Go By Bike Week achieves new milestone

A record amount of pedal power showed up for a rebranded campaign to encourage more bike riding in the city.

Go By Bike Week drew 883 riders from

May 27 to June 2 – a 35-per-cent jump over last year’s count. Collectively, they traveled 38,132 kilometres over that time, more than double the previous edition’s total of 15,941.

“Overall, it was pretty good success,” coordinator Dane Greenwell said during a presentation at Monday night’s city council meeting.

He agreed that a lack of wildfire smoke helped with the turnout.

“I think it certainly motivated people to get out riding this year,” Greenwell said.

“I think it was the weather that really turned it around for Prince George.

“We’re one of the northernmost communities with Go By Bike Week with a large number and in past years we’ve had quite a bit of rain, so people certainly had cabin fever and definitely they wanted to capitalize with no smoke in the early part of the year.”

Part of a province-wide effort, it was previously known as Bike to Work Week. Although the renaming was meant to give it a more inclusive feel, Greenwell said it created some confusion.

Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the event, he noted, and would like to see 1,000 participants at that time.

“We need to ride this momentum,” Greenwell said.

Mayor Lyn Hall recalled holding a friendly competition with Jillian Merrick when she was a councillor. With Hall on his motorcycle and Merrick on her bike, they would meet at Southridge Elementary School and ride to a predetermined spot.

“Interestingly enough, I’d beat her each year by only two or two-and-a-half minutes,” Hall said and added that while both had to stop at the stop lights, Merrick was able to take some shortcuts.