Editing Victoria, British Columbia (section)

===Cycling===
[[File:Victoria, BC - British Columbia Legislature and pedicab 01 (19798083893).jpg|thumb|People cycling and walking past the British Columbia Parliament Buildings]]
The Greater Victoria area has the highest rate of bicycle commuting to work of any [[Census geographic units of Canada|census metropolitan area]] in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-012-x/2011003/tbl/tbl1a-eng.cfm|title=Table 1.a Proportion of workers commuting to work by car, truck or van, by public transit, on foot, or by bicycle, census metropolitan areas, 2011|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504054835/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/99-012-x/2011003/tbl/tbl1a-eng.cfm|archive-date=4 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016029/98-200-x2016029-eng.cfm|title=Census in Brief: Commuters using sustainable transportation in census metropolitan areas|website=www12.statcan.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-05-30|date=2017-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527222543/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016029/98-200-x2016029-eng.cfm|archive-date=27 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=More Victorians are cycling, walking to work: Latest census data |url=https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/more-victorians-cycling-walking-to-work-census-data |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Capital Daily}}</ref> Greater Victoria also has an expanding system designed to facilitate cyclists, [[electric bicycle|electrically assisted bicycles]] and other micromobility users via protected bike lanes on many roads, as well as separated multi-use paths for bicycles and pedestrians including the [[Galloping Goose Regional Trail]], [[Lochside Regional Trail]] and the [[E&N Rail Trail|E&N rail trail]]. These multi-use trails are designed exclusively for foot traffic, cyclists, and micro-mobility users and pass through many communities in the Greater Victoria area, beginning at the downtown core and extending into areas such as Langford and Central and North Saanich.
[[File:Galloping Goose cycle trail at Switch Bridge. VIEW IN PANORAMIO FOR DESCRIPTION - panoramio.jpg|alt=Cyclists at the Switch Bridge intersection of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail and Lochside Regional Trail in Victoria, British Columbia|thumb|Cyclists at the Switch Bridge intersection of the [[Galloping Goose Regional Trail]] and [[Lochside Regional Trail]]]]
Victoria is currently finishing a {{Convert|32|km|abbr=on}} [[Cycle track|protected bike lane]] network intended for all ages and abilities (AAA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about Greater Victoria's cycling network |url=https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/greater-victoria-cycling-network |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Capital Daily}}</ref> The first lane opened in Spring 2017 on Pandora Avenue, between Store Street and Cook Street in the downtown core<ref>{{cite web |title=Pandora Ave. {{!}} Victoria |url=http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/transportation/cycling/biketoria-pandora-ave.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420050328/http://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/residents/transportation/cycling/biketoria-pandora-ave.html |archive-date=20 April 2017 |access-date=2017-04-19 |website=www.victoria.ca |language=en}}</ref> and provides an easy cycling connection across the [[Johnson Street Bridge]] to the [[Galloping Goose Regional Trail|Galloping Goose Trail]] and [[E&N Rail Trail|E&N rail trail]]. The second protected bike lane in the network opened on Fort Street on 27 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-05-27 |title=Fort Street bike lanes officially open in Victoria – Victoria News |language=en-US |work=Victoria News |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/fort-street-bike-lanes-officially-open-in-victoria/ |url-status=live |access-date=2018-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528003517/https://www.vicnews.com/news/fort-street-bike-lanes-officially-open-in-victoria/ |archive-date=28 May 2018}}</ref> The next two roads added to the downtown area bike network were Wharf and Humboldt streets, completed in 2019 and 2020 respectively,<ref>{{cite web |date=2019-07-31 |title=Wharf Street bike lane, pedestrian scramble set to open Thursday |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/wharf-street-bike-lane-pedestrian-scramble-set-to-open-thursday/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Victoria News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Eric |date=2020-07-20 |title=New Humbolt St. bike lanes causing confusion for Victoria motorists |url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/new-humbolt-st-bike-lanes-causing-confusion-for-victoria-motorists-1.5032177 |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Vancouver Island |language=en}}</ref> with Vancouver Street and Graham/Jackson streets added to the AAA bike network in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-06-05 |title=Completed Vancouver Street corridor adds to Victoria cycle network |url=https://www.saanichnews.com/news/completed-vancouver-street-corridor-adds-to-victoria-cycle-network/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Saanich News |language=en-US}}</ref> The next round of streets upgraded starting in 2021 as "complete streets" with AAA cycling infrastructure included Richardson Street, Haultain Street, Government Street north of Pandora Avenue to Gorge Road, and finally Kimta Road connecting the network to the [[E&N Rail Trail|E&N rail trail]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Chan |first=Adam |date=2019-12-04 |title=Victoria seeks feedback on 4 new bike lane proposals |url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-seeks-feedback-on-4-new-bike-lane-proposals-1.4715399 |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Vancouver Island |language=en}}</ref> Connector routes in the [[Fernwood, Greater Victoria|Fernwood]] and Oaklands neighbourhoods to the Vancouver Street lanes were also constructed starting in 2021, avoiding hills and adding safer pedestrian and cyclist crossings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria council green lights new bike routes in Jubilee, Oaklands and Fernwood |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/victoria-council-green-lights-new-bike-routes-in-jubilee-oaklands-and-fernwood-4688151 |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Victoria Times Colonist |date=19 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In 2022 the city constructed further AAA bicycle