Spring/ Su
r 2022 me m no. 137
Published by Capital Bike Society
1034 Hillside Ave. PO Box 8837 Victoria, BC V8W 3S3
Capital Bike’s purpose is to get more people cycling more places more often in Greater Victoria by • Encouraging people of all ages and abilities to cycle more often • Encouraging the constrction of safe, convenient, and comfortable cycling facilities • Providing and improving cycling education • Improving the legal climate for cyclists • Raising the profile of cycling by holding events • Working towards greater cooperation and safety among all road users • Working with the broader community to advance all modes of active transportation • Protecting the environment and improving public health through cycling To contribute to Cycle Therapy, please email: admin@capitalbike.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 Capital Bike. All articles, photos, and graphics published in Cycle Therapy remain the intellectual property of the authors and artists. Visit us online: capitalbike.ca facebook.com/CapitalBikeCa instagram.com/CapitalBikeCa twitter.com/CapitalBikeCa Editor: Sarah Faria Layout and Design: Jennifer Longstaff Distribution: Susanna Grimes and NomadEx Bike Cargo Contributors: Alesha Hayes, Amanda Mceachern, Bill Brooks, Colin Ferster, Corey Burger, Ed Pullman, Hu Wallis, James Coates, Jeff Davies, Jordan Glowicki, Karen Laberee, Kaye Lowe, Kristin Kain, Lise Jensen, Michael Fisher, Rebecca Freedman, Sam Holland, Stephen McMurray Capital Bike Board of Directors: Co-Chairs: Rebecca Freedman and Stephen McMurray Treasurer: Steve McKay Secretary: Niki Sutherland Director: Corey Burger Director: Emma Dayton Director: Edward Pullman Director: Kaye Lowe Director: John Alexander Director: Carling Helander Director: Mark Milotay Director: Lynda Bell Director: Kemal Turnador Director: Joan Stonehocker Bookkeeper: Ray Powell Printed by: First Choice Books & Victoria Bindery We are grateful to be able to cycle on the unceded Coast Salish Territories of the Lekwungen and WSÁNEC Nations. Capital Bike is a proud member of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition. On the cover: A family at the Archie Browning Celebration Station for Fall Go By Bike Week 2021. Photo by John Holland
Message from the Board Chairs W
elcome to our 2022 spring edition of Cycle Therapy. On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff at Capital Bike, we’d like to thank you for your interest and support in the work we do. In April 2021 we launched Capital Bike, a merger of the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society and the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition. Our vision is to serve the whole Capital region with cycling advocacy, education, and celebration. We’ve been doing this for over 30 years but our work is more important than ever before! The past two years have been challenging for many as we have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability to gather as a community. We persevered with our flagship events, the spring and fall Go By Bike Weeks, with new and fun highlights such as the sticker challenge and neighbourhood rides, albeit with less ability to gather and celebrate in person. 2021 also saw the very devastating findings of unmarked graves at former residential school sites and the creation of a National Reconciliation Day. Capital Bike was honoured to partner with our friends Eddy Charlie and Kristin Spray of Xe xe Smun’ eem-Victoria Orange Shirt Day to host a ride on this momentous occasion. This ride saw over 350 people from the cycling community participating. Our Board and staff have worked hard to ensure that the services and supports we provide to members and to the broader cycling community are meaningful and impactful. Through our ongoing work to implement an equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy, we have solidified our commitment to be a supportive and inclusive organization. We’ve created membership and fundraising strategies that will continue to guide our work in the years to come. We’ve rejuvenated our group rides with rolling dance parties, a Halloween ride, holiday lights ride, and much more! We’ve delivered the awesome bike education program, Everyone Rides Grade 4 and 5, as well as a plethora of targeted bike skills courses aimed at improving bike safety and confidence. 2022 promises to be an even more successful year as Capital Bike grows in capacity and impact. To our valued members, we would like to thank you for your support of our work. Our Board is dedicated to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive membership in which we can foster a sense of community that aligns with our programming and advocacy. We encourage others to join us as members and/or make a donation to amplify the amazing work that Capital Bike carries out in and for our community. Rebecca Freedman and Stephen McMurray 2022 Board Co-Chairs
no 137
Contents
Message from the Board Chairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i Advocacy Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Go By Bike Week - no longer just for biking to work . . . . . . . 3 Hairstyles for Cycling: Long Hair Edition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Tweed Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Our Family’s Inaugural Bike Camping Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Mapping and Measuring Bicycle Facilities Across Canada . . . 6-7 Move over, MAMILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 A Family’s Cycling Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Cycling Without Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Gray Boom in Cycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Introducing Capital Bike’s ‘The Locker:’ a Bike Valet Program . . 12 Cycling in Saanich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Generosity of a Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fabulous Partnerships: Working with the ICA . . . . . . . . 14-15 Pedal to the Sea: a short journey by cycle and canoe . . . . . 16 Capital Bike: Join Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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2022 CRD Bike Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Spring 2022
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ADVOCACY UPDATE Corey Burger, Board Member
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dvocacy at Capital Bike never rests and progress in our region remains quick thanks to our collective efforts.
hard on the heels of the approval of their new Active Transportation Network Plan, which our Esquimalt Local Committee worked hard on the last few years.
