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Tri-Cities' encouraged to bike to work, school amid rising fuel prices

The organization behind Go by Bike Week is predicting up to 7,500 residents to swap the four wheels for two.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

Prices at the pump of recent have forced some Tri-City residents to search for other means of transportation.

With Go by Bike Week starting Monday (May 30), people of all ages are being encouraged to break out the two-wheelers in an effort to raise awareness on recreation, health and cycling's environmental benefits.

HUB Cycling, the non-profit organization behind the spring campaign, is predicting up to 7,500 Metro Vancouver residents — including those in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody — to bike to work or school next week.

Spokesperson Kate Shen believes, with gas prices fluctuating above $2 a litre, it might be time to consider other commuting options. "Driving 1 km in your car costs between $13 to $20 dollars, whereas cycling 1 km costs nothing," she said in a news release.

"With the large investment in cycling infrastructure on the roads and at SkyTrain stations, more people are seeing cycling to transit stations as a convenient, safe, and affordable way to get around."

There are hundreds of kilometres of bike lanes across the Tri-Cities, and municipalities have since uprgaded areas to accommodate local bikers.

For example, Coquitlam has added bike maintenance stations at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, the City Centre Aquatic Complex — complete with basic repair tools to change a flat tire, adjust brakes and more.

TransLink also added bike parkades at the Burquitlam and Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain stations.

The City of Coquitlam has also upgraded its app to include bike route and traffic maps across Metro Vancouver for two-wheeled commuters.

"Coquitlam has recently adopted new bylaw amendments, including increased numbers of bike parking spaces, bicycle maintenance and end-of-trip facilities in new buildings, to encourage cycling in the community and make it easier for future residents and commercial office users to travel by bike," said Dragana Mitic, city transportation manager, in a separate statement.

"In addition, Coquitlam is closely examining the role of micromobility — the use of light transportation modes such bikes and scooters, both human-powered and electric-assist — as part of the update to the City’s Strategic Transportation Plan, given the rapid growth in demand for these forms of transportation. Coquitlam wants to encourage sustainable modes and will pilot e-scooter this summer."

Celebration stations

Go by Bike Week takes place from May 30 to June 5.

HUB Cycling is set to host a series of pop-up stations in Port Moody and Coquitlam in hopes the public can participate in activities to celebrate the week-long event.

For more information, you're encouraged to visit HUB Cycling's website.