The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force yesterday pledged its support in ensuring safety this weekend for cyclists participating in a bike-a-thon to raise money for cancer.

Ride for Hope, the largest charity cycle ride in the Bahamas, will take place starting Sunday morning at Goodman’s Bay. It offers anyone with a bicycle the opportunity to ride to raise funds to fight the deadly disease.

As a result, police said the portion of West Bay Street directly in front of Goodman’s Bay would be closed to all vehicular traffic for the duration of the event.

Superintendent Craig Stubbs, head of the Traffic Division, said his team would be out in force on Sunday to ensure rider safety during the event.

“Our primary initiative is to ensure safety of the riders and also the members of the public, to ensure that the cyclists and the commuters get from point A to point B in a safe and timely manner,” he said.

The route will start at Goodman’s Bay Park along the Cable Beach strip and onto Blake Road, west past the airport around Clifton Pier, out to the Frank Watson highway, past Coral Harbour and all the way to the internal roundabout at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Besides the presence of police officers throughout the entire route, the course will be lined with eight support and cheering tents manned by volunteers from the event’s yellow jersey sponsors.

Due to the crowded routes, Superintendent Stubbs yesterday said traffic would be restricted. He urged drivers to “exercise extreme caution” when driving on roads that would be occupied by cyclists on Sunday.

“The east bound northern lane of West Bay Street and directly in front of Goodman’s Bay will be closed to all vehicular traffic,” he said. “We’re going to allow the southern lanes to be turned into two-way traffic, and that commences from 5am on Sunday morning. Additionally, there will be an Après Ride Festival at Goodman’s Bay Park all day long, and there will be riders, children and spectators coming and going from the park throughout the day.

“We extend to all the motoring public, particularly those in the western district of New Providence, to give way to the cyclists as they see them progressing along the course of the route. We ask them to support the initiative. Allow our cyclists free access so we’ll have a safe (event) on Sunday morning,” Supt Stubbs said.

Stephen Holowesko, co-founder of RFH, said organisers were very grateful to the police for their support.

“We wish to have a safe, quality event, one that inspires the respect and loyalty of our riders and corporate sponsors,” he added.

For the first eight years, Ride For Hope was held in Eleuthera. To facilitate ongoing growth and reduce staging costs, the decision was made to move the event to New Providence this year.

Since its first year in 2006, which saw the participation of 98 riders, a combined 2,900 riders have peddled over 50,000 miles and raised over $2.3 million.

According to Mr Holowesko, the last event featured 600 riders. As of yesterday, he said roughly 400 persons have signed up for Sunday’s ride.

Persons interested can choose to register individually, as a family, or as a team. Persons can register online at www.rideforhopebahamas.com or at Cycles Unlimited on Mackey Street. Riders will be able to collect their participant’s bag and rider number at Cycles Unlimited on Friday from 9am to 4pm, and at the staging area on Goodman’s Bay on Saturday from noon to 4pm.