The influence of Bicycle Month reached city council chambers Monday with requests to support Bike to Work Week.
May 26 to June 1 is Bike to Work week in Salmon Arm. To get the city onboard, council received a presentation from Shuswap Healthy Communities Coalition representatives Dr. Brian Ayotte, Interior Health acute care services director for the Thompson, Caribou, Shuswap region, Peter du Toit, and Shuswap Bicycle Club president Al Journeau.
Ayotte commented on the desire of the coalition and the Shuswap Trail Alliance to plan for facilities for walking and biking, stating there is a shortage of marked, safe biking lanes in the city.
“The only one I’m aware of is the one out through the Industrial Park, and I think it would be a good idea to change that… this is particularly an issue west of Salmon Arm, where there are serious safety issues related to the Trans-Canada Highway and the CPR main line, in terms of pedestrian and bicycling enthusiasts.”
Ayotte said Bike to Work Week is the first issue the coalition has wanted to make a public statement on, before allowing Journeau to continue the presentation. He commented on the success of the Salty Dog event, before telling council about the Do the Shuswap Challenge, a three-week promotion with School District #83 encouraging students to walk and bike to school. This goes until the end of the month and, for the last week, will run in conjunction with Bike to Work Week.
Journeau said the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has come onboard with Bike To Work Week in terms of registered participants, unlike the City of Salmon Arm. Sponsors are also few, three to be exact. He noted there will be celebration stations throughout May, including one at Uptown Askew’s. Journeau asked that another station be allowed in front of city hall, to be run by a volunteer from the city, as well as volunteer from the bike club and a bike mechanic.
As for funding, Journeau said the club gets money for the Bike to Work Week prizes and celebration sites based on registered riders.
“Last year we got $1,700 and that was for 75 registered riders, so our goal this year is 125, and if we get more than that, that would be great,” said Journeau, encouraging council and staff to register, noting people can ride or walk to work.
“The more people we get to register, the more money the B.C. government gives us,” said Journeau.
“It’s great to see you guys take this over, it’s been a long, long haul for this,” commented Chad Eliason, who was instrumental in getting Bike to Work Week off the ground.
“After volunteering at the Salty Dog this weekend and watching 680 people circling around 6.7 kilometres of fairly rigorous terrain over a period of six hours, I think the least I can do is ride my bike to work,” said Coun. Denise Reimer.
To learn more about Bike to Work week, visit www.biketowork.ca/shuswap.