Province to Build Separated Banff-Canmore Bike Lane
The burden of the work to finish the Banff-Canmore Legacy Trail from the East Gate of the national park into the Town of Canmore fell to local cycling groups, cyclists, bike stores and the provincial trails association. The small role of the Tour de Nuit Society was to ensure that key decision makers were aware that there are major safety issues and this project is a priority for our provincial cycling strategy.
The problem arose when Parks Canada built a multiple use pathway on the south side of the TransCanada Highway in 2010 for the 125th anniversary of our national parks and self-propelled travel between Canmore and Banff exploded. East of the gate, safe roads and pathways are located on the north side of the busy highway. Issues of multiple jurisdictions complicated the short pathway extension into the Town of Canmore. The other players are: the Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Alberta Transportation, and the Municipal District of Bighorn. On Friday, May 10, 2013 at a media conference in Canmore, the Province announced the funding of $4.35 million is in place. The key stakeholders were represented by: Mayor John Borrowman, Hon. Richard Starke, Hon. Ric McIver and Reeve Dene Cooper, respectively. The other major player is Banff-Cochrane MLA Ron Casey. The Town of Banff and Parks Canada were also participating.
The Tour de Nuit Society was invited by the Government of Alberta to the media conference in recognition of our small role in the completion of the Legacy Trail. Although Calgary-based, the Tour is sponsored by TransRockies Events and Twenty4 Sports both hosts of major cycling events in Canmore. All of the bike stores in Canmore are sponsors of record.
Your turn...
- Help the CtdnS promote 'more people cycling more often'
- Mark Sunday,June 2nd on your calendar, dig out your bike and get it inspected for the fifth 'Ride the Road' tour
- Spare IT equipment? Extra CICS phone system? Donate it to the CtdnS
- Our sponsors are making cycling safer. Contact one of our sponsors and just say "Thanks"
what we achieved
Tour de Nuit Opens Bike Central to Promote Cycling
A Calgary company, leading a diverse syndicate of corporate donors, has made the largest donation to a commuter cycling group. Strategic Group donated an office on prime street-level real estate in the Paramount Building at 1011 1st St SW to the tour de nuit Society.
The donation received in 2012 was prompted by an extraordinarily successful staff recruitment program undertaken by the tour de nuit Society, which increased staffing by two full-time interns, two part-time student interns, and two university summer students.
A number of other local and international companies have transformed prime Beltline retail space into a state-of-the-art office so CtdnS can efficiently go about our business of achieving 'more people cycling more often'. Computer equipment was donated by Cenovus Energy, Microsoft Corporation donated server and database software, while Source Office Furniture outfitted the main office and McCrum's Office Furnishings provided the boardroom. Special thanks to TransRockies Events for the tour de nuit truck. The classic photographs on display in the front window are courtesy of the City of Muenster. Download the media release.
Tour de Nuit Bike Motion Passes Unanimously at Council
In the middle of the 2010 Winter Olympics with morning commuting temperatures of –10°C, commuter cycling policy suddenly hit the agenda at City Council and dominated media coverage into March. In February, the first Notice of Motion (NM2010-10 MUP Speed Review moved by Alderman Ric McIver and seconded by Alderman Jim Stevenson) was presented to City Council. It asked for a review of speed, utilization, and safety on Calgary's Multiple Use Pathways (MUP). The motion was presented in Council on February 22nd and was spectacularly defeated 12-2. The tour de nuit Society was back in action on March 8th with cycling again dominating Council business.
Our second attempt to highlight the need for dedicated cycling infrastructure (separated bike lanes) to get 'more people cycling more often' called for a study of cycling implementation
in Downtown Calgary. The notice of motion that passed (NM2010-12 Calgary Cycling Strategy)
included a a pathway safety review and a report on a city-wide
comprehensive cycling (implementation) strategy. Several aldermen
attempted to add clarity to the motion (ensuring the language used was
all encompassing) and secure assurances from City Administrators that
independent proposals such as the CtdnS 'Road Diet'
would not be sidetracked by the reporting process. The pathway component of the Notice of Motion was identical to the motion that was defeated two weeks 
before except the word 'speed' was replaced by
'safety'. The tour de nuit Society was pleased to
see the Notice of Motion passed unanimously by all aldermen.
For the first time ever in Calgary, a cycling organization demonstrated the ability to successfully initiate and influence transportation policy by working with all aldermen. For the first time since 1884, the cycling community has initiated the municipal legislative process to promote 'more people cycling more often'.
This initiative at City Council has resulted in over 30 articles in the media about cycling in Calgary during the four week period of the debate. Throughout this period numerous aldermen spoke in favour of the City of Calgary developing dedicated commuter cycling infrastructure. The tour de nuit Society will continue to use its expertise and staff resources to encourage the City to design and develop separate transportation facilities to encourage safer commuter cycling.
