Winter Cycling Congress coming to Calgary in 2019
The rubber will be hitting the icy roads in Calgary next year when the city hosts the Winter Cycling Congress.
This will be the third time the conference will be held in a Canadian city, bringing nearly 500 delegates from around the world to Alberta to discuss the development, implementation and maintenance of year-round bicycle transportation systems and infrastructure.
A group of pro-cycling Calgarians went to Moscow last week for the 2018 conference. Pooja Thakore, a communications spokesperson with the city, says the event will be an opportunity for the city to learn from international experts from other winter cities.
“Some of the things they’ll be hoping to discuss are best practices, technological advancements, some education and encouragement strategies,” Thakore said.
The bid to bring the bikes to Calgary next winter was a partnership between the city, Bike Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, the Town of Banff, the Town of Canmore and the University of Calgary. Thakore said the conference is part of a push by Calgary Economic Development to bring conventions and conferences to Calgary.
“It’s very exciting for us and our members,” said Krista Phillips, vice-president with Bike Calgary. “I think the city itself sees the benefits that cycling offers to a community, creating a livable city.”
Tom Babin, a Calgary-based author and cycling blogger who attended the conference in Russia, shared images on Twitter of bundled up bikers at the Moscow Winter Bike Parade.
Babin said winning the bid helps put Calgary “on the world’s cycling radar” and it’s a positive sign that cycling culture is becoming more mainstream in the city.
“I also think it will be great for Calgarians to see what is happening in other winter bike cities,” Babin said. “It’s not often you get so many people from around the world together to share what works and what doesn’t.”
She said data collected by the city shows about 30 per cent of summer cyclists stay on the road over the winter.
PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Katherine Glowacz, an active transportation planner at the city, said there have been four times as many daily winter bike trips in Calgary thanks to the downtown cycle track and improvements to the city’s pathway system.
The city’s annual May cordon count recorded 17,468 bicycle trips last year, compared with 17,193 during the same period in 2016, with only 12,304 in May of 2015.
Bike Calgary has been working to promote winter cycling in Calgary with a number of events, including the 5th annual Winter Bike to Work Day and the winter biking photo booth.
The cycling advocacy group said many of its members will help organize the conference and share what Calgary’s frostbitten cyclists have learned about navigating city streets during the winter.
Thakore said the city will put together a committee in the next few months to determine exactly where the conference will be held and what the cost will be.