The biking community will officially open a new trail at the Tourism Discovery Centre this Saturday, a project Williams Lake Cycling Club director Mark Savard said is the result of community and business support.
“None of this would have happened without Tim Menning of Hytest Timber Ltd., Ken Striegler at Longhorn Fencing, Shauna and Joan at Signal Point Gaming and our crew of volunteers,” Savard said. “I cannot even mention all the people that have helped.”
Diverting the trail from the Hamel Road access became necessary several years ago when the ownership of the land changed hands and there was new development in the area, Savard said.
“We had to find a solution and Tim Menning helped. He was the first person to sign a trail agreement with a cycling club in Canada,” Savard said. “It took a while, but once that piece was there to allow access we could begin working with Signal Point and their rules under the B.C. Lottery Commission, such as the fact youth cannot be on casino property without an adult.”
The city’s chief administrative officer Milo MacDonald said the new trail will allow mountain bikers and landowners to co-exist more harmoniously with one another.
“I sincerely hope that private landowners notice the commitment that all stakeholders have made to reduce impacts on them,” MacDonald said, noting financial contributions and staff support from the City and the Cariboo Regional District were dramatically enhanced by the generosity in donated labour and access to the site.
MacDonald also acknowledged the provincial government’s support.
Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Claudia Blair described the new trail as “awesome.”
“We are so excited to have the trail in this location,” Blair said. “It’s so easy for our visitors as well as locals. They can use the parking lot and visitors can come into the centre to find out more information about biking. If they don’t have a bike we can find one for them.”
Working with the club has been rewarding, Blair added.
“To see the volunteers working to pull this project together has been so gratifying.”
Aside from the official ribbon cutting which will take place 4 p.m., Saturday June 17, there will be free shuttles for cycling club members from noon until 4 p.m. with Adventure Charters, being sponsored by the cycling club and Signal Point Gaming.
The free shuttles will continue throughout the summer season on Saturdays, except for on long weekends, Savard said, noting people can check ridethecariboo.com for further details on the shuttles.
Club memberships are available at Barking Spider Mountain Bike and Red Shred’s Bike and Board Shed at a cost of $40 a family or $15 for an individual.
People can also sign up online, although youth under 18 years of age need a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.