KAMLOOPS — Starting Monday Kamloops residents will be encouraged to get out of their cars and onto their bikes for Bike to Work Week.
It’s a province-wide initiative seeking to reduce greenhouse gases while inspiring a healthy lifestyle.
The week is filled with events promoting the earth-friendly method of transportation and celebration stations will be set up at locations around the city to cheer on registered cyclists.
Thompson Rivers University has extended the Bike to Work event to last an entire month. The university has a number of events planned, including a bike maintenance course and a free breakfast on June 1.
Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator, James Gordon says cycling is a great way to commute.
“There’s the environmental part, there’s the physicality part, there’s the spiritual part, there’s the just feeling great being on a bike,” Gordon said. “So we just want to encourage that as much as possible.”
Concerns such as safety and commuting distance may hold people back, but event coordinator, Faith Bateman is hoping to tear down the barriers which would keep people off their bikes.
“If it’s a matter of a hill, well take the bus part way. You can put your bike on the rack and the bus drivers are so helpful in that regard,” she said.
“If you live out far, like in Barnhartvale or Dallas, maybe you want to drive in part of the way and then cycle the rest. So there’s lots of ways to get around the hills or the distances.”
People can register for the event on the Bike to Work website.
