Belleville cyclists want city’s next council to continue supporting bike community
BELLEVILLE – Rob Jakes (left), and Tanya Hill both sit in the Belleville on Bikes steering committee. They want to see the next council to continue the momentum that will se Belleville becoming a bike friendly city over the next 20 years. Photo by Greg Murphy.
By Greg Murphy
BELLEVILLE – Members from the Belleville On Bikes steering committee want to see the next council continue a commitment that will see Belleville transform into a bike friendly city over the next 20 years.
The city’s Transportation Master Plan was adopted by council in May 2014. It lays out the blueprint for adding designated cycling lanes, longer transit routes, and wider roads to meet the transportation needs for a city population which is expected to grow 20 percent by 2031.
However, as of yet, there’s been no commitment from city council to spend the $130 million it will cost to implement the TMP in its entirety.
Belleville On Bikes is new a community advocacy group that works with the city and its partners to promote the practice of safe biking in the city. QNetNews interviewed committee members Rob Jakes and Tanya Hill as part of our summer Municipal Election Project to find out what issues matter to Belleville’s cycling community.
Educating both driver’s and cyclists is an issue at the forefront of Belleville’s biking community.
Infrastructure upgrades are also needed for the city to become more bike friendly.
Going forward, Jakes and Hill would like the next council to continue to push for a more bike friendly community.
Belleville On Bikes, along with the Healthy Communities of Hastings and Prince Edward, Share The Road cycling coalition, and other partners, will be hosting the 2014 Quinte Region Bike Summit on June 25 at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre. The bike summit will be a day long event promoting the tourism and economic benefits a bike friendly community can enjoy. Dave Cieslewicz, the former mayor of Madison, Wisconsin will be the keynote speaker at the summit who will tell his story of how the city of Madison became one of the most bike friendly communities in North America.
To kick off the event, on June 24, Belleville On Bikes with Belleville Downtown Doc Fest will be hosting a film screening for “Bike City, Great City,” and a community discussion with the filmmaker, David Chernushenko (who is also an Ottawa City Councillor), at The Core Arts & Culture Centre on Pinnacle street.
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