This Fall, a group of us from BikeBrampton will be participating in Greg’s Ride on Sunday, September 22. We’ll be cycling from Brampton to Hamilton on Saturday, riding in Greg’s Ride on Sunday, then cycling home Monday. BikeBrampton’s participation in this annual event has grown from one rider in 2013 to our larger team of riders this year.
Who is BikeBrampton
We are a group of volunteers who have met monthly for the past 6 years, discussing and developing action plans for cycling advocacy in the City of Brampton and Region of Peel. With the help of our partners, we host the Brampton Bike Hubs, Caledon Bike Hubs, regular Community Rides (with BCAC), and our annual Bike the Creek event.
Brampton has been recognized by Share the Road as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community and, of course, we aim for Silver! In February, we were asked to work with City staff to prepare a “Big Ask” for $1.75 million for new highly visible cycling infrastructure.
Why we participate in Greg’s Ride
The bigger provincial policy picture is something BikeBrampton discusses at our meetings. Some of us go to the Ontario Bike Summit annually to learn and to share. We also support the advocacy efforts of Share the Road and the advocacy objectives they raise funds for through Greg’s Ride:
- Every student in Ontario should have the opportunity to learn to safely ride a bike.
- All residents should feel safe and comfortable hopping on their bicycle.
- We want to see the province connected by a network of paths, bike lanes and paved shoulders. Those of us who have had the opportunity to participate in some cycle tourism, know just how important this network is for travel, commuting and recreation.
For us, making it safer and easier to ride a bike is also deeply tied to the need to address climate change.
Cycling and Climate Change
The City of Brampton joined 500 other municipalities around the world by declaring a Climate Emergency on June 5th.
Vancouver has been hailed as leading the way with its climate emergency declaration, that has created 6 new “big move” pollution reduction targets. What are the top two? Why, Active Transportation targets, of course.
- Walkable communities: By 2030, 90% of people live within an easy walk and roll of their daily needs.
- Safe and convenient active transportation and transit: By 2030, two-thirds of trips in Vancouver will be by active transportation and transit.
We know that when it comes to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions #BikesCanDoThat! And with transportation accounting for 30% of Ontario’s emissions, making cycling safer & easier needs to be part of local and provincial climate change action plans. Together with Share the Road, we’re working to make this happen.
BikeBrampton members are pleased to support Greg’s Ride as Share the Road’s major fund-raising activity, but it’s also a fun opportunity to ride alongside advocates from across the region and to chat all things cycling over food & drinks afterwards.
For registration and additional information about Greg’s Ride, visit sharetheroad.ca/gregsride. If – like us – you’re riding as a group of 3 or more, contact erica@sharetheroad.ca for a 20% group discount code!
See you there!
Our thanks to Share the Road, for first publishing this in their Greg’s Ride blog. Special thanks to Executive Director Jamie Stuckless, for her kind editing! #BikesCanDoThat
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