News

SIMCOE, MAY 28th , 2018 – The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit and community partners are celebrating Bike Month with a public event on Saturday, June 2nd at Simcoe Lions Park. The Squeaky Wheel Community Bike Fair will feature the Helmets for Kids and Adults Event offered annually by BachmannLaw, The Personal Injury Group.

“We have been holding our own helmet event for about five years now and are excited to be part of an even bigger community event,” said Christine Zammit-Agnew, office manager at BachmannLaw. “With the financial support of local sponsors and donors, our goal is to put as many helmets on heads as we can.”

In addition to the free helmet giveaway, attendees will have the opportunity to see if their bikes are safe and ready to ride. John Fulton from Ontario’s South Coast Bicycles and Tours Inc. will be offering bicycle safety inspections and demonstrating simple maintenance to keep your bike in working order.

“I love riding my bike,” says Fulton. “By donating my time and expertise to this event, I hope to encourage kids, families and seniors to discover the joy of riding a bike. Promoting a healthy lifestyle, while building a diverse culture of cycling, is important to me.”

Paul Meiklejohn from Elevation Mountain Bike Camps and Coaching will be available to assess the fit of your bike by making adjustments for a more comfortable, efficient ride. “Making sure your bike fits you is all part of the ride experience,” said Meiklejohn. “I am happy to help out with this event to encourage more people to ride their bikes, test their limits, build their confidence and accomplish things they didn’t think possible. It can be very empowering.”

Simcoe Lions Park on Davis St. East is the location of choice for this event as it is the central trailhead to Norfolk County’s rail trail network. Guided rides will be offered by Red Apple Rides, with options to ride north towards Waterford, south through Simcoe towards Port Dover or west towards Delhi.

Norfolk Pathways for People volunteers and members from the Turkey Point Mountain Bike Club will be on hand to promote the local trails, bicycle safety, trail user etiquette and the Share the Road message.  The Lynn Valley Trail Association will be handing out free bike bells as part of a Ring Your Bell campaign.

Celebrating Bike Month in June is just one of many initiatives spearheaded by the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. “We are busy pursuing a Bicycle Friendly Community designation for Norfolk County,” said Michele Crowley, health promoter with the Community Health team. “Community events, improvements to cycling infrastructure and local promotion of the cycling opportunities we have go a long way in sending the message that Norfolk County is a great place to ride your bike. Cycling is good for your health, good for the environment and good for tourism and the local economy.”

So dust off your bike and meet us at the Simcoe Lions Park, 75 Davis St. East on Saturday, June 2nd from 1-4 PM. Discover the kind of happiness and sense of freedom that only a bicycle can provide. Helmets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

For more information and the schedule of activities, visit www.norfolkpathways.ca or contact Michele at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit at 519-426-6170 ext. 3239 or at [email protected].

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Media contact:
Kimberly Dias
Manager of Health Promotion
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
[email protected] 
519-426-6170 Ext. 3152