BIKE Ride, Rally, Forum

Friday, June 2nd was a full day of BIKE fun and advocacy for better cycling infrastructure on Salt Spring Island.

Weeks of planning and promotion went into this day, focused around bike path meetings, both public and private, with the BC Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure, Hon. Rob Fleming, as well as our Gulf Islands & Saanich MLA, Adam Olsen and their teams.

We also wanted to get families out on bikes and to the bike park to enjoy the fine weather and rally for better trails. It all worked out great.

First, MLA Adam Olsen led a group of over 50 cyclists along Fulford-Ganges Road into town, to highlight the need for a bike path across the Island.

Here’s a great video of the bikeride and event! https://www.facebook.com/reel/202916469324855

Then, the Salish Sea Trail Working Group met with the Minister of Transportation, MoTI staff, and other elected officials to discuss how to get better cycling & walking trails built from Fulford to Vesuvius. Stay tuned for increased signage, line-painting, shoulder sweeping, and hopefully design assistance and funding coming this year!

Meanwhile at the Lions Bike Park at Mouats Park, Michi Main and family had set up a scoot bike course, Bryn Pyper and Naomi Tweddle were running a bicycle blender smoothie station, and all sorts of cycling safety swag was handed out to happy participants in the Family-friendly Bike Rally from 10-11am.

At 11am, the 100 Men group presented Island Pathways with a cheque for $10,000 towards this effort.

Minister Fleming and MoTI crew, along with MLA Adam Olsen arrived and gave introductory speeches, along with newly-elected CRD LCC member Gayle Baker, who leads “ASK Salt Spring” forums. We all sat down to nearly two hours of Q&A about mostly active transportation. Highlights included visualizing a car-share & cycling future, creative solutions to on-and-off road pathways and alternative pathway treatments to asphalt.

Afterwards, we all ate cake and packed up and celebrated the day. GoByBike! Thanks!