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Bike to Work Week returns to the Sea to Sky

Whistlerites encouraged to get in gear from may 25 to 31
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Pedal to the people Over 300 Whistlerites have committed to Bike to Work Week. photo by blazej lyjak / shutterstock

For many Whistlerites, every week is bike to work week.

For the rest of us, May 25 to 31 is a chance to get in gear.

Bike to Work Week returns to Whistler and the Sea to Sky for the fourth consecutive year on May 25.

As of May 19, 323 Whistlerites had already committed to the cause.

"It seems like there's a really high participation rate in Whistler," said Kari Mancer, program coordinator with the Sea to Sky Clean Air Society.

"Last year we had a competition between (Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton), where the community with the highest per capita participation won a bike rack, and Whistler won by a landslide. Whistler is probably on track to win again."

Once again, the three communities will square off in a friendly competition to see which municipality can get the most cyclists on the road.

According to the RMOW, last year Whistler had 41 teams and 327 riders participate, collectively cycling 8,019 kilometres and avoiding the creation of 1,737 kilograms of greenhouse gases.

While biking to work is second nature for some, others may experience barriers to making it part of their everyday routine, Mancer said.

Having a well-planned route and taking safety and weather conditions into account are important, but perhaps the biggest hurdle for some is apparel.

"Are you going to show up to work sweaty? Or do you pick an outfit that will work OK for both?" Mancer said.

"Is it a cycling-friendly workplace? What if you show up and your hair is a little bit messy from biking to work? Is that going to be frowned upon?"

The eternal struggle of the cycletariat.

Having a boss who is supportive of cycling helps, but Bike to Work Week is all about cooperation and support, Mancer said.

"The team leader is supposed to get everyone motivated and help them either plan out their route or just give them that extra little push to get going for the first time," she said.

"With that support then hopefully they'll keep riding for most of the year."

To get involved with Bike to Work Week head to www.biketowork.ca.

Even if you're one of those who would be biking anyway, your participation helps, Mancer said.

"It's beneficial to get more people registered because showing those high numbers shows the province and shows our community that we have a need for more funding towards cycling infrastructure," she said.

So far 44 communities across the province have signed up to participate.

Province-wide prizes include a cycling trip from Prague to Budapest.

The RMOW has been participating since 2013 and has three teams registered for this year's event.

"The organization is committed to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, the single greatest contributor to climate change," an RMOW spokesperson said in an email.