The cycle continues Monday.
Cycling advocacy group HUB is hoping to coax 12,000 commuters onto two wheels for Bike to Work Week, scheduled for May 29 through June 4.
“Cycling’s not only great for your health – your happiness and your wallet will also see benefits,” said Emma Cunnington, a spokeswoman for HUB.
The week is intended to “celebrate cycling” while also encouraging new riders to cruise to work without worrying about finding a parking spot.
Approximately two-thirds of new cyclists tend to stay on their bicycles two months after Bike to Work Week, according to Cunnington.
“They tend to continue to bike because they see that it’s a healthy way of commuting to work and that’s how they get their daily dose of exercise,” she said.
Many prospective cyclists are “afraid to get on their bike” due to safety concerns, according to Cunnington. To overcome that fear, she recommended researching safe cycling routes or reaching out to more experienced cyclists.
During Bike to Work Week, cyclists can make pit stops at eight stations across the North Shore for treats, mechanical advice and camaraderie. Stations will generally be open for about two hours. Sites include Capilano University, 14th Street and Argyle Avenue in West Vancouver, as well as bridgeheads at the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing off-ramp on Monday afternoon and at the Lions Gate Bridge Thursday afternoon.
Participants can also enter to win prizes including new bikes and a trip for two to Croatia.
Sign up at bikehub.ca/registration.
The week kicks off Saturday with a Bike-in Movie Night Saturday at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre plaza. Cyclists are invited to park their bikes, spread a blanket and watch Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The screening will be cancelled if it rains. Movie loving cyclists are asked to RSVP through HUB’s Facebook page.
