York cyclists banter over bagels

 

Above: Cyclists gather at York for information and breakfast

Which routes are the best to use when biking to York? What bike stores are nearest to campus? What about those potholes on Keele Street? These were just a few of the topics up for discussion at last week’s Bike Week Breakfast held outside Vari Hall in the York Commons.

Right: York’s James Brown, director of housing and food services, on his recumbent bike.

The event was organized by the Black Creek Regional Transportation Management Association (BCRTMA) in conjunction with York’s Security, Parking & Transportation Services and the York Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG).

Over 40 cyclists attended the early morning affair, eager to get some breakfast to help start their day after an energizing ride to campus. The Great Canadian Bagel donated bagels for the event. Information available included City of Toronto cycling route maps, cycling skills booklets, advocacy related to cycling infrastructure and many other brochures.

This is the 3rd Annual Bike Week Breakfast held at York as part of the broader 14th Annual City of Toronto Bike Week celebrations, which ended yesterday.

Left: Bikers banter over breakfast

York University is a founding member and partner of the BCRTMA, the first organization of its kind in Ontario. Together with BCRTMA, the University is taking serious steps to assist staff, faculty and students in their commute to campus. The BCRTMA currently provides ride-matching assistance and a Guaranteed Ride Home Program for employees. It is also trying to increase public transit to the Keele campus and develop cycling and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

To learn about other services the association is developing to benefit York commuters in conjunction with the Department of Security, Parking & Transportation Services, check the BCRTMA Web site at www.bcrtma.org and the York Transportation Services Web site at www.csbo.yorku.ca/Transportation/.

Jacquelyn Hayward, sustainable transportation coordinator of the Black Creek Regional Transportation Management Association, sent the above account to YFile.

Below: A group of cyclists discuss their favorite bike routes in the area.