Do you enjoy cycling and care about the environment?

If so, get involved with Pedal for the Planet!

Starting on July 3, 2009 in Victoria, people across the country will join rides and walks leaving from both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Using bikes, trains and other modes of green transport, we will demonstrate our personal commitment to change, and relay our expectations for a new climate treaty to be negotiated in Copenhagen, Denmark in December. We must protect the future of today’s children, future generations, and all life on earth.  Strong climate action is needed now!  We will converge on Ottawa during the weekend of September 18-20, bringing the hopes and wishes of Canadians from coast to coast.

Be a part of this campaign and send us off in Victoria! Meet us at the legislature buildings, cycle with us through downtown, to the ferry...or beyond!

The Details

When: 10:00 am Friday, July 3^rd

Where:  Meet on Legislature Lawns

How: Just show up!

Ride departs Legislature for Swartz Bay @ 11:00 am

Ride arrives Swartz Bay @ approx. 1:30 pm

We are allowing 2 and a half hours to get to Swartz Bay so that families and slower riders are able to participate. The ride to the ferry is approximately 35km taking the Galloping Goose and Lochside Drive Bicycle Routes.  This route is mainly off  vehicle roads where it is quiet and safe.  There will not be a support vehicle for this ride so please come at your own risk and pack the water and food that you will need for the journey!  You do not need a lot of bicycle experience to come along, the route is railway grade (ie: FLAT!).   The more the merrier, this will be full of fun and climate action!

For a map of the route, please follow this link http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Swartz-Bay-to-Victoria-Wheels-for-Change

The timing, notes, stops/activities on this map are not what will be used for our ride, please disregard them and just look at the route itself.  You are welcome to join for any portion of the route—big or small!

If you have further questions, thoughts or would like to participate beyond Victoria, please E-mail or call Nadia Nowak. northern@campusclimatenetwork.org 250-886-9669

If you plan to participate in the ride, please review these group riding directions:

Group riding directions:

1. Be predictable:  Continue straight ahead at a constant speed unless you indicate differently.

2. Use signals: Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic. Hand signals for turning and stopping are as follows: left arm straight out to signal a left turn; left arm out and down with your palm to the rear to signal slowing or stopping; and for a right turn, put your right arm straight out.

3. Give Warnings: Warn cyclists behind you of changes in your direction or speed. To notify the group of a change in path, the lead rider should call out "left turn" or "right turn" in addition to giving a hand signal. The lead rider should announce the turn well in advance of the intersection, so that members of the group have time to position themselves properly for the turn.

4. Change Positions Correctly: Attempts to pass others should always be made on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. This cyclist should drop back to allow the other cyclist to pass safely. There should be no passing on the right.

5. Announce Hazards: As most of the cyclists will not have a good view of the road surface ahead, holes, glass, gravel, grates, and other hazards must be announced. Indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right, and by shouting "hole," "bump," etc.; where required for safety. Everyone in a group should be made aware of the hazards, however everyone does not need to announce them. 

6. Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear: Since those in the front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility of the riders in the back to inform the others by saying "car back." Around curves, on narrow roads, or when riding double, it is also helpful to warn of traffic approaching from the front with "car up."

7. Watch Out At Intersections: When approaching intersections requiring vehicles to yield or stop, the lead rider will say "slowing" or "stopping" to alert those behind to the change in speed. When passing through an intersection, some cyclists say, "clear" if there is no cross traffic. This is a dangerous practice that should be abandoned. It encourages riders to follow the leader, letting others do the thinking for them. Each cyclist is responsible for verifying that the way is indeed clear.

8. Leave A Gap For Cars: When riding up hills or on narrow roads where you are impeding faster traffic, leave a gap for cars between every three or four bicycles. This way a motorist can take advantage of shorter passing intervals and eventually move piecemeal around the entire group.

9. Move Off The Road When You Stop: Whether you are stopping for mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic. When you start up again, each cyclist should look for, and yield to traffic.