STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPENCER LUYBEN
Sheridan cyclists found themselves rolling toward a day of discounts and discovery during a tour of Kerr Village Thursday.
The students were the first ever Discover Oakville Bike Tour, held by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
The group met outside the Davis cafeteria, helmets in hand and bikes at the helm, and at 6 p.m. the journey began. The route took the bikers down a cycling path on Sixth Line, under the QEW and right into the heart of downtown Oakville at Kerr Village.
The event was a part of the organization’s UCycle project, which is being held at eight campuses across Ontario and aims to promote an increase in cycling among post-secondary students across the province, according to their website.
“Our rides are aimed at new and experienced cyclists and we aim to offer something for everyone,” said Jamie Stuckless, Share the Road’s Manager of Youth Education.
“Cycling enthusiasts can benefit from this tour as they learn new routes, meet fellow cyclists at Sheridan and visit bike-friendly businesses offering discounts to students who arrive on bike.”
And even though the turnout was few, the Sheridan cycling community very much exists.
“My favourite thing is cycling,” said first-year game design student Bolor Batjargal, who regularly practices cycling and tries to get on a bike every day in the summer when the biking season is at its peak.
“I’ve been looking for some nice places to go while biking, but the only thing I’ve found was the pier,” said Batjargal. “But [Kerr Village] would be a really good place for urban cyclists to gather and socialize.”
First-year animation student Michelle Oh also regularly uses her bicycle but finds that a busy school schedule hinders her ability to explore the area. She said the tour “gets you out of your chair” and makes it easy for students to explore Kerr Village because “it’s an event you want to go to.”
Apart from the festive atmosphere and the gathering of a niche community, there was another reason for excitement: discounts.
Share the Road has brokered deals with 12 businesses across the Oakville region that are offering discounts from now until November to students who present their student card and a bike helmet.
Some of the deals include 10 per cent off all products at Racer Sportif, no HST charge at Chocolate Alphabet and one free cold drink at Taste of Columbia.
Students are now encouraged to sign up to Share the Road’s online contest to say that they currently bike or are willing to try it. Between the eight Ontario campuses involved in this initiative, the campus with the highest percentage of students signed up will win $500 to promote cycling.
Watch the video here.