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By Chris Brown

Great Big Pedal kicks off Bike Week

Bike Medicine Hat wants safer cycling conditions around the city

Jul 14, 2021 | 3:06 PM

Following in the waves made by the Great Big Paddle last Saturday, the Great Big Pedal will hit the road on July 19.

Shelley Acheson, event director of Bike Medicine Hat, says interest in cycling is rising in Medicine Hat. She’s seeing more people on the trails and the roads this year than ever before and hopes everyone is taking notice.

“One of the big things that’s important to Bike Medicine Hat is maybe to let the city see how big it’s gotten and hopefully advocating towards safer cycling,” she says. “Sharing the pathways with walkers and also drivers sharing the roads with cyclists. Just making it a better place that way, but yeah it’s gotten huge.”

She adds the bike shops are kept busy and are having a hard time getting bikes in.

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She thinks people are starting to realize the benefits of two-wheels, and accessibility is also making it easy for people to get into it.

“It’s so great for your mental health, so great for your physical health and I think that just more people have realized that,” Acheson says. “And of course the popularity of e-bikes as well maybe getting some of those people that were unable to get out and ride, giving them the ability to actually get out and ride for exercise, leisure.”

On Monday, cyclists will head out from the bandshell in Kin Coulee Park at 6:30 p.m. choosing from three routes. The short route will keep them in the park, the medium route will go toward Scholten Hill and the long route to the YMCA and back.

Cyclists are welcome to ride their traditional bike, e-bikes, recumbent bikes or whatever style they prefer.

There will be a DJ and food trucks on-site and participants will get food truck voucher.

The Great Big Pedal kicks off Bike Week in the city. Acheson says they’ll be encouraging people to get out and commute more.

“Maybe consider leaving the car at home one day and getting on the bike to go to your favourite restaurant or to a store to purchase or just getting out on our trails and seeing how great it actually is,” she says.

Acheson says to watch Bike Medicine Hat’s and Tourism Medicine Hat’s social media for different activities and cycling tips throughout the week.

Tourism Medicine Hat is a partner in the Great Big Pedal and Bike Week.