Mayors to race trikes in support of school cycling

Coquitlam, PoCo, Port Moody mayors to pedal in Tri-Cities Tricycle Challenge, launch event for Bike to School Week

Vancouver, BC - In less than a month, schools across British Columbia will celebrate active transportation in their communities by participating in Bike to School Week, and some Metro Vancouver mayors are pitching in to inspire young riders - by racing tricycles. 

On Thursday, May 14, the mayors of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody will put foot to pedal in the first ever Tri-Cities Tricycle Challenge, which will also include friendly competition between principals from three local schools.

What: Tri-Cities Tricycle Challenge - Bike to School Week 2015 launch

When: Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 10am

Where: Banting Middle School, 820 Banting St, Coquitlam

What: A tricycle race between mayors from Tri-Cities municipalities, and 
          between principals from local middle and elementary schools

Who: Mayor Richard Stewart, City of Coquitlam 
          Mayor Mike Clay, City of Port Moody 
          Acting Mayor Darrell Penner, City of Port Coquitlam

The Tri-Cities Tricycle Challenge is supporting Bike to School Week, an annual celebration of active transportation to and from local schools, which takes place at the end of May at over 125 schools across the province. 

"Coquitlam is home to reigning Bike to School champions Hillcrest Middle School, and when they issued the tricycle challenge to other local schools, it seemed like the perfect way to inspire all Tri-Cities schools," said City of Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart. "Besides, my counterparts in PoCo and Port Moody are new to Bike to School and could use the extra wheel to get started." 

"In fact, many communities in the Tri-Cities area are perfect for biking to school, and we hope our efforts to improve cycling safety and to provide more active transportation options will encourage parents and students to walk, bike or roll to school more often."

Bike to School Week is a free event organized by HUB Cycling and HASTe BC, and includes special events, planning kits and prizes for participating schools. It coincides with spring Bike to Work Week across BC, and promotes biking to school to kids and parents as an alternative to driving. The event has grown every year, and HUB Bike to School program manager Scout Gray expects record numbers again in 2015.

"We're already way ahead of last year's numbers - we actually doubled the number of schools participating from 2013," said Gray. "Municipalities like Coquitlam are discovering the benefits of promoting cycling, in terms of its impact on student mood and concentration, on school culture, and on the health and safety of the whole community." 

"The Tricycle Challenge is a fun way to kick things off, and reinforces the fact that biking to school is good for kids, and also the whole community." 

Said Mike Smith of HASTe BC: "Traveling by bike to and from school is such a great option for students, yet so many families still drive often short distances for the school trip.  We're hoping the Tricycle Challenge encourages more schools to register for Bike to School Week this year, giving more students the chance to get on their bikes and ride." 

Now in its sixth year, Bike to School Week runs May 25-29 at participating schools across BC. Teachers and administrators can register for Bike to School Week for free at bikehub.ca/btsw (Metro Vancouver), and hastebc.org/btsw (rest of BC).