Firebird Community Cycle

Time to register your team/family for the 3rd annual Barrie on Saturday, June 20th!! There'll be great prizes (new iPhone!) from our local businesses for best poker hands, best team names and much more. And a silent auction!
Ride at your own pace to local business poker ride stops like Namaste North Yoga, Around My Gluten-Free Table, Salty Blonde Bagel Bar, The Bike Zone Barrie and Reel Em In Fish & Chips among others, and collect playing cards to make your poker hand. Then we'll all meet at 3pm at Tiffs Bar and Restaurant for the after party!
Register here: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/

💰 The argument against bike lanes is always about money. The numbers say that argument is backwards. 🚴‍♀️

Whenever a city proposes protected cycle lanes, you hear the same complaint. Too expensive. A waste of public money. A vanity project for a handful of cyclists.

Here's the inconvenient truth: protected bike lanes are one of the best-value investments a transport budget can make. And there's now hard data to prove it.

A major study from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, backed by the FIA Foundation, ran the numbers on two cities that went all-in on protected networks. The findings are difficult to argue with.

Take Bogotá, Colombia. Its protected lane network cost around $132 million to build.

The benefits it generates? Roughly $310 million. Every single year.

That figure comes from real, measurable things - the travel time people save, and the cost of around 300 premature deaths prevented annually. One year of benefits outweighs the entire cost of construction.

Guangzhou, China told the same story. A network that cost about $69 million to build returns an estimated $105 million a year.

In plain terms: these networks pay for themselves in under a year.

And it gets harder to ignore. Per dollar spent, protected bike lanes delivered roughly ten times more emissions reduction than building metro rail. Ten times. For a fraction of the price.

A quick, honest caveat - those payback figures compare one year of benefits against build cost, and they come from specific cities. They're not a magic guarantee that works identically everywhere. But the scale of the gap is the point. This isn't close.

There's a knock-on effect too, and it lands where critics least expect it: local business.

When New York added a protected lane on 9th Avenue, retail sales along it jumped 49 percent. The wider area managed just 3 percent over the same period.

Turns out that when you make a street safer and more pleasant to move through slowly, more people stop, linger, and spend. Cars passing at 30 miles an hour don't shop. People on foot and on bikes do.

So the next time someone tells you protected lanes are a luxury a city can't afford, it's worth asking the harder question.

Can a city actually afford to keep ignoring them?

Safer streets. Cleaner air. Stronger local economies. And a build cost that, on the best evidence we have, can pay for itself within a year.

For cities still treating cycle lanes as a nuisance to be tolerated, the data is sending a fairly blunt message. This isn't charity for cyclists. It's one of the smartest bets a transport budget can make.

Stretch those legs and find your inner peace, because Namaste North Yoga is officially a stop on the 3rd Annual Barrie Bicycle Poker Ride on Sat. June 20th! 🧘‍♀️ We are so thrilled to welcome this amazing Bradford Street hot yoga and pilates studio. They know a thing or two about endurance and flow, which is exactly what you'll need to pedal your way to a winning hand next weekend! ♠️ Balance out your weekend plans and register your family or team of 4 here: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/

The countdown to June 20th is on! 🚲 We are incredibly excited to feature The Bike Zone Barrie as a premier card stop this year. Whether you are looking for a new ride or just need to stock up on essentials, they are the go-to local hub for all things cycling.
👉 Gather your crew of 4 and register here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/LGBarrie/events/2026-barrie-bicycle-poker-ride/

Poker Ride is Back! ♦️♠️ 🚲 ♥️ ♣️
On Saturday, June 20, Barrie is doing a bike poker ride and Firebird is one of the two charities it supports. Here's how it works: grab a team of four (or bring the family), ride around at your own pace, collect playing cards from local businesses, and see who ends the day with the best hand. Prizes for the winners, after-party at Tiff's Bar and Restaurant starting at 3:00 PM. It's $40 per team. All proceeds go to Living Green Barrie and Firebird Community Cycle.
Details: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/

A huge welcome to Hot Wok Barrie at 477 Grove Street East for adding some serious sizzle as a new stop on the 2026 Barrie Bicycle Poker Ride on Sat. June 20th. Make sure to show them some love on your ride (and before)!
Register your family or team of 4 today: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/
🚴
www.hotwokbarrie.com

🌙 Ready to experience a shop brimming with heart and human connection? Say hello to https://www.facebook.com/share/175fhpADty/?mibextid=wwXIfr, a beautiful community-centered gift store and "New Age general store" that is joining us as an official Poker Ride stop! Located on Dunlop Street, it’s filled with stunning handmade items, local small business goods, candles, and crystals.
🎟️ The excitement is building and teams are locking in their strategies! For just $40 per team of four, you can spend a gorgeous Saturday cycling around town, discovering beautiful local spots, and competing for the best poker hand. Don't wait until the last minute—gather your crew and sign up today! Click Here to Register: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/ ♦️

Blueberry Moon Blueberry Moon is a new age general store with carefully curated products.

Craft beer lovers, this downtown spot is a must-visit! 🍻✨ We are highlighting the incrediblBrūd Bar + Bottle Shop as an official Poker Ride stop. Swing by this fantastic craft beer hub to check out their curated bottle selection and collect a playing card for your hand.
👉 Sign up your family or team of up to 4: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/

https://www.facebook.com/share/14fE4BMxXaW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐝 We are incredibly excited to welcome Oh Beehive Eco Goods Co. and Refillery as a featured card stop on our route! Located right in the heart of downtown, this fantastic women-owned shop is Barrie's ultimate destination for zero-waste, eco-friendly swaps and non-toxic household essentials. It's the perfect match for a green, bicycle-powered community event!
✨ This is shaping up to be our biggest and best ride yet! Don’t miss your chance to cruise the city, explore sustainable gems like Oh Beehive!, and collect playing cards for awesome prizes. Grab your friends, sign up your team, and let's ride for a cleaner, greener Barrie! Secure Your Spot Here: https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/ 🚲

Oh Beehive Eco Goods Co. and Refillery Barrie, Ontario's First Refillery located in the heart of downtown Barrie, on Lakeshore Mews. Shop Refillable goods among other eco friendly goods for your household, business, and beyond.

🍹 Looking for great drinks, great vibes, and a beautiful community space? We are thrilled to announce that Sober Sips Social House https://sobersips.ca/ is an official card stop for this year’s Bicycle Poker Ride! Known for their amazing non-alcoholic craft beers, zero-proof spirits, and signature mocktails, they are the perfect spot to cool down and refresh during your ride.
🚴‍♂️ Slots are filling up fast for the big day! Round up a team of four or bring the family for a fun, self-paced cycle across Barrie. Lock in your spot today, support local charities, and get ready to pull a winning card at this fantastic downtown hub! Register Your Team Now 🃏 https://livinggreenbarrie.com/event/third-annual-bicycle-poker-ride/

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