Mayor’s Bike Ride and Kids’ Bike Rodeo promote safe cycling

On a cool but sunny Thursday evening (June 9), Huntsville’s downtown streets were filled with two-wheel enthusiasts.

The evening kicked off with a Kids’ Bike Rodeo at Huntsville Public School. Eighty children aged five to twelve participated in a variety of biking activities to help them understand the things they need to be aware of on the road, like recognizing road signs, using cycling hand signals, and safely crossing intersections.

(Clockwise from top left) Carlee Wood from Algonquin Outfitters makes sure Walter Finch’s bike is ready for the road; OPP Constable Fleming teaches Flora Jewell a few hand signals; Dean MacKay gets instructions from OPP Constable Johnson; Tillie Thomson navigates the obstacle course; Tessa Thomson gets quizzed on the rules of the road by OPP Constable Fleming

More than 70 cyclists made their way to River Mill Park to begin the 12km Mayor’s Bike Ride, a route that wound through Huntsville’s downtown streets.

Before they began, Mayor Scott Aitchison thanked the Town’s Sustainability Coordinator, Rebecca Francis, for coordinating the event. “Anyone who can get me to ride 12 kilometres on a bike is a pretty impressive human being,” he said. “She reminds us that sustainability and how we think about the planet is part of our every day culture not just something we talk about at Town Hall.”

Aitchison also thanked The SportLab, who are community champions of the event.

“This is a good opportunity to get people out on the roads,” said Lowell Grieb from The SportLab, “and realize you can ride the streets of Huntsville and you don’t have to go very far to get a good 12 kilometre ride in. Our streets are very safe and we have good infrastructure to be able to get out on our bikes.”

The intent of the event is to promote active transportation, family fun, and bring awareness to both cyclists and drivers about sharing the road.