NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Abby Czibere shows off one of the bikes the Vistors' Information Centre rents out to people free of charge. The program has been running for three years and has grown in popularity every year.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
Medicine Hatters looking to spend an afternoon biking the city’s trails can do so for free from the help of Tourism Medicine Hat.
The Borrow a Bike program has been running through the Visitor Information Centre for three years and allows people to take a bike out for the day.
“This is a program that we have to get people out on bikes and on the trails,” said travel counsellor Abby Czibere. “In Medicine Hat we have 115 kilometres of paved trails and this is a great way to get out riding our trails.
“The trails actually start right here behind our building so when people come in and get one they can start their journey right away.”
There’s 10 bikes people can borrow for the day and they have to be given back by 7 p.m. when the information centre closes for the day.
“It’s super easy and quick for people to get a bike,” said Czibere. “People can fill out a waiver online or in the building here and we take a photocopy of their ID and they’re good to go.
“They can take the bike out all day and just have to bring it back before we close.”
Czibere says the program keeps gaining popularity.
“We only had two bikes a few years ago,” she said. “It took people a little bit to pick up on the program, but now we have a lot of people coming and going with the bikes.
“There’s so much to see around the city and the trails are really well connected — we want everyone to experience our great trails.”
For more information go to, http://www.tourismmedicinehat.com