Bicycle Nova Scotia has been working on the “Blue Route” for nearly 10 years and the project got a major boost from the governments on Friday.
The Blue Route trail in Wolfville is one that is well-used by locals, but the new cooperation from all levels of government is intended to draw cyclists from around the world.
Nova Scotia Liberal MP Scott Brison says that ‘cyclo-tourism’ is becoming a growth in terms of global tourism.
Brison announced the $799,000 investment on Friday through ACOA for the Blue Route – a 3,000 kilometre province-wide cycling route.
The route was modelled on Quebec’s “Route Verte”, which generates $200 million in tourism revenue every year.
“The Blue Route is really kind of the clothesline that a lot of other bike routs can hang off of,” says Susanna Fuller of Bicycle Nova Scotia. “The whole point was to make a bit of a spine and a continuous route around the province.”
The funding by ACOA will be used for maintenance and upgrades of the trails. The project is expected to cost more than $40 million.
Fuller says the money put towards the bike route includes shoulder paving – something that is already part of the budget.
“It’s not necessarily asking for new money,” says Fuller.
The province is investing $340,000 and more than $2.6 million in in-kind contributions over the next two years for maintenance and research.
“Getting health, transportation, energy, and tourism all working together, that’s how we’re going to make momentous change like this,” says MLA Keith Irving. “This is significant.”
Cyclist Mary Kate Rathbon says the joy of cycling tourism is that they don’t carry anything – so they shop everywhere, and eat out everywhere.
Beyond attracting tourists, project workers hope the route will encourage a healthy living style here at home.
One section of the Blue Route has already opened. Bicycle Nova Scotia hopes to have the project close to completion by 2025.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Sarah Ritchie.
