The District of Fort St. James will join up with other communities from across the province this year to help celebrate Bike to Work Week.
May 27 to June 1 of this year will be Bike to Work Week across B.C., an initiative which started in Victoria back in 1995.
This year will be the first year the District of Fort St. James is signing up the community and organizing events around the week "to build awareness and to promote cycling as a form of commuting," said Mel Chesnutt, event coordinator for the District.
Chesnutt herself is already biking to work when she can, which from where she starts on Sowchea, is 8 km each way, but it only takes her from 12 to 20 minutes to make the trip, and she gets exercise and fresh air on the way.
The District received a $1,000 grant towards their events from the Bike to Work BC Society, which will be used to promote bike safety and awareness, for prize incentives for both maximum kilometres and participation.
Chesnutt said they have applied for more grants and are also hoping to get more bike racks for the community to help people choosing to cycle.
While participating in Bike to Work Week and registering online allows participants to track kilometres and carbon emission reductions and other statistics, Bike to Work Week can also help remind motorists to be more aware of cyclists on the roads while they're driving.
There will even be a Bike to Work Week art display at the Integris Credit Union leading up to and throughout Bike to Work Week. The bike-related art show is being organized by the Community Arts Council of Fort St. James.
"As a bike enthusiast, anything that will help promote safe sharing of the road," said Chesnutt. "I bike as much as I can and I've had a few close calls."
For anyone interested in more information around Bike to Work Week and registering as an individual or as a team, call 996-8233 or go to biketowork.ca