2021 was another year of big gains and 2022 is shaping up to continue that trend. Regionally, we have both a win and a loss on the speed limit front – while most of the region joined in proposing a 30 km/h pilot project, the effort was stalled when the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MoTI) declined to open the pilot program. Their reason was that municipalities do not need MoTI approval to set blanket speed limits without adding extensive speed limit signs, an interpretation of the Motor Vehicle Act that multiple municipalities have rejected. We will keep pushing on this file, as we know safe speeds are a key part of safe streets. In addition, last year the CRD supported a project to separate and light up the busiest sections of the Lochside and Galloping Goose trails from the Selkirk Trestle to McKenzie Avenue. They also agreed to craft a policy for when to separate and light trails in the future, plus a policy to deal with construction closures. Both projects should see their next steps in 2022.
Out on the peninsula, both Central and North Saanich completed Active Transportation Plans, a first for both. While it is great to see them working on new plans, sadly neither municipality is building All Ages and Abilities bikeways; at best there will be new trails but just having new plans is a big win. This year, Sidney will be working on their new Active Transportation Plan, as well as a possible bike lane on Resthaven Drive.
In Victoria, construction is nearly finished on several major projects: Richardson Street, Haultain Street, and Government Street north, and we are expecting construction to be tendered for Kimta Road along the E&N soon. Last year also saw the approval of the James Bay routes, which we expect to go out for construction this year. North of the border in Saanich, the work on Shelbourne Street finally continues, with Phase 1 nearly done construction and the protected bike lanes in Phase 2, from the Victoria border at North Dairy Road to Pear Street, out for tender right now. Further west, Saanich, Victoria, and Esquimalt all should be working on improvements to Tillicum Road from Craigflower Road to Tillicum Mall and Gorge Road from Admirals Road to Government Street by the end of the year. Esquimalt’s work comes
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Lastly, out on the West Shore we have a mixed bag of work. Colwood is moving the fastest with a new Active Transportation Network Plan which means they are likely to start building protected bike lanes as default, and in April they had a huge win of a grant to build a bridge on the Galloping Goose over the Island Highway at Colwood Corners. Less progress was made elsewhere, with a few smaller bike lanes built but little progress towards AAA. As always, we need people to help us. Our Esquimalt Local Committee is well established and our Saanich and Regional Trails committees will get moving this year too. Contact us if you would like to help out.
Photos: Ongoing cycing infrastructure projects. By Michele Sealey and City of Victoria.
GO BY BIKE WEEK — no longer just for biking to work! Jordan Glowicki, Event Manager
Go By Bike Week
is back! We’re thrilled to be seeing you again at the first Spring Go By Bike Week in three years. From May 30 to June 5, anyone can participate by visiting Celebration Stations, logging rides for a chance to win over $25,000 worth of prizes, and enjoy cycling throughout the region with friends and family.
different configurations available for people with all different physical mobilities, and the huge demand for e-bikes, there truly is something for everyone.
For the past two years, our spring event has been on hold due to COVID-19. This year we are anticipating our biggest year yet with an estimated 9,000-10,000 participants. This is because the event isn’t just about the office commute anymore; this year the event is for everyone! If you’re riding with your family to school, that counts. If you’re riding with friends to enjoy fresh air, that counts. If you’re buying groceries, that also counts. We want you to spread the word and log every ride as part of this event. With all the new cycle options available, such as cargo bikes for hauling groceries, longtails for putting young children on,
Help us make this the most successful year yet by creating an amazing team. Invite your family members, riding buddies, and coworkers from the office. Bike to Work Week has always been about team building: encouraging, inspiring, and supporting your friends to ride for the first time. That hasn’t changed, and now you have so many more people to invite. We are anticipating a fantastic week – a true celebration – and we want you to be a part of it. As our old catch phrase goes: “Bike it, you’ll like it!”
Photos: Scenes from Fall Go By Bike Week, 2021. By Capital Bike
gobybikebc.ca
Spring 2022
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Hairstyles for Cycling: Long Hair Edition
It’s back!!!
