat Chandramouli I am an environmental scientist and avid bike and transit user who is passionate about building a bike/transit first transport infrastructure. I wants to work toward mitigating Greater Victoria’s climate change contribution and improving quality of life. I am a part of the GVCC to bring my skills and energy to making Victoria’s improving bike infrastructure even better. The zoning and transportation decisions a region makes are integral to social and environmental justice and the GVCC is an important voice in this regard. I love biking in Victoria because it is the fastest and best way to get around, and the current infrastructure makes it relatively

easy to bike year round. I look forward to working with the GVCC to bring more people out biking and making Greater Victoria a bike/bus/walk community.

Kathleen Fraser I’m excited to be on the board of the GVCC. I recently retired to Brentwood Bay from the Fraser Valley and spent many happy hours during the summer cruising the trails and cycling routes in the area. Cycling is my long time passion and I’m always trying to convince more people to give up their cars for the pleasure and health benefits of a bike. I believe that better cycling infrastructure is the key to higher cycling participation rates and the GVCC is the right voice to advocate for this. I am looking forward to working with the Board and members to help build a community where it is safe for cyclists of all levels to ride.

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Jeremy Loveday I am a performance poet, community builder, and non profit professional. By day, I work at the Heart&Stroke Foundation raising funds, organizing events, and tweeting up a storm. By night, I am a performance poet who speaks my truth and encourages others to the same. I am a co-founder and Director of Victorious Voices - Victoria’s High School Poetry Slam Championships and the mentor for Victoria’s Youth Poet Laureate. I love riding my bicycle and am excited to help the GVCC get “More People Cycling, More Places, More Often”.

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Next issue: Profile of Director Karen Quine Cycle Therapy winter 2014 7

Uptown bike parking (photo: Michae Fisher)

Cycling Uptown

by Michael Fisher

integrating the bike CT recently met with Roberta Ferguson, General Manager for Morguard – the property managers of Uptown shopping centre – to review how cycling has been integrated into Uptown. Our previous experience cycling into Uptown was much like car access – it’s confusing and challenging to know where to go and where things are located. This confusion arises because, unlike a regular mall, Uptown has been shoehorned into a small site using 75% less land than a regular mall. This means that automobile parking, whether you like it or not, as well as retail space, is stacked in multiple layers instead of being spread out. This means that you may be directly underneath (or above) where you want to go, but it may not be clear. After many visits over the past year or two, I still find myself popping out of a `wormhole` in a totally unexpected location. I suspect that my spatial confusion is shared by others. The good news is that Uptown is certified to a LEED gold standard and has committed to installing 235 bicycle parking spots. While we cannot confirm the exact number already installed. we can confirm that there is ample bike parking along Uptown Boulevard (the “street” extending the length of the mall), as well as two well appointed locked bike rooms (complete with showers) and another locked cage for employee bikes down in the bowels of the mall. Uptown readily acknowledged the shortage of bike parking near Walmart and a rack was added there in October. Reportedly, the existing racks are to be upgraded and extended with better racks to hold even more bikes in the near future. The Walmart bike racks (or lack thereof ) were recently discussed in the Saanich news and the GVCC Facebook page, so Uptown should be commended for acting to resolve the problem. It should also be noted that the racks already installed by Uptown appear to be good quality and not simply the cheapest wheel bender types.

8 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

Much of the bike parking along Uptown Boulevard is the single post style and there are a few racks of good design near Walmart and in a few underground spots which few people know about. In our unscientific walk-around study, we found many cyclists simply locked their bikes to a convenient fence near their destination even if a bike post or rack was less than 20 feet away. Uptown clearly indicated their intention to learn about preferred bike parking spots and the next rack installation will be reportedly be built by Future Shop and the nearby coffee shop. Our unofficial survey confirmed the appropriateness of this decision as this was one of the most frequent spots where we saw bicycles locked to whatever was handy. Accessing Uptown is challenging for vehicles as well as bikes. Saanich Road/Oak Street is probably the most popular vehicular access (using the Oak Street ramp), but is not a popular bike route. While Saanich Road does have bike lanes, including green paint in some locations, the large numbers of vehicles making complex lane changes to access Uptown from Saanich Road appears unnecessarily risky for most cyclists. Cyclists turning into the Oak Street ramp have no special protection nor does the ramp immediately lead to high quality bike parking areas. Instead most cyclists, including one interviewed while leaving the mall, confirmed that the most enjoyable route in is from Carey Road (Recommended Route A). With the recent addition of a $125,000 traffic light at the corner of Ravine Way and Carey (paid for by Uptown), it is relatively safe to access Uptown Boulevard from that direction. There is a paved (albeit steep) path leading to the junction of the Goose/Lochside, making this a relatively safe route. If you are accessing Uptown from Saanich Road, it is recommended that you proceed into the pedestrian zone to the left of the Oak Street ramp allowing you immediate access onto Uptown Boulevard (Recommended Route B). Given the confused and stressed drivers accessing Uptown, extreme care must be taken in crossing the traffic lanes but once onto the pedestrian zone and Uptown Boulevard, it is pleasant with good bike parking.

