Council hears bicycle racing proposal

In a deputation to council Monday morning, Raye Ackerman of the York Durham Criterium Series proposed a series of five short track bike races on Anderson Boulevard in the Uxbridge industrial park.

He said the York Durham Crit Series would feature five Wednesday evening events aimed at everyone from first-time racers to seasoned crit specialists.

In crit racing, riders start with timed segments at controlled speeds before the race opens up for an all-out finish. Beginner racers progress through speeds of 30 km/h, 32 km/h and 34 km/h before a final sprint segment, while intermediate riders tackle paced sections at higher speeds before racing flat out.

Ackerman said the races should not interfere with any of the businesses in the industrial park. If approved, the events will run beginning the first week of July.

Council referred the request to staff for a report.