Cavers victorious in 2nd Commuter Challenge

Posted on May 17, 2014 in Environment, Health // 1 Comment

Lined up an ready to race at the Commuter Challenge.

Lined up and ready to race at the Commuter Challenge.

NEWS — Bicycles won the day in the second annual Commuter Challenge.

Coun. Donovan Cavers finished the course on his bike in 14 minutes. James Gordon, representing the TRU Dept. of Environment and Sustainability, took 16 minutes, also on his bike.

Third place went to Mayor Peter Milobar, at 19 minutes, in his big fuel-guzzling truck.

A Porsche, two harley Davidson motorcycles, an electric car, a truck, an E-bike and three bikes competed. The challenge consisted of six stops, starting at TRU and ending at the Art We Are on Victoria Street.

The Commuter Challenge is a precursor to Bike to Work week May 26 to June 1, part of the provincial Bike to Work B.C. program. Its mandate is to encourage and promote the use of the bicycles as transportation to and from work or school.

The goal this year is to have 1,250 cyclists commuting to work, including 300 first-timers. Participants can register and keep track of their kilometres and log them at the Bike to Work Kamloops site.

Last year, 918 cyclists participated in the weeklong event and 204 of them registered as first-time commuters.

Like other years, the event will include Celebration Stations around Kamloops for the morning and afternoon commutes, where cyclists can stop to refuel with free snacks and enter to win bike-related prizes. There will be a wrap-up BBQ after work on Friday, May 30. This year, participants can look forward to even more events leading up to and during the week including: bike maintenance courses and Bike to School Week. Expanding these events means that more volunteers are needed.

Bike to Work Week is supported by the City of Kamloops and the province of B.C.. Kamloops is one of 35 B.C. communities participating through Bike to Work B.C., a non-profit organization.