As another cyclist pedals onto the Galloping Goose Trail, a volunteer “counter” marks her paper.
“During this week in May” says Capital Regional District Research Analyst Jay Douillard, “we’re actually counting cyclists throughout the region. We do this again in October, and what we’re doing is collecting data that we’ll share with the municipalities, so they can apply for grants, and they can also see the improvements that they’re making, and what impact that is making.”
The counters are all volunteer and are spread throughout the CRD, including on Salt Spring Island.
“We have some excellent volunteers,” says Douillard “who work with us year after year. They’re just so passionate about what they’re doing and they keep coming back and working with us.”
People like volunteer Janet Besler, who proudly admits “yes, I do describe myself as passionate about cycling.”
Besler will provide the CRD with the data she acquires.
“What routes are popular, and whether there’s kids on bikes, or moms on bikes, and it’s really nice to be able to do that,” says Besler.
Along with volunteering to “count,” Besler has also organized Tweed Ride Victoria for the last five of its eight years.
“It’s such a worthy cause,” says Besler, “And there’s a group of people, about 100, that just love the Tweed Ride. You’ll see such wonderful clothes, and wonderful retro-bikes. It’s fun!”
It’s not only fun, it’s a fundraiser too for Bicycles for Humanity, which sends bikes to Africa.
“The chapter here in Victoria has picked Malawi as their community,” says Besler. “They have, to date, sent over 4,000 bikes to Africa!”
The bike shop Recyclistas, located right on the Galloping Goose bike path, accepts bikes to refurbish for Bicycles for Humanity.
Ryan Harris from Recyclistas says “they prefer mountain bike tires – fatter tires. I guess the roads are a bit rougher out there.”
The Tweed Ride is Saturday, May 26th. Click here to learn more.
Veronica Cooper
