News

May 04 2023
Member Spotlight: Margie
Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I grew up in Philadelphia, PA and have relied on public transportation to get around my whole life. However, the bike infrastructure in Philly is really lacking and so it wasn’t until moving to Vancouver in 2018 that I first got interested in biking as a regular way to get around town. I started with only biking on the sea wall - I would take the Skytrain and then store my bike in the secure parkade at Main St. Science World Station. Now biking is my go-to form of transportation, and I’ve enjoyed multiple bike camping trips over the last few summers!

Some of the other things I love are good books, board games, and spending time outside. I also work for a local non-profit that supports advancing children’s rights and involving children directly in city planning, which I really enjoy.

How did you get started with Mobi by Shaw Go?

A friend first recommended Mobi to me as a handy way to get around town without having to worry about locking up your bike, or for when you want to bike one way somewhere and not the other - for example when meeting up with friends. Having a Mobi membership has been super useful for both of these things!

How do you integrate Mobi by Shaw Go into your life?

I don’t drive at all, so I love using Mobi for multi-modal trips - combining it with transit makes it so easy to get out to the airport, the ferry terminal, etc. I’ve also used it on snowy days in the winter because the tires are fatter than on my own bike for better grip, and I don’t have to worry about responsibility for the maintenance toll from salty roads.

I’m currently pregnant and due in early June. I’ve been using Mobi bikes all through my pregnancy and it has been what’s enabled me to keep active with biking even into my third trimester (healthcare provider approved). It’s so amazing to have access to ebikes for that extra boost, and the upright position works a lot better for me at this point than my road bike does - I no longer fit on drop bars :) As my energy levels are a lot lower these days, it’s also great to have the option to bike one way and then hop on a bus back when I’m feeling tired out! 

Where are some of your favourite places to ride, and why?

Locally, I love riding on the Union-Adanac bike route at morning/evening commute hours because of all the fantastic bike traffic you get to ride in. I really like spotting all the different types of bikes out and about and enjoying the diversity of cycling traffic.

One of my favourite longer trips is out to Sooke Potholes on Vancouver Island via the Lochside and Galloping Goose trails, this is fantastic protected infrastructure with very few hills and makes a great beginner bike camping trip. 

Any messages you would like to pass on to those thinking about getting a Mobi by Shaw go membership?

I’d recommend a Mobi membership to anyone! I think a lot of people have only ever seen the pricing for a 24 hour pass, so my tip would be that it’s a lot cheaper to get a membership.