Uptown has been a supporter of Bike to Work Week and their training programs. The expansive underground parking lots have been used as covered space to undertake basic cycle training. Uptown has also been the starting point of Bike to Work competitions comparing travel times downtown by car and bike. It’s not clear who won. Uptown has also taken part in Bike to Work events (I have personally collected two towels from their booth over the last couple of years) and provided the funding for a drinking fountain on the Goose/Lochside under the ‘Drop in the Bucket Campaign’ to install nine new drinking fountains along the trails.

Rd Carey

Uptown has a comprehensive 24 hour a day security system including cameras and bicycle based security personnel, such as Robert Somerville. Somerville confirmed how easy it was for a bicycle to move around the various levels of Uptown and he certainly gets his exercise as he spends about 6 hours a day in the saddle.

h nic

We all appreciate the charm of Victoria’s downtown and its walkable neighbourhoods such as Fernwood, Cook Street Village and James

Bay. While some readers are opposed to shopping malls on principle it must be recognized that Uptown is an example of a compact newly built neighbourhood and the future still holds residential condominium or office development in the empty space between the existing mall and Ravine Way. There are very substantial improvements to allow easy and safe cycling access to Uptown from the surrounding roads and the Galloping Goose/Lochside Trail. Still, Uptown has tried to integrate reasonable cycling facilities within their property. We encourage them to do more, working with the District of Saanich, Ministry of Transportation, as well as their current and potential customers who arrive by bike.

Michael Fisher is a current GVCC board member and past treasurer. Auto oriented access (photo: Michae Fisher)

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Cycle Therapy winter 2014 9

City of Victoria Bicycle Plan

by Ray Straatsma

On November 30, the GVCC hosted a two-hour bicycle planningg workshopp downtown at the library’s y Central Branch. Over 50 people attended the workshop, where participants contributed d to group discussions on three themes: route planning, design and education. As the photos here attest, workshop attendees were engaged and enthusiasti enthusiastic, t c, c very keen to share ideas and learn from each other on ways to improve the cycling environment Victoria. nt in Victoria i . The GVCC organized this workshop, in part, to gather input andd opinions from om cyclists and citizens, and om then share this information with the City of Victoria. Late last year, formally ear, the city for oorrm lly launched a Bicycle orma Master Plan Update, and this spring it will begin public engagement the ent and hold open ho hhouses uses on th he bi bbike k plan ke update. We are presently compiling a Workshop Report, and will submit it to the city’s Cycling Task Force this spring. The GVCC believes a renewed Bicycle Master Plan represents a signifi ignificant opportunity to outline key priorities for new cycling projects, encourage improved cycling policies olicies and standards, and push for significant increases in funding for cycling infrastructure. We expect to devote considerable energy providing input and advice vice to the City’s process. Last fall, we submitted a detailed letter to City Council, voicing our primary expectations for Bicycle Plan update. We have been invited to participate in a technical committee of the Cycling Task Force (comprised of Mayor Fortin, Councillors Ben Isitt and Marianne rianne Alto, and city staff ). It’s worth noting that Victoria’s existing Master Plan is 18 years old, ld, and so this pdate is long overdue. Indeed, we have suggested to the Taskk Force that Victoria’s Bicycle Plan needs more than an update. Victoria should ld set broader ambitions and aspirations to significantly grow cycling in the city.

10 1 0 Cy Cycle C ycl cle Th T Therapy her erap apy w wi winter int n eerr 22014 00114

GVCC Planning Workshop (photo: Celina O`Connor)

By most measures, Victoria’s cycling investments are falling behind other jurisdictions. Victoria’s annual cycling budget is very modest, and insufficient to meet established targets and goals. The quality of facilities is certainly inadequate to attract new riders. Victoria has a healthy community of experienced cyclists, but growth in daily usage has been essentially flat over the last decade. This contrasts strongly with many North American cities, which have seen significant growth in cycling in recent years. The GVCC believes that cycling facilities should be designed to encourage new and infrequent cyclists. Studies in Vancouver, Portland and elsewhere indicate that up to 60 per cent of the population are ‘interested’ in daily cycling but ‘concerned’ about safety, especially

GVCC Planning Workshop (photo: Celina O`Connor)

riding in busy traffic conditions. Attracting that large market of potential cyclists should the primary goal of new investments in cycling infrastructure. We encourage cyclists and community members to contact the Task Force and members of Council, and express support for improved cycling facilities, and other specific suggestions. Watch the city’s website for further information on the Bicycle Master Plan, including meeting dates this spring. Please make your voice heard. And look for ongoing information at www.gvcc.bc.ca

GVCC Planning Workshop (photo: Celina O`Connor)

Ray Straatsma is a communications consultant specializing in public policy and social enterprise.

