Bathurst hopes to attract Atlanticade motorcycle festival
Summerside, P.E.I., was the most recent host of the event
The City of Bathurst, New Brunswick is singing a different tune about motorcycles.
Last year, council pushed through a bylaw prohibiting noisy motorcycles from driving within city limits. After public outcry, the bylaw was rescinded.
Now, the city is hoping to host a major motorcycle festival in the summer of 2015.
The downtown revitalization committee approached the organizers of Atlanticade, a major motorcycle festival which attracts as many as 12,000 bikers from all over North America.
The economic spinoff from the event is estimated at about $2 million.
“Bathurst is ideally located for any type of activity like this. We're in the centre of Northern New Brunswick and I believe these people like activities to go do,” said Mayor Stephen Brunet.
The relationship between bikers and the city isn’t firing on all cylinders yet.
“I know that a lot of the bikers might hold it against our present mayor and council,” said Frank Vienneau, a long-time biker.
A committee is working on a formal proposal for the five-day rally. The proposal is due next week.
Summerside, P.E.I., was the most recent host of the event.