Parks Canada is conducting a survey on cycling in Western Canada and in Mountain Parks such as Jasper, Banff, and Revelstoke.

Jasper National Park

Data from the survey will help Parks staff to understand the growing trend of mountain biking and road riding in its Parks, and determine how the cycling experience might be improved in the future.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW

Clubs and retailers! Help us get the word out: invite your contacts to take the survey.

File Photo: Daniel Hayduk-Castanet

Kelowna area cyclists can now get bike route and pathway directions using Google Maps.

At the beginning of December, Kelowna joined Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg , Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa and Gatineau as the first cities in Canada to have the Google Maps “bike directions” application available to them.

“This is an amazing tool that helps to reinforce the City’s commitment to make active transportation a realistic option for people,” says Mike Kittmer, City of Kelowna Active Transportation Coordinator.

Bike Directions, which has been available in the United States since March, uses colour coding to flag safe routes for cyclists.

The directions feature provides step-by-step, bicycle-specific routing suggestions similar to the directions provided by the driving or walking modes of Google Maps.

You can now enter a start location and end destination into your computer or smart phone, and instantly obtain suggestions for recommended cycling routes. Recommended routes will include on and off-road bike lanes, streets designated as bike routes, and other roads that connect them.

The new cycling tool is in the introductory phase and the cities involved will be continually working with Google to improve the service.

To visit the new Google cycling route application for Kelowna, visit maps.google.ca/biking

From Castanet

A very unique bike has been stolen from a Kelowna business.

Two thieves broke into the Cyclepath store just before midnight on November 10.

RCMP staff Sergeant Bob Rueter says they stole a yellow Aaron Ross BMX bike and a white Fox 40 fork.

"The total value of the bike is about $2,000 and the fork is worth about $2,300," says Rueter.

He says they don’t have a good description of the two suspects.

"One was wearing a white sweater, the other a red sweater and a black hat."

Officials at Cyclepath say the stolen bike was very unique.

"It is the only one we brought in, and unless someone has purchased it elsewhere, it will be the only one in the Kelowna area," say store officials in an email to Castanet.

They say the bike has blue rims and handle bars.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.

If you want to watch the event live, tune in to PinkBike on Sunday (although you really should be at the trail maintenance day on Powers Creek instead.  You can catch the highlights for the rest of the winter).

http://www.cycleandski.com/news_detail.php?id=1

More info at

http://cdnav.dc1.netfirms.com/bikepenticton.com/fall/index.htm

Thanks to PinkBike for the image.

Congratulations on a spectacular third place finish at Whistler.  Crankworx is the biggest slopestyle comp of the season, and a podium finish there is massive.

Way to go, bro.

Go Casey!

“The City collaborated with local riders and the Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan to build a park that provides something for of all ages and abilities,” says Park Projects Manager Andrew Gibbs.

The Mountain Bikers of the Central Okanagan will manage the park, provide education and training for users and maintain the bike facilities. The Club is planning an official grand opening for the park later this summer.

Located on a 3.4 hectare site at 1960 Hollywood Road South, the skills park includes a pump track and six dirt jump lanes progressing from beginner to expert. Riders can access the park by bike via the Mission Creek Greenway.

“We have been working closely with the mountain biking community and this type of facility was identified as a priority,” says Gibbs. The 2008 Kelowna & Area Mountain Bike Strategy, a joint project with the City, Regional District and BC Parks will guide future development and management of mountain bike facilities in the area.

Completed at a cost of $243,000, the park was designed by a Gravity Logic of Whistler and van der Zalm & Associates landscape architects in collaboration with local riders and constructed by Cormode and Dickson of Kelowna and Gravity Logic. Many businesses and individuals in the community helped with construction through the supply of labour, equipment and material at reduced cost.

Find links to Kelowna’s parks and beaches at kelowna.ca/parks.