People on bikes challenge transit and cars to see who has the fastest, most enjoyable commute
10 Teams including New West Mayor/Councillors, Vancity & TransLink Executives
WHEN: Wednesday, May 24th, 2017, 8:30am-9:30am. Most participants to arrive between 8:45am and 9:00am
WHERE: Teams will be commuting to London Drugs (corner of Georgia and Granville) in downtown Vancouver.
WHAT: Bike commuters from 10 different organizations will challenge their car driving and transit taking colleagues to see whose commute downtown in morning rush hour is the fastest, most enjoyable and affordable.
Company teams consisting of one person in a car, one on transit and one on bike will start from locations around the Metro Vancouver area, and see who can arrive first at London Drugs downtown (corner of Georgia and Granville). Participants are aiming to arrive by 9:00am. Short speeches from Vancouver City Councillor Heather Deal and Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association President/CEO Charles Gauthier will follow.
Photo opportunities available with participants.
Interview opportunities available at finish line.
Opportunity for media to accompany teams on their commute.
WHY: Biking to work is not only the healthiest, most affordable and greenest way to commute, it’s also much more convenient than most people think. Since the first Rush Hour Challenge took place in 2009, people cycling have arrived before their colleagues more than two-thirds of the time. And in 2016, for the first time, it was a clean sweep for the bikes. Can bikes reign supreme again?
This event is the Media Launch for HUB Bike to Work Week, which runs from May 29 to June 4. Now in its 10th anniversary, the 2017 spring Bike to Work Week will involve over 12,000 online participants and 700 organizations. Thousands more will attend the 70+ free outdoor events.
THE TEAMS:
City of New Westminster (including Mayor Jonathan Cote on transit, Councillor Patrick Johnstone on bike, Councillor Lorrie Williams in a car)
TransLink (including Geoff Cross, VP Transportation/Planning on bike)
Vancity
City of Vancouver
Richards Buell Sutton LLP Lawyers
The Georgia Straight
Reckless Bike Stores
HUB Cycling
Mobi by Shaw Go
Bike Doctor
Daiya Foods
ABOUT HUB CYCLING:
HUB is a charitable nonprofit that has spent nearly two decades removing barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver, while cultivating the health, environmental and economic benefits that active transportation can bring. HUB has educated thousands of people, motivated thousands more, and championed improvements that benefit current and future cyclists. HUB Cycling’s mission is to get more people cycling more often. For more information, visit bikehub.ca.
Media Contacts:
Emma Cunnington
Bike to Work Week Manager
604-719-4503
Emma@bikehub.ca
Ellie Lambert
Director of Communications
604-358-3507
Ellie@bikehub.ca
