On a cold January day, a bike ride is not on the top of everyone's to-do list. But those who took part in Citizens for Safe Cycling's first Winter Family Bike Parade had a great time.

On Sunday, January 22, at noon, about 50 Ottawans came to Laurier Avenue West on bikes and recumbent bikes, some with trailers or cargo bikes, to celebrate cycling in winter. In temperatures of around -12C, with a wind chill of -17C, the cyclists were greeted by CfSC president Hans Moor, VP Alex deVries and City Councillor Mathieu Fleury. Fleury had not cycled in winter before.

The parade cycled along Laurier Avenue from Bronson Avenue, and then turned around at Elgin Street to do the loop once more before they had their group picture taken in front of City Hall. About half an hour after they started, they entered City Hall, where they were served apple cider and cookies by CfSC secretary Alayne McGregor, and City Councillors Marianne Wilkinson and Katherine Hobbs.

So why would people go for a bike parade in mid-winter? Moor responded that they were first and foremost out for the fun of it, but also to prove that cycling in winter is certainly possible when bike infrastructure is taken care of, and that cold weather doesn’t have to be a deterrent as long as you dress properly.

Although cycling from A to B and having a cup of cider afterwards sounds like an easy thing to organise, it actually took quite a number of people to make this possible:

• Risa Sargent, the CfSC director who initiated and organized the event
• CfSC director Simone Rivers, who created the event posters
• Bridgehead, which donated the apple cider (and every drop of cider was consumed, appreciatively!)
• the Dutch Canadian Association, for the loan of its urn to heat the cider
• Councillor Hobbs, who donated the cookies
• Councillors Chernushenko, Hobbs, Fleury and Wilkinson, for splitting the cost for the rental of Jean Pigott Hall at City Hall
• Alex Culley, for coordination inside City Hall
• Karen, for picking up and dropping off equipment
• CfSC directors Paul Clarke and Simone Rivers, for event photography
• and other CfSC volunteers who assisted with set-up and tear-down.

Thanks to all of you for the support. And of course thanks to the press, the bloggers and Twitterati to get the word out. We are not sure (yet) who donated the hummus and pita, but it was very much appreciated.

The Ottawa Citizen's coverage of the event: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Video+Hans+Moor+president+Citizens+Safe+Cycling/6034435/story.html

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