The City of Burnaby is prepared to shell out the cash for its bike programs.
At the Feb. 17 meeting, council approved $9,180 in funding for various programs to encourage residents to pedal around in 2014, which is the same amount it spent on last year’s programs.
The money will be spent on Burnaby’s bike map ($2,400); Bike to Work Week ($3,000); Bike to School Week ($2,100); and the streetwise cycling courses ($1,680).
“The Burnaby (programs) are well-established means for encouraging greater travel by bicycle,” said Lou Pelletier, director of planning and building, in his report to council. “They raise the profile of cycling in the community, and that of organizations, such as the city that supports cycling.”
The city’s bike map is available at various city facilities, and it’s available on its website. The $2,400 cost will go towards printing 8,000 more copies based on previous usage patterns.
From May 31 to June 7, bike to work week will coincide with environment week. Burnaby will contribute $3,000, plus in-kind promotional items, for HUB to set up commuter stations across the city.
Last year, HUB was able to leverage the funding to provide nine commuter stations to promote cycling in the city.
HUB also develops and provides the bike to school program, running in conjuction with Bike to Work Week, which offers a wide range of courses, presentations and celebrations tailored to each school’s needs, according to Pelletier.
Since 2010, more than 5,100 students, staff and parents in more than 40 schools within eight Lower Mainland school districts have participated in the program.
In 2014, HUB is expected to provide “learn-to-ride” instruction to four classes of grades 4 and 5 students at two local elementary schools.
“This program is an excellent opportunity to engage youth and increase participation in this demographic through a fun and focused program,” Pelletier states in his report. “Building on the success of previous years, the 2014 program is focused to reach a larger more diverse audience of children.”
The streetwise cycling course is another ongoing program from HUB, which encourages would-be cyclists to feel safe and comfortable riding in traffic by developing the necessary skills, according to Pelletier.
The courses combine on-road training and classroom instruction by certified cycling trainers. For 2014, HUB is proposing that at least two courses are held in Burnaby. One course will be targeted at new immigrants.
