Spring GoByBike Week (GBBW) is the signature annual event of Capital Bike. This year’s iteration starts this coming Saturday, May 30 and runs until June 5.
To kick off Camosun’s annual participation in GBBW, on May 13 I raced David Lacey (Heavy Mechanical Dept.) in Capital Bike’s annual Commuter Challenge. The idea of the challenge is to compare the speed of a simulated commute to the Legislature by bike to one by car. Bicyclists are able to capitalize on the city’s excellent bicycle infrastructure and ride right up to the finish line. Drivers, on the other hand, have to contend with morning commuter traffic, then find a parking spot and finish the race on foot.
David and I decided to start our race from the fountain on the Lansdowne campus this year. He cycled, I drove. At the finish line Capital Bike staff and volunteers, including former CCFA President Al Morrison, were gathered to record the results, share some coffee and pastries, and compare notes.
Who do you think won our race? Even using an Evo as my secret weapon (an Evo can be parked easily and for no charge close to the Leg) I lost this year’s race by three minutes. As strange as it sounds, this is actually an improvement over last year’s results. Last year David and I raced from the CTEI building on Interurban campus. Due in no small part to the difficulty finding parking, I lost that race by about 14 minutes.
It is normal for bicyclists to win the Commuter Challenge. This year, racing from a variety of locations around the CRD, only one driver won out of 17 pairs of competitors. As an avid cyclist who knows firsthand the many benefits of commuting by bicycle, I have never been so happy to lose!
Our bicycle infrastructure continues to improve in the CRD. These improvements make going by bike more and more of a realistic alternative to driving. The Commuter Challenge was a fun way to demonstrate that reality.
If you would like to join our Camosun GoByBike team and participate by logging even just one ride for GoByBike Week (and year-round), please feel encouraged to do so. Here is your link to join the Camosun Climate Action Team. Setup is quick and logging your trips and km is easy. Then, just watch your accomplishments and climate mitigation stack up.
Camosun is sponsoring a celebration station again this year. Join us for it on June 3rd anytime between 8 AM and 10 AM at the fountain on Landowne campus. Light bike maintenance by Dave and I, treats, and a chance for prizes are all a part of it. No pre-registration required.
Whether you are joining the team and able to attend the celebration station or not you are most welcome to go and see Dave with any bike issues. He is happy to help during lunch 11:45 – 12:30 or after work (3:15pm) Whether it’s something as simple as pumping up your tires, fixing a flat, changing brake pads or adjusting gears etc, he’s happy to volunteer his time. Dave can be reached at the Interurban campus, CTEI building, room 115, Heavy Mechanical Dept tool crib. ac.nusomac@dyecaL
Contributed by Frank Jankunis, Member of the Contract Management Committee and the Camosun Climate Action Team
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