Smart Commute Mississauga
Record breaking turnout at Mississauga’s Bike to Work Day 2012
The City of Mississauga’s 6th Annual Bike to Work Day Event was a huge success!
On Monday, May 28th, 2012, approximately 600 cyclists dusted off their bikes, pumped up their tires and rode to Mississauga Celebration Square for the City of Mississauga’s 6th Annual Bike to Work Day event, helping to reduce an impressive 10,890 kilometres of vehicle travel and 2,365 kg of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from entering the atmosphere.
Bike to Work Day is an annual, Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area-wide event that kicks off the cycling season and promotes cycling to work as an environmentally friendly commute option.
“This is the biggest Bike to Work Day Event the City has ever seen. We are thrilled that so many cyclists took part in the annual group ride from Riverwood Park Conservancy and for the first time- a second group ride hosted by Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca from Burnhamthorpe and Tomken – both to Mississauga Celebration Square,” said Glenn Gumulka, Executive Director of Smart Commute Mississauga. “It’s great to see an emerging cycling culture taking hold in Mississauga. Together, we have helped raise awareness that cycling to work is a great way to reduce traffic congestion and improve the air quality in our community.”
From left to right: Jacquelyn Hayward Gulati, Manager, Cycling Office, City of Mississauga; Glenn Gumulka, Executive Director, Smart Commute Mississauga; Andrew Tohn, Hatch Ltd. representative; Chris Fonseca, Ward 3 Councillor; and Jim Tovey, Ward 1 Councillor.
Participants enjoyed a free pancake breakfast, brief speeches, community vendors and an electrifying BMX stunt show performance by the CrazECrew Stunt Team – the largest action sports thrill show in Canada. The team performed incredible tricks, reaching heights of up to 18 feet in the air and were recent finalists on the television show Canada’s Got Talent.
All participants were entered into a draw for a chance to win a Daymak Paris Lithium E-bike valued at $1,500, courtesy of Daymak Inc., and a Bike Accessory Gift Basket valued at $200.
This year, a record-breaking 449 staff and students from 11 secondary schools pedalled their way to the Mississauga Celebration Square including Cawthra Park Secondary School, Clarkson Secondary School, Erindale Secondary School, Glenforest Secondary School, Gordon Graydon Secondary School, John Fraser Secondary School, Lorne Park Secondary School, Mississauga Secondary School, Port Credit Secondary School, Rick Hansen Secondary School, and Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School.
Several workplaces across the City of Mississauga and Pearson Airport Area held their own Bike to Work Day rides in the month of May including the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Hatch Ltd., McCormick Rankin – a member of MMM Group, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., RBC Meadowvale, Sussex Centre, Transat A.T. Inc., and the University of Toronto at Mississauga.
In total, more than 850 cyclists participated in Bike to Work Day rides across the City of Mississauga and Pearson in the month of May, helping to save 17,015 kilometres of vehicle travel and 3,695 kg of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
Mississauga’s 6th Annual Bike to Work Day Event was sponsored by Hatch Ltd., lead corporate sponsor of Smart Commute Mississauga, Daymak Inc. and Boss Promotions. Check out www.smartcommutemiss.ca for more information and the other great work Smart Commute Mississauga is involved in.