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The final numbers show that 6,167 Central Okanagan cyclists participated at least once during Bike to Work Week, May 10-17. This was the fifth Bike to Work Week held in the region, the second annual Bike to School Week and the first Bike to Worship Week.
"The best part of this campaign was that it drew a total of 1,135 new cyclists (417 BTW commuters and 718 students) which showed how beneficial this initiative is to reducing the number of single occupant vehicles on our roads" said Wendy Majewski, Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Central Okanagan residents had a real breath of fresh air during Bike to Work/School/Worship Week since an estimated 76,728 kilograms of CO2 emissions were prevented from entering the atmosphere. Cyclists travelled a combined total of 106,903 km - equivalent to cycling around the world almost three times (51,127 km from commuter cyclists, 48,011 km from students and 1,765 km from the new Bike to Worship participants).
Congratulations to the Winning BTW Teams:
Educational Category:
1st Place: Spring Valley Middle School with 52.5 % participation - winning a Cora Bike Rack
2nd Place: Raymer Elementary Ravens with 29.6 % participation
Government/Health Care/Transportation:
1st Place: Parkinson Recreation Aqua Spinners with 53% participation - winning 764 Restaurant certificates 2nd Place: Kelowna District Society for Community Living with 45% participation - winning 764 Restaurant certificates Industrial:
1st place: PCL Constructors West Coast Inc.: 33.4% participation - winning Wild Apple Restaurant & Lounge certificates 2nd Place: Golder Associates Kelowna: 28.6% participation - winning Monashee Bike Tour
Media/Retail/Goods and Services (Professional and Consulting):
1st Place: New Town Architecture and Urban Design with 21.28% participation - winning 764 Restaurant certificates
2nd Place: Quality Greens Farm Market with 19.6% participation - winning 764 Restaurant certificates
Mini Team (10 employees or less):
1st Place: Opus International Consultants Ltd. With 93.2% participation - winning Summerhill Pyramid Winery Champagne Brunch and Wine Tour for four
2nd Place: Fresh Air Experience/Concept with 81% participation - winning Wild Apple Restaurant & Lounge certificates
This year marked the first provincial campaign for Bike to Work Week, with cities on Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, the Interior and the North drawing thousands more people out of their cars and onto their bicycles.
"The response from our local bike shops and business community was enormous, with 45 sponsors contributing to 26 bike giveaways - 19 of these were to schools," says Majewski. Students also received free passes to Okanagan Challenge soccer, Kelowna Falcon baseball and Okanagan Sun football games, and Westside Warriors family packs for next season. Commuter cyclists enjoyed the excitement of a chance to win a free bike at the celebration stations along with free coffee, pancakes and sausages and breakfast snacks all week long.
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For more information, contact:
Wendy Majewski
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
250 469-8817
Tom Wilson
Community & Media Relations
250 469-8663
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