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             June 2014
In this Issue
Bike Month 2014
B2WD 2014
Bike Month in Markham
Bike Month in Richmond Hill
Cycling Q&A
Welcome Derek!
PAN AM Preparedness
Toshiba Carpool Parking
News & Interesting Reads
Out & About with SCMRH
Laughs for the Road
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May 26- June 26 is Bike Month! 
 
 Bike Month is a celebration of cycling in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with hundreds of community events including rides, races, tours, festivals, and more.

 

There are many ways that you can participate! 

Here are some tips to get you started...

  • Buy a new bike or dust off that bike you've had for years and get a tune up.
  • Make a check-list of what you'll need to make your bike the new vehicle of choice: a bell, reflective tape, lights for the front and the back of your bike, water bottle cage, a bike rack or basket, tire repair kit, a rear-view mirror, a bike radio, streamers, a travel mug holder...the accessory options are endless!  
  • Create a map to your destination or get biking directions at Google Maps
  • Do a test ride to your pre-mapped destination on the weekend.
  • Take it easy. Start slow. Begin by riding one day per week to build up your cardio and confidence.
  • Feeling rusty on the rules of the road? Brush up or take a refresher course
  • Learn about cycling in York Region.
  • Look out for bike clubs and events in your community
Check out the many cycling-related events happening near you using York Region's Bike Month Event Calendar.
 Bike to Work Day 2014!

What a HUGE success! Thank you to everyone that came out and participated. This year's ride was our largest turn out with over 140 participants, our most successful event to date! 
 
Congratulations to Ben Lam of MMM Group for winning a Norco Commuter Bike. 
 L to R: Mike Horlick (Evolution Cycles), Flo McLellan (SCMRH)
 Ben Lam (MMM Group), Dave Richardson (MMM Group) and
 Stephen Lipkus (HDR)
 
Bike to Work Day Testimonials!
 
"It was a well-organized event and thank you to all of you guys who worked hard to gather us for the event" 
- Sam Tabish of HDR
 
"It was my first Bike to Work ride which I enjoyed immensely. Thanks for organizing the 2014 bike to work ride, it is just a wonderful event that you guys have put together. The weather cooperated, what else could we ask for? It is a great way to kick off cycling for the summer months." 
- Jay Lam 
 
"My employees loved the event, one of them even came up and hugged and thanked me being a part of such a great event"
- Saurabh Verma of Sheraton Parkway Hotel
 
Thank you again to all of our vendors, partners and prize sponsors. 
 
Check out all of our Bike to Work Day Photos 

Bike Month Events in Markham

 

 

 As part of the Bike Month celebration, Markham is launching two cycling programs in June: the Bike Valet and Bike Clinic. Both of the programs are FREE and they start this weekend (Sat, June 7) at the Unionville Festival and Cornell Community Centre.  

 

 

 Want to ride your bike on the street with confidence? Learn safe bike  riding techniques, basic riding rules and practice on residential streets. Want to learn how to repair and maintain your bicycle on your own? Be sure to register for these FREE Bike Clinics!

 

Register online at markham.ca or call 905-475-4731 

Full details and clinic times here!

Bike Month Events in Richmond Hill 

 

    FREE Bicycle Valet Parking will be available at all Mill Pond Concerts in the Park this summer! Simply bring your bike to the valet area (on Mill Street just east of the parking lot), sign it in, receive a numbered tag and head off to the concert. Bicycle valet parking will be available for the first 20 bikes. 

 

Richmond Hill also provides bicycle lockers for facility users FREE of charge at Town Facilities! Bicycle lockers can be found at the following locations:

 

  • Bayview Hill Community Centre
  • Richvale Community Centre
  • Rouge Woods Community Centre
  • The Wave Pool
  • Ed Sackfield Arena
  • Central Library
  • Operations Centre  
  • Spotlight on Bike to Work Week -

    Q & A with Smart Commuter Jeremy McAllister!

     

    Meet Jeremy, a graphic design professional who had quite the journey for Bike to Work Day 2014, cycling all the way from Downtown Toronto to Markham! Jeremy answered series of questions about his journey in hopes of inspiring others to cycle to work!

     

    Q. Where was the starting and ending point of your journey?

     A. The journey was from Downtown Toronto to Markham. I was coming from the Dufferin and St. Clair area and travelling to the Denison and Woodbine area.

     

    Q. How long did the journey take?

     A. I left the house around 7:00 a.m. and arrived at around 9:45 - 10:00 a.m. The whole journey took around three hours from start to finish. I left the office again around 6:00 p.m. and I got back home at around 9:45 p.m. The total journey was about 30 km each way, so about 60 km in total.

     

    Q. How did you prepare for the journey?

     A. Before going out, I used the Google Maps Cycling feature and mapped out where I should be going. I avoided all the main roads, except for some portions of Leslie. I tried to take the cycle paths and go through the parks as much as possible.

     

    Q. What was the biggest challenge besides the distance for you as a cyclist?

     A. The hardest part of the trip would definitely be the navigation. You don't have Google Maps with you, and often in the parks, the path would not be clear. Sometimes the path would split and you would not know whether to turn left or right. I would get lost during some parts of the way, but I ended up asking for directions a lot of the time and everyone was extremely helpful. It helped even more that it was Bike to Work Day and there happened to be a lot of cyclists out on the paths.

