{"id":15199,"date":"2012-12-10T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2012-12-10T18:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacingvancouver.ca\/?p=15199"},"modified":"2013-01-21T07:10:19","modified_gmt":"2013-01-21T15:10:19","slug":"bike-rides-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/vancouver\/2012\/12\/10\/bike-rides-society\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike Rides Society"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Earlier this year, a couple of cyclists from Austin Texas popped into Vancouver at the beginning of their tour down to San Francisco.\u00a0 Within every town they stopped, they hosted a social ride event where they would lead a ride around the city and end at a pub.\u00a0 The Texans were the flag bearers of a social bike ride group called BikeBot<\/em><\/a>. Social rides are like a party on wheels.\u00a0 The idea is that they are relaxed and interesting forays through the city.\u00a0 Part exercise and part exploration, it’s about seeing the city from a street you may never have been on and taking a route you might not otherwise take, while meeting new friends who are out to do the same.<\/p>\n

This kind of riding is big in Austin and other cities around North America.\u00a0 A friend and I went on the BikeBot<\/em> ride in June and were blown away by how much fun it was.\u00a0 Afterwards we craved more, but alas at that time in Vancouver, our interests could not be satiated.<\/p>\n

This, combined with the release of the Vancouver Foundation report<\/a> on isolation and loneliness within the city, sprung us into action.<\/p>\n

The Vancouver Foundation report spurred a lot of discussion on what an unfriendly city Vancouver is and how it can be hard to meet new people here.\u00a0 This puzzled us because in our experience Vancouver is full of creative, outgoing people…..so were all of these people also really lonely?<\/p>\n

We saw a gap that needed filling.\u00a0 We needed a social ride organization that would also bring people out of the woodwork with the soul purpose of having a great time.\u00a0 We called the organization Bike Rides Society<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

On August 1st<\/sup> we held our first ride; we made a group and posted an event on Facebook<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a modest affair of 11 participants.\u00a0 We rode around dinging our bells, took a group photo and reveled in the endorphins afterwards at the pub.\u00a0 By all accounts it was a huge success.\u00a0 Within three weeks, we were getting triple the numbers we got on our first ride, word spread and people loved it.<\/p>\n

Bike Rides Society<\/em> now has been operating for a sold four months and shows no signs of slowing down.\u00a0 The group has grown to over 300 members and regularly attracts 25 people per ride per week.\u00a0 The Society has succeeded in building a small yet enthusiastic community.\u00a0 Every week, there are new people who come to check us out.\u00a0 Not everyone comes every week, but most people are return-riders or promise they will be out again with huge smiles on their faces.<\/p>\n

Reflecting back on the Vancouver Foundation study on loneliness and meeting people, what we have found is just the opposite.\u00a0 Through our small experiment, we have found that people love to come out and meet new friends if they are given the opportunity.\u00a0 Maybe Vancouver lacks these types of opportunities?\u00a0 Perhaps other groups are just hard to find, over-programmed or too political?\u00a0 In any case ,it is not hard to make people feel welcome, the trick is to truly mean it.<\/p>\n

An essential part of each ride is the group photo. It has become part of our weekly formula and essential to maintaining our original purpose.\u00a0 Each week we gather everyone up, smile for the camera and then post it on Facebook.\u00a0 It is like a little memento that people can take back with them and say that they were a part of.<\/p>\n

You might think that a group of 25 cyclists meandering down the road might cause some traffic problems.\u00a0 In reality, this isn’t the case.\u00a0 Routes are carefully chosen to stay away from main arterials and stay on slower moving streets and bike paths.\u00a0 Our mission is not to make a political statement, so we obey all the rules of the road and show the upmost courtesy to our fellow road users.\u00a0 We also recommend that everyone show up with his or her required, helmet, lights and bell.\u00a0 The latter is essential for full participation.<\/p>\n

So if you do find yourself in the mood to meet some new friends, come on out.\u00a0 Find us on Facebook<\/a> or come down to our regular meeting spot at the southeast corner of Main and Broadway on Thursday nights at 8pm<\/em>.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry if you are not an very experienced cyclist, we are in no rush and we wait for everyone. A slower pace also makes for better conversation.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

For more information, visit the Bike Rides Society<\/em> Facebook<\/a> page and\/or website<\/a> (Under Development). Also, feel free to visit the BikeBot<\/em> facebook<\/a> page.<\/p>\n

Last, here is the Vancouver Foundation report on loneliness and isolation.<\/a><\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

Andrew Cuthbert<\/strong> works as a GIS Analyst working in resource extraction. Seeing those industries as the basis from which almost every other industry stands spurred his interest in design and urban sustainability and planning which led to his involvment with Spacing Magazine and his continuing education. When not working Andrew can most likely be found on his bike taking in the sights and fresh air.<\/em><\/p>\n

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