Granfondo 2011 will be bigger and -if the District of Squamish's requirements are met - better than ever next year.
During the Committee of Whole meeting Tuesday (Oct. 26), municipal engineering director Brian Barnett presented council members with a debriefing on last September's mass bicycle ride from Vancouver to Whistler and suggestions for improvements for the 2011 event.
The event involved 4,000 riders taking to the Sea to Sky Highway, and in Squamish that meant dedicating a northbound lane to cyclists and cutting off east-west connectivity as they passed for the duration of the event from early morning to early afternoon.
The intrusion in transportation was met with frustration by some members of the community. It also caused safety hazards, said Barnett.
"It's lucky nothing serious came out of the inability to cross east and west for prolonged periods," he said.
Barnett said following post-event meetings, RCMP, traffic control personnel, organizers and municipal staff came to the same conclusion.
"With regards to traffic control, everyone believes there were serious concerns," he said.
However he said the problems are not a "show-stopper" for next year, and municipal staff is encouraged because organizers are open to meeting the district's expectations for transportation for the sold out 2011 event involving 6,500 riders.
"Although there are some issues we think they can be resolved in the future," said Barnett.
Barnett also pointed to the missed economic opportunity derived from the thousands streaming through on the day of and the many riders taking to the highway as they trained in the lead up to Granfondo.
He said staff wanted to bring that to council's attention.
"We don't have any specific recommendations to bring forward to you at this point," said Barnett. "But we do want to put more staff resources against this."
Coun. Patricia Heintzman said she was pleased to hear traffic issues addressed because the event has potential for great opportunities.
However she was disappointed that the engineering department would be in a position to have to point out missed economic opportunities, although "it's good that someone is bringing it forward."
She said she felt there should be "some entity leading that charge" so the district could better see opportunities presented and taking advantage of them.
"You'd think that could be something Tourism Squamish could be in charge of in terms of economic development or marketing or prospering from this event," she said.
Acting mayor Paul Lalli made a motion to forward the issue to the economic development committee for study. The motion passed unanimously.
Council also unanimously passed staff's recommendation to have the mayor write Grandfondo organizers a letter to ensure all public safety concerns be addressed in the event during the planning for 2011.
