Bike Niagara Activities 2023, Year End Report
Bike Niagara kept active in 2024 by delivering a number of supportive activities to encourage and make cycling safer
Bike Niagara Activities 2023, Year End Report
Introduction
Bike Niagara kept active in 2024 by delivering a number of supportive activities to encourage and make cycling safer. Our efforts were a mixture of projects that were free, sponsored and fee based as noted below.
Activities for 2024
Community Support
- Town of Pelham, Family Day Expo
- February 19, 2024 – Booth shared with the Niagara Freewheelers at the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill, featuring bicycling in Niagara and safe cycling skills.
- Start Me Up Niagara, Truck or Treat Glow Ride
- October 30, 2024 – A night ride with about one dozen riders of all ages with lots of bike lights to support the work of Start Me Up Niagara.
Advocacy
- .Town of Welland Presentation
- April, 2024 – Assisted in the field work, preparation of a power point slides and follow up details as requested and delivered by the Niagara Freewheelers about safety concerns to cyclists of fixed bollards on the Welland Canal Recreation Trail.
- Ride of Silence, City of Niagara Falls
- May 15, 2024 – Bike Niagara gave a brief safety talk and participated in this Niagara Falls memorial ride, organized by the Amici per la vita Niagara Cycling Club for fallen and injured cyclists.
- Bill 212, Provincial Attack on Bicycle Lanes
- Bike Niagara made several efforts to reverse this Provincial Bill and defend the use and development of bicycle lanes, including:
- Signing the pledge from Cycle Toronto, objecting to Bill 212
- Drafting a letter to Niagara Region politicians from the Niagara Freewheelers and Amici per la vita Niagara Cycling Club.
- Sending a written submission to the Environmental Registry Office which invited public comments on Bill 212.
- Calling local MPP Sam Osterhoff to complain about Bill 212.
- Bike Niagara made several efforts to reverse this Provincial Bill and defend the use and development of bicycle lanes, including:
Safe Cycling Instruction
- Adult Safe Cycling Course – Free
- An in-class and on-bike course supported by the Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club, Pelham Active Transportation Committee and the Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee.
- May 25, 2024 – Meridian Community Centre, Fonthill, 10:00am to noon. In-lass presentation to 16 attendees. .
- June 1, 2024 – Bethany Church, Fenwick, 10:00am to noon. On-bike cycling skills follow by a short road ride to lunch with 14 students.
- Town of Pelham, Bike Safety for Seniors – Free
- May 15, 2024 – An in-class presentation at the Meridian Community Centre, Fonthill, 1:00 to 2:00pm as part of the Town of Pelham’s 55+ Seminar and Social Series, focussing on bike safety. Estimated 40 attendees.
- Bicycle Safety Presentation – Free
- April 17, 2024 – In-class presentation at the Alternative Pathways Centre in St. Catharines to 8 youths about bicycle safety.
- Town of Welland, Adult Safe Cycling Course – $10 fee
- September 14 and 21, 2024 – In-class and on-bike course offered but no registrants so course was cancelled. Timing this late in the year was not conducive to cycling interests.
- Learn to Ride – $20 per hour session
- March 6, 2024, St. Catharines parking lot across from Bike Me Up Niagara (and assistant by them through bicycle donation). Adult woman, 1 hr.
- May 16 and 23, 2024, Thorold, Rolling Meadows Bible Church parking lot, 2 young children, brother and sister, 6 and 9 years old, 2 hrs.
- September 14 and 21, 2024, St. Catharines parking lot across from Bike Me Up Niagara (and assistant by them through bicycle donation). Adult woman, 2 hrs.
- An in-class and on-bike course supported by the Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club, Pelham Active Transportation Committee and the Pelham Seniors Advisory Committee.
Finances – Bank balance at the end of 2024 = $907.03
Submitted By: David Hunt, Bike Niagara Safe Cycling Instructor, Jan. 30, 2025