Cycle Therapy winter 2014 11

bike coral in downtown Portland (photo: Ryan Mijker)

Bikes Mean Business business case for cycling The benefits of better walking and cycling facilities are well understood: for individuals, better health and fitness, lower personal transport costs, and more travel options. Cities and communities realize dividends from less congestion, air pollution and vehicle emissions, as well as reduced demand on parking. But until recently, very little was said or known about the economic impacts of cycling. So hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the question: Is biking good for business? To be sure, many community leaders and businesses welcome the rise of cycling and walking in their cities and towns. Some businesses make concerted efforts to cater to bicyclists, with bike parking or other services. Developers increasingly provide secure bike parking for employees or condo owners and tenants. However, other business owners or members of the public question the value of bike lanes or related infrastructure. A common perception is that investments in cycling, walking (and transit) can inhibit automobile use or disrupt an established business model reliant on customers arriving by car. Or when a new bike lane is proposed on a specific street, some business owners can be very vocal in opposition, especially if parking spots are to be relocated or removed. For these and other reasons, making the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;business caseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for cycling is especially important. In recent years, a number of North American studies have reviewed the economic impact of active transportation in cities. Studies in Canada and the US have documented the role that cycling plays in local economies, pointing to positive impact on property values, commercial activity or in manufacturing or retail (see infographic). Other research has looked at cyclists as consumers. A study

12 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

by Ray Straatsma

in Portland, for instance, found that cyclists may spend less per visit than motorists, but they tend to visit local businesses more frequently

Portland +6.8% Increase to

property values if they are within 200 feet of a cycle-way.

Vancouver 85% of real estate

agents view cycle-ways as positive sale attributes.

NYC 49% Fewer

commercial vacancies

I p a b

and therefore spend about the same amount over a longer period of time (i.e., a month or more).

“The city of Chicago moved from tenth to fifth of most bike-friendly cities in the country in one year… In the same year the city of Chicago moved from fifteenth to tenth worldwide in startup economy… Coincidence? I think not. You cannot be for a startup, high-tech economy and not be pro-bike.” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Last fall, the GVCC launched an effort to test some of these questions through a new program called Bicycles Mean Business (BMB). Supported by Special Project grant from the city of Victoria, our first initiative was a transportation survey in the downtown core. In October, our project team completed over 500 questionnaires, followed by surveys with 125 business owners and managers in November. In both surveys, we asked people about their transportation choices, and their support for new investments in cycling, pedestrian and transit facilities. As CT went to press, our project team was still reviewing and writing up our findings. But as the pie chart shows, almost half of respon-

walk

public transit

bike

motor vehicle

other

Portland $1.5 Delaware Billion in tangible +4% dividends to Increase to all property values the local economy. adjacent to a bike-way.

Transportation split in downtown Victoria survey, (504 respondents) (GVCC, 2013)

dents walked or cycled on the day they were surveyed; just 23% of respondents drove a car, and 26% took transit. We had similar results when we asked people their most frequent mode of travel. In the spring of 2014, we will release a full survey report. We will share the results with local media, Victoria Council and staff, and with the local business community. Watch for more soon Smart cities are making major investments in active transportation infrastructure. Attractive urban centres accessible by foot, bike and transit are increasingly desirable assets for dynamic enterprises – from tourism to high-tech. Walkable cities and well-connected, high-quality bike routes help attract employees seeking high value jobs. There is indeed a business case for cycling – and Victoria’s business community are essential partners to help improve transportation choices in our region. Cycle Therapy winter 2014 13

Tour de Victoria

by Edward Pullman

cycling in the rain The alarm went off on my phone, and I shot awake with that mix of adrenaline and fatigue you feel when awakening at 5:30am with only half a dozen hours of sleep. I staggered out of bed, showered, ate some pancakes I had made the previous morning and biked four blocks to the legislature buildings, where buses and U Hauls were transporting cyclists and their bikes out to Langford and the 100km start line for the Tour de Victoria. By 6:30am we were on the road, and before long we had arrived and I found myself leaning on my specialized tricross bicycle in the wet, cool morning. I was grateful for having thought to bring my rain jacket and helmet cover, both of which I had donned. Trek Bike Shop had a tent and mechanics on site, so I took advantage of the opportunity by asking one of them to pump my tires up to 120 psi, their maximum. I recognized the mechanic from the Ride Don’t Hide charity cycling ride from this past summer. He in turn recognized me from UVic, where we had both graduated. After a brief chat with him and a final cup of complementary coffee, I returned to the start line. Lining up with a few hundred other riders, I removed my jacket and helmet cover and placed them in my touring bag, knowing I would grow too hot for both items once I was climbing the first big hill. 8:15am finally came and went and we were off to the races. My aluminum frame and fully pumped tires meant I was feeling every bump and indent offered up by the imperfect pavement. Crossing over Veterans Memorial Parkway and down Atkins Avenue, we made our way to the Highlands and the infamous Munns Road hill. After several grueling climbs we finally reached the top and cycled through the Highlands. The rolling lush hills and little houses dotting green fields reminded me of trips in years past to visit family in rural England. This is truly stunning scenery, I thought to myself, and if the climb up wasn’t such a pain, I’d visit more often.