Kristin Kain, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator
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Announcement
n my mission to encourage all of my friends to try cycling, one issue has come up time and time again: Helmet Hair. This fear can be a real barrier when beginning your commuter cycling journey - I know it definitely was for me. Figuring out how to style your hair on your commute can be tough, especially when you have places to be. Everyone wants to avoid Helmet Hair. Let’s break the myth: YES, you can cycle with a helmet AND keep your hair looking fabulous. Here are my three favourite hairstyles:
Capital Bike is pleased to announce that the Tweed Ride will return in 2022. Stylish Folks with Stylish Spokes will again gather for a jolly ramble and a spot of tea. Cyclists dress in traditional attire, such as tweed plus four suits and vintage dresses. This event is part of a worldwide Tweed Ride movement, started by cyclists in Britain eager for a slower-paced “metropolitan ride with a bit of style.”
The Braid Almost any kind of braid will do: Classic, French, Dutch, double, double Dutch… the list goes on! This is a classic choice that solves the problem of a hairstyle both fitting under your helmet and looking great with the helmet off.
The Low Pony Cycling is not the time to live your Glee cheerleader fantasy: no high ponies allowed! Good thing the low pony is happy to come to the party. Not into ponytails? How about a low bun? This is a great alternative and business professional approved.
Save the date!
Sunday, August 7, 2022
The Scarf Do you ever find yourself whizzing down one of Victoria’s glorious new bike lanes, wind rushing through your hair, only to reach your destination, take off your helmet and find a ball of frizz atop your head? The scarf is here to help! Simply wrap a thin scarf around your hairstyle of choice to keep it set and looking fabulous. Similarly, cycling caps are a great alternative. Additional tips: • Try carrying a travel-size dry shampoo or volumizing spray around with you to freshen up at your destination. • Smooth a little bit of argan oil onto your hair before riding to prevent frizz. • Make sure to cycle with dry hair to avoid losing all your hair volume. • Try using a coil hair tie to avoid that terrible hair elastic line if you plan on taking your hair down at your destination. • Make sure your hairstyle does not interfere with your helmet fitting properly. After all, safety is always in fashion.
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tweedride.ca
Photos: Kristin models bike hairstyles. By Jessica Weir
Grace Lore, MLA Victoria-Beacon Hill
250.952.4211 Grace.Lore.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Our Family’s Inaugural Bike Camping Trip Lise Jensen
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n August 2021, our family of five did our first bike camping trip, planning for two nights at Ruckle Park on Saltspring Island. While we all rode bikes daily to work and school, and car-camped every summer, we had never combined the two before. The older kids, 10 and 13, rode their bikes with lightly-loaded panniers and we took our electric-assist cargo bikes loaded up with the heavy stuff and our four-year-old towed behind in a bike trailer. He had his little bike too if he got bored of sitting. We left our driveway in Fernwood after lunch, heading for the ferry via the Galloping Goose and the Lochside Trail. We stopped several times along the way for snacks, ice cream cones at Mitchells while we charged the bike batteries, and for the little guy to switch between the trailer and his bike. Our plans went slightly astray late in the afternoon when our ten-year-old’s back began hurting. We thought the problem might be his handlebar height, and asked a bike shop in Sidney if they could swap it out for one with more rise, but no luck at such short notice. Since it was now dinnertime and our son was in tears, we paused our trip. Happily, the Travelodge had a room for the five of us. The next morning, we were on the road again right after breakfast. After several stops for rests, battery charging, play time, and one wasp sting, we finally rolled into our campsite in the late afternoon for our one night of camping. The weather was sunny and gorgeous, and after exploring the area the kids snuggled up together in a hammock for a story and bed. There’s nothing like a bit of exertion for a sound sleep! The next day, my husband and the two youngest took the bus home from the ferry. My husband had to work on Monday, so we weren’t able to stretch the
trip out any longer and we were worried about how the 10-year-old’s back would hold out on the journey home. The eldest and I rode the cargo bikes home with all rest of the gear loaded up. The trip ended up being an ordeal but we all remember it now as an adventure. In hindsight, we could have tried some longer day trips to see how the kids would do and we would have packed less gear, but overall the trip was a win. Cycle camping with small kids isn’t about getting somewhere, but laying new memories of doing something cool all together. This summer our middle kid said he’d like to join me to bike the Cowichan Valley Trail and I can’t wait!
