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Vernon marks 30 years of going by bike

Spring GoByBike Week takes place June 3-9
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Spring GoByBike Week cycles its way across the North Okanagan from June 3-9, 2024. (City of Vernon photo)

The City of Vernon is encouraging people to bike or roll to school, work or wherever else their day may take them to mark the 30th anniversary of GoByBike Week in B.C.

Spring GoByBike Week kicks off in the North Okanagan Monday, June 3. The annual challenge encourages people of all ages to park their vehicle and travel by bike, longboard, kick scooter, e-scooter, rollerblades or any other wheels.

“I always look forward to GoByBike Bike Week because I love seeing so many people out on their bikes, e-scooters, and skateboards, with smiles on their faces,” said Danielle DeVries, the city’s manager of transportation. “Whether this is your first time participating or your 30th, we encourage everyone to register for GoByBike Week and join the communities across the province in celebrating active transportation.”

All riders who log at least one trip from June 3-9 will be entered to win prizes including local gift cards, a Pedgeo e-bike, or the grand prize: a cycling adventure in Italy. To qualify for the provincial grand prize, people must also register on the Exodus Travels website.

Riders can attend any of the week’s free events and can pick up a Bike Prize Trail pass to be stamped as they participate in festivities around Vernon.

The passes can be picked up at any of the in-person events or downloaded from the GoByBike website. Those who receive stamps at three or more events along the Bike Prize Trail will be eligible to win one of four local grand prize packages: Silver Star Mountain getaway, e-bike rental on the Okanagan Rail Trail from Predator Ridge, a Ride and Dine prize pack for a culinary cycling adventure and an Ultimate Commuter prize pack with gear and essentials to elevate the experience of cycling.

The grand prizes will be awarded Sunday, June 9, at the wrap up celebration station at Polson Park, from 3-5 p.m. People can bring their completed pass to the final event to be entered to win.

The draw will be held on site.

The GoByBike Week events are:

Monday June 3

• 5-7 p.m. Commuters Night Celebration Station at Sun Country Cycle (16500 Kalamalka Rd.) on your ride home from work, or head out on a pleasure cruise, for deals, prizes and snacks.

Tuesday, June 4

• 7:30-9 a.m. Celebration Station at Nature’s Fare (3400 30th Ave.) for hot drinks and snacks.

Wednesday, June 5

• 4-5:30 p.m. Injury Prevention & Cycling Talk at Skyride (4815 Silver Star Rd.) with Dr. Mark Murdoch, Base Camp Chiropractic and Sports Rehab, speaking on how to prevent lower back pain on the bike. Appetizers and refreshments provided.

Thursday, June 6

• 7:30-9 a.m. Celebration Station with doughnuts and coffee at Silver Star head office (4601 29 St.) on your way to work, school or fun.

• 10:30-11 a.m. GoByBike Story Time at Okanagan Regional Library (2800 30th Ave.)

Friday, June 7

• 12-2 p.m. Celebration Station with food and prizes at Castanet (2906 30th Ave.)

• 4-8 p.m. Beachy Bike Parade at the Polson Park Artisan Night Market at 6:30 p.m. Join us for a bike themed night market, decorate your bike, wear beach-themed clothing and accessories.

Saturday, June 8

• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Family Bike & Safety Fun at Okanagan Regional Library.

• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Bike Station at Full Charge Cycle (2800 29th St. #103) for a complimentary tire pressure check.

Sunday, June 9

• 10 a.m.-12 p.m. NOCS Hotcakes ‘n’ Handlebars Pancake Breakfast & Demos, Ellison Provincial Park

Join us and the North Okanagan Cycling Society at Ellison Provincial Park (upper lot) for a pancake breakfast and the opportunity to test drive bikes.

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ACNO Rail Trail Plein Air Event, Okanagan Rail Trail

Ride or roll down the Rail Trail and discover artists painting along the path. Starts at kilometre zero of the trail in Vernon and extends into Lake Country.

• 3-5 p.m. Wrap Up Celebration Station & Plein Air Art at Polson Park

Join us at Polson Park (2600 BC-6) for live music, cold beverages, snacks and prizes and to view the art painted that morning on the Okanagan Rail Trail.

All week:

The City of Vernon and Neuron Mobility are partnering to offer all riders up to 20 minutes of free riding on their first trip and 50 per cent off on all other trips throughout the week.

Details on how to redeem the promotion will be found in the Neuron App. Riders who have not downloaded the app and signed up for Neuron can download the app on their Apple or Android device.

Kalavida’s Cycling Scavenger Hunt along the Rail Trail for a chance to win a paddleboard.

GoByBike Week is part of the city’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by morethan doubling trips made by bike in the community by 2040. The campaign is organized across B.C. by the GoByBike BC Society.

READ MORE: North Okanagan school bringing bike benefits to students

READ MORE: Long-lost B.C. racing bike returned, restored 30 years after it was stolen



Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started at the Morning Star as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
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