Events encouraging cycling scheduled across the Greater Toronto and
Hamilton AreaTORONTO, May 22 /CNW/ - Metrolinx is encouraging commuters to participate
in the third annual 'Bike to Work Day', Monday, May 25, 2009. Smart Commute, a
program of Metrolinx, is working with employers across the region to encourage
commuters to cycle to work on this day and every day.
On event day, cyclists will be greeted by local politicians with pancake
breakfasts and free tune-ups from Durham to Newmarket to Hamilton.WHAT: Smart Commute 'Bike to Work Day' events
WHEN: Monday May 25, 2009
WHERE: Toronto, Durham, Markham-Richmond Hill, Newmarket-Aurora,
Vaughan, Brampton-Caledon, Mississauga, Burlington, and
Hamilton.
See map at: www.smartcommute.ca/events
DETAILS: Toronto
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Time: 7:30 am to 9:30 am
Location: Nathan Phillips Square, City Hall, Toronto
Photo Opportunity: 8:40 am at Nathan Phillips Square. Paul
Bedford speaking on behalf of Metrolinx.
Contact: Ryan Lanyon (416-874-5933) or Jacquie Menezes
(416-874-5923), Metrolinx
Description:
The City of Toronto is launching Bike Month with a group
commute to City Hall and free pancake breakfast. Metrolinx is
proud to participate in the City-organized event with Paul
Bedford, Metrolinx Board Member speaking on behalf of the
regional Smart Commute Bike to Work Day initiative. For more
information visit: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikeweek/.
Employees of the City of Toronto, Exhibition Place and
University Health Network (200 Elizabeth Street), who are Smart
Commute members and partners will also be cycling on Bike to
Work Day.
Durham
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Time: 7:30 am to 9:00 am
Location: Durham Region Headquarters, 605 Rossland Rd. E.,
Whitby
Photo Opportunity: Photos are available upon request.
Contacts: Denise Murray, Corporate Communications Officer, The
Regional Municipality of Durham (905-668-4113 x. 3813) and
Sandra McEleney, Smart Commute Durham, The Regional
Municipality of Durham (905) 668-4113 ext. 2550).
Description:
A formal declaration in support of this initiative from the
Regional Chair on behalf of the Region of Durham encouraging
everyone to "get out and try cycling" has been issued.
Regional employees who cycle to work will be welcomed at the
bicycle racks and will have the opportunity to sign up for a
summer-long challenge to cycle to work on a regular basis.
Employee Bike to Work Day events will also be taking place at
Messier-Dowty (574 Monarch Ave., Ajax), Veridian Corp.
(multiple locations), Town of Ajax (65 Harwood Ave., Ajax),
City of Oshawa (50 Centre St. S., Oshawa) and Town of Whitby
(575 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby).
Markham-Richmond Hill
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Time: 7:30 am to 9:30 am
Location: 100 Commerce Valley Drive West, Thornhill
Photo Opportunity: 8:15 am
Contact: Basil Marcello, Smart Commute 404-7, 905-474-0730 x.14
Description:
Join Smart Commute 404-7's second annual Bike to Work Day Event
and experience how easy biking to work, or anywhere, can be!
Enjoy a FREE continental breakfast, FREE Bike Tune-ups, FREE
giveaways and a bike safety demo, before heading out on a York
Regional Police escorted bike ride. Then stop for refreshments
and some prize giveaways, including a chance to win a CCM
Vandal Dual XC bike ($300 value), before the last leg of the
escorted ride. Details at www.smartcommute404-7.ca .
Newmarket-Aurora
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Time: 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Location: Old Train Station Parking Lot, 470 Davis Drive,
Newmarket
Photo Opportunity: 8:30 am to 8:45 at 470 Davis Drive
Contact: Peter Paz, Smart Commute Central York,
905-898-5900 x. 225
Description:
Cycle to Newmarket Chamber of Commerce offices and join Smart
Commute Central York and partners for a free breakfast,
giveaways, and a chance to win a Norco LRT1 donated by
Spoke O'Motion. What a great way to try active commuting!
Visit http://smartcommutecentralyork.ca/SmartCommute for more
information.
