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Niemala: There’s snow on the ground but cycling season is nearly here!

Pool noodles to community rides, Sudbury Cyclist Union annual meeting highlights a busy 2017 and looks ahead to the cycling season before us
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The Sudbury Cyclist Union held its annual general meeting at the end of March. Rachelle Niemala, chair of the SCU (pictured here helping a young cyclist), provided this report from the event. (File)

By Rachelle Niemala

Spring may come early this year, so cyclists who attended the Sudbury Cyclist Union’s AGM on March 27 at St. Andrew’s Place were keen to hear about our 2018 cycling plans. 

Approximately 40 people also heard from a number of groups who offer cycling activities, including the Walden Mountain Bike Club, the Cycling Grannies and the Rainbow Routes Association. Sessions Ride Co. also did an entertaining bike demo that brought chuckles from the crowd.

Greater Sudbury’s active transportation co-ordinator, Marisa Talarico, was also in attendance and chatted with cyclists after the formal meeting. 

The SCU is a volunteer organization with a vision of city-wide safe cycling for all in Greater Sudbury. We work with our numerous community partners to encourage municipal and provincial funding, and policies and plans that are needed for a safe and convenient cycling network in Greater Sudbury.

All of our activities are free. In 2017, we held weekly bike rides from the beginning of May to the end of September, and organized major rides for community festivals including Valley East Days and New Sudbury Days. We partnered with Rainbow Routes to organize the Ontario 150 funded Celebrate by Bike ride in October, where more than 100 cyclists cycled their choice of a long, medium or short family routes. 

We also organized “pool noodle” rides and rode on major arterial roads in the city core with pool noodles strapped to our bikes. Pool noodle rides provide community awareness of the one-metre space that drivers must now legally give cyclists when they pass them.

SCU volunteers helped to safely park bikes through its bike valet parking program at major festivals and events including Northern Lights Festival Boréal and the Dragon Boat Festival. We also held bike maintenance workshops, school safety workshops, and meet and greet socials. The SCU is a major partner in the Kids Bike Exchange and we are very excited to see enhancements to this program in 2018. 

The Exchange has moved into its new location at the old canoe club on Elizabeth Street, through generous funding from the City of Greater Sudbury and Healthy Kids Community Challenge. The new location will provide the program with additional storage and a space for volunteers to repair bikes for children in need. Watch for a grand opening of this facility!

The SCU also provides opportunities for cyclists to share stories, activities, and information on its website, Facebook group, Twitter postings and via email. It’s all about connecting cyclists.

Planned activities for 2018 include bike rides, bike valet parking, bike maintenance workshops, school safety workshops, socials, kids bike rodeos, and participation in the Kids Bike Exchange. We also welcome partnership opportunities with other community groups who want to organize cycling events and activities.

Because the SCU is run solely by volunteers, we are funded though memberships and community donations. Our goal in 2018 is to have 200 paid members, and our membership drive is in full swing. Support our events and activities by getting or renewing your membership today! Annual memberships are $10 for individuals, $15 for families, or pay as you can or as per your level of support. 

Want to be more involved? Get in touch!  We could always use more help with our rides and other events. Connect with other cyclists and volunteer for some great opportunities to promote cycling. 

If you’re interested in helping to guide us through the exciting year ahead, we’re still looking for a few additional members on our new Executive. Send us an email at [email protected] or phone the Chair, Rachelle Niemela at 705-805-0575.

See you on your bike!

Rachelle Niemela is the chair of the Sudbury Cyclists Union.


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