Avid cyclists in Sooke will be pleased to know that yet another bike rack has popped up in town, this time at the local Vancouver Island Regional Library.
A bright orange rack, donated by Urban Racks to the Sooke Slow Food Cycle who then gave it to the library, has been installed at the side of the building near the front doors. It can hold up to six bikes.
“There’s a lot more riders to the branch, so it’s absolutely fantastic. It shows the community spirit” said circulation supervisor David Findlay.
Another example of volunteerism in Sooke, the labour was also donated by local excavator James Reuter, who also installed similar racks at Whiffin Spit (which he moved twice — once because it took up a parking spot, another because a car backed into it) and at the Stick in the Mud. He was hard at work digging up dirt from two rectangular “pits” cut out from the ground to accommodate the racks of the legs. He said there is already a palpable anticipation from the public for the new addition.
“I was test fitting it and put the rack down, and when I turned around people were already parking bikes in it.”
Since the slow food cycle debuted during Thanksgiving weekend, the organization has continued to be active in the community. The money raised from ticket sales is sitting in a bank account waiting for a consensus on what project the funds should be spent on.
Planning is also in full swing for next year’s SSFC that will take place on Sept. 23, said director Lee Hindrichs.
“People said they wanted it earlier in the year,” she said.
The route will be changed slightly, starting and ending at Edward Milne Community School. It will also be a loop instead of a linear ride, and will also feature something she called the “world’s largest picnic table” at Whiffin Spit.
SSFC has also purchased three other bike racks for public use. They are portable and can hold up to 30 to 50 bicycles.
See related story on page 13.