VCola wrote:
nspace wrote:
I understand that non-cyclists probably see this a waste of land and money, but I don't think its accurate to say that. I'd argue that a hockey arena is a waste of space for someone who doesn't play hockey. You can't please everyone, but I think this facility will see good use.
The difference being the track of a
Velodrome is only for cycling. On an ice pad yes there is hockey but you can also have public skating, school skating days, figure skating and ringette to name a few other activities that can happen at an arena. Those activities as a whole appeal to a greater amount of people than cycling would. That being said cyclists are further divided, I would agrue that a cyclist who enjoys mountain biking in the escarpment may or may not enjoy using a indoor velodrome. Both are different and quite specific sub types of cycling.
Has the plan posted on the Milton website somehow changed from not being a multi-use facility to a cycling
only facility since I last checked? I recall there being 3 basketball courts in the infield in the plan in addition to a fitness gym, running/walking track. To say it would only be used by cyclists seems inaccurate.
Is the fact that it brings others from all around to spend money in your community a bad thing? People come out for weekend of racing, they need to go out and eat at local restaurants, bike stores can sell track bikes and service them, etc. Local businesses in the community will find ways to also benefit from this. This is why towns build things that are attractive to more than just local residents. For example, there is an indoor bike park in Cleveland, OH (Ray's indoor mtb park). People came from all over to ride and spend the weekend there, and who the heck wants to drive 5-6hr or more to visit Cleveland? Joyride150 took a chance and tried to do their take on it in the GTA. People said it would fail. People said it wouldn't be able to sustain itself because who wants to ride indoors during the summer? Ray, owner of the Cleveland park was interviewed by the Canadian Media in response to a press-release about Joyride150 opening its doors and to get his opinion, and he even said that the park would never be able to keep its doors open all year round. Despite the warnings, they did it, and in their first year of operation they had their busiest days during the summer. They have a spin studio for all the moms and dads dropping their kids off, summer camps and youth programs, and kids are coming from the local community in addition to being from all around the GTA. Kids are loading up their bikes onto the Go Bus and coming out to ride. Who is to say that, that sort of success and community involvement cannot come to the Velodrome? I know this is a more privatized example, but a velodrome is a much bigger investment and requires a more purpose built building for it to happen, but it goes to show that offerings are greater than it may appear on the surface.
Maybe Joe from down the street might wake up at 5am to take his kid to train on the track? The old lady can still work at snack bar can't she? I don't know what that has to do with a velodrome versus another type of recreational facility?
Track cycling is definitely different than mountain biking, and some people are specific to one discipline. When I started cycling on my own, I had no idea I could get into racing, and neither did my parents; all I was interested in was riding around trails and going off jumps. On my own I eventually got into cross-country mountain biking, then a few years later I started racing. I then discovered road cycling. From there I dabbled into cyclocross racing, and even riding on the track. I can say that within my direct network of people in the cycling community, I would say that 95% of them participate in more than one, if not three different types of "sub cycling" disciplines. Looking back, I wish these sort of opportunities were available to me, or were close enough to my community to even know about them.