April 17/19 13:01 pm - Tour du Silence to Take Place on May 15th (Quebec)

Posted by Editoress on 04/17/19
 

As the umbrella organization for the Tour du Silence 2019, the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes (FQSC) is proud to announce that Maxim and Livia Martin have agreed to act as provincial spokespeople for a second year in a row. this year's event will take place on Wednesday, May 15th, at 6:30 pm. Access is free and helmets are mandatory.

Details of locations for rides across Quebec can be found at tourdusilencequebec.com.

"With the winter we had, we can not wait to enjoy the weather and get some fresh air. And the Tour du Silence, which is in mid-May, is the perfect excuse to get out and ride. Even if, every year, there are sad accidents involving cyclists, I feel that we are progressing and that the famous cohabitation is getting better and better," said host and comedian Maxim Martin.

The father-daughter duo joined the Tour du Silence following the accident that cost the life of the young cyclist Clément Ouimet, who was Livia Martin's friend.

"I always wandered around without really thinking about the security issue. I must admit that I took it a little lightly. But after the sad accident, I realized that it was important and that we had to take it seriously," she said.

Both are distressed by the violence with which some people express themselves when it comes to talking about cohabitation on the roads. And this is inevitably reflected in the behaviour adopted by some on the road.

"You have to put yourself in the other's shoes. We must humanize the users. Because beyond the car or the bike, we are all individuals, and everyone's life has value. We are not limited to our mode of transport," points out the young actress.

This silent ride takes place every year, the third Wednesday of May, simultaneously on a global scale. The ride takes place on a course of 20 kilometres at most, at an average speed of 18 km/h, so as to be accessible to all. All the riders gathered ride in silence, escorted by policemen. Symbolic stops are sometimes made to honour the memory of deceased cyclists. Tributes are also delivered by the family and relatives of the victims, recalling the relevance of such an awareness-raising activity.

For the 2019 edition of the Tour du Silence, the tenth under the umbrella of the FQSC, 24 regional initiatives will be held simultaneously in Quebec.

A school component will be added to the traditional Tour du Silence, for a sixth year. Schools will hold a mini-tour and organize activities to sensitize young people to the issue of sharing the road (police visits, safety rules, skill games and educational workshop on the handling of the bike ... ).

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is once again participating in the Tour du Silence to continue its efforts to raise awareness of bicycle safety among the public. The financial contribution of the SAAQ has allowed the FQSC to enhance the promotion of the Tour du Silence and better support the local organizations that deploy the event in the regions of Quebec.