DOWNTOWN’S SECRET BUTCHER
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THE NIGHT FREDA STORMED IN
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DOC FEST UPPING ITS GAME
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FRIDAY
OCTOBER 12 2012 www.newwestnewsleader.com
When it comes to bridges and tunnels, Todd Litman says toll first, build later. And who knows? You may not even need to build. See Page A14
Market changes seasons Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
GRANT GRANGER/NEWSLEADER
Gord Hobbis (left), owner of Cap’s Bicycles, helps Brek Boughton load a bike into a storage container, bound for Africa.
From Sapperton to South Africa Over 400 bikes going overseas to set up shop Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
The two-ton truck is overflowing with bicycles of all shapes and sizes, some ready to ride, others in parts. They’ve all lived long lives, but they’re about to embark on their longest journey, someplace where they’ll have a much better fate than being banished to a landfill or buried in a backyard junk pile. For the past year Cap’s Bicycles in Sapperton has been gathering used
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bikes. Last Friday, they packed up the last lot of them and took them to a warehouse in Port Coquitlam. There they will join others already collected to fill a container of more than 400 bikes to be shipped to South Africa thanks to a big helping hand from the New Westminster and Port Moody Rotary clubs. When the container gets there the Bicycle Empowerment Network will turn it into a bicycle shop. The top will be cut for ventilation, doors and windows put in, and a chain-link fence put up around it. The bikes will go on the roof and, poof, the
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container is converted into a place to repair and distribute bicycles. A couple of the residents will be trained to become employees of the bike shop. The bicycles will be sold on a cost recovery basis and others are given to health workers in remote areas to make it easier for them to get around. The local initiative is the pet project of Cap’s employee Brek Boughton, who embarked on a winter bike ride to the Arctic Ocean last winter to raise money and awareness for the project. “It’s fantastic,” says Boughton.
“Cycling is important to me. It can solve a lot of our problems in the developed world and the undeveloped world.” Bicycles reduce greenhouse gases and help people improve their health, both here and in third world countries, he points out. “In that part of the world you get a lot more bang for your buck. You can do a lot more for cheaper than you can do here.” When Cap’s owner Gord Hobbis gazes over all the bikes stacked in the truck it surprises him a little. Please see ARCTIC, A3
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After saying so long to the summer season the Royal City Farmers Market is moving ahead to beefing up its winter fare. The market recently completed its fifth year of selling celery, strawberries and squash—and much, much more—every Thursday afternoon for the last four months. The past two years, RCFM has also offered a winter market the first Saturday (11 a.m.) of every month. But this year, it will double that by holding markets on the first and third Saturday of every month starting Nov. 3. While the best thing about the summer market was it being outdoors in the sunshine, the best thing about the winter market is it will be inside, away from the rain, snow and cold at the River Market. RCFM operations manager Jodi Appleton said last year’s winter market, the first to be held at the Quay location, created a demand to increase the offerings. “It’s more of a regular shopping trip for those at the market rather than a special trip once a month,” said Appleton. see ‘WE JUST’, A5