The Bike to Work Week challenge is on
The CALL’s Angels team is aiming for 100 per cent participation. How about your team?

by Mary Sanseverino

Wheels are turning in departments all over campus as UVic gets set to participate in Victoria’s eighth annual Bike to Work Week, May 27 – June 2.

Last year 23 teams from UVic took part in BTWW festivities and the university is on track to sign on even more bike commuters this year.
With the support of teammates and resources from the Bike to Work Society this could be just the opportunity you need to try cycle commuting. Hopefully, you’ll get hooked on the improved fitness and health benefits that cycling can bring — which is exactly what happened to members of the CALL’s Angels BTWW team.

Captained by Michael Denny, with members from the CALL facility and the humanities computing and media centre, in 2001 the Angels had the second highest percentage of commutes to work by bike in Victoria (76 per cent in the 10–20 employee group).

The team, now entering its second BTWW Commuter Challenge, is made up of cyclists with varying experience. Denny and team member Eoin Whitney are long-time bike commuters, while others have less time in the commuting saddle. Last year the team’s goal was to see how often they could cycle to work during the target week.

Today, all 12 members of the Angels have experience as cycle commuters and this year their goal is to have 100 per cent bike commuting over the target week. Team member Ali Abbott now does almost all of her commuting by bike. Greg Fanning, another of the Angel crew, stepped out of his vehicle last year for BTWW and hasn’t gone back — he commutes almost 100 per cent by bike now.

Both Abbott and Fanning credit BTWW and the encouragement of the team setting for giving them the impetus to change their commuting routines.

Captaining a team isn’t difficult. The captain registers the team, keeps track of team commutes, and sends commuting info to the BTWW Commuter Challenge. Denny says it took him a mere two hours to organize and report on the CALL’s Angels last year. This year it will be even faster since you can register your team online at <www.biketoworkvictoria.ca>. Click on Commuter Challenge, or call 920-5775 for more information.

Judy Nazar, another Angel member, says her biggest concern last year was finding safe cycle routes to UVic. This year the Bike to Work Society has planned a workshop and several one-day cycling courses especially for UVic riders.

The workshop is drop-in and will be held at the SUB in the Michele Pujol room on Wednesday, May 16 from noon to 1 p.m. It will deal with questions about routes, proper dress and equipment, how to carry cargo, what to do about “helmet hair,” and other tips and tricks of cycle commuting.

The one-day courses are sponsored by the UVic Bicycle Users Committee and are free. Taught by a nationally certified cycling instructor, they’re designed to help you improve your cycling competence and comfort level in traffic. They’re offered three times and run from 9 am – 5 pm. on May 19, May 26 and June 2. Contact Mary Sanseverino at msanseve@uvic.ca for more information.

Still not sure if BTWW is for you? Contact John Holland (jholland@uvic.ca), chair of the UVic Bicycle Users Committee to discuss how bike commuting can fit into your schedule.

For more details on Bike to Work Week events at UVic see below.

Mary Sanseverino is a senior lecturer in computer science and a spokesperson for Bike to Work Week at UVic.

Bike it, you’ll like it workshop
Wednesday, May 16. Noon – 1 p.m., SUB, Michele Pujol room. Free drop-in workshop with tips for cycle commuting, including routes, selecting proper dress and equipment, carrying cargo, how to transport children and more.

UVic cycling traffic skills course
Sundays: May 19, May 26, June 2
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Centre for Innovative Teaching, room 120. A day-long course designed to help you improve your cycling competence and comfort level in traffic. Sponsored by the UVic Bicycle Users Committee. Contact Mary Sanseverino (msanseve@uvic.ca) to register.

Bicycle support station
Monday, May 27. 3 – 5 p.m., SUB Quad. Stop by during your BTWW commute home.

Bike it or hike it
Wednesday, May 29. Noon – 2 p.m., Petch Fountain. Lunchtime celebration featuring free healthy snacks, bicycle engraving, bike demos, music and a workshop. Presented by the UVic Students’ Society.