Williams Lake will be welcoming back bicycle riding season with Spring Go By Bike from June 3-9, 2024.
The community group Streets for All Williams Lake will be organizing some events once again thanks to support from Go By Bike BC, Scout Island Nature Centre’s Air Aware program and the support of local businesses.
Aimed at encouraging community members to use active forms of transportation for their own physical and mental health, as well as benefiting the environment creating cleaner air for all and reducing fuel dependency, anyone who logs rides or active transportation trips during the week is eligible for prizes.
Some local businesses will be offering discounts for those walking or cycling, providing prizes to be drawn and awarded to those who log their trips on gobybikebc.ca and provincial prizes will also be awarded to those logging trips. This includes a week-long cycling trip in Italy from Exodus Adventure Travels.
This year’s Spring Go By Bike events planned for Williams Lake so far include:
May 3 1 and June 7, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bike check, bike theft prevention info and bike valet (like a coat check for your bike) at the Williams Lake Farmer’s Market. Learn how to register you bike with Garage 529.
June 3-9, People-powered Scavenger Hunt. Solve one of the daily clues on the Streets for All Williams Lake and Go By Bike Williams Lake social media pages to find locations in the downtown core. Post a photo with the solution and say how far you biked or walked to get there and tag Streets for All Williams Lake or email the photo to streetsforallwl@gmail.com to be entered to win a prize.
Tuesday, June 4, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Brekkie, Bikes, and Brews at Smashing Smoothies. Meet up by biking or walking to have some coffee and have your trip logged to enter to win as well as socialize with other active transporters.
Friday, June 7, Meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the covered picnic tables in Boitanio Park for a Critical Mass ride. Family-friendly event. Choose from a short loop then stay and play in the bike or skate park or join the second loop for a longer ride before refreshments.
Sunday, June 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. As part of the Scout Island Marsh Magic event, bike or walk down to Scout Island. A group ride will be heading out from Boitanio Park covered picnic area around 9:30 a.m. A bike valet will be available at Scout Island during the marsh magic event to safely store bicycles.
Streets for All Williams Lake is also leading other projects in the community, including art-based projects to support youth in addressing climate anxiety with some high school students. The group will also be supporting Elder College with information sessions on e-bikes and active transportation.
Streets for All Williams Lake is a local group advocating for better active transportation infrastructure to help keep those outside of vehicles safe.
Organizers hope to see traffic-calming measures in the community combined with safe cycling and pedestrian infrastructure to help build a safer, more sustainable community.
So far, after forming two years ago, the group has been asking the city to apply for provincial funding to create an updated and practical active transportation plan in order to begin building out a safer network. This could help to connect recreation trail networks in the community and offer alternatives for those who don’t have a vehicle or would like to use active transportation.
The city of Williams Lake has since been awarded an Active Transportation Planning Grant. The province will put in up to $50,000 towards the project, with the city contributing up to another $50,000 with the goal of creating a network plan for the community.
READ MORE:2023 Williams Lake Fall Go By Bike saw more riders, less gas
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