Go by bike all winter

Photo: Pixabay

Penticton will play host to a pilot project aiming to get people choosing to commute by bike, even in the fall and winter.

Previously known as Bike to Work Week, GoByBike Week will replace that annual spring activity, and is looking to expand to the fall from Oct. 15 to 29.

"This year for the first time they got funding to try and provide a GoByBike Week in the fall, because it's not just that you want people riding in the beautiful sunny weather, that's great, but for transportation use, you want to get people riding all year long," Karina Chambers, GoByBike coordinator for Penticton, said. 

"We want to encourage people to get back out, if they've stopped riding, to kind of start riding again, and give them some tools and some education around how to ride in rain, and snow, if you want."

Penticton is one of just a handful of communities around B.C. that got the funding to test out the pilot program. 

"We get people to register online, and then during the weeks, they log their kilometres," Chambers said. "That lets us know how many people are riding and we track all of that data. Teams can compete against each other."

Once a participant has logged in and logged kilometres, they are eligible in the grand prize draw for a cycling trip for two in Sicily. 

"You don't have to ride far, it's not based on how many kilometres, it's just based on that you rode anywhere," Chambers said.

There will be two movie nights hosted by GoByBike throughout the period, held at 

"One is the movie 'Bikes vs Car,' at Cowork Penticton, and the other is 'Bicicles,' at Smugglers Smokehouse, which is a documentary about biking in the winter in Calgary. So it should give people some tips about riding in the snow if they want to," Chambers said. They take place Oct. 12 and 17, respectively, at 6 p.m.

A third movie night is also in the works, with the film to be announced. 

Each of the events will also feature bike experts on hand to answer questions, and displays of winter bike gear. 

For more information or to register to participate, click here.