connections along Montreal Street, Superior Street, Government Street (south, between Humboldt Street and Dallas Road), Fort Street (between Cook Street and up to the municipal border with [[Oak Bay, British Columbia|Oak Bay]]), and Gorge Road (between Government Street and up to the municipal border with [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria council approves new cycling routes in James Bay |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/victoria-council-approves-new-cycling-routes-in-james-bay-4691151 |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Victoria Times Colonist |date=5 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=Fort Street is Victoria's preferred bike lane route from junction to Foul Bay |url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/fort-street-is-victorias-preferred-bike-lane-route-from-junction-to-foul-bay/ |access-date=2021-12-23 |website=Victoria News |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Overflow Parking (5794890825).jpg|alt=Cyclists park their bicycles on a rack during a "Go By Bike Week" barbecue event|left|thumb|Overflow bicycle parking at a Bike to Work Week (now called Go By Bike Week) barbecue]]
Go By Bike Week,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Victoria |url=https://gobybikebc.ca/greater-victoria/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Greater Victoria |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Go By Bike Week |url=https://capitalbike.ca/gobybikeweek/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Capital Bike {{!}} Advocate. Educate. Celebrate. |language=en-CA}}</ref> previously called Bike to Work Week,<ref>Smith, Ray, ''Pedalling Bike-To-Work-Week'', Times Colonist. 26 April 2006</ref><ref>''Bike to Work Next Week'', Black Press, 26 May 2006</ref><ref>''New Cycling Commuter Sings Praises of Bike to Work Week'', Victoria News, 31 May 2006</ref> is a bi-annual event held in communities throughout greater Victoria, British Columbia. It is organized by Capital Bike,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Capital Bike {{!}} Advocate. Educate. Celebrate. |url=https://capitalbike.ca/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Capital Bike {{!}} Advocate. Educate. Celebrate. |language=en-CA}}</ref> a group created in 2021 by the merging of the [[Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition]] and Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society, and typically lasts one or two weeks. There is a large Spring event scheduled in late May every year, and again later during Fall typically in October. The original "Bike to Work Week" began in 1995 in Victoria and expanded to include other communities in BC through their local bicycle advocacy groups, all supported by the Bike to Work BC Society. The Bike to Work BC Society was formed in 2009 as a legal entity to run the event in other communities around BC, and was renamed the GoByBike BC Society<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://gobybikebc.ca/about/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=GoByBike BC |date=7 April 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> to encourage cycling beyond the scope of [[Bicycle commuting|commuting]]. The [[behavior change (public health)|behaviour change (public health)]] model, relying on research conducted by both the provincial and federal governments that identified barriers to cycling and reasons for choosing cycling, was applied in the original Bike to Work Week event as a way to accomplish the goal of recruiting employees to bicycle to work.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bike to Work Week: A Case Study in Successful Behavior Change |url=http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/library/details.cfm?id=4278 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706063147/http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/library/details.cfm?id=4278 |archive-date=6 July 2010 |publisher=Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Since its inception, ridership in Go By Bike Week has steadily increased, and in 2017 over 7,000 people participated in Greater Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biketowork.ca/victoria/btww-2018/results|title=Results {{!}} GoByBike BC|website=www.biketowork.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925141954/https://www.biketowork.ca/victoria/btww-2018/results|archive-date=25 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The event aims to attract new riders, promote cycling for commuting, recreation, and general transportation, and advocate for expanding safe cycling networks with prizes, activities and free cycling skills workshops. Pop-up "Celebration Stations" are set up throughout Greater Victoria, which typically feature free snacks and local coffee for cyclists, bicycle repair stands, and local cycling-related vendors and advocacy groups. The events were cancelled during the height of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], though individualized events were still promoted where participants could win prizes,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cycling group hopes scavenger hunts can keep people pedalling during pandemic |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-bike-week-cancelled-scavenger-hunts-1.5565009 |website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> and in-person events resumed in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Go By Bike Week back in high gear after three-year break |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/go-by-bike-week-back-in-high-gear-after-two-year-break-5423939 |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Times Colonist |language=en}}</ref>

Other cycling advocacy initiatives in the Greater Victoria area include the Victoria chapter of [[Cycling Without Age]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victoria, B.C. |url=https://cyclingwithoutage.ca/victoria/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Cycling Without Age |language=en-ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Everyone benefits from a ride": Six years in, Cycling Without Age is increasing its impact throughout Greater Victoria |url=https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/cycling-without-age-is-increasing-its-impact-throughout-greater-victoria |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=Capital Daily}}</ref> the Bike2Farm program<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-23 |title=People Power |url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/past-capital-projects-and-initiatives/people-power |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=www.crd.bc.ca |language=en}}</ref> and several recreational cycling clubs.