VIU LEEDers--Cowichan Campus

Here is a photo of our Bike to Work Week team, the VIU LEEDers!

To quote our campus webpage, “The new Cowichan Campus is designed to LEED® Gold standards. This is an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.”

It is in reference to this that we chose our name – VIU Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design employee riders. Green commuters for a green campus!

We have been getting participation rates of 9 – 16% of all employees on campus. So far, as a group, we have ridden 205 km.

We’ve been able to enjoy local Celebration Stations each morning, hosted by Cycle Cowichan. Cycle Cowichan is also hosting a Wrap-Up Event on Friday, June 1st in Downtown Duncan, where they will be drawing names for over 60 prizes, including 3 bikes that have been donated by the three local bike shops.

All in all, Bike to Work Week has been a good experience for all of us. It has inspired some of us to get our bikes out again for the summer, and for at least one of our team members, this was the first time ever they have ridden their bike to work. Now they know it’s possible!

Looking forward to doing it all again next year,

Naomi Knodel

Bike to Work Week Team Leader

VIU LEEDers

So yesterday, I was daring and took a chance!

 I biked to work—and it was fun! Other cyclists waved in acknowledgement.  Cars stopped at crosswalks before the warning button was pressed. Even buying a new helmet and gloves the day before was pleasant—I was awarded a small ‘nice lady’ discount.

 Conversely, today I can am keenly aware of my ischial tuberosities. For those of you ladies with similar issues, check out this article. 

And that’s about all the challenge I had for the maiden journey. Luckily, my route is along quiet roads and through parks.

In stark contrast, a colleague who rides in about 12.5 km told me that the ride on Monday didn’t go too badly though while zipping down the hill on Hammond Bay Road by the Biological Station, a car was right on her tail desperate to pass even though she was on the bumper of the car ahead of her – all doing about 60+kmh. She is a better woman than I (and she has a much more beautiful helmet)!

 Because I don’t have to travel at hyperspace speeds with competing cars, there is time to enjoy the journey. Yesterday’s vernal display was fantastic and marred only by my puffing and panting up minor hills. Future cycle forays in to campus will no doubt throw up some other challenges though.

 Yesterday I opted for a quick ‘sponge bath’ in a nearby washroom. Yes, there are facilities at the gym, but I work/park my bike up the hill! A quick walk revealed showers nearby.

B356 has some good ones on the first floor. Both those showers have door locks, though in one of them locking the door would mean having a large area with multiple shower heads to yourself! And, alas, the lighting is not optimal for personal makeup artistry nor did I see any opportunity to plug in a hair dryer though I’m happy to make do with pony tails or a bun.

 Where to store sweaty riding clothes that you’ll change back into at the end of the day can be problematic! Not everyone has a locker. I hung mine on the office coat rack which is tucked away behind a filing cabinet though my office mates may not be wild about that when they return! Others have told me their stuff is draped across recycling bins in their areas.

 How to transport changes of clothes, where to store those things during the day, and how to balance after work responsibilities with the added time of riding will all need to be solved.

 But I am awed and inspired by other folks who ride more often, for much longer distances, and in all kinds of weather.

 If they can do it all the time, I can (try to) do it once a week. 

 Many thanks to those who emailed me with their stories of riding to work.  Keep ‘em coming!

Doing It

I should make an attempt to ride to work—especially as I’ve been broadcast encouraging people to just try! http://video.cheknews.ca/services/player/bcpid1530274581001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAA4mHNTzE~,ejlzBnGUUKauc2zn_kmUm9i-CLdp2qnb&bctid=1660542219001

This is the year—I’m definitely going to take a chance and be daring.

If Ryder Hesjedahl can cycle over 3600 km through the Italian Alps over three weeks, I ought to be able to cover the 3.53 km-, 17-minute ride calculated by walkscore.com at least once this week.

But I’m more daunted than inspired by a guy who could cycle to work (and back!) in Duncan and not even break a sweat.  

