Written by Hans Moor.
It has already been fourteen years ago, when former Bike Ottawa board member Alex de Vries suggested an event that would coincide with the changing of the clock in the fall. All of a sudden, many of us would be cycling home in the dark. Casual observations in the past taught us that during that first week in November, people are not really prepared for that sudden darkness and would happily set out in daylight in the morning, only to discover that darkness sets in at 5 pm before their ride home.
We approached the City of Ottawa’s Safer Roads Ottawa manager Rob Wilkinson, who was happy to join forces. The plan was to hand out lights to all cyclists without a light. This turned out such a positive action that, 14 years later, Bike Ottawa and Safer Roads Ottawa are still organising this event together with support of the Pathway Patrol volunteers. Since then we have been handing out lights in different locations. The Corktown bridge at UOttawa is a perennial favourite, but we have also ventured out to other places.
This year, like last year, we were at the Hartwells Locks, on the east side, on the side where the pathway runs along the Colonel By Driveway. We started at 4 pm. Hartwells Locks is typically a place where you will see a lot of commuters who are usually well prepared and have their lights on. But there are also new students who may not have realised that November is still a decent month to bike and do so, but sometimes without a light.
We bring the Bike Ottawa mobile out, which is towed by volunteer Shawn Gettler on his bike all the way from the Bayview Station area. Shawn cycles with the trailer in tow along the Trillium Pathway, along Dow’s Lake and across the Bronson bridge over the canal and the pathway along Colonel By Drive to the Locks. There we turn the trailer into a booth including a tent.
Safer Roads Ottawa brings lights, reflective arm bands and reflective tape; Pathway Patrol volunteers (in high viz jackets) help handing out material. Most people, even those who already have lights, happily accept an extra light.
Last Thursday, November 5 was extraordinarily warm. Usually we stand around in warm clothes, warm boots, two pairs of socks, a pair of winter gloves, just to stay somewhat warm. This year it was 17-18 degrees Celsius, and some people would bike by in T-shirt and shorts. Let’s just hope that this was an anomaly, but it may trend to a new normal. All the more a reason to leave the car at home and find a great bike commute route.
We didn’t count the number of cyclists, but during these two hours at least 100-150 cyclists must have biked by. Most of them with lights on fortunately. This was another successful event with Safer Roads Ottawa and the Pathway Patrol. Here are some impressions.