Employee Bike to Work Day events are also taking place at
Pearson Canada (195 Harry Walker Pkwy N.), Upper Canada Mall
(corner of Yonge St. and Davis Dr.), Town of Newmarket
(395 Mulock Dr.), York Region Headquarters (17250 Yonge St.)
and Town of Aurora (1 Municipal Drive, Aurora).
Vaughan
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Time: 8:00 am to 9:30am
Location: Powerstream Head Office at 161 Cityview Boulevard,
Vaughan
Photo Opportunity: 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Powerstream Headquarters
Contact: Adam Arnold, Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan,
416-452-1270
Description:
PowerStream staff will be leading group rides from Newmarket
and Richmond Hill to the Head office location at 161 Cityview
Boulevard in Vaughan. PowerStream staff in Barrie will also be
riding to their office location at 55 Patterson Road, Barrie.
Staff will be welcomed at work with prizes and a free
breakfast!
Brampton-Caledon
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Time: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Region of Peel Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive,
Brampton
Photo Opportunity: 8:30, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A,
main lobby
Contact: Judy Yack, Region of Peel, 905-791-7800 x. 4553
Description:
Smart Commute Brampton-Caledon encourages Region of Peel
(10 Peel Centre Drive) and Husky Injection Molding
(AMC Building, 500 Queens St. S., Bolton) staff to feel good
and have fun by commuting to work by bike and experiencing the
health, financial and environmental benefits of riding.
Mississauga
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Time: 7:00 am to 10:00 am
Location: Group ride starts at 1447 Burnhampthorpe Rd
(Riverwood Park barn) to Pancake Breakfast at Mississauga Civic
Centre
Photo Opportunity: 8:00 am at Mississauga Civic Centre
Contact: Glenn Gumulka, Smart Commute Mississauga, 905-896-5941
Description:
Members of the public and City of Mississauga staff are invited
to join Smart Commute Mississauga and the Mississauga Cycling
Advisory Committee for our third annual group bike ride to work
and free pancake breakfast for cyclists at the Civic Centre,
Library Square. For more information visit:
www.smartcommutemiss.ca.
Employee group commutes are also taking place at Hatch Ltd.
(2800 Speakman Drive), University of Toronto at Mississauga
(3359 Mississauga Rd N.), HB Group (5600 Cancross Crt),
McCormick Rankin/Ecoplans (2655 N. Sheridan Way).
Burlington
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Time: 8:00 am to 10:00 am
Location: City Hall, 426 Brant Street, Burlington/Civic Square
Photo Opportunity: 8:30-9:30 am at Civic Square
Contact: Monika Rejnowicz (905) 335-7600 ext. 7879
Description:
City of Burlington employees are taking part in a Bike to Work
Day Challenge with prizes for the City department with the
greatest number of participants. The City's Transportation
Demand Management team is hosting a breakfast in Civic Square
and providing a bike mechanic on site to conduct a free
inspection and small repairs for all participants.
Hamilton
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Time: 7:00 am to 10:00 am
Location: Gore Park (Corner of James and King), Hamilton
Photo Opportunity: 8:00-8:30 am at Gore Park
Contact: Peter Topalovic, City of Hamilton, 905-546-2424 x.
5129
Description:
Cycle alone, with a buddy, or in a group to Gore Park on
May 25, 2009 and be rewarded with access to the Gore Park Bike
Bash! Arrive between 7:00-10:00 am and be greeted with healthy
treats, fabulous prizes and the opportunity to get your bike
tuned-up by a professional! Smart Commute Hamilton will also
co-ordinate with participating employers to develop local
recognition for employees who bike to work.Smart Commute is a program of Metrolinx that works with local employers
across the region to improve commuter options like carpooling, transit,
cycling, walking and telework. More than 100 employers with almost 250,000
employees have signed on to Smart Commute.Choose Your Way.
For more information about Smart Commute visit www.smartcommute.ca.Metrolinx is a Crown agency of the Province of Ontario. For more
information visit our website www.metrolinx.com.
For further information: Media contacts: Ryan Lanyon, Team Lead, Smart
Commute at Metrolinx, (416) 874-5933 or cell (416) 587-4375,
ryan.Lanyon@metrolinx.com; Jacquie Menezes, Senior Associate, Public Affairs
and Media, Metrolinx, (416) 874-5923 or cell (647) 289-4523,
jacquie.Menezes@metrolinx.com
