JULY 2026
CRITICAL MASS NELSON | AUGUST 28
This grassroots community bike ride happens on the last Friday of every month in cities all round the planet. Critical Mass rides are a call to action to councils, governments and road planners to make streets safer for all road users including people riding bicycles. Safety in numbers!
Meet at 5:50 pm on the Pier in Nelson ~ we roll at 6:00 pm. Riders of all ages, abilities and micro-mobility devices (like e-bikes and scooters) are welcome. We are safety in numbers!
Although, the West Kootenay Cycling Coalition (WKCC) is helping promote the event, KOOTENAY CRITICAL MASS is not an official WKCC event.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Fall GoByBike Week
Fall GoByBike Week is happening September 19th to 25th with a kick-off event on the 18th in Nelson. This is a free, province-wide, week long celebration with events designed to encourage cycling for everyday transportation.
There are events for every age and ability! Children are encouraged to join the Kid’s Parade or get to school on a Bike Bus hosted by the Nelson Cycling Club. Everyone is invited to join the Bike Rave rolling to Fabulous Friday or the Critical Mass Ride taking over Castlegar streets. Prefer to ride solo? Run errands or commute by bike and take advantage of Nelson’s Bike Valet - secure storage for you bike! Better yet, log your rides all week to win prizes by registering at https://gobybikebc.ca/
Do you have a cycling event happening during GoByBike Week? Let us know and we’ll add it to the schedule: westkootenaycycling@gmail.com
Go By BIKe WEEk events
Kid's Parade
Critical Mass
Kid's Parade
The Kid's Bike Parade hosted by the Nelson Cycling Club in conjunction with Fat Tire Fest will Kick-off GoByBike Week this September. Meet at Hall Street Plaza on Baker Street at 4:30 pm for face painting, a bicycle bedazzling station and parade!
Bike Rave
Critical Mass
Kid's Parade
Join the Bike Rave happening right after the Kid's Parade. Meet at 5:30 pm at Hall Street Plaza. Ride starts at 6:00 pm and rolls to Fabulous Friday at Cottonwood Falls Park for a costume party. Come in costume, decorate your bike with lights and enjoy our rolling bicycle party.
Critical Mass
Critical Mass
Critical Mass
The Kootenay Critical Mass Ride, that happens on the last Friday of every month in 300+ cities around the world, will be rolling in Castlegar on September 25th. Meet at Millenium Park at 5:30 pm ~ ride rolls at 6:00 pm. All ages and abilities welcome. Bike lights mandatory.
OCTOBER 2026
RIDE FOR REFUGE | OCTOBER 3
Join Nelson Community Services on Saturday October 3rd for the second annual RIDE for REFUGE, a family-friendly bike/walk event in support of the Aimee Beaulieu Transition House (ABTH). ABTH provides emergency safe shelter and support for self-identifying women and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse.
You can bike 10/20km or walk 2.5km or 5km. Please spread the word to your friends, family, and coworkers to join you, or donate to support the event.
MAY 2026
GO BY BIKE WEEK | MAY 31 TO JUNE 6
Ride your bike to win prizes! Go Bike Week is a province-wide, free event encouraging residents to swap driving for biking. Participants log trips to track kms, save on emissions, and win prizes. Events can feature celebration stations offering bike maintenance, community gatherings or group rides with with free snacks and prizes. This year the theme will be 'Bike Rave'. Ride your bike to one of our events to win even more prizes!
Log your rides all week at https://gobybikebc.ca/ to win prizes at the provincial level or join one of our events listed below. Download a Bike Bingo card and play to win our grand prize.
April 2026
SUNDAY, APRIL 19th
A kaleidoscope! This is a term used to describe a group of monarch butterflies. It's inspired by the swirling, colourful patterns they create when flying together. Let's make a giant bicycle kaleidoscope and ride to the Earth Day parade.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH
Kaleidoscope Bicycle Ride| Noon
Adorn your bicycle with butterfly wings or dress up as your favourite animal and join our ride.
Meet at Selkirk College at noon (Silver King Campus parking lot) or join at stops along the way (see map below) . Our ride will end at Hall Street Plaza on Baker Street, in Nelson, at 1 pm where we will join the Earth Day Parade.
December 2025
5th Annual Santa Bicycle Ride & AGM
Monday, December 15th | 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Selkirk College, Silver King Campus, Nelson, BC
• • •
Annual General Meeting | 3:30 pm
It’s that time of year again when we have to do the boring administration stuff. It’s way more fun together though. Please join us to review this year’s accomplishments, plan for the next one and elect a new president and some new board members!
• • •
Santa Bicycle Ride | 5:30 pm
Dust off your Santa suit or holiday outfit (Santa, reindeer, snowman - be creative) and put Christmas lights on your bike for the 5th Annual Santa Bicycle Ride. Join the bicycle bus to Lakeside Park at any stop on our route. We're headed to the Holiday Train to see the Barenaked Ladies!
June 2025
Spring GoByBike Week | June 1 to June 7
Win amazing prizes just for riding your bike!
West Kootenay Cycling Coalition, The City of Nelson, and Gerick Cycle & Ski are teaming up to celebrate GoByBike Week the first week of June! Join us for fun community events including Bike Bingo, commuter challenges, a Youth Learn & Ride, morning bicycle pit stops, a group ride & BBQ, and a panel discussion with local transportation leaders. This year’s focus is on bike safety, commuting, and shifting to more active modes of transportation. Let’s get out of our cars and onto our bikes!
Check out the weeks activities below.
December 22, 2024
Nelson's 4th Annual Santa Bicycle Ride
Thank you to everyone who participated! A very special thank you to S.H.A.R.E. for hosting us and providing cookies and prizes and to Kootenay Co-op for providing the milk.
We were able to raise some cash for Our Daily Bread while spreading some holiday cheer around town.
Download photos from the photo booth here.
Santa Bicycle Ride & AGM
Saturday, December 16, 2023
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Annual General Meeting
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Nelson Visitor Centre
(Upstairs Meeting Room)
Santa Bicycle Ride
4:30 pm, rolling at 5:00 pm
Nelson Visitor Centre
(Parking Lot)
Come in a Santa suit or holiday outfit, put Christmas lights on your bike and win prizes. Ride ends at Finley’s with complimentary snacks. Details here.
WINTER CYCLING EXPO
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Noon to 4 pm
A great lineup of presentations, a panel discussion, and a film screening of Bicicles, a documentary about cyciling in the winter, and a Q & A after.
Pop in to chat with experienced riders, bike shop mechanics, and active transportation enthusiasts. Everyone is welcome 
CRITICAL MASS MOVIE & RIDE
Friday, October 27th
You Never Bike Alone - a 2007 documentary film exploring Vancouver's vibrant bike culture and its development as a viable form of transport. Tickets $5.
Followed by a Critical Mass Bicycle Ride on Nelson's city streets. It's Halloween weekend so come in costume. Bike lights mandatory.
Sign up on Facebook.
GO BY BIKE WEEK
Winners to be announced shortly. Prizes to be picked up at the Nelson Vistor Centre.