Greater Vernon residents travel 20,000 km for GoByBike week

Jun 30, 2022 | 11:45 AM

Hundreds of Greater Vernon residents strapped on their helmets and mounted their bicycles for the Spring 2022 GoByBike week.

Between May 30 and June 5, 626 Vernon and North Okanagan residents signed up for the contests and hit the road on their bikes, scooters, skateboards and rollerblades, travelling more than 20,000 cumulative kilometres over the week, which equates to half the circumference of the earth.

The 2022 event saw an increase in riders from the 550 participants who signed up in spring of 2021. However, the total kilometres riden was down from the 24,000 the previous year.

“Vernon should be proud of how much we achieved during GoByBike Week,” said Ellen Croy, Transportation Manager for the City of Vernon.

“Going by bike or small wheels instead of driving has a big impact on our health, our environment and our community when we do it together. Let’s keep the momentum going and keep riding all year.”

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A total of 73 teams signed up to participate in the campaign. Among them were City of Vernon Velocity, made up of 41 riders, who travelled a combined 1,328 km; KVHP Team of 23 riders rode 1,298 km, and the Vernon Secondary School (staff) team of 16 riders, rode for 949 km.

The competition also saw some area residents walk away with local prizes.

Dave Campbell won the grand prize, a $1,000 shopping spree at a bike shop of the winner’s choice.

“I like to ride for both fun and exercise, and took part in the GoByBike Challenge this year as part of a friendly workplace competition,” said Campbell.

“I was super thrilled to find out I won the grand prize so I can upgrade my current bike to something that will get me out on more trails with friends. I’d like to thank the City of Vernon and local sponsors of GoByBike for making this possible.”

Pam Ades won a $500 gift card courtesy of Armstrong Regional Co-op, and Josh Palmer won a $500 gift pack from Pedego Oyama.

Team Tolko, which was comprised of 17 new riders, won the pizza lunch sponsored by Domino’s Pizza Vernon.

The week-long event, which is organized across the province by the GoByBike B.C. Society, is a chance to promote active transportation while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). As of time of publication, it’s not know how much the spring 2022 event in Vernon contributed to reducing GHGs locally.

GoByBike is set to return to Vernon in the fall with a two-week event from October 3 to 16.

by Liam Verster

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