Get on your bike and ride!

Patrick Munro

Biking in Sandy Hill is undoubtedly the best way to get around. Purchasing a bike is the best money you will ever spend. With the cost of everyday life rising, the only thing unaffected by inflation is used bike prices. For a couple of hundred dollars and some annual maintenance, you can get around almost for free!

Cycling numbers have been consistently rising every year, and it’s easy to see why. Cars are getting more expensive, climate concerns are becoming more apparent, and electric bikes and scooters are making mobility accessible to all ages, abilities, and incomes.

We are blessed to live in a compact neighbourhood where everything is close and convenient. Our side streets have low vehicle volumes, the grid makes it easy to avoid busy streets, and connections to other neighbourhoods mean your daily needs are less than 15 minutes away.

We have great routes, such as the active transit bridges to Centretown and Vanier, the Rideau River and Canal pathways, the Confederation Line Trail to Old Ottawa South, and bike lanes on Stewart, Wilbrod, and Somerset. There are even more improvements planned or under construction, all connecting a network of safer streets for all ages.

Seeing your neighbours while biking with the pack makes you feel part of the community. There’s a sense of camaraderie during the morning or afternoon rush, quietly pedaling along with strangers, all heading to different destinations. Moving through our community at a slower pace gives you time to appreciate different sights and sounds, making every ride feel unique.

Within a few kilometres radius, biking is the fastest way to get around. Recently, I drove from the east end during rush hour and covered 8.5 km in 53 minutes. My commute home from the west end is 15 km, almost entirely on separated paths. It takes about 40 minutes, or 5-10 minutes more than driving.

Biking has many benefits besides easier mobility. It’s good for your physical and mental health, helps ease congestion, contributes to road safety, improves the local air quality, and puts money in your pocket. Every dollar saved on gas is a dollar spent at local patios, shops, or you can put it towards your next big purchase.

I’ll admit, bikes aren’t the perfect tool for every trip or every person. Despite biking year-round in all conditions, I do use my car from time to time. However, any trip where I can use my bike is more fun and beats sitting around or staying inside. It’s completely possible to bike most of the year, so I would rather check the weather, put on a coat, and enjoy what nature has in store. Plus, you’ll never have to search for parking!

If I can accomplish anything in writing this, it’s to convince you to get on two wheels and bring positivity to the biking discourse.  June is Let’s Bike Month (visit www.letsbike.ca), so in the words of Freddie Mercury, “get on your bikes and ride.” For any trip, now is the time to get back on the saddle and be a part of making your streets safer, quieter, and more fun. Ride safe and I hope to see you on the trails!