• BNS Updates 
• What's Happening Around Nova Scotia
• Upcoming Events

BNS Updates 

Upcoming AGM

Mark your calendars! Check our website for more details as they are released.

Where: At the Farmers Market Building in Wolfville
When: Feb 26th from 10-5pm
Details: Ride from 10am-noon; Potluck from 12-1:00pm; AGM 1:30-4:00PM
 

Board Openings

Bicycle Nova Scotia is looking for new Board Members! The following positions are vacant and open for offerings:

• Secretary
• VP Touring & Recreation:
• VP BMX
• VP Education
• VP Marketing
• Director at large (Youth)
• VP Gender, Equity and Inclusion (*New Position)

Open, but with renewal offerings: 

• Co-Presidents: Susanna Fuller and lola doucet (reoffering)
• VP Mountain Bike Competition: Ryan Lindh (reoffering)
• VP Road Competition: Zach Steinman (reoffering)
• Registrar: Alan Scott (reoffering)

If you are interested in being a part of our board, please send a paragraph introducing yourself, why you are excited to join BNS, and the specific board position in which you are interested to: staff@bicycle.ns.ca.

BNS has monthly board meetings, but we are working to ensure that people can join by webex, so we encourage applications from outside Halifax.

Please help us spread the word! And please get in touch if you are interested.
 

Help "Shape Your City" 

HRM is asking residents to share their ideas about priorities for the 2017 Budget. An online forum and budget allocator tool is now open at Shape Your City. Let’s tell Councilors that it’s time to invest in bicycle networks that are safe, well connected, and work for everybody!

Good bicycle networks are relatively small municipal investments that have big benefits. Safe, practical networks open up a healthy, affordable, green and convenient form of transportation for people of all ages and abilities. Networks connecting trail and pathway systems provide accessible multipurpose recreational facilities.
 
Bicycling isn’t just good for us; it’s good for our cities. Other jurisdictions are taking note: Calgary and Edmonton are just the latest Canadian cities making headlines for rapid construction of protected bicycle networks. It’s time to remove the biggest barrier to riding a bicycle in HRM by investing in the infrastructure we need to make bicycling safe and accessible for everyone.

BNS has pulled together a list of five priority projects we think can make the biggest impact. The first four are all key projects in the HRM Active Transportation Priorities Plan and have broad community support. We have also added the development of mountain bike trails to our list, a seriously underdeveloped opportunity for our region with huge potential for integration with Halifax’s Green Network.
 
Five bike network projects to budget for in 2017:

• Minimum grid protected bicycle network in the regional centre
• Improve bike lane approaches to Macdonald Bridge
• Close priority gaps in HRM’s greenway network (as indicated in HRM Integrated Mobility Plan draft) and integrate with Blue Route provincial cycling network
• Chain of Lakes Trail to Halifax Peninsula AT connection
• Invest in publicly accessible sustainable mountain bike trail systems

If we send a strong message, these projects can be completed within a few short years with minimal impact to budget. Please go to Shape Your City to show your support for better bicycling in HRM.

What's Happening Around Nova Scotia
 

The 2nd annual Mahone Bay Fat Bike Festival takes place on Sunday, February 5th. Presented by Sweet Ride Cycling and Specialized Canada, at the Mahone Bay Centre. With the Specialized fat bike demo fleet from Montreal, guided rides on the local single track, on-site skills course, and fun race.  Full catering and indoor warm-up area at the Mahone Bay Centre, 10am - 3pm. Watch for more details at www.sweetridecycling.com or on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sweetridecycling

Work is ongoing on the Gaetz Brook Connector, our  proposed active transportation greenway. The greenway  would run along a section of the abandoned Musquodoboit Railway corridor between East Chezzetcook Road and Musquodoboit Harbour.  


 
Approximately 7km in length, the proposed greenway would provide a dedicated facility for active transportation uses such as walking, cycling, cross-country skiing, and other non-motorized activities. As part of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) planned greenway network and the Trans Canada Trail, it would improve active transportation options both for local residents and for visitors.
 
Seeking your input
Gaetz Brook Connector has been our working name but a name change is being considered and we would welcome your suggestions. Given the location near the historic Belleclaire Hotel, the name Belleclaire Greenway is one suggested option. What do you think? Do you have other suggestions?  If so, we would love to hear them. Comment on Facebook or send us a note at info@shoreat.ca.
 

2017 Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie

Gran Fondo Baie Sainte-Marie early-bird registration now open! 

Want to win a FREE registration? Just register by the end of February for a chance to win your registration for free! On March 1st we will draw from the registered participants, including from those who already signed up since January 20th. 
 
New for 2017: A 161.5 km "SUPER GRAN" loop will be offered for the hardcore cyclist!  
 
Also new for 2017: Finishers Medals. Every participant will receive a custom medal when they cross the finish line! Our medals will be branded after Canada’s 150th anniversary and our Gran Fondo. For information and to register: https://www.granfondobaiesaintemarie.ca/en/ 


 

Randonneurs Nova Scotia