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Smart car takes local commuter challenge, but cyclists overall winners

Local celebration stations set for next week’s Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week
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Hazel Braithwaite is among the minority of car drivers who defeated cyclists May 23 in the Commuter Challenge.

Braithwaite took her Smart car while Coun. Michelle Kirby and Mayor Nils Jensen cycled downtown. The trio started at the Morgan’s Upholstery on Cadboro Bay Road just before 8 a.m. This friendly race between cyclist and vehicle is held prior to Bike to Work Week. Teams of cyclist-versus-driver begin at a starting place of their choosing and end downtown Victoria at Starbucks on the corner of Fort and Blanshard.

“Apparently I was in the minority of car winners as it seems the majority of winners were on their bikes and made great time to the finish station,” Braithwaite said.

Of the 16 teams, 12 cyclists beat their motorist counterparts, one team tied, and three motorists won.

RELATED: Cyclists win bike to work challenge

“Councillor Kirby looked trendy in her tweed helmet and the mayor had on his Bike to Work shirt … I think in the hopes it would make him faster,” Braithwaite said. “I was able to make it downtown in record time as I don’t think I hit one light along the way – and of course because I was in my Smart car, parking was much easier than had I been in a larger vehicle.”

Jensen blames the lights for the loss.

“It was great fun and we were defeated by a couple of badly timed stop lights,” he said. “We just missed a couple of green lights that had we been able to get through those it would have been a much closer race. We had a good strategy and that was to bicycle as fast as we could but it just wasn’t enough. The lights were against us.”

The commuter challenge is the first event of Bike to Work Week, which runs from May 28 to June 3.

“It was a ton of fun to be involved in the challenge and next year I might consider riding my bike – but I may have to find a cool helmet like Michelle’s,” Braithwaite said.

Bike to Work Week began in Greater Victoria in 1995 with the objectives of raising the profile of commuter cycling and introducing new people to the benefits of cycling to work. Since its inception, Bike to Work Week has introduced more than 14,500 people to commuter cycling.

“It raises awareness for cycling and the efficiency of cycling. In most instances you can get to your place of work from door to door in as fast, if not faster, by bicycle,” Jensen said. “By biking you’re increasing your own physical health and you’re contributing to the (health of the) environment.”

“It’s trying to deal with the perception that cars are much faster and in an urban environment that’s not always true. It also shows how fun biking can be.”

The Commuter Challenge is the first Celebration Station of the season with free coffee, snacks, prizes and a cheering crowd of supporters.

Local celebration stations during Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week that starts May 28 include Camosun Lansdowne campus and the UVic fountain on May 29 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and May 29 at Royal Jubilee Hospital from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and one on May 30 at Oak Bay municipal hall from 4 to 6 p.m.

To date, more than 980 teams have registered online at www.biketowork.ca/Victoria.


 
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com

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Christine van Reeuwyk

About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk

I'm dedicated to serving the community of Oak Bay as a senior journalist with the Greater Victoria news team.
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