 | News article: Mississauga bikes to work Mississauga, a city built around the automobile, is now trying to convince residents to leave the car at home and ride a bike. And people are buying the message. 
On a roll. Port Credit Secondary School was well represented at yesterday's sixth annual Bike for Work event. From left, Elija Milne-Price, Laura Toth, Eryn Brown and Leah Peterson pedalled their way to Celebration Square for the festivities. Staff photo by Jan Dean
Yesterday morning, more than 500 people pedalled their way to Mississauga's sixth annual Bike to Work Day event at Celebration Square. For participating, they received a free t-shirt and were treated to a pancake breakfast. The event included a bike safety clinic and a fabulous BMX performance by the Craz-E-Crew stunt riders.
Meanwhile, another 250 people rode to work at places like Pearson Airport.
Six years ago the event drew 30 participants. Glenn Gumulka, executive director of Smart Commute Mississauga, said getting local high schools involved has increased the the number of participants. This year, 10 secondary schools took part including Cawthra Park Secondary School, Clarkson, Glenforest, Gordon Graydon, Mississauga, Port Credit, Rick Hansen and TL Kennedy.
The event was staged by the City of Mississauga, Smart Commute Mississauga, the Region of Peel and Metrolinx, the organization that handles GTA transportation planning and integration.
Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca, who sits on the Cycling Advisory Committee, says times are changing and people are more interested in living green.
"More people are cycling," she said, "to run errands, to get to work, or for fun."
The City's goal is 95 per cent of residents will live within one kilometre of a bicycle path. Over the last year, local cycling paths were increased by another 20 kilometres.
Andrew Tohn said sustainable development is important to Hatch, an engineering consulting corporation that was this year's primary sponsor for Bike to Work Day.
"We've had a car pool program since 2007," he said. Now the corporation has bought a bike fleet so employees can cycle from building to building for meetings.
Elija Milne-Price, 15, was one of 50 students from Port Credit high school who rode their bikes to Celebration Square for the event.
"Our leadership class is biking today," she said.
Source: http://www.mississauga.com/community/article/1363404--mississauga-bikes-to-work Go Back |
