HUB Cycling is encouraging students and their families to leave their cars at home and walk, bike or roll to school this week.
During this unprecedented school year, more than 110+ schools across Metro Vancouver are keeping school culture alive in a safe, active and physically distanced way by participating in Bike to School Week.
From May 31-June 4, the annual event aims to recognize the impacts of active travel on students’ mental and physical health, academic performance, and safety in school zones.
For the first time ever, Bike to School Week will occur twice in the same school year, with the last event taking place in September 2020.
“Bike to School Week brings together communities and fosters school culture during a unique and challenging time. We hope the semi-annual nature of this year’s event will reinforce the range of benefits that students have when they incorporate active transportation into their trips to and from school,” says Madeleine Service, HUB Cycling’s Engagement Manager.
HUB Cycling began organizing Bike to School Week in Metro Vancouver in 2013, and since then there has been huge growth in the number of schools supporting and encouraging active travel.
Danica Palmer, principal at Neilson Grove Elementary in Ladner, is a longtime supporter of Bike to School Week.
“Bike to School Week is a great reminder for our families of how easy it is to bike to and from school. We are lucky to live in a very bike-friendly neighborhood. We now have to add a bike rack since it has been so popular with our students,” said Palmer.
Delta schools participating this week include: McCloskey elementary, Ladner elementary, Holly elementary and Neilson Grove elementary.
Go by Bike Week
Also this week, HUB Cycling’s Go by Bike Week returns to Metro Vancouver from May 31 to June 6 to celebrate cycling in all its glory.
Formerly known as ‘Bike to Work Week’, HUB Cycling's popular, bi-annual event takes on a new name this Spring as ‘Go By Bike Week’.
“This change was made to be more mindful of the many people who are still working or learning from home or may currently be out of work during the pandemic. The bicycle has a part in everyone’s life, whether you’re cycling to work or not, and we want our event to reflect that,” says Negar Naghshinehpour, HUB Cycling’s Bike to Work Week Manager.
During the week-long event, HUB Cycling encourages people to get out and ride their bikes anywhere and everywhere. Participants are encouraged to log their bike trips during the week at: btww.ca for a chance to win great prizes like a cycling adventure for two in Croatia, track kilometers, and see how many greenhouse gas emissions have been saved by ‘going by bike’. All bike trips count - trips to work, the grocery store, the gym, for leisure, and beyond.
HUB Cycling is also partnering with local bike shops across Metro Vancouver to provide participants with complimentary basic bike maintenance at their shop during Go by Bike Week. Participating shops include: Ray’s Cycle Service in Tsawwassen.
