Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: June 24, 2008
SUBJECT: Markham
‘Giro’ Cycling Event
Sunday,
August 10, 2008
PREPARED BY: Lorenzo
Mele, TDM Coordinator ext. 4000
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report entitled “Markham
‘Giro’ Cycling Event, Sunday, August 10, 2008, dated June 24, 2008,
be received;
And that Council endorse this
event and instruct staff to collaborate with the Cycling and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee and the D’Ornellas Racing Team to promote and assist with
the overall event operation;
And that motor vehicle traffic on
Cochrane Drive be restricted to one lane, one way traffic flow, between the
hours of 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM (Noon) to accommodate the 1.8 KM ‘Giro’ course;
And that an upset limit of $2,000
to support this event be approved and funded under the Engineering
Capital Account #083-5399-8113-005 - Cycling Awareness Program;
That Staff be authorized and directed
to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
PURPOSE:
This report is to inform Council
of the Markham ‘Giro’ Cycling Event proposed for Sunday August 10, 2008, and to request Council
endorsement for staff involvement and partial closure of a public street (Cochrane
Drive).
BACKGROUND:
The Markham
Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is charged with promoting and
increasing public awareness of cycling as an environmentally friendly form of
transportation, and to encourage greater community participation in cycling as
a sport, form of recreation and method of transportation. The D'Ornellas Racing Team (the
"Club") is a non-commercial, not-for-profit cycling club. The Club
rides in groups on Town streets and rural side roads, and promotes safe and
courteous cycling.
The Markham
‘Giro’ Cycling event is proposed to
be a criterium bicycle race
consisting of many laps on a course no longer than 2 km in length, making it
exciting for both competitors and spectators. The race passes repeatedly past
the spectators’ vantage point so they can see the race develop as riders
continually turn up the speed to try to break free of the field. The Markham
‘Giro’ event will feature both women and men D’Ornella Racing Team riders and
will include a children’s race for those 8 years and under and 9 to 13 years.
The D’Ornellas
Racing Team has held their ‘Club Criterium’ bicycle race for the past five (5)
years in Scarborough and Mississauga.
In May of 2008 the Club approached the Town through the Engineering
Department and the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to request
guidance and support concerning their proposed 2008 ‘Club Criterium’ and the
potential of hosting the race in Markham.
A meeting was arranged with representatives from the D’Ornellas Racing Team,
the Chair of CPAC and Engineering Staff. At
this meeting it was confirmed by all in attendance that the event would present
an excellent opportunity to promote the sport and recreational aspects of
cycling to residents of Markham.
Town staff in Engineering,
and Corporate Communications and Community Relations will assist with the
overall event promotion and operation including the provision of refreshments
for participants and spectators to an upset limit of $2,000.00. The funding to
support this event is included in the Engineering
Capital Account #083-5399-8113-005 - Cycling Awareness Program and the
promotion of this event aligns with the overall mandate of CPAC which is to
promote and increase public awareness of cycling as an environmentally friendly
form of transportation.
ALIGNMENT
WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:
In response to the growing
popularity of cycling both as a sport and a recreational activity, the Town of Markham
began drafting a Cycling Master Plan to put into effect over the next 15 years.
The draft plan was presented to Council on March 04, 2008 and Engineering
will present a report to Council in the fall of 2008 recommending the adoption
of the Cycling Master Plan. The plan outlines the cycling network, presents
design guidelines and addresses the need to promote the greater use of cycling
as a mode of transportation. This event supports the Town’s transportation demand
management and environmental objectives as well as the Active 2010 campaign.
DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED
AND AFFECTED:
Corporate Communications and
Community Relations have been involved in the preliminary discussions
concerning this event, and upon Council endorsement they are prepared to
support the general event logistics, promotions and publicity.
RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________ ________________________
Alan Brown, Director of Engineering Jim
Baird, Commissioner of Development
Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Map of Markham
‘Giro’ Cycling Event course.