June 4, 2010 (Montreal, QC) – Velo Quebec has now joined the Quebec cycling federation (FQSC) and Triathlon Québec regarding the Gilles Villeneuve Racetrack in Jean Drapeau Park on Ile Notre Dame. The three groups are asking park and municipal authorities not to limit performance cyclists use of the site in the name of safety.

Velo Quebec, which represents recreational cyclists, examined the 28 cycling accidents that occurred at the racetrack over the past year and found that none of them involved cyclists hitting pedestrians. Many of the bike accidents involved cyclists hitting fences, walls, and other objects along the racetrack. Simply installing additional hazards in an attempt to regulate speeds will likely only exacerbate the existing safety issues at this site.

The FQSC calls for banning automobiles from the Gilles Villeneuve racetrack not performance cyclists.

Translation by John Symon