‘Come Ride with Me’ comes to York today

 Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan members at their table during the Bike to Work event at Sunnybrook Hospital in April
Above: Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan members at their table during the Bike to Work event at Sunnybrook Hospital in April

Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan, in partnership with York University, is hosting its annual Bike to Work Day event at the Keele campus today. The event helps promote cycling as a smart and healthy mode of travelling to work or school.

The theme this year is ‘Come Ride With Me’ and encourages new cyclists to use this as an opportunity to try cycling as an alternate means of commuting.

The event is part of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area’s Bike to Work Day campaign, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and motivate cyclists to help each other find routes and gain confidence riding in mixed traffic. Faculty, staff and students are invited to get a free bike safety check, pick up a 2011 cycling map and sign up to the 600-member-strong York University Bicycle User Group (BUG).

Those who bike to York University can enter a pledge at biketoworkday.ca. They will be entered to win a Bike Train weekend getaway for two to Northumberland County.

Approximately 300 attendees from York University (including faculty and students) and employees of Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan will take part. The ride takes place from 10am to 3pm.

The majority of participants are expected to be in attendance between noon and 1pm at the Fountain in the York University Bus Loop, Harry W. Arthurs Common, Keele campus.

Smart Commute – North Toronto, Vaughan, which won the City of Toronto’s 2010 Bicycle Friendliest Suburban Business Award, is an active supporter of the GTHA-wide Bike to Work Day event.