Sustainable mobility week coming up in Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke's Center for sustainable mobility announced on Tuesday the programming for this year's 8th edition of "Sustainable Mobility Week," which will take place from the 16th to the 22nd of September. As in past years the week will involve activities that highlight and support the advantages of alternative forms of transportation including carpooling, ride-sharing, cycling, walking, running, and public transit, among other options.
“Sherbrooke is one of the cities in the avant garde of sustainable mobility,” said the Centre for Sustainable Mobility’s President, Marc Denault, pointing out that among other things, the city has one of the highest concentrations of
electric vehicles in the province. Denault referred to the week as, “an opportunity for everyone to take concrete steps to reduce greenhouse gasses.”
Jean Pinard, longtime volunteer with the Sherbrooke cycling club, was selected as the honourary chairperson of this year's week for sustainable mobility. Pinard was cited as a model citizen within the theme of the week for the fact that he has been cycling to work in downtown Sherbrooke from his home in Rock Forest for the last 31 years.
“My bike is my way of getting around in the city,” Pinard said that in more than three decades of biking an average of 25 km per day he has seen significant positive change in the way the city and its businesses plan with cycling commuters in mind. “31 years ago my boss and I were the only ones biking to work and my colleagues looked at me like I was an alien,” he recalled. “Two weeks ago our office had to renovate its bicycle storage space because there was not enough room.”
Activities for the week include Park(ing) day, a day when businesses and the city are encouraged to temporarily transform their parking spaces into spaces people can use to play or relax; the “Defi sans auto solo” a challenge that encourages people not to drive to work alone; “bring a friend days” on the bus network, where pass holders can bring a friend along for free; and others
More information on sustainable mobility week is available at www.mobilitedurable.qc.ca