Island Pathways is working on Salt Spring Island to help create a safe, healthy, non-motorized environment, and to make our island safer for all road users.

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Every year, the Helmets for Life program provides and properly fits approved helmets for island children. Salt Spring Island can be a challenging place for cycling with its narrow roads. Do your part to make yourself visible to motorists and ride safely. Safe riding! As well as a helmet, wear a reflective vest or other reflective clothing, and have your lights on even during the daylight hours. MEC has a terrific handlebar-mounted flashing LED light to enhance visibility.

The daffodils and fences are thanks to the Pathways projects that went in this year by Partners Creating Pathways (Island Pathways, Trail and Nature Club, Transportation Commission, Ministry of Transportation).  We are hoping over the years to put in many more pathways, with split rail fencing and daffodils all around the Ganges area.  If you are interested in volunteering to help on pathways please call Jean Gelwicks at (250) 537-4859.

We are just about ready to do a few upgrades to all the existing pathways by adding some new material and correcting some drainage issues. If you see men working on the pathway this is what they are doing. PARC just did a marvelous job cutting the grass along the pathways. If you are a user of the pathways please stick a pair of clippers in your pocket and help us keep the blackberry bushes off the pathway. We will be having a work party soon to pull some weeds in the pathway along Atkins.

Have you noticed the new bench on the pathways at Wildwood. If not, have a look. This bench was installed by Isabel Hunt’s daughter to remember her mum by. Isabel in her late 80s you might remember, use to drive her motorized wheelchair down Lower Ganges Rd. from her home on Sharpe Rd. to shop every week. She was one brave woman. She donated money to Island Pathways early on with the hopes we might build an off road pathway along this section. Eventually we did and Isabel did us the honor of cutting the ribbon to the new pathway and leading the first official walk/ride on the pathway. It is only fitting that she be remembered on the pathway. Her friends and family have personalized the bench with a nice plaque and a few items that belonged to Isabel in the cement around the bench. If you are interested in installing such a bench, give PARC a call. They will install a similar bench with commemorative plaque, in a scenic area of a park or other favorite spot and maintain it for ten years. They also have a list of other gifts you can give to commemorate an event.

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