Age: 36
Bike: Public C7 in purple
Time on this bike: Three years
Favourite Vancouver bike route: From Fairview over the Cambie Bridge, which connects to the Beatty and then Dunsmuir separated bike lanes into downtown where she works.
Quote: “The more comprehensive the bike route network is, the more people will cycle. Which means fewer cars on the road, making life in the city better for all.”
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It’s not just the headline-grabbing beer. Bikos, the currency that grows with each kilometre a person pedals or walks, can be cashed in for discounts on food, bike repairs, jeans, coffee and more.
Molly Millar, Biko’s city manager in Vancouver, is tasked with signing new businesses and rewards to the free downloadable app, which started in Colombia and is designed to reward people for getting out of their cars and using active transport, especially biking.
A daily commuter who’s cycled around the Americas and Europe, Millar also racks up bikos – pronounced bike-o, not beek-o. She’s traded 30 bikos for $10 off clothing at dish & DUER, redeemed 30 more for two-for-one cortado at Rocanini Coffee Roasters, and has also enjoyed the most popular reward currently on offer, the $25 gift certificate from Big Rock Brewery for 150 bikos.
Read more from the My Bike series: We cycle to bring customers coffee via cargo and I ride for the freedom and smiles
Some rewards may not last, but others will appear, said Millar. “There is always some tinkering as the program evolves,” she said in an interview Oct. 12.
A charity component also ran for a month up until Oct. 16. Users could donate their bikos, and Pacific Blue Cross gave the monetary equivalent to one of seven selected charities.
Happy Bike to Work Week #Vancouver! Let Biko help you track your rides this week, while earning bikos for that happy hour beer on Friday. pic.twitter.com/nHOiJnxT2u
— Biko (@BikoApp) October 24, 2016
Vancouver is the first English-language city in the world in which to use Biko. Since it launched Sept. 16, more than 6,000 users have downloaded the app.
Molly Millar on Biko’s reception since launching in Vancouver six weeks ago…
“It has been incredible so far. The charity competition that are running is blowing our minds. In Bogota, for the whole month the [charity] contest was running, there were around 10,000 bikos donated to charity and I don’t want to release the results quite yet, but we have definitely exceeded that.
"A tonne of people are using the app every day in Vancouver, and redemptions are going well so people are enjoying the rewards locally.
On the characteristics of the city’s cycling scene…
“We have embraced it whole-heartedly. Vancouver leads North American cities in terms of commute by bike, we edged out Portland last year, and this summer we put in three and a half new protected bike lanes, and installed a bike share. So our numbers have gone through the roof.
“Vancouver was chosen for Biko for a couple of reasons. No. 1 because we are leading North America in terms of commutes by bike and No. 2 because the City of Vancouver has that ambitious goal to be the greenest city by 2020 and we feel we can make a real contribution to that goal and we are excited to meet that challenge.
On cycling in at sunset in warm weather…
“My favourite ride ever is riding home from Third Beach along the Seawall on a summer's eve. Everyone is relaxed and mellow because it's 9:00 p.m. at night, but people are out enjoying the summer evening. The seawall route takes you through so many different neighbourhoods and areas on the ride back to East Van.
"You see families spread out on blankets at English Bay, people out for the evening in the West End, friends playing that last game of volleyball before the sun goes down, groups of people out for walks. I love Vancouver like this.
On commuting…
“Biking in Vancouver improved so much this summer with the addition of three and a half protected bike lanes and many more painted bike lanes. My new favourite bike route is my route to and from work because now it's all protected or calmed.
"I start my trip on Heather Street, connect with the Cambie Bridge bike lane, which connects with the Beatty separated bike lane, which connects with the Dunsmuir separated bike lane, which takes me all the way into downtown. It's never been easier or more relaxing.
On choosing modalities…
“I have long believed that cities are better when more people move around them by walking and by bike. I have supported that passion and that belief by working and volunteering in the active transportation industry in Vancouver. When Biko arrived, fresh on the scene three months ago, they were referred to me and vice versa. After meeting them and listening to the Biko story, I knew I had found some true innovators looking to create greener, better, smarter cities around the world.
On making change…
“Biko has huge potential in Vancouver, some of which has already been shown by the incredible uptake of users here. Just two weeks into the #BikosforChange charity competition [with Pacific Blue Cross] and we've already seen 17,953 bikos donated so far. That translates into 17,953 kilometres biked and 2.3 tons of CO2 saved.
“Biko has the ability to engage so many different types of people, from Vancouverites getting rewarded for biking to work, to employers interested in engaging their employees to city planners who are designing our cities. The potential in Vancouver is huge.
On what works and what need improvement…
“Cycling in Vancouver is great right now. We have our new public bike sharing system, Mobi, and the City of Vancouver added some much needed new protected bike lanes over the summer.
"Cycling is the preferred way to get around the city for many. However, we can't sit back say, “Ah, we did it. We made this city great for cycling.” The City of Vancouver must continue to connect the existing bike routes and complete the network.
"I compare it to icing half a hockey rink. Would the players play on the rink if only half the lines were drawn? The more comprehensive the bike route network is, the more people will cycle. Which means fewer cars on the road making life in the city better for all.
On Biko’s role in this on-going growth…
“Biko has a powerful role to play in continuing to build out the network of bike paths because the app collects some of the best, real-time urban cycling data that exists today. We can work together with urban planners to determine, for example, where the next bike path should be built or where the next Mobi bike station should be placed.
On the accessories she loves to ride in…
dish & DUER jeans are fantastic, super flexible, long-lasting, and there are a few different styles. I’d totally recommend them. Great value for money and good for men and women. I’ve got three pairs in my closet. They are my favourite local brand.
On the bike she rides right now…
“I ride a purple, step-through Public bike. Public is a fantastic bike company out of San Francisco. They make affordable, well-built bikes which are easy to purchase online.
Twitter: @MHStewart
