Ottawa’s annual bike festival, Capital Vélo Fest, is set to roll out this coming weekend with an exciting line up of cycling activities on June 2-3, 2012.
The Tour La Nuit, a night ride under the stars without any cars, will involve closing a few Ottawa streets from 8:00pm to 11:00pm on Saturday, June 2. Queen Elizabeth Drive from Laurier Ave to Preston Street; Prince of Wales Drive will be closed from Preston Street to Baseline Road; and access to the Experimental Farm will be restricted during this time period.
On Saturday, June 2nd, festival activities will commence with a free Bicycle Rodeo at Marion Dewar Square at Ottawa City Hall from 11:00am-5:00pm. Over 30 cycling -focused organizations will be participating to provide a day of cycling information, entertainment, games and fun for individuals and families.
The daytime activities will be immediately followed by the Tour La Nuit, an 18 km night time ride around the Capital Region. Cyclist will begin gathering at 5pm to light up their bikes with colourful lights for an enchanting night ride under the stars without any cars. Live musical entertainment provided by Ottawa’s own, The Ryvyls, starts at 7pm and at 8:30, cyclists registered for the ride (registration online at www.capitalvelofest.ca) will depart on a route along Queen Elizabeth Drive to Prince of Wales, looping through the Experimental Farm then circle back to City Hall, with more music until 11pm.
On Sunday, June 3rd, the festival will reach out into two Ottawa communities with Capital Vélo Fest Community Spoke. Sunday morning from 10am-1pm Brantwood park will feature a community bike rodeo with more cycling games, safety courses, and bike decorating for the Ottawa East community. This event will be capped by a community ride along the canal bikeway. In the evening, the festival moves west, where the Kitchissippi community will meet at the Inukshuks on the Ottawa River at 6pm for a picnic.
Capital Vélo Fest Inc. is an Ottawa-based non-profit corporation whose mission is to “Inspire People Of All Ages To Ride A Bike More Often” by organizing fun events and providing educational programs focused on cycling in partnership with governments, the cycling industry and cycling advocacy groups. For further information about Capital Vélo Fest, visit our website at www.capitalvelofest.ca.