(photo: Rob Johns)

14 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

Before I knew it, I was cycling by Durrance Lake and descending the massive hill on Willis Point Road, with the rain picking up

Before I knew it, I was cycling by Durrance Lake and descending the massive hill on Willis Point Rd, with the rain picking up and pelting down on me and other cyclists.

and pelting down on me and other cyclists. While the biggest hill of the race had been conquered, more than half the race was still ahead of me. I was already soaked to the bone by rain and sweat, but had reached that happy equilibrium where, as long as you keep cycling, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re warm enough. After crossing over the Pat Bay Highway on Wain Road and heading south back into town, I held out hope that the weather would slowly turn itself into something resembling a pleasant day. This was not the case. As we exited Cordova Bay and entered Gordon Head, torrents of rain and wind made the ride all the more treacherous. I passed within a block of my parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home just off Grandview Rd and thought long and hard about making that turn, walking through their front door and drawing a hot bath to soak in. Instead, I soldiered on through Cadboro Bay and Uplands, climbed the final hill at King George Terrace and sailed gently along Dallas Road and around James Bay before reaching the finish line at the legislature. Much to my delight, the second I crossed the finish line around 1pm, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds and melted away the memories of a rather soaking ride!

Ed Pullman is President of the GVCC and involved in community development.

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Cycle Therapy winter 2014 15

California Cycling Davis by bike by Darren Marr A two-day train trip up the coast from Santa Barbara landed me in Davis, California, a university town and bedroom community of Sacramento, the state capital 11 miles away. Home to the University of California at Davis (UCD) with an enrollment of 32,000 students, Davis has established a more common identity as the “Cycling Capital of the U.S.A.” After stepping off the train I met with Davis Bicycles! member John Whitehead, who showed me around town for much of my visit. I noticed bike lanes, bike parking, bike paths and of course, bicycles all over the landscape. Cycling mecca indeed! Davis’ interest in adopting cycling as a primary means of transport started at UCD in 1961, where then Chancellor Emil Mrak incorporated cycling into the university’s long range planning strategy. This included the establishment of bike paths across the campus, bike underpasses under streets at the edge of campus, and closing the central campus to cars, creating bike parking areas instead. This resulted in many students, faculty and staff using bikes not only as a means to get around campus, but as a way of getting home as well. Soon, Davis City Council understood the importance of accommodating the increase in bike traffic and started constructing bike lanes in the downtown area, which is adjacent to the campus. This led to the development of a comprehensive bicycle route system which was more advanced than any other city in the U.S. Today, Davis has more than 100 miles of bike lanes and bike paths and enjoys a 22% cycle commuting mode share, the highest in North America. One of the cycling attractions in Davis is the Davis Bicycle Loop, a 12-mile greenway encircling the city linking most of its neighbourhoods, including the university. Some of the key pieces of bicycle infrastructure in Davis (including the I-80 underpass) are along this route. Although the loop is used as a recreational trail, its main purpose is to encourage children to bike to school and others to use their bikes for routine trips. A key feature of the loop is signage on the trail

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leading cyclists to neighbourhood streets. Another cycling attraction in Davis is the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and Museum. Relocated from Somerville NJ in 2010, the Hall is located in a modern three-story building in Central Park on the edge of downtown. The top two floors have exhibits on great achievements in U.S. competitive cycling and a wall of inductees. The ground floor has an exhibit on the history and development of the bicycle, with displays of older, evolutionary bicycles, from pennyfarthings to the first mountain bike and aerodynamic bicycles built for speed records. Central Park is also the home of the Davis Farmers Market, which is held Wednesdays and Saturdays and features fresh, organic produce from local growers. Each Wednesday evening, food vendors set up shop for Picnic in the Park, which also features live entertainment. As the area surrounding Davis is fairly flat, day trips to neighbouring communities are very popular among local cyclists. The Davis Bike Club holds weekly rides to Winters (28 mile round trip) and Woodland (24 mile round trip). One can also bike from Davis to Sacramento using a network of bike paths. In contrast to downtown Santa Barbara, bicycle parking is plentiful in Davis. There are bike racks placed every five metres on some streets. These racks were developed in the Los Angeles area and are less cluttered than triangular racks (e.g.: Cora) and more accommodating for U-locks. Davis is also experimenting with bike corrals on city streets, a concept adopted from Portland OR. In addition to bike parking, the City of Davis has also set up repair stations complete with tools for cyclists to make minor repairs when necessary. These can mostly be found near public buildings and high volume shopping areas. The highest concentration of bicycle facilities in Davis can be found on the UCD campus, of which I took a tour with UCD bicycle program coordinator David Takemoto-Weerts. As mentioned previously, the centre of the campus is closed to automobile traffic (except service vehicles). Bicycles roam freely around campus thanks to over- and underpasses constructed within the last 20 years. Both bicycle and pedestrian traffic flow are regulated with calming measures such as roundabouts. Bike parking is abundant, with each building offering about 200 bike parking spaces. A bicycle repair and accessory shop, “The Bike Barn”, has been serving the needs of the student biking population since 1971. More recently, UCD and the City of Davis

