Victoria is known as being a bike-friendly city, and year-round we all see cyclists commuting on the Galloping Goose Trail and roadways.
Even in a very bicycle-promoting environment, there are still a lot of people who aren’t cycling. There are often two main reasons for this: The first is they aren’t comfortable cycling on roads or in bike lanes, and the second is they don’t have access to a bike.
Until a few years ago, I was one of these people, and both reasons applied to me.
A few years ago, while working a short contract with the Capital Regional District, I was introduced to the idea that if you have a long commute, you don’t need to cycle the entire way.
This resonated with me, because I live a long distance from downtown Victoria.
My manager lent me a bicycle for a few days. I would drive to a parking lot on the Galloping Goose Trail, and then cycle the rest of the way. It took me about 45 minutes to pedal to the CRD headquarters. It was a nice way to start the day.
The experience of borrowing the bicycle did prompt me to get myself one, and I started riding for fun.
Sometimes, all you need is someone to give you an introduction.
Songhees Nation has just received a grant from B.C. Healthy Communities Society and will be starting a two-part cycling initiative creatively titled the Songhees Wheelness Program that operates out of the Songhees Wellness Centre.
The first component is a new bike-share program offered to all Songhees Nation members and staff. Songhees has purchased a mixture of adult and youth bikes, so families can go out and explore together.
Using the E&N Rail Trail, members of Songhees Nation can cycle downtown in about 15 minutes.
“This is a great way to promote active transportation and get people out for recreation on the trail,” said Chris McElroy, community recreation co-ordinator for Songhees Nation.
The bikes are 2017 Pax Brodie models, and are being branded for Songhees Nation with a spiffy black and red paint job.
The program is in partnership with IsleShare Cycle, which will maintain the bicycles and service them. The bike-share program is a ride-and-return program in which the bicycles can be borrowed and returned the same day to the station at the Songhees Wellness Centre.
The bikes will have a Bluetooth wheel-locking system controlled by a phone app.
The second component to the Wheelness Program is bike skills and safety training programs geared toward the children.
The courses are a partnership between the Bike to Work Society and Songhees Nation. Each child who successfully completes the course will receive a used bike, helmet and light.
The grant funding from the B.C. Healthy Communities Society covers the costs of both the bike-share program and the bike training courses, along with the bikes, helmets and lights to be distributed.
“We want to provide an opportunity for all levels of community to engage with cycling,” McElroy said.
The successful grant application was completed as a joint effort between Songhees and the CRD.
I like the idea of offering the bike skills and safety courses to the members. Even now, I am happy to cycle on bike paths, but I am still nervous about cycling on roads, even if they include bike lanes.
I think the training can be empowering and also explains road safety to children, which is so important.
Once these two programs are launched, Songhees plans to expand the courses to include adults, and there are hopes of building the program to include mountain biking as well.
The key feature to the Songhees Wheelness Program is partnership. These programs are a collaboration from all angles, and that’s the most impressive part. Everything is better when we work together. I am excited to see how having access to bicycles and training can benefit the members of Songhees Nation.
I had someone lend me a bike for about a week once, and it made a big difference to me.
Charla Huber works in communications and Indigenous relations for M’akola Group of Societies.
