Share the Road is the group that promotes safe cycling in Ontario, from advocating at the Provincial level to supporting municipalities in the efforts to provide better bike infrastructure.
On September 20th they will be holding their annual Ride for Greg to raise funds for their work.
It would be great for WCC to get a group out for the ride. It’ll be in the Milton area with some really nice roads and an OPP escort is provided.
More info here (link has been corrected)
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This is a great ride. I participated in the inaugural event in 2006…it was easily one of the most difficult rides I have ever done. A bit of history on this ride:
In the spring of 2006 Greg Stobbart was riding his bike on Tremaine Road outside of Milton …training for an up coming Triathlon. Back then the road was a single lane in each direction with no shoulder. I’m not certain how but a dump truck driver failed to give him space and clipped him, knocking him into the ditch…I have no info as to how long he lay in the ditch dead or dying, but he was eventually discovered by a passing motorist…as the dump truck driver did not stick around. Greg’s partner Eleanor McMahon then took it upon herself to advocate for Greg’s Law…which deals with repeat offenders, as the driver had multiple driving offences and was driving under suspension. She also started the Share The Road campaign in Ontario…and eventually became an MP…and continues to advocate for road safety.
At that first ride the entire group of riders…and there were about 400 of us that rode that commemorative ride, all of us hearing about it word of mouth…rode to the accident site with a full police escort. The OPP have supported this ride from day one, because Greg was an OPP Constable. We stopped on the road and held a short ceremony of remembrance with his family. Getting back on the bike after that short ceremony was the toughest thing I’ve ever done…and will remain with me always. I drive past that accident site often, and always nod to the commemorative plaque that was installed there in Greg’s honour. The town having created a small parkette there instead of using it as housing.
Over the two decades the ride has grown and continues to support the Share The Road campaign…which we ALL should be supporting. I am going to attempt to attend again this year…the 20th anniversary of this event. Let’s get a great WCC contingent and show the wider community that we do Care and Lead!
Kev
P.s. I attempted to register, but the Race Roster site is not up and running yet. I emailed to find out when this will open up…please stand by
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I have been in contact with Eleanor and the site is up and running. However if I try to use the link from this forum post it does not work.
Please use this link:
Thanks and hopefully we get a large contingent of Green!
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