In a final effort to save their site, users of the Marmota mountain bike facilities, in Cap-Rouge, will submit a petition of 15,000 names Tuesday evening to the municipal council, in the presence of a gathering of cyclists at the exterior of Quebec City Hall.
While athletes will be inside the walls to ask questions of the Marchand administration, other supporters will leave by bike from the Plains of Abraham to go to the same place, on rue des Jardins.
Despite the mobilization of many enthusiasts, the City of Quebec wants to dismantle in the coming hours the informal network of mountain bike trails known as La Marmota, in Cap-Rouge. The objective is to return the land to its natural state and possibly allow activities such as trail walking.
Dead end
“There is no conversation with the city. It’s non-negotiable. I have the impression that they underestimated the scale and they do not want to back down,” explains cyclist Jean-Philippe Nadeau Langevin.
Built in 2009, the site offers the highest bike jumps in Quebec, say regulars who want to save their playground. The decision of the City of Quebec could cost more than $100,000 just to destroy the installations.
“If you give me that money, I’ll build a bad looking badass instead bike park ! There are plenty of options but if the city doesn’t want to, there’s nothing we can do. We were not able to speak to the mayor,” explains Mr. Nadeau Langevin.
Supports
An ardent defender of physical activity, columnist Marcel Bouchard came to the group’s defense.
“Do you know why this saddens me? Because we are old. We are a population of old people. And we forget the young people. Young people need something other than walking on a trail. We don’t have to destroy that,” said the former professor in a video released recently.
The City of Quebec notably defended its decision to intervene by citing people’s safety.
The closure of the location, accessible from Boulevard de la Chaudière, is already in effect and the City is monitoring it.
Users have argued that there has only been one serious accident in 15 years.
Photo Didier Debusschere
