GRAVENHURST MOUNTS NEW BIKE PROGRAM TO ENFORCE BY-LAWS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — From four wheels to four wheels, by-law officers here will be getting out of vehicles and getting on mountain bikes this summer to patrol parks and trails to cruise through town more effortlessly handing out parking tickets.

A pilot project — possibly the first in Muskoka — will see enforcement officers hitting the streets June 1 on a pair of new mountain bikes.

“We are aiming to continually improve our customer service, heighten visibility and be more environmentally responsible,” Kristen Ford-Bickers, manager of by-law services, said in a release today.

The project, modelled after one in Tiny Township, will support two of three trained enforcement officers through Thanksgiving.

Officers will undergo advance training through CAN-BIKE Canada, which was designed for specific agencies such as police, EMS, security, and municipal by-law.

“Being out in the community on bicycles will allow our team to navigate quicker through high traffic, special events and areas within our parks and trails that would normally be more challenging to patrol,” added Ford-Bickers on Thursday. “We want to be here for the community to help them better understand Town by-laws and answer any questions or concerns they may have.”

For more information on the program, please contact the Gravenhurst by-law department at 705-687- 3412 ext. 2266.

Two mountain bikes, three enforcement officers and one new pilot program begins June 1 in parks and on trails and streets for the summer in Gravenhurst. From left, Stephen Rowland, Josh Smith and Madison Bath.

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