UVic hosts Saanich Cyclefest

Cyclists of all ages were treated to blue skies and warm weather as Saanich families came out in packs to the third annual Saanich Cycling Festival, held on campus April 22. The venue was fitting for the Earth Day-themed cycling celebration, as the festival transformed UVic’s parking lot 10 into a bicyclist’s paradise for kids and adults alike. Co-hosted by the University Sustainability Office, the event kicked off with two group rides for older and younger bikers, which converged on the University campus for an afternoon of music, entertainment, and education.

Alongside sustainability, cycling safety and advocacy were key elements of the festival’s activities, as many of the booths focused on outreach and bike awareness. The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition booth was quite active, even running out of their cycling safety manual BikeSense. “We were giving them out to parents to teach their kids,” said Jim Alix, one of the directors of the GVCC. “Even the parents were learning a thing or two as well.” Alix emphasized that these types of events are important not only for raising the profile of cycling advocacy initiatives.

Younger ones got a more hands-on education in road safety. The Saanich Police Department, fresh from providing an escort for the children’s bike ride, stuck around and manned the Pedal Heads educational obstacle course, teaching young riders the rules of the road and important safe cycling skills. There were other games for the kids, and long lineups of eager youngsters were crowding the activity tents. For those needing a tune-up or just some helpful hints on bike maintenance, repair tents were operated by Oak Bay Bikes, Mac’s Cycle Centre, and Rider’s Cycles.

For the adults, the event was also an opportunity to learn about the state of sustainable and cycling-friendly urban planning and advocacy. Local groups and volunteer organizations were present, including the Friends of Mt. Douglas Park and the Bowker Creek Initiative, as well as the CRD Regional Parks Youth Volunteer Trail Ambassadors, who volunteer along the region’s Galloping Goose trail network. The Municipality of Saanich had booths devoted to green initiatives planned in the district, including plans to rejuvenate the Shelbourne Valley corridor around a sustainability ethic of enhanced walkability and cycling. District planner Harold Stanley fielded questions from numerous interested members of the public.

Music was a centrepiece of the festival, and spontaneous dancing erupted from the festival’s more adventurous attendants. Providing the entertainment was UVic Linguistics house band Flat Rabbit, as well as local Cajun-style swing group Bijoux de Bayou, who played a long lineup of Zydeco, Acadian and Tex-Mex songs, keeping the audience in a jovial mood.