Jun 24, 2016

Vancouver, BC – Langara College covered major ground this month, first with Bike to Work Week from May 30 to June 5, followed by the BC Commuter Challenge from June 5 to 11. Both events champion alternative modes of transportation with the goals of reducing carbon emissions and encouraging physical activity.

Bike to Work Week is a twice-yearly event organized by HUB. Langara has participated every year since it began in 2007.

“This year, Langara’s team of 45 employees cycled 265 one-way trips for a collective distance of 2,131 kilometres during Bike to Work Week,” says Fulton Tom, Langara’s Bike to Work Week organizer and Economics instructor. “Our team’s efforts kept 460 kilograms of greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere and burnt a whopping 63,926 calories.”

Langara kicked off the week on May 30 with a celebration station along the Ontario Street Bikeway. Visitors enjoyed refreshments courtesy of the Facilities Department, and free water bottles provided by the Communications & Marketing Department. VanCycle Mobile Bicycle Shop provided complimentary bike tune-ups.

“During the two-hour period, 93 cyclists visited the station and another 103 cyclists passed by,” says Tom.

The total number of cyclists counted was up 36 per cent from 2015.

The next week, Langara employees walked, cycled, took transit, ride-shared, car-shared, and telecommuted for the BC Commuter Challenge. Participants logged their commutes online to track the amount of CO2 emissions avoided, fuel saved, and calories burned based on the mode of travel and distance covered.

“A total of 86 Langara employees recorded their commuting activities during this year’s Commuter Challenge,” says Langara organizer Steve Daniell. “The result is over 1,240 kilograms of CO2 being saved from the atmosphere.”

In random daily draws throughout the week, 14 participants won water bottles. Two participants also won gift certificates for Mountain Equipment Co-op.

The results of this year’s Commuter Challenge, including Langara’s ranking among the other 126 local participating organizations, will be announced at the June 28 wrap-up party. Participants can RSVP to attend the party by registering online.

Langara’s participation in Bike to Work Week and the BC Commuter Challenge was made possible by the volunteer efforts of Fulton Tom, Leili Hamidi, Janinah Jansen, Negar Karami, Daniel Lee, Raymond Leung, Facilities, Communications & Marketing, Continuing Studies, Athletics, and the Bookstore.

The College would also like to thank Erik Price of VanCycle Mobile Bicycle Shop, HUB, and Better Environmentally Sound Transportation.

About Langara

Located in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada, Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 21,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as house of teachings, a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.

Learn more.
Marlene Dong
Communications Officer
Communications & Marketing
604.323.5131
mdong@langara.bc.ca