The Town of Sidney has made four take-home bike repair kits available at the local library to encourage active transportation.
The kits can be borrowed from the Vancouver Island Regional Library Sidney branch for one week. The kits aim to make it easier for people to maintain their bikes.
Additionally, a bike repair station has been installed by Sidney outside the library.
“The Town of Sidney is taking a multi-layered approach to helping community members choose active transportation like walking or cycling more often. Not only are we creating a bike boulevard on Bowerbank Road, offering free cycling workshops, participating in Go-By-Bike Weeks, and improving bike parking options downtown, we are also making it easier for residents to keep their bikes in good condition,” said Cliff McNeil-Smith, mayor of Sidney.
“We don’t want the cost of bike tools or repairs to be a barrier for community members.”
Between Feb. 25 and March 10 there will be five bike skills courses offered by Sidney and hosted by Capital Bike to help adults become accustomed to riding e-bikes and teaching children bike skills.
The BC Alliance for Healthy Living funded the skills courses, bike repair kits and bike repair station.
These three initiatives build on Sidney’s Active Transportation Plan which was approved by council in July 2023. The plan aims to consider spending $1 million each year over 10 years to improve active transportation in the town through developing new sidewalks and improving crosswalks and bike boulevards.
Laura Brougham