(all photos: Darran Marr)

have installed advance bicycle traffic lights at key intersections leading into the campus, another Portland imported innovation. Across town, the Davis Bicycle Collective operates Bike Forth, a community cycle repair shop similar to Victoria’s Recyclistas and Santa Barbara’s Bici Centro. In addition to providing bicycle repair services, the shop provides bicycle maintenance classes to women and other underrepresented groups, and operates programs for youth to repair their own bicycles or acquire refurbished ones. Although Davis has a 50-year history of being bicycle-friendly, the modern bicycle advocacy movement surprisingly did not establish itself until 2007, when it was discovered that other cities were catching up to Davis in terms of developing more cyclist-friendly infrastructure, such as Portland OR, Boulder CO and Madison WI. According to former UCD transportation researcher Ted Buehler, if Davis wants to build on its reputation as the most bicycle friendly city in the U.S., it would have to adopt new initiatives to ensure a greater number of people find cycling as a viable transportation option. The result was the formation of Davis Bicycles! (DB), the city’s first grassroots cycling advocacy group. In the last six years, DB successfully lobbied for more bike lanes, separated pathways and bike parking, as well as the introduction of new measures such as the advance bicycle traffic lights. In addition, DB is involved with educational initiatives, including Safe Routes to School programs and promoting cycling culture, such as summer film nights. In summary, Davis does live up to its reputation as “America’s Cycling Capital,” setting the bar for other communities in North America to increase their cycle friendliness. And as other cities find new ways to increase cycling, Davis is now more quick to adopt. Plans are underway to reconfigure Fifth Street, a busy thoroughfare, with the first buffered bike lanes in the city. Like Victoria, Davis is a compact and progressively thinking university town with the added advantage of being flat. However, Davis got to where it is through community leadership, vision and the cooperation of all stakeholders, something for all bicycle-friendly cities, including Victoria, to aspire to.

Darren Marr is a Past President of the GVCC and likes to explore different cities by bike.

If you go: Davis Bicycles! website: http://www. davisbicycles.org/wordpress/ Davis Bike Club website: http://www.davisbikeclub.org/ U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame website: http://www.usbhof. org/ Davis Bike Loop information: http://www.davisbicycles.org/ wordpress/guide/bikeloop Unitrans public transit information: http://unitrans. ucdavis.edu/. Unitrans is one of the few municipal bus systems in the world operated mostly by university students! Cycle Therapy winter 2014 17

Tweed Ride

Tweed Ride 2013 ( Margaret Hanson Design)

cycling in the deluge

The 3rd annual Tweed Ride, held on September 28, 2013 offered an opportunity for a civilized bike ride in true style. After hosting the first two rides in the spring, the organizers, Libby Gibson and Simon Sobolewksi, worked to find a date that didn’t have riders melting in their wool outfits. For the 3rd year, organizers moved the event to the fall and imagined an event full of fun, games and a picnic. The ride was again much anticipated, but as the date loomed the ride faced a weather challenge of a different kind. The weather forecast changed from bad to worse. The organizers were positive and creative with entertaining emails that outlined the encouraging outlook that the ‘ride will go on,’ but as the day arrived the clouds opened and it poured.

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Hours before the ride was to start a change of plan was announced. The email announced “‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen stay out in the midday sun’… but Tweed Riders don’t need to ride in strong winds and heavy rains.” The truncated ride would go on, but for the rest of us an indoor picnic was hosted at the historic roundhouse in Vic West. At the picnic, attendees enjoyed tea, sandwiches, and were able to lay out picnics and display their eclectic tea cups. Another fantastic event despite the rain. It was also a successful fundraiser for Bicycles for Humanity to help send a container load of bikes to Namibia. Looking forward to the next ride in September 2014. Great photos from the event and information can be found at tweedridevictoria.ca.