Photos: Loaded bikes at the ferry; The Jensen family at Ruckle Park. By Lise Jensen
Spring 2022
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Mapping and Measuring Bicycle Facilities Across Canada Karen Laberee and Colin Ferster
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afe and comfortable bicycle infrastructure encourages cycling and may even increase the diversity of who rides. However, Canada lacks a consistent and complete national dataset of bicycle infrastructure making it challenging to measure access to safe infrastructure by community. Further complicating national metrics, cities refer to their bicycle facilities by a wide variety of names. A scan of 45 Canadian municipalities found 269 unique terms! For example, Vancouver Street’s Neighbourhood Bikeway would be called a “Bicycle Boulevard” in Saskatoon or a “Chaussée Désignée” (Designated Carriageway) in Montreal. To make national comparisons possible, CHATR lab developed the Canadian Bikeway Comfort and Safety (Can-BICS) Classification System as a framework for consistent naming and classification of bicycle infrastructure.
tremendously, and some municipalities have no open data. Instead, we used OpenStreetMap (OSM), a volunteered map of the world. OSM has the advantages of being global, consistent, and updated frequently in many urban areas.
The Can-BICS classification was applied to extracted OSM data to create an up-to-date and extensive map of bicycle infrastructure across Canada. An accuracy assessment conducted in 15 test cities using Google Street Maps resulted in methodologies for determining the three Can-BICS categories from OSM data. We put out a mapathon call on Twitter for some fine tuning on OSM in specific cities. The resulting national map measured 23,000 km of bicycle facilities meeting CanBICS standards. Multi-use paths (medium comfort) were most common, followed by painted bike lanes (low Can-BICS classifies bikeways into three different comfort comfort). levels based on transportation engineering design With the pan-Canadian map-based dataset in place, we guidelines and cycling safety research. High-comfort built spatial metrics in order to calculate the amount bikeways are low-stress routes comfortable for most and quality of bicycle infrastructure per Census people and with the best record for safety. These include Dissemination Area (DA). The spatial metrics comprised local street bikeways (e.g., Vancouver St.), cycle tracks high, medium, and low-comfort bicycling infrastructure (e.g., Fort St.), and bike paths (e.g., bike-only sections (weighted). We found that ~45% of DAs in Canada had of the Galloping Goose). Medium-comfort bikeways are the lowest ranking, indicating that many areas lack paved multi-use paths (e.g., E&N Regional Trail) that bicycle infrastructure. The next step in the project is to may feel comfortable apply the spatial metrics in an equity analysis to find out for some people, but who could benefit from improved infrastructure. their safety requires careful design. Low- We have designed Can-BICS as an open data project, with public code to facilitate future versions of the comfort bikeways bicycle network dataset and Can-BICS metrics as new are painted bike investments are made or with further mapping to OSM. lanes, which cause You can help by mapping bicycle infrastructure on higher stress, are OSM and including details such as path surfaces comfortable for (paved unpaved) and separation between cyclists few people, and and pedestrians. offer little to no additional safety. Armed with the CanBICS framework, our team set out to classify the bicycle infrastructure across Canada. While many cities provide open data on their bicycle facilities, the quality and consistency vary Painted line, Gorge Road: low-comfort facility. Photo by Sarah Faria
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Blenkinsop Trestle: high-comfort facility. Photo by Jeff Davies
Bicycle Facilities Across Canada
continued from page 6
Bicycle Facilities by Can-BICS comfort class
Photos by City of Victoria Fort Street Bike Lane: high-comfort facility.
Shared Neighbourhood bikeway, Vancouver and Southgate: medium-comfort facility.
