I Love Riding in the City
NAME: Steve Mark
LOCATION: Victoria, BC
OCCUPATION: Geographical Information Systems
Technical Coordinator
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in Victoria, BC where the temperate climate allows year round riding. Cycling is a very accepted and promoted mode of transportation within the city. There are distinct neighborhoods in Victoria that have a unique feel to them that make riding through them so much fun. So many local coffee houses and pubs to choose from. The proximity of amenities, the topography and the awareness of urban cycling make Victoria a great city to ride in.
What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
One of my favorite cities to ride in is Hanoi, Vietnam. I was there traveling in 1996. Most guesthouses had bike rentals. In the morning we would head out on our bikes to check out all the local markets. We would buy fresh baguettes, along with cheese and fruit. We would put them in our baskets and ride around all the lakes. The best part of it was that there were so many locals using bikes as their primary means of transportation. All of a sudden you would be engulfed in a group of kids riding to school, yelling out all of the English they knew.
Why do you love riding in the city?
I love riding in the city because it is such an efficient and stealth way to navigate the urban landscape. There are so many sights, sounds and smells that you miss when driving in a car.