Goldstream Bikes

bike shop review

by Michael Fisher I recently met up with Steven Hurdle, owner and manager of Goldstream Bikes. As its name implies, the store is located on Goldstream Avenue close to the junction with Veterans’ Memorial Parkway in Langford. There is a curious one-way road immediately in front of the store to confuse drivers, although access by bicycle is easy. The store was founded in 1989 by Grant Turner and he is still there working as a bike mechanic, although Steve bought the business a few years ago. While interviewing Steve, an eager customer was quizzing him in preparation for a planned crosscountry ride. The adventurous rider chose an interesting store as Goldstream is anxious to please. Although the store does specialize in Kona and Devinci bikes, their defining characteristic is that they are not too specialized. The store’s target market is the commuter, the hybrid rider as well as the younger set who prefer BMX and mountain bikes. While it can appear that the store is seeking to be all things to all people (which is a good thing) it quickly came out that this is a store with a conscience. It starts with the fact that Steve does not own a car and extends to the various fundraising and charitable endeavours of the store. Goldstream Bikes also highlights the Canadian suppliers of products that it carries.

Goldstream Bikes (photo: Michae Fisher)

ticipants in the last couple of years as there are no public washrooms nearby. The company highlights and demonstrates environmental stewardship by encouraging the re-use and recycling of used bicycles. There are always a number of reasonable entry level bikes for sale on their forecourt. One of the key charitable activities that the store has promoted over the past year is “Bikes for Africa”. Goldstream’s role was to provide bike repair and tire installation services for the 25 bikes shipped to a school in Tanzania. In particular, the tires were upgraded to be more puncture resistant on the unforgiving roads where they will be used. The shipping container included a variety of sports equipment but the bikes have proven very popular as the school is a long walk from the nearest town. It was an enjoyable visit to talk to Steve and I want to make special mention that Steve accommodated a last minute request for an interview. He was gracious and a delight to talk to and impressed this writer as an excellent spokesman for his business.

Goldstream Bikes has been a strong supporter of Bike to Work Week and hosted a Celebration Station on its property in 2013. It has donated prizes and staff time to the event as well as helping in other small ways. This writer was very glad that Goldstream opened its washroom to Bike to Work Week parCycle Therapy winter 2014 19

Road to Valour book review

Aili and Andres McConnon This is a book about a bicycle racer, but it is so much more. I know it is easy to be cynical about the sport, but nothing can take away from the beauty of racing bikes over snowy mountain passes, windswept plains, rolling verdant hills, rough roads, smooth roads, wind, cold, heat, sun, rain and sometimes ideal conditions. The individuals who take part just add to the colour – love them or hate them. And few in the history of sport can match the fascination for Gino Bartali, the subject of this book. Although the book is about a professional cyclist, and much space is devoted to the intricacies of the sport as practiced in the 1930s and 1940s, it deals with many topics that could appeal to a wide range of readers – especially those with an interest in the history of World War II. Gino Bartali was born into a poor, hard-working family in a village about ten kilometres from Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy. In depression era Italy a bicycle was valuable to an extent hard for us to imagine now. If you ever saw the classic Italian film Bicycle Thief you may be able to understand. After a summer of hard work in a bicycle shop, Gino acquired his first bike so he could continue into the 6th grade in Florence. It wasn’t long before it was apparent he had talent, as he would whiz pass experienced amateur racers – much to their annoyance – on his old clunker. The story goes on to recount how he rose as a professional in the 1930s culminating in victory at the 1938 Tour de France. Unfortunately for him, and millions of other young people with budding careers in all fields of endeavour, the war intervened. This is where the real story begins. Little was widely known about the role Gino played in saving

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by Ed Janicki the lives of hundreds of Jews. The brother and sister pair (born in Toronto) of Aili and Andres McConnon have done a good job of bringing this particularly heroic aspect of Gino’s life to light. It seems – and he was loath throughout his life to discuss this with anyone – that he was recruited by the Archbishop of Florence to smuggle forged documents to Jews hiding out so they could pass as non-Jewish Italians and not be sent to their death in a concentration camp. This Gino did by rolling up the documents and hiding them in the tubes of his bicycle frame, as he tried to maintain some cycling form through the war years. Needless to say he did this at great risk to himself and family. His celebrity offered some protection because the authorities did not want to pick on such a popular figure. The latter part of the book deals with the years immediately following the war as Bartali sought to regain the form he once had. In 1948 he managed to re-capture his title at the Tour de France. This gap of ten years between victories remains a record. The book also talks about his rivalry with his former protégé Fausto Coppi, and how the entire country was bitterly divided into bartaliani or coppiani camps. I’m not sure if either author is an avid cyclist, but in their writing they seem to possess an understanding for the nuances of the sport. Despite a somewhat detached third person voice, they manage to paint a picture of the personalities. I enjoyed the clarity of their style, it never got in the way of the story. The book is definitely well researched and comes complete with many pages of notes – interesting in themselves - at the end. Read this book if you are interested in life in Italy during World War II, or if you like tales of selfless heroism. Cyclists should certainly find something to like in reading about cycle sport in the days when it was capturing the imagination of nations. Ed Janicki has been a recreational cyclist/bike commuter for decades, and a member of the GVCC more than six years.

nice ride (photo: Ryan Mijker)

Bike as Fashion

by Oliver Terry

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it: cycling is a fashion industry. Gone are the days that anyone could get on any bike and just go for a ride: now it needs to be a specific type of bike, those shorts, that colour of helmet. Frame manufacturers constantly vie for the lightest or most aerodynamic frame, often in the most outrageous colours.

the main design elements of which have remained in use more or less unchanged for more than a hundred years.

