Message from the President
One of Cycle 16’s notable milestones this year was the completion of the conceptual design by McElhanney Engineering which was sponsored by the Ministry of Transportation. The design outlined three potential routes which were unveiled at Cycle 16’s Open House on April 5th, 2017. The proposed trail will be separate from the highway by a mandated nine metre clearance from the fog line (the white line on the side of the highway). There are several stretches where the right of way does not offer this clearance and the Society is in conversation with the landowners involved about the possibility of acquiring a strip of land from them.
The potential routes were discussed with the Ministry of Transportation’s Highway Design Team out of Prince George when they were in town this summer. The team saw pros and cons with each of the proposals and their message to us was that there is no straightforward route.
After careful consideration, the Board has chosen to pursue the route that has a proposed bridge crossing just east of the intersection of Highway 16 and Babine Lake Road. Our decision was driven by the following factors:
- There are fewer landowners to negotiate with.
- There are fewer roads and driveways for the path to cross. This would be safer and construction costs would be lower.
- The terrain is more favourable and has a sunnier aspect, which might extend the riding season.
- The highway right of way is mostly wider which means less land we need to acquire.
- A bridge will provide a safe crossing and will be an attractive iconic feature that trail users might be drawn to.
- The Board will be giving priority to the Smithers to Laidlaw Road portion of the trail over the upcoming months.
Smithers Rotary donated a generous $15,000.00 to fund the feasibility study which included development of the conceptual design.
Many thanks to Hans Saefkow for the artistic rendering of the proposed bridge and trail.
Tony Harris
Where did you cycle in 2017? Enter our photo contest!
Post your photos by December 10, 2017, and you could win a copy of Lonely Planet’s “Epic Bike Rides of the World” OR a Cycle 16 t-shirt!
Send your pictures in to the Cycle 16 Facebook page OR email to info@cycle16.ca and we will enter your name in the draw for prizes. Open to all Cycle 16 members. Entries so far range from right here in the Bulkley Valley to California, Germany and beyond. Let us know where you went and what you liked!
New Board Member
We recently welcomed Alison Watson to our Board of Directors. Alison, a professional planner, will be helping us move forward with the project. We are delighted to have her on the team.
Other directors are: Tony Harris, President; Jeremy Shriber, Vice-President; Mary Brise, Secretary; and Janet Harris, Greg Brown, and Jill Dunbar; directors at large.
Parade and Fall Fair Booth
Cycle 16 members had a great time at the BVX parade in August. Folks of all ages dressed up in some amazing cow-themed costumes and partied along the streets of Smithers on roller blades, scooters, bikes, and on foot to spread the word. Thanks to all who participated! We had a booth all weekend at the fair and had great success signing up new members, chatting with many folks about the project and garnering comments from the public about benefits the trail will have for them. We would like to thank the many members who volunteered at the booth during the weekend. Many thanks also go to the Bulkley Valley Credit Union for sponsoring our parade banner!
Lifetime Membership!
Cycle 16 directors have voted to make membership LIFELONG! We have signed up over 700 members since April of this year so we are getting closer to our goal of 1000. Encourage your friends and colleagues to join – a large membership shows a strong community interest in the project.
Memberships are available on our website, www.cycle16.ca. You can also pick them up in Smithers at McBike & Sport, Local Supply Company, Nature’s Pantry and Dan’s Source for Sports during Christmas in the Valley or any other time.
February Social
Save the date! On Friday, February 9, 2018 (International Winter Bike to Work Day), join us for an evening of biking slideshows and socializing, at the Old Church in Smithers. Stay tuned for details.
Cycling Quote from Frances Willard, 1865
“Tens of thousands who could never afford to own, feed and stable a horse, had by this bright invention enjoyed the swiftness of motion which is perhaps the most fascinating feature of material life.”
Frances Willard (1839–1898), author of “A Wheel Within a Wheel: How I Learned to Ride the Bicycle,” learned to ride a bicycle late in life and noted how dress reform was needed to do it well. Bloomers were a controversial new fashion that were better adapted for cycling than full skirts. Bicycles gave women freedom of movement, enabling them to leave the home.