HUB Cycling is organizing BC’s only fully permitted, open streets night ride again on Saturday, September 15, 2018.
“The combination of music, costumes, bikes, glowing lights, and thousands of other people creates a very unique community experience,” says adds Wilkins. “Many cities have been hosting mass bike ride events like this for decades because they’re a lot of fun – and because they encourage people to get their bikes out of the garage.” Bike the Night is modelled after Montreal’s hugely popular ‘Tour La Nuit’, which is organized by Vélo Québec and after two decades now gets over 15,000 participants each year. HUB Cycling surveys show that people who participate in Bike the Night end up using their bikes more frequently after the event.
HUB Cycling expects that more than 5000 people, including over 500 children, will participate in the third-annual event. “Bike the Night was one of the best experiences we have shared together as a family,” said one 2017 Bike the Night participant.
Bike the Night will kick off on September 15th at 6pm with a pre-party featuring free snacks, bike repairs and giveaways for registered participants. The easy 10 kilometre route will start at Concord Pacific Place (corner of Carrall St. and Pacific) and wind through some of Vancouver’s most iconic streets including a car-free Burrard Bridge. Thousands of people of all ages and abilities are expected to sign up for the ride and are encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights and come in costume.
While the ride is mostly getting people on bikes, building community and helping Vancouver become an even “more fun city”, it also helps to improve safety. In 2017 thousands of free lights were also given away to participants to encourage safe riding after the event. Based on the findings from our surveys, 70% of participants reported that they use lights while riding at night, a 10% increase from before the ride. Large rides also lead to more people riding bikes post-event, and this helps us get closer to the City of Vancouver’s transportation 2040 goals.
Registration is $20 until September 14th and includes access to the ride, one entry to win a grand prize from MEC and other great prizes, and an admission to the kick-off party with live music, free bike tune-ups and decorating, relay races, free snacks, giveaways and entertainment. Youth 16 and under are free. Bike the Night is Presented by MEC and supported by many partners including the City of Vancouver, Richards Buell Sutton LLP, and the Vancouver International Airport.
For more information, visit the HUB website.
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Vehicle Road Closure Information:
Roads will be closed to cars during the following times (see detour map above for detour information). Residents are encouraged to cheer on the ride participants. Any residents affected by the closures area also eligible for two free tickets by emailing events@bikehub.ca.
- Pacific Blvd (Griffiths Way to Quebec Ave) – 7:15pm – 8:30pm
- Quebec St (E1st Ave St to Keefer St) – 7:15pm – 8:30pm (Resident access maintained via controlled crossing on Manitoba St)
- W1st Ave (Quebec St to Cambie Bridge) – 7:15pm – 8:45pm (Westbound Lanes Only – access to Athlete Village maintained via Manitoba St)
- W6th Ave (Ash St. to Alder Crossing) – 7:30pm – 9:00pm (Westbound Lanes Only – Resident Access Maintained via Moberley Rd crossing)
- Lamey’s Mill Rd (Alder Crossing to Anderson St) 7:45pm – 9:30pm
- W2nd Ave (Anderson St to Cypress St) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm (Granville Island Access Maintained with Anderson Crossing and Resident access Maintained via Fir St Crossing)
- W1st Ave (Maple St to Cypress St) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm
- York Ave (Arbutus St to Chestnut St) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm
- Maple St (Cornwall Ave to W1st Ave) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm
- Cornwall Ave (Burrard St to Arbutus St) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm
- Burrard Bridge – 7:15pm – 9:30pm
- Pacific Blvd (Nelson St to Burrard St) – 7:45pm – 9:30pm (Resident access maintained via controlled crossing on Davie St and Beach Ave)