At its heart, the bicycle is a pragmatic machine, designed to convert human motive power into a more efficient form. The bicycle is in fact one of the most efficient forms of transportation in terms of energy consumed per passenger, and can also be effective at transporting cargo other than the rider. Cities are perfect for bicycles, as bikes are easy to store, inexpensive, and easy to get around on given sufficient infrastructure.

If your bike is going to be used for recreation, then fashion may be more of a concern for you. Higher-end road and mountain bike gear often affords more choices and options for personalization, but at a price. For just a bare-bones bike to ride around on when the weather is nice, you may not need to spend a lot to enjoy yourself.

However, anything concerning a lifestyle choice ultimately becomes entangled in the webs of consumerism and fashion. What should be the simple act of riding a bike can quickly become fraught with seemingly critical choices. This was especially apparent in the last decades of the 1800s, when an almost pre-Cambrian explosion of different types of bicycle occured. The bicycle which eventually most found favour was the iconic Penny Farthing, with its extremely large front wheel. This was in turn replaced by the modern â&#x20AC;&#x153;safetyâ&#x20AC;? bicycle,

As in the 1800s, in buying a modern bike with accessories to match, the first thing to do is to evaluate your needs and take care of them. What is the bike going to be used for?

If you intend to use your bike for commuting and other day-to-day activities, a more utilitarian bike may be useful for you. Lights are a legal and safety necessity in British Columbia, and fenders will make your cycling experience much more pleasant in the rain, as well as keep your bike running more smoothly. Racks and panniers can also add much-needed storage space and take some strain off your body by lightening your backpack. After these necessities are taken care of, personalization can happen. From grips, saddles, and tires to a completely custom bike, the sky is the limit for making your bike truly your own.

Oliver Terry is a bicycle mechanic and mechanical engineering student.

Cycle Therapy winter 2014 21

the Front Plank

by Tony Webster

Posture Improvements tipes for cyclists - part 6 I have spent the last five articles describing some of the postural issues that tend to afflict cyclists. I have covered a few stretches and self massage techniques for various parts of the body that can be used to combat or prevent these issues. In the last article I discussed how even something as simple as breathing can affect posture and I covered a couple of useful breathing exercises. I want to switch focus a little bit and now cover a few simple but “key” strength or resistance based exercises for cyclists that can help to reinforce good posture and improve overall functional capacity. Strength exercises are often neglected by cyclists. Common excuses include: (a) resistance exercise won’t help my cycling (wrong!), (b) I don’t need it, cycling is a complete exercise (wrong!), (c) I’ll have to go to a gym (wrong again!) or (d) I don’t have time (don’t get me started on that one…..). Here’s my first resistance exercise: the front plank. If done correctly (see below) it is far more than just a “core” exercise – it is a whole body exercise that should help to reinforce good posture. Front planks are designed to develop “superstiffness” of the trunk, which is what the muscles of the trunk are truly designed to do. Traditional crunches or sit-ups are inferior “isolation” exercises that encourage poor posture by shortening the muscles on the front side of the trunk. They may also compromise back health through the repeated hinging (bending) that occurs within the spinal column. Here’s how to a front plank correctly: assume a plank position with your forearms shoulder width apart and parallel to each other. Form

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fists and semi-supinate the wrists into a “hammer” position. Your spine and legs should form a straight line; nothing should protrude or sag. Tense your whole body, except for the face, neck and traps. Look straight down between your fists and breathe shallowly with your diaphragm. Lengthen your neck and tuck your chin in slightly. You can check to see if your position is correct by placing a dowel or straight stick along the length of your upper body – it should touch three spots: back of your head, between your shoulder blades and between your butt cheeks. If it doesn’t touch all three points simultaneously, something is amiss. Most often, people “hunch” in the upper back and crane their head towards the ground, which would be revealed by a loss of contact at the back of the head. The key to the front plank is NOT quantity (the length of the hold) but quality. It is FAR better to do several short bouts (5-10 seconds) of the front plank correctly than one long bout poorly. If your form is poor you’re just reinforcing poor postural habits. As your form and core strength/endurance improves you can lengthen the holds. Never sacrifice form in this exercise! Quality is key. Good luck and happy planking! Tony Webster sails by the Colwood crawlers with great glee every day on his bike. He is an instructor in the Centre for Sport and Exercise Education at Camosun College, housed in the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. You can reach him at webstert@camosun.bc.ca or at 250-220-2558.

