While you might be glad for your snow tires today, the local climate action group is hoping you’ll also start thinking about your bicycle tires.
Collingwood Climate Action Team (CCAT) is bringing back the 30 Days of Biking Challenge starting April 1, for the second year in a row.
The local group joined the worldwide challenge last year for the first time, and though April can have one foot in winter’s door and the other in spring, the group maintains it’s a good month to bring out the pedal power.
“The advantage of April is that people learn to ride in variable weather and can figure out the gear,” said Laurel Hood, a member of CCAT. “There has been research that shows that people will travel by bike all year round in all temperatures if there is safe infrastructure that is maintained like we currently only maintain our roads.”
The biking challenge came to Collingwood last year, and Hood said there were 200 people registered to participate in the inaugural challenge and several people who said the challenge helped them make new habits.
“Sixty people answered our survey giving us really valuable feedback about how cycling in Collingwood could be improved,” said Hood, who noted the comments calling for more bike racks and safer routes were passed on to Collingwood council and the trails and active transportation committee. “I believe the people who would choose a bike for a local trip are already here. It is the safe bike infrastructure that needs to catch up.”
This year, the challenge will include guided tours with CCAT and educational information on the benefits of getting out on your bike as early as possible.
Anyone wishing to participate can register at collingwoodclimateaction.com. Following registration, you can log your bike rides, from a quick pedal around your garage to a 100-kilometre charity ride, there’s no minimum or maximum distance.
Skipping a day or two is also permitted, the idea is to make the event as fun or as serious as you want it to be.
“Our hope is that more and more people get involved,” said Hood. “Long-term, I hope it helps turn Collingwood into a more bike-friendly town. All the research is showing that biking is good for business, good for your health, and good for air quality when bikes are chosen instead of cars.”
The 30 Days of Biking Challenge runs from April 1-30.
