Friday, May 7, 2021 6 am- 9am
by Molli Bennett
The 14th Annual Bike to Work Day is approaching! Bike to Work Day celebrates cycling as a means of transportation. There is no sign up or registration fee required. This event is a lot of fun and is a great way to celebrate active transportation. The mission of Bike to Work Day Calgary is “to encourage cycling in the city to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a healthy lifestyle for all.”
This year will look a bit different because of COVID-19 but we are still excited to participate in the festivities. From 6-9 am on Friday May 7th energy stations will be strategically placed through downtown. Visit the Bike to Work Day website for a map, prize information, and more details. As you pass by you will be counted and given encouragement and support from the event volunteers. Organizers are asking cyclists to keep the current 10-person cap on outdoor gatherings in mind and remind you to mask up if you are within 6 feet of a volunteer or another rider.
Bike to Work Day is supporting Two Wheel View this year. Two Wheel View is a local non-profit that uses bikes as a tool for positive change in the lives of youth. For every rider counted during Bike to Work Day $1 will be donated to Two Wheel View.
When asked about the event Laura Istead, Executive Director of Two Wheel View, said “The team at Two Wheel View is so grateful to Bike to Work Day YYC and Lonny Balbi for their support of our organization through this event. It’s been a challenging time for fundraising since the start of the pandemic and Bike to Work Day YYC will help us keep rolling forward and get more young people on two wheels. We love that this event is right in our (bike) lane too! I encourage all Calgarians who are able to jump on their bikes and pass by the Bike to Work Day stations on May 7th!”
Bike Calgary acknowledges that not everyone who bikes to work, works in the downtown core and that the location of the energy stations will be a barrier to participation for some. However, we are proud to encourage our members to find an energy station located along their morning commute. If you work elsewhere or are working from home we encourage you to go for a morning spin to a station! We applaud the organizers for their work on this event as well as their continued support of Two Wheel View.
Picture Credits: Bike to Work Day 2021; Two Wheel View