Spring 2022
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Move over, MAMILS... Jeff Davies
T
hose Middle Aged Men in Lycra with their
sleek road bikes and fancy, form-fitting togs are sharing Victoria roads with a cycling community that’s increasingly diverse. There are more women on the road, but also more families, more workers heading to and from job sites and offices, and more people making deliveries and hauling loads. Just check out the scene at the end the Johnson Street Bridge in the afternoon rush hour. Three road workers cycle by wearing safety vests. There’s a couple on a bicycle built for two; the woman in front does the hand signals. There’s another woman in patterned tights with a shoulder bag strapped to her carrier who looks like she’s been browsing the boutiques. Then there are other folks in rumpled street clothes who look new to the game of urban cycling. Zoltan Szoges pulls up at the light on a cargo e-bike hauling construction material, a plastic tote, suitcases, a bulging cardboard box fastened with duct tape, and even a cookie tin. “I’m just going to bring some stuff to a friend’s place because we don’t have room to store all our tools at our condo,” he says. “I’ve got some drywall and painting to do so I’m going to give them these tools and go pick up my drywall and painting stuff.” The cargo bike has plenty of carrying capacity: “I’ve had eight and ten foot lengths of lumber strapped to the side. As long as you have the same amount of weight on each side it’s nice and balanced.” Down at the north end of the Switch Bridge on the Galloping Goose Trail, Ryan Harris manages Recyclistas bike shop. In recent years, with the construction of new cycling infrastructure, he’s seeing a lot of changes. “I guess the most obvious one is electric bikes. From what I’m seeing on the trail, it’s getting way more popular. I’ve also noticed a lot more families, because I would imagine feeling safe has a big thing to do with it.” Harris says he’s seeing plumbers on bikes, coffee salesmen, and more bicycle campers stopping in for gear before setting out on overnight expeditions. Head out on the weekend on any of the trails around Victoria and you’ll see families cycling, sometimes with little ones tucked into carriers while older kids
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... make room for the increasingly diverse cycling community have their own bikes. On a Saturday afternoon, Carolyn Filiatrault, her partner, and four children pull off the Galloping Goose Trail and head for the small strip mall in Vic West that has become cycling central, with Trek bike shop, Caffe Fantastico, and Fol Epi bakery. “It’s a big thing cycling with the kids and staying safe,” Filiatrault says. On the street, they might have trouble staying in their lane: “Having them separated from the cars has made a really huge difference.” Two of the children, stepsisters Ella and Alexis, clad in helmets and bright cycling gear, step up to say they’re enjoying the outing. “I like it because I have company,” says Ella. “I like it because it’s fun and I have people to talk to,” Alexis adds. Fun, exercise, social connections in a safe environment. All the ingredients for a successful outing.
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esearchers at Simon Fraser University have hard numbers to back up the anecdotal evidence of a shift in cycling patterns since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Meghan Winters is a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences and holds the CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Gender and Sex in Healthy Cities. Her team has studied the impact of the pandemic on cycling by conducting telephone surveys as well as analyzing data from the Strava fitness app, which measures distances cycled by recreational users. “Strava had a huge bump in usership during the pandemic, in cities everywhere,” Prof. Winters says. The telephone surveys show more people are walking in Victoria, but fewer are driving and far fewer are taking transit. Slightly more are cycling; 17% say they’re cycling more since the pandemic while 16% say they’re cycling less. That’s similar to the data collected by the bike counters in Victoria; the numbers are up on some counters but down on others. That likely reflects the fact that more people have been working from home during the pandemic while others were less likely to venture downtown to dine out or go to theatres or bars. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. While the pandemic disrupted commuting and socializing downtown, outdoor recreation has surged. Cyclists headed for the trails. A report on the SFU team’s findings in both Victoria and Vancouver says research indicates that, “bicycling for recreation increased dramatically when cities went into lockdown during the first wave of the pandemic.” “Strava shows a trend that recreational routes had high use (seaside, regional trails, Dallas Road) and that some routes downtown dipped,” says Prof. Winters. The data also shows the number of trips in Victoria logged to Strava increased by 27% between 2019 and 2020. Her colleague, Jaimy Fischer, a PhD candidate, says the numbers also show a big increase — 111% — in activities logged by women in Victoria between 2016 and 2020.
Move over MAMILs Photos, from opposite page, top: Dad on the Goose with child in trailer; Zoltan on his cargo bike; a family cycling with their daughter all the way from Port Hardy to Victoria; Ryan at work in Recyclistas. By Jeff Davies
So while most of us may just want to get a little fresh air and exercise when we saddle up, we’re also part of a significant societal trend.
Spring 2022
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A Family’s Cycling Journey Amanda McEachern
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ur family cycling journey started about 10 years ago when we moved from Edmonton to Victoria. Having previously felt forced to drive daily, I was excited to make big changes to the way we got around. I started exploring the city with my two very young kids in a trailer, and within a few months of living “car light” I had saved enough to have my bike turned into a long tail cargo bike. There were very few family
cargo bikes around in those days and we were a bit of a spectacle. We became family bike spokespeople and happily answered questions about our setup. I felt like a trailblazer. At that time, the cycling infrastructure in Victoria left a lot to be desired. I was confident cycling on the road with my kids safely on my bike, but I wondered how we would manage when the kids eventually transitioned to their own. Around 6 years ago, with three kids now on my bike, I reluctantly added a pedal assist. It was a revolutionary change and made our van almost entirely obsolete. When we first started family cycling there were not many options available for dedicated family bikes. These days there are many options for getting started with family cycling. We now see as many family bikes in a day as we used to see in a month!
