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Words by Kristin Lillyman
It’s that time of year again already, wow this year has been flying by! It is HUB's Bike to Work Week (BTWW) here in Metro Vancouver from October 29th until November 2nd. If you haven’t heard of BTWW before, it’s a week to celebrate and encourage commuting to work by bike. If you already bike to work, this is the time to celebrate your daily commute. If you've been considering it, this is a great chance to try it out. There is lots of support for cyclists during this event and all you really need is a bike to participate. Biking to work is easier than you might think, and I can pretty much guarantee you will have fun!
If you aren't sure where to start, here are 5 tips for participating in Fall BTWW.
1.) Sign up online for a chance to win prizes
Why sign up? Not only are you showing your support for cycling infrastructure improvements (HUB tracks participation to show that cycling requires support and investment), but you also have a chance to win prizes! You have an opportunity to win a variety of prizes including cycling accessories and even the grand prize, a Norco VFR 3, simply from logging your commutes online or visiting the commuter stations around Metro Vancouver. Logging your commutes also allows you to track your kilometers cycled, GHG emissions saved, and calories burned. Pretty cool eh?
You can track your commutes individually or participate as a workplace team and compete against other teams - awards are given to organizations who log the most commutes! Check out the competition here.
2.) Check the weather and dress accordingly
Fall weather can be pretty unpredictable in Vancouver. One day last week, I biked to work in a skirt with my sunglasses on, and then biked home with rain gear in sleet. So check the weather and dress appropriately. Layers are good because even if it’s chilly and wet, you can quickly work up heat and need to peel those layers off. Even though it’s the Spring BTWW that is notoriously wet, it’s a good idea to have a rain jacket on hand to keep you nice and dry this fall as well.
Don’t feel pressure to ride if the weather is terrible, there is no shame in hopping on transit and putting your bike on the bus when the rain sneaks up on you. It’s just about biking more than you did before. I bike because I like it, and when it is pouring rain, I don’t enjoy it as much, so I often take transit instead.
3.) Ride with colleagues
As I discussed previously here , biking is always more fun when done with friends and can be a great social experience. Encourage a colleague to join you on your commute or ask someone if you can ride along with them. You might learn a new route or get a new commuting buddy (if your organization has signed up online, sign up to see who else is participating). I have met many people through riding my bike and now I often ride with others. It has made my commutes much more interesting and I always learn something new. It is pretty amazing how all of my colleagues have a different preferred route and little tricks to skip a hill, enjoy different scenery or avoid traffic.
4.) Map your route to include commuter stations
First, check out a bike route map (or use Google maps – there is a ‘bicycling’ option for mapping routes by mode), and map out your route to work. There is even an interactive route planner that lets you avoid hills and add the most greenery to your trip. HUB Commuter stations are located throughout Metro Vancouver during BTWW on many of the popular bike routes throughout the region. They are great places to fuel up with free snacks and coffee, access free bike mechanic services, pick up bike maps and goodies, and enter to win prizes. If your route is too long to bike the entire way, you can also consider combining cycling with transit. My commute is 17 km’s from Vancouver to Burnaby, so I frequently jump on the SkyTrain with my bike for part of my morning commute.
So, map out your route and make sure you include some pit stops.
5.) Have fun!
Most importantly, have fun because this week is to celebrate you and your awesome decision to ride a bike. Happy cycling everyone!
If you would like to share your stories about biking, or any tips and tricks you have, please email me at blogger@bikehub.ca.
