Making Greater Sudbury bike friendly is the passion of Nathalie Gara-Boivin and Clee Lieverse, members of the city's bicycle advisory panel.
At the Wednesday night priorities committee of city council, they made a presentation about the benefits of cycling and how the city is becoming easier to navigate by bicycle.
Lieverse said bicycle riding for 30 to 60 minutes daily meets Canada's recommended physical activity guidelines, and reaps significant health benefits. Biking around instead of driving also reduces air pollutants, which negatively affect lung and heart health.
Every hour spent on a bike instead of driving a vehicle reduces greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing a person's contribution to climate change, he said.
Also, fewer cars on the road means more space can be allocated for parks and green space, instead of roads.
Driving cars is getting more expensive. In 2003, driving a Chevrolet Cavalier cost $9,525 per year according to the Canadian Automobile Association. And more savings occur for Canada's health care system, Lieverse pointed out.
"It is estimated that transportation related emissions will cost the health care system $11 billion to $38 billion between 1997 and 2020, according to Transport Canada," they stated in their presentation.
Promoting more biking in Greater Sudbury is the mandate of the bicycle advisory panel, said Lieverse.
The group is reviewing recommendations to improve conditions of trails and access to points of destination as part of a larger, active transportation plan for the city.
Every June 21, the group hosts the Ramsey Lake Cycle Tour. The 26 km ride around Ramsey Lake features bike lanes and trails along the way.
An average of 75 riders participate, said Gara-Boivin.
"People are keen. Last October 20, we had another 75 people out, despite it being a miserable day - only six degrees Celsius, with drizzle. Everyone had a great time," she said.
Every month on the last Saturday, from May to October, is the Sustainability Joy Rides, where bikers start at the VIA train station downtown and bike around Ramsey Lake.
"We get about 25 riders of all ages. Some have not been on a bike for years," said Gara-Boivin.
Another project is doing an inventory of bike racks around the city looking for gaps. Recently the group was able to set-up colorful bike racks at Market Square, just in time for Earth Day in April. The racks were sponsored by Downtown Sudbury, Greater Sudbury Development Corporation as well as Councillors Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, Janet Gasparini, Frances Caldarelli and Evelyn Dutrisac.
This week the city began its Rack and Roll pilot project where residents can quickly load and unload their bike onto racks on the front of the bus, on routes to Val Caron, Hanmer and Capreol for no extra charge. The advisory panel worked with Greater Sudbury transit to develop the service.
Coun. Ron Dupuis sits on the committee.
"This is a keen group that is putting our city at the forefront of bicycling in the north," he said.
For more information visit www.mysudbury.ca/bicycleadvisorypanel
