Community Cruisers mission is to promote bicycle use for transportation as a means to improve health, sustainability, and equity in the Bow Valley. One of our goals is to increase the number of people using bikes for transportation during the winter months by targeting residents of Canmore and Banff that are currently not using bikes for transportation during the winter months but would like to start. We are seeking $15,000 in funding to help cover the program costs for 100 program participants (50 in Canmore and 50 in Banff) to receive training on winter bike riding, a Bike All Winter Mentor, and assistance and supplies to winterize their bike (e.g. studded tires, fenders, lights). Participants agree to ride their bike twice a week or more from November to March; post about winter riding at least once per week on social media; complete participant pre- and post- surveys; and participate in photo and video events. By creating ambassadors, we are looking to amplify the impact of providing equipment and training to a limited number of people.
The program targets groups that may not have alternative transportation options such as youth, lower income groups, new Canadians, and seasonal workers. During the application process we will ask applicants to voluntarily submit optional demographic information in order to ensure participants represent a wide diversity of people (e.g. age, gender identity, racial identify, employment).
The health, environmental, economic , social and community benefits of using bicycles for transportation are widely recognized:
– Participants will benefit through improved physical and mental health.
– Participants will gain an economic benefit through lower transportation costs.
– All Bow Valley residents will benefit from reduced GHG emission and local air pollution due to the reduction in motor vehicle use.
– All Bow Valley residents will benefit from reduced noise pollution due to the reduction in motor vehicle use.
– All Bow Valley residents will benefit from of safer streets due to a reduction of motor vehicle use.
– Valuable parking spaces will be more available for those who need to drive.
– People on bicycles feel connected to their community and support local business.
We will do pre- and post program participant surveys to determine the average number of days per week the participants ride their bicycles November 2023 to March 2024; the percentage of participants planning to ride a bike again next winter; and the percentage of participants that would also encourage others to try winter riding.
We define success as 80% of participants riding their bicycles at least twice per week from November to March; 80% declaring that they will continue to ride in the winter going forward; and 80% declaring that that would also encourage others to try winter riding. The surveys will also provide information on perceived barriers to winter bike riding and what aspects of the program helped participants overcome these barriers.