Bike Skill Courses, Bike to Work Week by Ray Straatsma Do you have family or friends looking to get on two-wheels for the 2014 season? Know someone wanting to try the daily bike commute to work, but needs a little confidence boost? Know some kids or seniors looking to learn some safe-riding skills for street riding in the Victoria region? This year presents a great opportunity to encourage friends or family to get on a bike and learn or upgrade their riding skills. From April to October 2014, the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society is offering nearly 60 bicycle skills courses and ‘mini workshops’ for kids and adults. These low-cost courses are designed for people of many ages and abilities, and will be held at locations across the CRD: from Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, and Esquimalt to the western communities, Saanich Peninsula and Salt Spring Island.

For more information on the bike skill courses or to register, please visit: biketoworkvictoria.ca

Some courses are customized for specific audiences, in partnership with groups such as the Francophone Association, Immigrant and Refugee Society, Intercultural Association, and the University of Victoria. A number of courses are for women only and some for kids: ages 7-9 and 12-13. There will be a number of course options: full day bike skills training or half-day in class/half-day on the road. Included in these courses are 15 one-hour free clinics on a variety of topics, including bike safety checks, ready for spring riding sessions, riding at night, bike maintenance, to name a few. These bike skills courses are part of the new Ride On! program by the Capital Region District, a wider effort to educate and encourage more residents to bicycle in the region. The Ride On! program is one of several new initiatives arising from the CRD’s 2011 Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan. For more information on the bike skill courses, or to register, please visit:www.biketoworkvictoria.ca Or contact the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society at: 250-9205775, email@biketowork.ca

Be part of Victoria’s Victoria’s greatest g magazine cycling ma agazin a reach over Advertise in CycleTherapyy and ch issue 1,200 readers eac each gvc Email cycletherapy@g cycletherapy@gvcc.bc.ca for information an nd rrates and Cycle Therapy winter 2014 23

Cycle Therapy is available in these locations Munro’s Books - Government St; Bolen Books - Hillside; SubText - UVIC; Open Space - LoFo; James Bay Coffee & Books - 5 Corners in James Bay; Solstice Cafe - Pandora; Bean Around The World - Fisgard; Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood; Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd; Fairfield Market - 5 Corners in Fairfield; McCrea’s Restaurant - Shelbourne; YM/YW - Downtown; Spiral Cafe - Vic West; Seed of Life - Government St; Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora; Bicycleitis - Bay Street; Brentwood Cycle & Sports - Brentwood Bay; Capital City Cycles - Broad Street; Coastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal; Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum; Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield; Fort Street Cycle - near Fort and Cook; Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford; Mac’s Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X; Marty’s Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt & Admirals; Munro’s Books - Government St; Bolen Books - Hillside; SubText - UVIC; Open Space - LoFo; James Bay Coffee & Books - 5 Corners in James Bay; Solstice Cafe - Pandora; Bean Around The World - Fisgard; Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood; Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd; Fairfield Market - 5 Corners in Fairfield; McCrea’s Restaurant - Shelbourne; YM/YW - Downtown; Spiral Cafe - Vic West; Seed of Life - Government St; Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora; Bicycleitis - Bay Street; Brentwood Cycle & Sports - Brentwood Bay; Capital City Cycles - Broad Street; Coastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal; Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum; Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield; Fort Street Cycle - near Fort and Cook; Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford; Mac’s Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X; Marty’s Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt & Admirals; Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown; North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra & North Park; Oak Bay Bicycles - Oak Bay & Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford; Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd @ Happy Valley Rd; Performance Bicycles - Quadra @ Reynolds; PM Bikes - Goldstream & Peatt; Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose; Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop - Douglas & Hillside; Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop - Bevan & Second in Sidney; Selkirk Station Bicycle & Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose; Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sooke & Otter Pt; Sports Traders - Irontown; Straight Up Cycles - Quadra & Tolmie; Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnaker’s; GVPL - all branches; Sidney Public Library; Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas & Bay; Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive; Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanich

Help us advocate — Join the GVCC!

Want better bike lanes? Want our region to benefit from cycle tourism? Want more sustainable transport? Your membership directly supports GVCC advocacy efforts for cycling in our community.

Rent a GVCC Bike Locker! Extend your ride with one of our bike lockers. Ride to an exchange, lock up your bike and bus the remaining distance to your destination or leave a bike in your locker and bus to it from home. For just $10.00 a month you can extend your green commute and avoid those ugly car crawls. More info contact info@gvcc.bc.ca Locations:

Juan de Fuca • McTavish • Langford 24 Cycle Therapy winter 2014

Become a member today at gvcc.bc.ca/membership 20$/yr adult; $10/yr student, senior, or low income $35 household; corporate $80/yr; sponsor $100/yr; lifetime $300