Bells on Danforth 2016

TORONTO: Cyclists of all ages from around the city will converge on Danforth Avenue on Saturday, June 25,

at 10:30 a.m., ringing their bicycle bells for the fifth annual Bells on Danforth (www.bellsondanforth.ca)

family-friendly bike ride.

Bells on Danforth Quick Facts:

- The first annual ride was held in 2012.

- Ninety people participated in the first year.

- More than 500 people, aged 6 months to 85 years old, participated in 2015.

- Largest annual cycling event in Toronto east of Yonge St.

- Riders travel 8 km on Danforth Ave. from the Bloor Viaduct to Danforth Rd.

Support for cycling continues to grow in Toronto, with two big items recently approved by City Council: this

summer's pilot project for bike lanes on Bloor Street West and the City's new 10-year Bike Plan—including

Danforth. “Just look at all of the people cycling every day to get to work, to school, or to shop,” said Bells on

Danforth organizer Mary Ann Neary. “More and more people rediscover cycling every year and quickly realize

that it can be the best way to get around town: you don't get caught in traffic, you don't have to squeeze onto a

crowded rush-hour subway, and you'll always have a smile on your face.”

Now in its fifth year, the pedal-powered parade starts at the western end of the Bloor Viaduct and proceeds east

along the full length of the Danforth all the way to Danforth Road, where the Crossroads of the Danforth

Business Improvement Association (www.crossroadsbia.ca) will host an after-ride party. “We're happy to once

again host Bells on Danforth,” said Joe Murillo, chair of the Crossroads BIA. “We have always supported safe

cycling initiatives and look forward to welcoming cyclists from all over Toronto to the east end of Danforth.”

Special guests for the ride include Marvin Macaraig of Scarborough Cycles, a project of the Toronto Centre for

Active Transportation (www.tcat.ca), who will be celebrating the opening of the new Scarborough bike hubs at

AccessPoint on Danforth (www.accessalliance.ca) and the Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre

(www.bbnc.ca).

More than 500 riders took part in Bells on Danforth's fourth edition last year, reflecting the increasing

popularity of both recreational and utilitarian cycling. Kathy Chung, another Bells on Danforth organizer, said,

“We shop here, we eat here, we work here, and we live here. Bells on Danforth is a celebration of our

neighbourhood.”

Bells on Danforth is organized by a coalition of cycling advocacy groups in Toronto’s east end, including Ward

29 Bikes (www.29bikes.ca), Ward 30 Bikes (ward30bikes.blogspot.ca), Ward 31 Bikes

(twitter.com/ward31bikes), 32 Spokes (www.cycleto.ca/ward/32), TO35Cycles (www.to35cycles.ca), and Ward

36 Cyclists (ward36cyclists.blogspot.ca).

Contact

Val Dodge, tel. 416-617-4513, email info@bellsondanforth.ca