Editor: What if you could only spend one day in Banff National Park? I am impressed with the advanced warning Banff residents and visitors have received in preparation for the upcoming Aug 23 GranFondo event.
Editor:
What if you could only spend one day in Banff National Park?
I am impressed with the advanced warning Banff residents and visitors have received in preparation for the upcoming Aug 23 GranFondo event. Flashing road signs are warning everyone that this weekend may not be a very good time to visit Banff. Expect delays, road closures. Here we go again.
This year, the RBC GranFondo Banff is at capacity with 1,500 cyclists. The website boasts, “The RBC GranFondo Banff is the only granfondo in North America to be held completely within the confines of a national park. Imagine for one day, the best possible cycling roads are closed to traffic. ”
With 1,500 participants, I expect the GranFondo will bring in at least $375,000 this year. Last year race organizers claim not to have turned a profit. It must be very expensive to train 250 volunteers. How much of that money stays in Banff? This $375K figure does not include those participants that have paid $500 for the VIP package that comes with distinct perks and benefits. “Just think, no lineups, no hassles, no fuss, but all the fun. ”
Fun for who? What about the thousands of visitors that will visit Banff on Saturday? How can we allow people to pay for a park pass, only to subject them to traffic congestion and road closures?
Parks Canada, please carefully consider what you are doing here and stop being pressured into agreeing to close any portion of Banff National Park, unless it is to protect wildlife, our community, or park. You have a mandate to improve visitor experience. At what point did it become an acceptable practice for Parks Canada to restrict non-participating visitors and residents from having access to a Canadian national park, while at the same time allowing critical wildlife corridors to be used as a race venue?
Our new legacy trail is a huge success. Mountain bikers continue to see more terrain open, and runners can access trails, roads, spectacular back-county and more. If we want more people to travel here and “experience ” all we have to offer, don't restrict access.
To everyone who is keen to see the next GranFondo come to Banff, and to all those athletes that by now have started to arrive, our community welcomes all visitors and we want you to enjoy your time here. It's just that a growing number of people believe large for-profit events are an improper use of Banff National Park.
I hope race participates can extend a stay before rushing off to the next GranFondo, and that next time you come back to visit you are free to ride our roads and enjoy Banff National Park without interruption.
Cynthia Anderson,
Banff
