Cyclists now have a better way to explore the beauty of the Wentworth Valley.
The province, in partnership with Bicycle Nova Scotia, opened the second segment of the Blue Route today, June 17, in Masstown, Colchester Co. The segment stretches 55 kilometres from Masstown through the Wentworth Valley to Wallace in Cumberland County.
“The Blue Route capitalizes on something Nova Scotia has in abundance – stunning scenery, ocean views, and picturesque towns and villages,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey, on behalf of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Geoff MacLellan. “The Blue Route has the potential to benefit our economy and increase Nova Scotia’s attractiveness to cycling tourists.”
The Blue Route plan is to connect the entire province through a network of bicycle routes, using trails and roads. Eventually there will be more than 3,000 kilometres of bike-friendly routes connecting one end of Nova Scotia to the other.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to support Bicycle Nova Scotia as they work towards their vision of creating 3,000 kilometres of connecting, standardized trail,” said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. “The Blue Route is guaranteed to become a source of pride for Nova Scotia and a shining example of what can be accomplished when all levels of government collaborate.”
“As the Blue Route develops, it will support local active transportation, recreation, and cycling tourism opportunities for visitors,” said Ben Buckwold, director of Bikeways and Blue Route Implementation of Bicycle Nova Scotia. “It can become a tremendous asset for residents, communities and local businesses across Nova Scotia.”
The Blue Route will become an integral part of daily life in communities across Nova Scotia, providing infrastructure for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. It will offer different riding options, including hard-surfaced trails, quiet and scenic secondary highways, paved-shoulder bike routes and urban bikeways.
“We’re excited to see the opening of the Blue Route in our community,” said Laurie Jennings, vice-president of the Masstown Market. “We look forward to welcoming more visitors by bike and offering services they seek such as local food to fuel them on their adventures by bike.”
In August 2015, the province opened the first segment of the Blue Route that takes riders from Pictou to East Mountain (Bible Hill). The entire route will be completed over a number of years, with new segments added as nearby roads and trails are developed or upgraded.
For more information on the Blue Route, go to: http://blueroute.ca/ .
Source: Release