BTWW road looms long and dark and is fraught with guilt for me. My motivation clicks into high gear and then comes to an abrupt and grinding halt–like when a chain falls off a derailleur—when I think about cycling to work.

A small bead of perspiration appears on my brow and for some reason, I think I can hear strains of Queen’s Fat-Bottomed Girls…. My bike vision is getting fuzzy and my resolve is fading.

A voice–different that the one singing a minute ago–is saying really–who has time to bike?  There are kids to drop off before work, errands to run at lunch, and grocery shopping after work. Not only that, I’d be all sweaty when I got to work, my mascara would run, and my hair would be a mess. Besides, I’m in love with my car!

Yet, I am one of the over 97% of the people who agreed with a recent survey statement that said “I think we could do a lot more to green our behaviours.” Sorting recycling, garbage, and composting, and turning off my monitor at the breaks and the end of the day probably puts my behaviour at about pale green.

Alternate–or active–transportation has yet to be part of my environmental literacy.

Apparently, I’m not the only one. According Rob Lawrance, Nanaimo’s Environmental planner, in 2008 less than 10% of Nanaimoites biked or walked to work. The last transportation study done at VIU reveals that .03% of us cycle in and about 5% walk.

And that brings me to spandex. Being 50-something with a penchant for Miss Vickie’s, I’ve nearly resigned myself to not rocking any outfit spandex based. However, on the “hot” stream of consciousness, I do consider climate change. I can’t single-handedly avert it, though cooling down the fiery affair with my car would be a move closer to green behaviour.

Do I have to give up driving completely to make a difference? Happily, no. With some quick research and math, it seems that cycling to work just one a day a week can avoid adding about 6.87 kg of CO₂ to the atmosphere. How green is that? Well over a year, it equates to about the same amount of CO₂ sequestration as three trees.  Seriously green and that’s just me, one chip-chomping gal pedalling to campus once a week.

This BTWW is not as dark and nasty as I thought! Ryder, good luck at the Tour de France or Olympics—whichever you choose. I’m going to conquer the ride to work. So look for me on the streets and bike paths around town. I’ll be the one humming 80′s tunes and dreaming of leopard-print spandex bike shorts.

The weather cooperated, the muffins were warm, the coffee was served by seasoned baristas, and bike repair was done on the spot! 

Thanks to all who helped with the Celebration Station and all those who stopped by!

  Missed this morning’s station?  No worries!  There will be two a day for the rest of the week around Nanaimo.  Check this link for locations and times.  http://www.biketowork.ca/node/7041

 For Cowichan locations visit here http://www.biketowork.ca/cowichan_valley/BTW_2011 

 If you have stories and/or photos you’d like to share on this blog, please send them to sustainability@viu.ca or leave a comment!

 Happy (and safe!) cycling!

One of my goals, as an idealistic young man, was to live my entire life without ever owning a car. It might have worked had I not moved to Nanaimo. I endured my first year at Malaspina, often arriving at work soaking wet from rain. One day I got tired of it and went out and bought a car. The bike went into storage and that was that – my cycling days were over for fifteen years.

Five years ago, while living in Uplands I decided to try riding to work again. So I hauled my bike out of the garage and off I went, at least so long as the weather was nice. The hills seemed to have grown larger over the years and my knees were not happy to see them. But even worse I discovered that it is impossible to ride a bike from Uplands to VIU without taking your life in your hands. When I moved to Departure Bay, I discovered it was even more difficult to find a safe cycling route through the city. I sold the bike in a garage sale, gave up on idealism and returned to my car.

David Bigelow, PhD

Chair, Department of Mathematics

Vancouver Island University

Is this the year?

Can you give up driving to work for just one day a week? 

Bike to Work Week is a great reason to give cycling a try. 

Send us your story of cycling to work — add a picture (or two) if you like.  We’ll post it here to inspire others and help keep you motivated.

Not sure what to say?  Tell everyone about…

• why you started
• what was difficult about getting started
• tips/tricks
• benefits of riding
• challenges of riding
• anything else about your experience!

Send your reflections/pictures to sustainability@viu.ca