The newly installed bicycle network has been hard to miss, but it’s doing its part to reduce Victoria’s carbon footprint.
On September 13, the Community Energy Association (CEA) awarded Victoria with the Community Planning and Development award for its All Ages & Abilities Bicycle Network.
“Victoria’s Bicycle Network is helping residents and visitors cycle safely and comfortably through our community,” said mayor Lisa Helps, when accepting the award. “In the first 14 months of operation, 530,000 trips were recorded on our downtown protected bike lanes.”
The network will be 32 km long at its completion, and is predicted to reduce Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 10,000 tonnes per year.
The Awards
Besides the city of Victoria, the Capital Regional District won the Climate & Energy Action Award in the Public Sector Collaboration for its Zero Emissions Fleet Initiative.
Meanwhile, the District of Hudson’s Hope on the mainland won the Corporate Operations award for its Solar Initiative.
“These award-winning actions on waste reduction, active transportation, renewable energy, and more demonstrate creativity and innovation at the community level,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, who presented the awards.
Victoria won over four other applicants, including one project from Campbell River that focused on cleaner building construction, and one from Central Saanich that focused on reducing greenhouse emissions and increasing renewable energy.
The CEA emerged as an incorporated committee in 2003, and is an independent, non-for profit charitable society. The association proposes and facilities environmental projects, and advises local governments.
