The Shifting Gears challenge, a month-long initiative run by GreenUP, has officially kicked off in Peterborough, Ontario, and neighboring regions. The challenge aims to promote sustainable transportation habits and encourage participants to explore alternatives to driving during the month of May.
‘Shifting Gears is a monthly challenge where we encourage people to get out of their cars and instead walk, cycle, take transit, or even telecommute during the month of May,’ explained GreenUP’s transportation coordinator, Ashley Burnie. ‘It has been happening since 2004, so this is our 20th year of Shifting Gears.’
Joining the challenge is as simple as signing up online via the GreenUP website and tracking ‘green’ trips taken each week. Exciting weekly prizes and a grand prize offer additional incentives for participation.
A notable aspect of this year’s challenge is the influx of new participants, which Burnie attributes to expanding outreach efforts. ‘Many people are new who are signing up this year, which is great because we are reaching a new audience,’ she said. ‘Many folks who have signed up over the last decade aren’t signing up, but what we’ve found is it’s because they are doing it already, they are automatically making the shift when the season begins, and that is an exciting thing to experience as well.’
Shifting Gears enjoys the strong support of local community partners. B!ke: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop, for instance, is actively engaged in hosting a series of workshops designed to foster cycling in the area. Outreach coordinator Ness Pringle has been diligently assisting individuals with seasonal bike tune-ups.
‘We recommend that people do an ‘ABC’ quick check on their bike,’ Pringle advised. ‘It stands for air, brakes, and chains, and some people also include the quick releases (the mechanism on some bikes that release the tires).’
Within each of these categories, Pringle highlighted specific points to consider. ‘I would look for things like cracking in the tire, the tire health, and lastly, you can check for air. Maybe you have wear on the brake pads or an issue with the cables, clean your chain, and relubricate the chain but make sure you wipe it down afterward because it is an oil and will attract dirt.’
Despite the challenge being underway, Burnie emphasized that sign-ups are still open and past trips can be logged retroactively. She also offered helpful tips for those seeking to transition to more sustainable transportation habits.
‘Make a plan to use a specific type of transportation that week,’ Burnie suggested. ‘Be prepared, so pack your panniers the night before, lay your clothes out, have your umbrella handy, that is an easy way to make a choice, and maybe get a friend to do it with you.’
Individuals interested in participating in Shifting Gears can register on the GreenUP website. More information about B!ke’s workshops and registration details are available on their website as well. This annual challenge serves as an excellent opportunity to embrace greener transportation practices and contribute to a more sustainable community.
