Cyclists came out in record numbers for Vernon's Ride to Work Week.

(CONTRIBUTED / iNFOnews.ca)

VERNON - Vernon cyclists joined the Bike to Work and School Week in record numbers, and one Vernon participant won a 14-day cycling adventure in Vietnam from Bike to Work BC.

During Bike to School and Work Week, 995 total cyclists participated, including 280 cyclists who were new to biking to work or school. Four elementary schools and four secondary schools participated. A total of 21,213 total kilometres were logged by participants, amounting to 4,601 kilograms of greenhouse gases (GHG) saved

Joel Carter, an information systems infrastructure team member at Kal Tire, was the grand prize winner of the Exodus Travels 14-day cycling adventure in Vietnam.

Joel Carter started participating in Bike to Work Week 10 years ago when he worked at BCIT in Burnaby. When he moved to Vernon, he found it enjoyable to bike to work during most months of the year—although he admits the Okanagan snow makes it a little difficult to bike commute in the peak winter months.

“I’d like to applaud the municipalities in the North Okanagan and their engineering and transportation departments who have put more investment in safe cycling infrastructure and events like Bike to Work Week that promote use of the infrastructure,” says Carter. “I look forward to seeing the continued growth over the years as more and more people start to use their bikes as a way to commute.”

A record number of 136 teams participated this year. Teams were grouped into five size categories: large, medium, small, mini and solo. Large and medium categories winners were determined by staff participation percentage. In the small, mini and solo categories, winners were determined by highest overall participation.

Large:  

• City of Vernon - 13.4 per cent
• Tolko - 12.3 per cent
• Kal Tire – 9 per cent

Medium:

• Kidston Elementary Staff – 55 per cent
• Seaton Secondary Staff – 32 per cent
• Kalamalka Secondary Staff – 25 per cent

Small:

• The Newbees - 14 riders, 80 trips logged
• Vernon Vortex - 14 riders, 55 trips logged
• Kerr Wood Leidel  - 5 riders, 9 trips logged

Mini:

• Cowork Vernon - 6 riders, 48 trips logged
• Fabulous Wheels - 6 riders, 35 trips logged
• Rocking Riders - 8 riders, 24 trips logged

Solo Riders:

• David Blair - 23 trips logged, 218 kilometres
• Ray Patterson - 6 trips logged, 215 kilometres

Vernon and the North Okanagan introduced an all new Bike to School Challenge between four high schools. W.L. Seaton Secondary won with the highest participation percentage:

W.L. Seaton Secondary - 10per cent participation (84 riders, 1665 kilometres)
Kalamalka Secondary - 3.5 per cent participation (17 riders, 336 kilometres)       
Vernon Secondary School - 3.4 per cent participation (31 riders, 513 kilometres) 
Fulton Secondary – 1 per cent participation (21 riders, 75 kilometres)               

Four elementary schools participated this year: Ellison Elementary, Harwood Elementary, Alexis Park Elementary and Beairsto Elementary. Each school hosted celebration stations for their students and community members. Together, the elementary schools had 371 cyclists who rode 2,782 kilometres.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016