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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Audience members rolled more than rambled down to Old Town last Friday to kick off the Old Town Ramble and Ride festival after the third-annual Massive Bike Rally drew an impressive 75 or so cyclists.

Part of a group of roughly 75 cyclists bike around a corner in Old Town last Friday as part of the "Massive Bike Rally" that kicked off the Old Town Ramble and Ride festival. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

"I was really impressed with the turnout," said organizer Joel Maillet, adding that participation in the event was roughly triple what it was last year.

The group of cyclists met at Somba K'e Park at 6 p.m. Friday to embark on a two-wheeled tour of the city. Riders in the rally included many children and families. Some participants dressed up in capes, masks and other disguises. Two tandem bikes, also known as bicycles-built-for-two, appeared, along with one tall bicycle with a seat about two metres off the ground.

The purpose of the annual bike rally is to kick off the Old Town Ramble and Ride Festival, but also promote Yellowknife's cycling community, said Maillet.

"It's important because there is always a bit of a political concern when it comes to bicycles in cities," said Maillet. "I think that Yellowknife is a fairly bike-friendly city in terms of its roadways, but I do think there's much room for improvement."

City councillor Paul Falvo, who participated in the rally with his daughter, agrees there is still work to be done to make the city more bike-friendly.

"It's a tough thing because you get motorists who say that cyclists need to follow the rules of the road, but then they don't follow them properly themselves," Falvo told Yellowknifer.

A particular issue for Yellowknife cyclists is what space they should occupy between the road and the sidewalk.

Technically, bicycles should always be on the roadway, but there are areas in town where this is unsafe due to high-speed traffic that is unwilling to give cyclists a full lane, said Falvo.

Franklin Avenue near the Multiplex is particularly dangerous for cyclists, Falvo and Maillet agree. During the Massive Bike Rally, it was this stretch of road where the only negative reaction to the rally took place.

One driver became frustrated at waiting behind the group of bikes, swerved and sped past them, spewing diesel exhaust as he did so. The moment became particularly awkward when the rally caught up with the same truck while it was stopped at a red light.

"I've had experiences like this in Yellowknife where you're honked at or shouted at," said Maillet.

However, most reactions to the rally were positive, said Maillet.

"I saw a lot of bewildered looks from pedestrians, and also some similar reactions from people in cars along with a lot of positive smiles and waves," he said.

Maillet, who has organized the yearly bike rally since its inception three years ago, thinks the high turnout this year is indicative of a strengthening of the cycling community in Yellowknife.

"On top of the promotion and political aspects, it was a lot of fun," he said.

- See next page for more Ramble and Ride coverage.

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