Calgarians trade four wheels for two on Bike to Work Day

CALGARY- Talk about good timing. On Friday, Mother Nature brought warm weather and sunny blue skies for Calgarians taking part in Bike to Work Day.

The annual event encourages people to park their cars for the day, and commute on two wheels instead of four.

“About 12,000 bicyclists go in and out of downtown on an average daily basis, so numbers are up about 20 per cent in the last year, and 35 per cent in the last five years,” says city cycling coordinator Tom Thivener.

However, the city says there’s room for improvement.

“We have an amazing path system in the city and that is great for recreational users and that’s great for people who can take their time, but if we really want to engage bicycle commuting we have to give space on our roads,” says councillor Gian Carlo Carra.

Work is already underway to make 7 Street S.W. bicycle friendly, but having a city-wide cycling road map will take time. A major public education campaign is now underway to teach motorists and cyclists how to share the road.

“The best thing anyone who lives in Calgary can hope for is that more and more Calgarians have the option not to drive,” Carra adds.

The growing number of cyclists is part of a North American trend that’s seeing cities develop their transportation systems to accommodate bicycles.