Get Your Bikes Out!
Spring is finally here! Bicycles are blooming on the streets and paths, the smell of chain lube is in the air and helmet hair is back in fashion. Us folks in the Sustainability Office have been busy working on making improvements over the winter to the College’s bike infrastructure. Check out a laundry list below of some of the new and improved bike supports and activities on campus!
Spring Bike Events:
Given the popularity of our previous cycling-specific “Help Desks”, the Sustainability Office will once again offer a bike commuting help desk in the Roblin Atrium at EDC on Wed, May 28 from 12-4 PM. We’ll be answering questions on what to wear, how to get your bike ready to ride and the best routes to campus. We’ll also have a repair stand set up to offer free basic tune-ups and mechanical advice. Come find us to ask any questions you might have and enter our draw for a set of bike lights.
June is just around the corner and that means the Commuter Challenge is too! The Commuter Challenge (June 1st-7th) is a friendly school & workplace competition to encourage active and sustainable travel. Any kilometers you travel using active and/or sustainable modes of transportation that are related to your daily commutes qualify. That could include your bike ride, walk or roll to work, taking transit as well as carpooling. You can register for the Commuter Challenge using the RRC Polytech link here. There are lots of prizes to be won from Green Action Centre and the College’s Sustainability Office. More details on prizes soon!
Bike to Work Day is on Tues, June 10th this year. The College will be hosting a pit stop at the north side of the Omand’s Creek train bridge from 630AM-9AM. Stop by for coffee and snacks, minor tune-ups and repairs, or just some friendly chit chat with fellow RRC Polytech cyclists and staff.
PGI Bike Room Refresh : This spring saw a total overhaul of the PGI indoor bike room. New features include improved racks (both vertical and floor parking styles), a set of DIY repair tools & pump, a water bottle fill station, a door operator button, benches, lockers and even a mirror so you can finesse that helmet hair before heading to work/class.
Over the winter we added a DIY bike repair toolbox for use at Manitou a bi Bii Daziigae. It contains a basic set of bike repair tools, a pump, some chain lube, as well as some spare bike tubes in a variety of sizes. If you’re stuck at EDC with a flat tire or need to make a basic repair, check out the toolbox using your staff/student ID from the security officers at the MBDG security desk. If you need a tube to get home, please use one from the box.
New outdoor bike racks: Roblin building vestibules have had a number of rack spaces added, and with campus security seated right nearby, these spots are more secure than ever for locking your bike up. The William Ave vestibule also has a set of tools and pump for minor repairs/refills. A handful of racks are being added in the coming weeks to the Elgin Plaza, as this is a high demand parking area in spring and fall. Lastly the old racks outside of PGI, near Old Market Square, are being replaced with newer, higher quality models that will be bolted down with tamper proof hardware.
At NDC we added a set of racks at the covered main entrance just north of the bus loop. We also added a pair of racks inside the East vestibule at the bus loop, for winter cyclists who’ve wanted to keep their e-bikes warm in the winter. But feel free to use those year-round of course!
See you out there!