Throughout the month of June Sustainability Carleton and Healthy Workplace are partnering to shine a light on all things two wheels. Everyone is encouraged to get on their bike and sign up to the Carleton Let’s Bike Team to win prizes and track your cycling progress. You are also invited to an excellent Urban Cycling workshop, where our friends at Envirocentre will let you know about getting the most from cycling in Ottawa. You can also now access a Bike Loan program in case you need to buy a new bike or want to replace your existing one. Here are 5 ways in which you can get involved:
1. Sign up to Let’s Bike Ottawa.
Let’s Bike Ottawa is an annual campaign that encourages people to try cycling as a fun and healthy transportation option. Participants in the campaign can:
- See the GHG averted by choosing to bike
- Are eligible to win individual prizes including vouchers to local Ottawa stores
- Join Carleton colleagues in the Sustainability x Healthy Workplace team and engage in friendly competition
- Have access to free tools and resources
How it works
You can participate in Let’s Bike Ottawa as an individual or be part of the Carleton team:
- Simply sign up by creating a user name and password to access your personal profile page.
- Once you have registered, you can join the Carleton team, or if you prefer participate as an individual.
- Already a signed up? You can join the Carleton Team click on this link
From there, you will be able to:
- Log your bike rides during the campaign
- Track your progress and see the positive impact you are making
- Learn how much money you have saved and pollution you have averted
2. Attend a Free lunch time Bike Workshop.
Urban Cycling: Tips and Infrastructure
Delivered by an experienced cyclist, this workshop will provide participants with tips on incorporating cycling into their everyday lives. You’ll learn helpful hints, rules of the road, and advice on choosing a route to your destination. This workshop is adapted for cyclists of every age and ability.
Please register via the eventbrite site. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/154434260029
A Zoom link (and reminder) will subsequently be sent out to all registered participants 24 hours, 1 hour, and 10 minutes before the start of the virtual workshop.
3. Take advantage of the Carleton Bike Loan program.
Carleton has extended its Employee Purchase Loan Program. The program is intended to assist continuing employees in financing certain categories of products. The program previously only including financing for technology purchases but has now been extended to support the university’s sustainability goals, with financing for active forms of transportation.
This means that you can now finance the purchase of bicycles, including electric bicycles and additional eligible items such as pannier bags, trailers, and security products, up to a loan value of $5,000. Each loan shall be from one to three years and is repaid from your post-tax salary on a per-pay basis. The full loan details are available here.
4. Make the most of NCC Bike Days.
Every weekend from May to October, the NCC opens parkways in Ottawa for active use, morning and afternoon. Whether you’re biking, walking, running or skating, this program is for everyone.
These car-free roads are a great way to experience the beauty of Canada’s Capital Region in a fun, safe and environmentally friendly way. Every year this includes access to Colonel By Drive (running alongside our beautiful campus). From July 2 to September 6, Colonel By Drive will be open for active use only, from Daly Avenue to Canal Woods Terrace. This is a stretch of 5 kilometres and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
5. Read more about cycling plans on campus.
Carleton University’s first-ever Outdoor Space Master Plan has been finalized. This new plan will help the university identify and prioritize improvements to the urban environment on campus and support improvements to pedestrian and cycling pathways. The plan was developed by consultant Brook McIlroy, in consultation with all members of the campus community. The plan’s focus is in alignment with a number of university strategic plans including the Strategic Integrated Plan (SIP), Kinàmàgawin, the Indigenous Strategy, the Transportation Plan, as well as the university’s Sustainability Plan.