Photo: Amanda and her family model cycling caps from Knit Chan Chan. By Christina Chan
Fortunately, the AAA cycling network that continues to develop in Victoria made our commutes safer and more enjoyable, and I now feel confident letting my two older kids cycle most places on their own. The day when I will no longer have kids on my bike or have them riding behind me looms on the horizon. It will be bitter-sweet when, again, I blend in with all the other cycle commuters. Cycling with my kids and helping them develop into confident commuters has been a wonderful experience. I encourage anyone considering it to give it a try.
As your elected federal representatives, we're always "wheelie" happy to hear from you about your concerns and priorities. Reach out anytime! MP Randall Garrison
Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke Randall.Garrison@parl.gc.ca 250-405-6550
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MP Laurel Collins
Victoria Laurel.Collins@parl.gc.ca 250-363-3600
Cycling Without Age Bill Brooks If you ride a bike, whether a quick loop around town or a multiday tour, you know that the person starting a bike ride isn’t the same one who finishes it. No matter your mood when you start, you’re always smiling by the end. Now, imagine your ability to go on that bike ride is taken away from you. You’re stuck in your room, or maybe on a park bench, watching the world go by. You dream of the time when you were on a bike whizzing down the road, the wind in your hair and a smile on your face.
photo of his ride and pinned it on the wall of his room, where it often made him smile again. That’s the power of a bike ride. Visit cyclingwithoutagesociety.ca for more information, to volunteer or donate to Cycling Without Age Society.
Cycling Without Age was created to help people who aren’t able to cycle on their own anymore relive that time and bring smiles to their faces. With local chapters in Sidney and Victoria, Cycling Without Age recruits volunteer trishaw pilots to help the less able relive their dreams. My first passenger was a younger man suffering from early onset Alzheimers. The day we met was a bad one for him. He had flashbacks of his old life and was angry knowing he’d never get it back. After a lot of coaxing he climbed onto the comfortable seat of the trishaw and from the first pedal stroke, a grin spread across his face. It wasn’t a long ride, but he returned to his room still smiling. His caregiver had taken a
Photo: Bill pilots the trishaw for a ride with an Alzheimer’s patient and his caregiver. By Tracey Ferrington
The Gray Boom in Cycling Michael Fisher
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took up cycling when I was 50 and was seeking a way to get some exercise while commuting to work. Initially, cycling was a replacement for commuting by car, but it bloomed into a well-rounded way to improve fitness and to get to know Victoria and its wonderful people. That was 15 years ago, and I continue to enjoy cycling today. The older cyclist could be a commuter, someone training to be a mature Lance Armstrong or seeking a leisure pursuit after retirement. Cycling is an excellent way to keep fit in mature years and enjoy fresh air and good friendship with the many like-minded people in Greater Victoria. The advent of E-bikes has made distance cycling even more achievable and enjoyable.
Older cyclists should be aware of their health and limitations. Talk to a doctor if necessary and listen to your body by taking it easy to start. Stretch and build up cardio endurance slowly over time. Your joints and muscles will thank you today and as your cardio endurance improves you can know that you are supporting a long and healthy retirement. You will be part of a large demographic wave of healthy active seniors pedaling into the future. In my favourite Facebook group, Cycling over 60, over 7,000 members worldwide share their success and challenges. Average Joe Cyclist is a Vancouver-based blogger who writes on numerous cycling topics, and he just posted an article called “Five Reasons to Take Up Cycling in Retirement.” I would respond, why wait? Start the enjoyment now! Safe travels.
Spring 2022
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Introducing Capital Bike’s ‘The Locker:’ a Bike Valet Program Sam Holland, Program Developer
Have you ever thought twice about bicycling to an event because of the risk of your bicycle, e-bike, or e-scooter getting stolen? As theft runs rampant, Capital Bike is racing to protect your transportation with a new program: The Locker. Based on the full-service bike valet program run by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition (GVCC), The Locker is an attended micromobility parking service for events. How does the Locker work? Basically, you arrive at an event on your bike or other carbon-free transportation and look for a big corral with our Capital Bike tent and a sign saying ‘The Locker.’ Head over and hand us your ride, and we’ll look after it while you’re having a great time! The Locker is free to use. Instead of charging individuals, we charge the event organizers for the service. So, for a moderate fee, event organizers can reduce auto congestion, provide a safe place for your carbon-friendly transport, and reduce the carbon footprint of the entire event.
