Bike summit focuses on improving services in Quinte

By Jordan Merkley

In an effort to boost cycling opportunities, the first ever Quinte Region Bike Summit is coming to Belleville June 25^th.

The event will take place at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre from 8 a.m. to 4p.m. Run by The Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Healthy Communities Partnership and Share the Road Cycling Coalition, the summit will bring forward ways to achieve cycling potential in the community.

“I want to see people become more aware of this issue of safe walking and cycling. I want them to see planning for more than just cars in our municipality is just as important,” says Tanya Hill, a health promoter at Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit.

“The benefits are that people become more active, and as our younger generation continues to grow and our demographic gets older, people are relying less on cars,” she says. Hill is also enthusiastic about the environmental benefits of cycling.

Share The Road Cycling Coalition, a provincial cycling advocacy group,  works throughout the province to improve cycling safety and access in our communities. Belleville on Bikes, an association of citizens and local agencies interested in promoting cycling within the city, along with the Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Healthy Communities Partnership, which studies healthy living trend in the community,  are interested in improving the health of residents.

There will be speakers from across Ontario sharing their success stories and achievements. Former mayor of Madison Wisconsin Dave Cieslewicz will also be at the Wellness Centre as the keynote speaker to share the story of their community.

Tickets to the event are $35, and include breakfast and lunch.

A screening and discussion of Bike City, Great City will also be shown on June 24^th at the Core Arts and Culture Centre downtown Belleville at 6:30p.m.