The grey drizzly spring day was made brighter by the hundreds of cyclists who participated in the kick off event for Bike Week 2004, the 15th Annual Group Commute and Pancake Breakfast. The Mayor was joined by City Councillors and other local polititcians.

Toronto Mayor David Miller(centre) is joined by (left to right) Peggy Nash, Olivia Chow, Joe Mihevc and hundreds of other Toronto cyclists on the 15th Annual Group Commute.

One staff person remarked that this was the largest number of councillors to participate in Bike Week's signature ride. On hand were Councillor Adam Giambrone, (Ward 18 Davenport) who is the recently appointed co-chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee, Olivia Chow, (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina), who is the past co-chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee, Joe Mihevc (Ward 21 St. Paul's West), Jane Pitfield (Ward 26 Don Valley West), Paula Fletcher (Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth), Janet Davis (Ward 31 Beaches-East York), and Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38 Scarborough Centre).

Leading the ride down Yonge St. to City Hall are Mayor Miller, and Councillors Joe Mihevc, Adam Giambrone, and Jane Pitfield.

Municipal politicians were not the only ones in attendance. Candidates in the federal election also joined in. The NDP's Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park) and Michael Shapcott (Toronto-Centre). Olivia Chow is also running for a federal seat in Trinity-Spadina. The Liberal's Bill Graham (Toronto-Centre) was also said to be in attendance.

Hundreds of cyclists descended down Yonge Street to City Hall for the Pancake Breakfast and the official proceedings. There the Mayor presented the Official Proclamation of Bike Week to Nina Koskenoja, a citizen co-chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee.

The Mayor is joined on stage with Nina Koskenoja, co-chair of the TCC and Aron Dunn, Bike Week organizer.

This is just the first event in the two weeks that are known as Bike Week. If you want to take in some of the activites check the Bike Week Schedule.