FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2019
MARKHAM– Over one quarter of all trips in Markham – or 260,500 trips a day – are 5km or less, a distance that could easily be biked. Markham Cycles: Incubating Cycling Hubs in Suburban Canadian Communities is a new project launching in Milliken Mills that is hoping to tap into this potential. Funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and led by The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) at Clean Air Partnership, the project’s goals are to engage residents in climate change action by increasing opportunities for cycling in Markham.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with the City of Markham to engage the community in tangible climate action,” said Nancy Smith Lea, Director at The Centre for Active Transportation. “Markham is part of York Region which has one of the highest per capita transportation emissions in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. This offers promising potential for increasing cycling.”
Today, the project team launched a community bike hub at the Milliken Mills Community Centre & Library. This summer and fall, the hub will host community rides and bike repair workshops, a bike mentorship and loan program, e-bike try-outs and bike-related activities at Milliken Mills High School. Participants will be encouraged to track their own carbon transportation emissions and look for opportunities to make greener travel choices.
The Markham Cycles Hub, located in a repurposed shipping container, will be enhanced with fabulous graphics that tie in how cycling can be incorporated into our lives. The artist, Jessica Chan, a local architecture student and intern with Markham’s Public Realm Department, held two drop-in sessions at Aaniin Community Centre to gather ideas and is working with the Markham Cycles Advisory Committee on the final design. As part of our Public Realm Strategy, Markham is actively working to enrich our public spaces, provide a sense of identity, and create beauty where once there was none.
“The City of Markham is proud to be a municipal leader in sustainability,” says Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Our Municipal Energy Plan outlines our ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, we believe in creating a green Markham and walking and cycling are key components. Programs like Markham Cycles create a culture of cycling, opportunity for social interaction and enhances a sense of community, while keeping you healthy and active.”
Markham Cycles will address social barriers to cycling in Markham, build institutional capacity among local agencies and individuals to support cycling, support action to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions in Markham, and highlight the benefits of cycling, such as community building, physical activity and affordable transportation.
What:
Markham Cycles Launch Party
Where:
Milliken Mills Community Centre & Library
7600 Kennedy Road, Markham
Quick Facts:
- The Markham Cycles project is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) at Clean Air Partnership is working in partnership with the City of Markham, the York Region District School Board, CultureLink Settlement & Community Services, and the Markham Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
- Over one quarter of all daily trips in Markham are less than 5km and could be made by bicycle (Transportation Tomorrow Survey, 2016)
- Driving 5km in an average car creates 1.25kg of CO2 emissions
- Over 4,500 households in Markham do not own a car. (Transportation Tomorrow Survey, 2016)
- The City of Markham’s Municipal Energy Plan (2018) includes the goal that by 2050, 50% of trips 5km or less would be walked or cycled instead of driven. This shift would save 9.6 kilotons of emissions.
About The Centre for Active Transportation: The Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT), a project of Clean Air Partnership (CAP), advances knowledge and evidence to build support for safe and inclusive streets for walking and cycling. We believe that active transportation plays a critical role in creating environmentally and economically sustainable cities.
About Markham: Markham, an award-winning municipality with over 355,000 residents and the largest of nine communities in York Region, is home to over 400 corporate head offices and more than 1,500 high tech and life science companies. Markham is a leader in attracting foreign direct investment with more than 210 foreign companies located in the City. Founded in the 1790s, today Markham is Canada’s most diverse community and enjoys a rich heritage, outstanding community planning and services, and a vibrant local economy. Markham has received the Excellence Canada Gold Award for Organizational Quality & Healthy Workplace, and multiple heritage and environmental awards.