We are active!
We organize a number of signature events each year.
Family Winter Bike Ride
January: We go for a 6 km spin through Ottawa usually ending up at City Hall for hot chocolate with a city councillor. Recently actually 4 city councillors.
Spring.Bike.Ottawa
First Saturday of Spring: Bike season starts! We’ll have a large social with a few local speakers about cycling advocacy, developments, perhaps even city budget 101. It is growing every year and the place to be when the season starts.
Tulip on Two Wheels
May: During the Tulip Festival, we’ll be near Canal Ritz on Queen Elizabeth Drive along the canal to recruit new members, offer free bike tune ups and listen to people’s cycling experiences.
RBC Bluesfest Valet Bike Parking
July: An event on its own, we have a whole crew of volunteers out to look after valet parking at Ottawa’s RBC Bluesfest. Although the service is free, dontations from appreciative cyclists split between Citizens for Safe Cycling and Blues in the Schools and have consistently made this our biggest annual fundraiser. More information about this event is available here.
Fall Annual Meeting
September/October: Late summer/Early Fall is a great time to cycle to our Annual Meeting. We usually have a keynote speaker from out of town. So far our speaker series has included Roger Geller from Portland, Timo Perälä from Oulu (Finland), Hayley Richardson (City of Bellevue, near Seattle), Professor Buehler from Virginia Tech (USA), Sarah Craigh from Halifax’s I Heart Bikes (Canada) to name but a few.
Lights on Bikes
November: We hand out free bike lights at the end of Daylight Savings Time somewhere at an undisclosed location (kind of) in Ottawa.
Representation at Other Events
We don’t have a paid staff, therefore our time is limited. With a number of dedicated volunteers, we organize the events listed above, attend public meetings, work with community organisations for better bike conditions, answer questions from the public, present facts to city council and present to other organisations.
Want to know more: check in with events@bikeottawa.ca. Note that we generally can’t be at your event. However Safer Roads Ottawa and Ottawa Parks and Recreation sometimes can.