According to Mission Local, a San Francisco news outlet, bike valets were likely started by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition in 1991 to encourage cyclists to attend city council hearings and advocate for safe infrastructure. Bike valet services are now common across North America as a way for cycling groups to encourage cycling to events and deter bike theft. Close to home, the GVCC started offering the service in 2016. In Vancouver, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation has been running bike valets since 2006. This year, Capital Bike is scaling up the GVCC’s service, with its own branding, outreach, and dedicated staff. Our hope is that The Locker will become standard at all events as safe bike parking at events becomes a basic expectation. Imagine a future where you could ride to any market, concert, or party with the confidence that Capital Bike will be there to protect your transportation while you have fun! The Locker is a small step towards making this a reality. Please contact us if you’d like to help encourage event organizers to get The Locker at their next event.
Bike Valet Parking
Photos: Bike Valet The Locker in the mist; friendly Capital Bike staff monitoring bikes in The Locker while riders attend the 2022 TC10K without worry. By Lise Jensen
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Cycling in Saanich Ed Pullman, Board Member While the number of cyclists in Saanich lags behind its nearby neighbour Victoria, total trips taken by bike far outnumber comparable metropolitan areas in Canada (5% in Saanich vs 1.6% in all metropolitan areas).
for its bike network. However, they have (so far) not followed Victoria’s lead in quickly building out a network of routes that are fully accessible to riders of all ages and abilities (AAA routes).
Between the temperate climate, multi-use trails, and some bike lanes with traffic-calmed streets, cycling can be a comfortable and pleasant experience year round; however, many parts of the municipality lack safe cycling routes and connections, greatly limiting the appeal of cycling to primarily those comfortable riding on roads with heavy traffic.
The slow and steady approach of Saanich to building bike lanes is well encapsulated by the extremely long planning process that Shelbourne Street has gone through. First proposed in 2008 and passed in 2015, Saanich has nearly completed the first of three bike lane sections of on Shelbourne. As of March 2022, Saanich is considering accelerating its bike network from 30 years to 15.
Saanich lacks the grid road network seen in Vancouver and elsewhere, where cycling routes can be established off major arterials. Streets such as Shelbourne, Maplewood, Mckenzie, and Cedar Hill Cross (where a youth was tragically struck and killed in a marked crosswalk recently) lack safe bike lanes.
Photos: Shelbourne bike lanes By Jeff Walley
Much of Saanich’s earlier successes in the 90s and 00s in cycling infrastructure came by way of the creation of the regional trail system, specifically the Lochside and Galloping Goose Trails. These trails offer downtown commuters a safe, comfortable, and beautiful route to work. Saanich was also an early pioneer in installing bike lanes and traffic calmed routes. Over the past 15 years, Saanich has continued to make incremental improvements to the cycling network, building buffered bike lanes and improving trail connections and neighbourhood traffic-calmed routes. In 2018, Saanich officially adopted an Active Transportation Plan that laid out a 30-year vision
The Generosity of a Community Hu Wallis
I’ve been involved with cycling for nearly 60 years, learning at an early age how easy it was to prematurely wear a rear tire, why not to use metal screwdrivers as tire levers, and that my daily commute to school was three times faster on a bike than taking the bus with two transfers. I’m not hardcore; I don’t like to ride when it’s raining and I go to great lengths to avoid hills especially now that my original hips are no longer with me. But I get great enjoyment from solving cycling dilemmas: repairs, logistics, routes, and safety. Some of these I have done as a Board Member and Instructor for Capital Bike, and some with family and friends.
My latest puzzle was for my daughter’s friend. She is a student who just got a job at Cobb’s Bakery, starting at 6:00 a.m. With no car and no money for a bike, she has to commute by walking, which takes her 30 minutes. When I heard about this, I reached out to my neighbours and friends and, within 12 hours, I had 12 separate offers totalling 14 bikes, one of which I can have if I can fix it! The remaining challenge is to pick out a loaner bike for her to use and repair her forever bike. What an amazing display of generosity from the cycling community!
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Fabulous Partnerships: Working with the ICA James Coates, Bike Education Coordinator
Photos by Steven Baileys
C
apital Bike has a long history of working with many fantastic community groups and doing our part to support their work: the Victoria Immigrant & Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), Our Place, Mustard Seed, many local community centres, local schools, and more. In the fall of 2021, we were approached by the District of Saanich to run an event called “Try an E-Bike” at the ICA. Students in their English language training courses, staff, and volunteers were able to experience e-bikes in fun workshops taught by our Bike Skills Instructors. Over two days, we guided groups of 12 participants through an hour-long course that included a
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classroom presentation, parking lot bike handling lessons, and a fun guided road ride. The ride was a particular hit, as participants got to experience what an e-bike can really do. This course presented us with fun new challenges as well as fantastic opportunities. It was a challenge to update all our presentations and lessons for a variety of English levels. With help from the kind staff at the ICA, as well as the fact that fun on e-bikes translates extremely well to any language, we were able to keep the course engaging and fun for all. Smiling faces in the pictures from the twoday program prove it. continued on page 15
Fabulous Partnerships continued from page 14
It was a great opportunity to build a new partnership with the ICA. We got to learn about the fantastic work they do to support newcomers to Victoria, especially as Capital Bike is proud to be a recent addition to the Community Partnership Network; a group of over 300 local organizations committed to building diverse, welcoming, and inclusive communities in Greater Victoria, and is led by the ICA. We’re grateful to the ICA, District of Saanich, CRD, and City of Victoria for supporting this fun bike event, and look forward to building sustainable, longlasting partnerships to support active transportation for newcomers to Canada in the future.
