BC-12 LIGHT
by Michel Richard

What is it? It’s an idea to make Permanents safer in the darker and colder months. I see the Permanents and BC12 award as an incentive program to keep club riders on their bikes year round. It becomes dangerous during the winter months due to diminished light and the possibility of ice on the roads at the start and end of rides.

This is an idea that I’ve had in my head for a while. Having a partner assiduously pursue the BC12 award year in/year out, good weather/bad weather, good light/bad light, had me thinking of ways to make it safer.

The name is meant to explain the rides' intent. It is a permanent during dayLIGHT. It is also a permanent that one can ride without lights.

So the Permanents Light (or Permalights) and BC12 Light is a safer incentive and award program to permit club riders on their bikes year round. Our club has a group of aging members who are still active, but for whom the ability to ride 200km minimums may be beyond their capabilities or ambitions. The Permalights and BC12 Light allows those members to keep participating in club sanctioned events. It is also an incentive for new riders to join the club with a less intimidating distance.

My original idea was to create a system that would factor daylight hours available to determine minimum ride distance. And this was presented at the 2024 club AGM.

Formula: daylight hours x 15km/h = minimum ride hours
i.e. 8h of daylight = 120km; 10h = 150km; ...

This was deemed too complicated to administer and create routes. I love this idea, but after listening to club feedback, the consensus was to simplify the program. So a simplified proposal was to drop the minimum to 100km under the new incentive program and this was accepted.

No minimum time to complete the ride or 15km/h maintained average (feedback needed)? Ride must be done during daylight hours on the same day (honour system). Program follows all rules and regulations of the BC Randonneurs Permanents and BC12 programs. For example: waiver forms must be signed and sent in, following road rules, ...

The program will be administered by Michel et Karen. For continuity and simplicity please continue to send your waivers (before your ride) and control cards to Eric. Separate recognition awards for the BC 12 Light program could be designed and produced by Michel et Karen (feedback needed)?

Michel.