Bikes Lined Up at Start Line
By Michelle Thompson - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial - April 23, 2008 (View story with photo)
Cowichan secondary teacher Alex Haddad and colleagues Warren Chapman (left) and Craig Lauridsen hope others help them recognize bike to work week.
Expect to see colleagues arriving to work with insects stuck to their teeth soon.
After all, Bike to Work Week is bound to keep participants grinning, according to those organizing the annual initiative.
“It’s such a positive event,” enthused Dr. Richard Stanwick, chief medical officer with the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
“There are lots and lots of reasons why it’s a good idea.”
The chuffed doctor will join others outside MP Jean Crowder’s office on Thursday to kick-off the annual event, which runs June 2 to 8.
While some participate for environmental reasons, there are also legitimate health benefits associated with cycling to places of employment regularly.
“A 15-minute bike ride to and from work will burn off the equivalent of 11 pounds of fat in a year,” Stanwick said. “It’s the right thing to do, but it’s also very good for you.”
A desire to keep fit is, in part, what inspires Dr. Gerald Philippson to cycle to his Duncan orthodontist office Monday to Friday. Participating in Bike to Work Week won’t affect Philippson’s schedule a bit, since he’s been pedalling to work since 1998.
“My incentive for participating? Fitness and environmental issues,” Philippson said. “It would would be nice to minimize my environmental footprint if I can.”
Those are just a few of the perks associated with biking to work, according to Warren Chapman, who helped organize the event.
“I know cycling is good for the environment. I know it’s good for fitness. I know it’s good for my pocket book,” Chapman said.
“Maybe people just need to give it a try and find out it’s not as hard as they might have thought.”
Prizes will be awarded to some teams following the week-long event and, when it begins, juice and food stands will be erected at Beverly Corners to keep cyclists well nourished.
The Bike to Work Week kick-off begins at 2:15 p.m. Thursday at 126 Ingram Street in Duncan.
For more information, email cowichan@biketowork.ca.
