In this series we stop people along the bike lanes in Vancouver and have chats with them about their thoughts on cycling, their bikes, and more. Have a look at the archive HERE.
Name?
Gavin.
Does your bike have a name?
It doesn't have a name but it does have something like a personality or aura. I found that out while riding around for two weeks solid in Europe. There was one point where the person I was with fell over and I just had a total appreciation for my bike taking care of me. I definitely get that it is a female.
Where are you from?
Dublin, Ireland.
How long have you lived in Vancouver for?
I would say the better part of 10 years now. I did go back for two and a half years in between.
What made you choose Vancouver?
You mean why can't I leave? The summers. The winters I'm busy enough now. I love the mountains and love getting outside of the Lower Mainland to drive up to Whistler. Even going on the ferry to go and see my girlfriend's parents is gorgeous with the water and mountains. Then in the summer it seems like everyone is having a good time. After work they all flock to the beaches or the parks, which is a very unique-to-Vancouver lifestyle.
Have you always been a cyclist?
I had a bike growing up, but I got more into it when I went on a biking tour around Northern Europe in 2005. My friend and I went from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. It was hard to organize but it was totally worth it and I think that's what really got me into it.
Did you camp along the way?
We did, as there are loads of easy places to camp and little villages with cheap hostels. They have well-paved roads along the highways just for bikes all along Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.
Since you brought your bike over from Ireland, are you especially worried about bike theft in Vancouver?
I wouldn't say that I'm worried but I am definitely cautious. I'll bring it inside with me whenever possible, and when I can't I usually make sure that it's at least left at a busy intersection. I think I would be heartbroken if it was stolen.
Is bike theft as common in Dublin as it is in Vancouver?
Not at all. It seems as though Vancouver just has a culture of bike theft. You have more serious crime in Ireland, but you have more petty crime and theft in Vancouver.
What part of town do you live in?
I live on 10th Avenue pretty much at Commercial Drive which is a great location and price. I also live with some awesome people from my rugby team so that helps.
Do you bike quite frequently?
I'll bike in the spring and summer, but then as soon as it gets too rainy, I'll generally retire it for the season as I lose interest. I bike to rugby practice twice a week which is at Trout Lake, and then I have a game every Saturday.
It must be nice to live along a bike path.
It is nice for getting to places, but something that I frequently encounter along there is that I will be pulling into my house on my bike at night, and not be able to see a cyclist ahead of me on the street because they aren't wearing a light. Ok helmets, fine, don't wear at your own risk because that's your own personal safety, but a light? That includes my safety and everybody else's. In the summer I would say about 50 percent of the bikes that I come across don't have lights. In the winter at least it is a little bit better because it is only the real cyclists who are braving the cold weather.
Are you looking forward to anything for this spring or summer?
Well I jumped on a deal for cheap tickets from Vancouver to LA, which was a $64 return ticket. My girlfriend and I are going down in May to just check out the sights. There are rugby tournaments that go on, but also just looking forward to the sort of weekends where you meet up and hang around.
Is there anything that you would change about cycling in Vancouver?
I think that Vancouver is a city that is totally on the right path with all it's improvements. It seems like it just keeps getting easier and easier to get downtown by bike, not to mention more enjoyable. There seems to be a bizarre disconnect between cyclists, pedestrians and car users that I just can't quite figure out. Back home, cycling is just another form of transportation, but over here its more of a strange dynamic between road users. I wish that could be different.
