Michael Applebaum, mayor of the borough, accompanied by the neighbourhood’s two federal MPs, Marlene Jennings and Marc Garneau, will give the starting signal.

Police officers and volunteers will ensure the safety of the group cycling along the approximately 6 km route which will start and end at NDG Park, following Sherbrooke Street West and Monkland and Somerled avenues.

Nature lovers will be happy too, since the activity coincides with the annual flower giveaway, which starts at 9 am in Doug Harvey Arena, William Bowie and NDG parks.

What a great opportunity to combine two fun activities! But there’s more. All participants in the bicycle rally will receive a pennant with the “I’m active in NDG” campaign logo.

Participating businesses will be identified with posters on their doors and merchants will be invited to cheer on the cyclists throughout the rally. With a view to encouraging respect for the environment, they will be promoting a number of green products and services, thus helping to improve our surroundings.

Residents who walk or bike—referred to as active transportation—also are front-line actors in sustainable development. Economically, walking or biking to shop is a very inexpensive way of carrying your purchases, compared to a car, which costs on average $9000 per year or $0.51 per km to run, according to CAA Québec. Environmentally, active transportation is an obvious choice.

Did you know that between eight and ten bicycles can fit in the same size parking space as one car? Imagine the number of bicycles that could be parked on a street like Sherbrooke! Active transportation also has a positive effect on health because physical activity decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory illness.

So there is really no excuse not to participate in the “I’m active in NDG” campaign and the bicycle rally on May 23 is a rendez-vous not to be missed. Come with your family, friends or co-workers. You’ll see—this activity will soon become a popular NDG tradition.