Proud to support active transportation across BC
Hon. Murray Rankin
MLA, OAK BAY - GORDON HEAD
Murray.Rankin.MLA@leg.bc.ca / 250-472-8528
Spring 2022 MRankin-CycleTherapy2204.indd 1
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2022-04-14 4:06 PM
PEDAL TO THE SEA
a short journey by cycle and canoe Kaye Lowe, Board Member
“
Good for you!” the fellow quipped, grinning at me as I slowly rumbled past on my black electric bike, bright yellow wooden canoe in tow. I was headed for Willows Beach about five kilometers distant, the electric assist on my bike making the trip with the canoe much easier in spite of the hills. This same bicycle, other than a new battery, carried my kids on a longtail seat for years, and has hauled groceries, spare tires for our car, Christmas trees, and more. This morning I had a different focus: it was perfect for a ride and paddle, two of my favourite activities! Once at the beach, it only took a few minutes to move my canoe from trailer to sand, and after locking my bicycle up I slid the canoe into the sea and got in. It felt so good to be aboard! I feel an intimacy with the ocean that can only be experienced on a tiny wooden boat, unless of course you’re swimming. After a brief vigorous paddle, I drifted in the shallows around Mary Tod Island, observing all of the life just a short distance below me. Soon though, I was at the gravel beach attempting to land so as not to disturb the shore birds.
Once ashore, I lounged on a picnic blanket observing all of the different watercraft crossing scenic Oak Bay. Several species of birds were flying about making for an idyllic setting, and inevitably I became sleepy, the sounds of gulls, boats, and people in the distance surrounding me as I lay quietly and dozed for a short while. When I woke it was time to return home, the business of the day calling me. The breeze had come up a bit, making the return paddle a little more challenging but I was soon back on the beach and organizing my bike, canoe, and trailer for the road home. A few folks said hello and one complimented me on the setup. Pedalling home, I raised a number of smiles, letting me know that this journey likely had surprised and perhaps even inspired a few others. Once home, everything was put away in time for a late lunch.
We work for you to make cycling safer, easier, and more enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities.
I find these low-carbon hyper-local journeys by bike to be some of the best trips I’ve taken. It was as though I were on holiday right here in our beautiful community!
Support advocacy, education, & events in your community!
Photos: Kaye’s bike and canoe ready to set off on a journey, Lounging on Mary Tod Island, Unpacked at Willows Beach. By Kaye Lowe
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Join today!
CAPITALBIKE.CA
2022 CRD Bike Map Alesha Hayes, CRD Communications Coordinator
The 2022 CRD Bike Map is out with new infrastructure and information! The bike map makes it easier to plan your travel with pathways and bike routes from Sidney to Sooke and beyond. Visit crd.bc.ca/bike for the online bike map and a list of locations where you can pick up a print copy. As warmer weather makes it more fun to get back on the saddle to travel on our streets and trails, the bike map can help you find the best route. The CRD Bike Map identifies the signs and symbols distinguishing the route and trail surfaces to help you plan your bike or ebike commute, leisurely recreation ride, trail climb with your mountain bike, and prepare for your next cycling marathon. The bike map includes paved multi-use trails, protected bike lanes, unpaved multi-use trails, bike lanes, road shoulders, shared streets, and difficult connections. These different routes appeal to different types of users with varying comfort levels and help give riders an idea of the kinds of experiences to expect on trails, roads, and paths. Since 2014, the CRD Bike Map has helped people of all ages and abilities ride their bikes to where they need to go, whether to work, school, various destinations for errands, or purely for fun and fitness.
Photo: cyclist stopping to admire the view from the Dallas Road separated bike lanes. By Jeff Davies
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capitalbike.ca 250.920.5775 1034 Hillside Avenue PO Box 8837 Victoria, BC V8W 3S3
