Highlights of the 2011 edition

Sunshine and warm weather were on hand for the 13th edition of the Montreal Bike Fest! And all kinds of cyclists as well!

Three tours... cyclists and volunteers by the thousands!
3,600 cyclists kicked off the Montreal Bike Fest by participating in the Metropolitan Challenge, the first bike touring event of the season, on Sunday, May 29, to explore the Greater Montreal area.

17,000 cyclists lit up the urban sky for Un Tour la Nuit, on Friday, June 3. This nocturnal event, which is becoming increasingly popular, drew a record number of participants for this 13th edition.

25,000 cyclists radiated through the streets of Montreal on Sunday, June 5 as part of the Tour de l’Île. In this classic ride, held annually for the past 27 years, cyclists literally take over the city!

3,700 volunteers actively contributed to the success of the week’s tours. Affectionately called “bénévélos”, they give the Bike Fest a warm, friendly touch, appreciated by one and all!

Urban biking in the spotlight!
Operation Bike-to-Work, a campaign promoting daily biking, was behind several exciting initiatives on the occasion of the Montreal Bike Fest!

Vélo Québec launched the photo blog montrealcyclechic.com in the presence of Danish cycling promoter Mikael Colville-Andersen, creator of the Cycle Chic™ movement, as well as the famous Copenhagenize blog. With the contributions of seven photo bloggers, the Montreal version pays tribute to cyclists and the bicycle, which is becoming an urban lifestyle.

Colville-Andersen, nicknamed the “pape du vélo” by La Presse, also attracted a full house at the Auditorium de la Grande Bibliothèque, on Wednesday, June 1, with his lecture Four goals for promoting urban biking. His presence in Montreal was undeniably inspirational in many ways.

Operation Bike-to-Work also presented various activities at Place Ville-Marie, the Centre CDP Capital, as well as La Fontaine Park, from May 30 to June 3.