Planning the 2010 Tour is Underway


Who should do this ride?

  • Existing Commuters

  • Experience a wide open Memorial Drive and crank it. There is no speed limit on this stretch of pavement. You will enjoy the camaraderie of other bicycle commuters and fly through neighbourhoods that welcome you on your way to the downtown core. The destination is not downtown Calgary but a safe, smooth, straight, secure commute at your speed. Support us to get you there.

  • Normal People

  • Do those roads look too intimidating? Do those spandex-clad bicycle commuters look too intense? Concerned about the environment, traffic congestion, urban sprawl and pollution? For one hour there is something you can do about it. Dig out your old bike, dust it off and put a drop of oil on the chain. Bike retailers that support more people cycling more often will be on hand to ensure your wheels are safe.

The 'Ride the Road' Tour

Just over two hundred cyclists rode in our 14 km, on-street, closed-road tour. The Ride started at 12:00 PM following a chorus of bike bells...

Registration Closed - Planning Next Year's Tour

For the first time ever, the streets of Calgary were alive with the hum of bicycle wheels as cyclists of all ages took part in a leisurely on-street, closed-road ride through the inner city to raise awareness about the advantages of pedal powered transportation. Organized by the newly-formed Calgary tour de nuit Society, the 14-kilometre ‘Ride the Road’ Tour started and finished next to the Bow River in downtown Calgary and toured through the communities of Bridgeland, Inglewood, Ramsay, Roxboro and Mission. It was led by a police escort affecting a 'rolling closure' of intersections. The ride highlighted the impact of single-occupant motor vehicle commuting on inner city suburbs and the need for improved infrastructure in Calgary dedicated to safe and efficient bike commuting. The event featured a community-oriented bike fair at the staging area of the ride.

As a formal bicycling event, sanctioned by the Alberta Bicycle Association, insurance is required and is always included in registration. The Society was required to apply and obtain a road permit from the City of Calgary that triggers an extensive internal consultation process at the municipality. The Society had to pay for the costs of the police escort and standby emergency services required under our risk management plan. In discussions, prior to the Ride the Road Tour, with CPS, safety concerns resulted in two slight route changes. Unfortunately the section on Memorial Drive was shortened to avoid the possibility of collisions with participants at another public event. This restricted the ability of our ride participants to "crank it" down Memorial Drive. The Calgary tour de nuit Society apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused riders. The tour was diverted off 4th St SW to 2nd St SW to avoid a succession of traffic lights that would have be impossible to affect with the limited number of police officers escorting the Tour. Next year...

To get involved, email us at info@morepeoplecycling.ca. To learn more about what we are proposing, see our what we want page, and check out some of our links.

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