     

    Q. What tips or advice would you give to other cyclist starting out or taking a long trip like yours?

     A. Some advice that I could give to others is that there are a lot of helpful people and you can ask others if you do get lost. And one of the other things that you should do is to plan your journey well.

    Welcome Derek Davies!
     
    Please join us in welcoming Derek Davies to the SCMRH team! Derek joins us in the role of Program Coordinator and looks forward to engaging creatively with commuters to enhance their quality of life. He is a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University in Environmental Studies, and is just completing his Masters in Environmental Assessment from Concordia University in Montreal.
     
     
    Welcome to the SCMRH team Derek!  
    PAN AM Preparedness
    Did you know Markham has 2 Pan Am venues?

    The Atos Markham Pan Am / Parapan Am Centre
    is a multi-purpose centre, located in the heart of Markham's newly developing downtown. It boasts a triple gymnasium with approx. 3,345 square meetres (36,000 sq. feet) for training, competition and community use, as well as a 10-lane, 50 metre Olympic-sized wimming pool. It will host Badminton, Table Tennis and Water Polo during the 2015 games. 

    Angus Glen Golf Club
    is one of Canada's most prestigious championship-level golf courses. In 2015, the Pan Am golf tournament, which includes men's and women's events, will welcome both professional and amateur players. Sixty-four golfers will tee off in the 72-hole competition on Angus Glen's south course. 
     
    Want to learn more? Visit www.toronto2015.org for all of your games information! 
    Toshiba Dedicated Carpool Parking Launch!

     
    Last month Marketing VP Sherri Lyons and Smart Commute helped launch 3 new dedicated parking spots for carpoolers at the Toshiba Markham location. 

    Toshiba carpoolers had the chance to register for their new carpool parking hang tags and receive their Carpool package, which included their parking hang tag, an emergency car kit and carpool t-shirt. 

    News & Interesting Reads  
     
    Bike Helmet
    A must-watch video about bike helmets. Everything you need to know in an entertaining 30 second video.
    • NOTICE OF IMPORTANT ROAD CLOSURE - Major Mackenzie Dr. E between Delray Dr. and Reeser Rd. in Markham Read
    • Cycling is not only healthy - but it makes you an overall happier person! Read  
    • IT'S HERE! VIVA bike racks are now in service. The entire YRT/Viva fleet is now bike-friendly! Learn how to use the racks Here  
    • Electric Vehicle sales are on the rise in Canada! Read
    • The initial results are in: the rapidways are already offering commuters a faster, more convenient way to get from A to B. Average travel time has dropped by over 30% during the peak periodsRead
    myRide Travel Training Program helps increase independence
    myRide Travel Training is a transit support program that prepares people to make independent journeys using YRT/Viva services. myRide is for people of all ages and abilities who need additional transit education, knowledge and skill.

    Out & About with SCMRH
     
    AMD
    AMD employees grabbed some popcorn while they 
    completed their follow-up commuter survey.
     
    Town of Richmond Hill
    L to R: George Flint (Richmond Hill), Leslie Whidden (Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce), Derek Davies (SCMRH), Flo McLellan (SCMRH), Wincy Tsang (SCMRH), Basil Marcello (SCMRH), Megan Lui (Richmond Hill) and Lindsay Taylor (SCMRH)
     Smiling faces after the Committee of the Whole 
    presentation at the 
    Town of Richmond Hill. 
     
    600 Cochrane
     
    Nandini Ruthireswaran was the winner of the 
    600 Cochrane Follow-up survey prize!

    Qualcomm

    Qualcomm employees enjoyed a Safe Cycling presentation from Cycle Toronto to prep for Bike to Work Day!

    HDR
     Flo snapping a photo of HDR employees taking part in their National HDR Walk at Lunch Day! 


    Cole Engineering

     Cole Engineering employees completed their follow-up survey
     
    IBM
    IBM Earth Week Winners! On the left we have Davetta Samuels, the winner of our Sign up & Sign in contest. On the right we have Ryan Kent and Mike Muzzati, the winners of our Carpool Group contest.
     
    URS
    URS employees enjoyed a Safe Cycling lunch and learn from 
    Cycle Toronto to prepare for Bike Month in June. 
     
    SCMRH on 105.9 The Region   
    L to R: Mike Atom (The Region), Lindsay Taylor (SCMRH), Martha (The Region) and Basil Marcello (SCMRH)
    Lindsay and Basil from the SCMRH team were LIVE on-AIR for 
    a radio interview with Mike Atom and Martha from 105.9 The Region, chatting about Bike to Work Day and Bike Month.

    Laughs for the Road!

     

    Lighten your traffic conversation by checking out the

    Smart Commute MRH weekly commuter comics.  

       Make sure to check our Facebook page each 

    Thursday for a new Commuter Comic! 

    What is Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill?

     

    Smart Commute is a sustainable transportation program of the municipalities of Markham and Richmond Hill, York Region and Metrolinx. We help local employers and commuters, like you, explore different commute choices like carpooling, cycling and transit. 

     

    Our goal is to ease gridlock, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while making your commute less expensive 

    and more enjoyable.