Thursday, September 11, 2003

By Paul Gains, Hamilton 2003

For the first time in its history the Road World Cycling Championships will be held on a course that is located entirely within the city centre. Naturally, that raises issues, which the Hamilton 2003 organising committee, together with the City of Hamilton, Ontario, has comfortably addressed.

Seven days of road closures might pose inconveniences to some Hamiltonians but most understand that this event will not return to the city in their lifetime. This, after all, is only the sixth time the Road World Cycling Championships have ever been held outside Europe and only the third time in North America. In 1986 Colorado Springs, Colorado played host while Montreal was awarded the championships in 1974.

All sorts of measures have been taken to accentuate Hamiltonians enjoyment of this once in a lifetime sporting spectacle. City elders also realize that, according to a recent feasibility study, the city could benefit by as much as $53 million Cdn in spending. Indeed, ticket sales have been brisk with cycling fans from all across Canada and the United States snapping them up on a daily basis. European fans are also purchasing travel packages through Steve Bauer Tours.

Following a series of four "Town Hall" meetings in which citizens' concerns were heard and then acted upon, organisers have designated 25 - 30 pedestrian crossings along the three race routes (short and long time trial, and road race). These will assist residents and businesses in going about their regular schedules. A local taxi company will have cabs inside the zone and for a flat fee of $5 Cdn will pick up passengers and take them to one of these pedestrian crossings where they will be met by another taxi.

The Hamilton transit authority will provide buses within the affected race zone that will take residents to the pedestrian crossings where they can hop a bus on the other side of the race course if necessary. And for those coming into the city from outside they may park their cars at one of three specially located pods where spectator shuttle buses will bring them to the start/finish area. The shuttle buses are free to ticket holders.

During the recent Canadian Road Cycling Championships police, fire and ambulance crews reported their emergency response time was actually reduced by the use of designated emergency vehicular crossings along this same route. This procedure will be utilised during the world championships too.

If those who have run afoul of Canadian law think that they might escape justice because some of the court houses are inside the zone they have another thing coming. The Ontario Courts are relocating some cases to courthouses outside the zone. Justice will prevail it seems!

After careful deliberation, and consultation with the various stakeholders, including the organizing committee, the local Hamilton-Wentworth District School Boards took the decision to close all schools during the world championships because many of the inner city schools would be affected by the road closures. Several organizations including the local YWCA and the city Culture and Recreation Department have put together special day camps to keep the kids active. In addition an educational program run by the Hamilton Spectator newspaper has targeted as many as 56 schools in the region, providing classrooms with materials on cycling.

The first 15 schools, which responded to the newspaper's initiative, also earned a bonus - visits by cycling experts who are conducting cycling clinics with the children. The idea is to maximise their exposure to this wonderful sport and to enhance their enjoyment of the races during their weekÕs sabbatical.

Along the course there will be Hamilton 2003 ambassadors - 21 of them each day - who will be easily identified by their bright yellow cycling helmets and their rollerblades. They will circulate, answering questions posed by the thousands of spectators expected to line the course.

Truly, the city of Hamilton is about to raise the bar and make this one of the best world championships ever.