Youth En Route celebrate biking at Cyclefest

Cyclefest, a celebration of biking, was held by Youth En Route Saturday at the Confluence.

The Confluence and East Village hosted Calgary’s biggest bike festival Saturday.

The overall aim of the event was to give people the skills and knowledge they need to feel comfortable on a bike.

The Youth En Route group was there to teach people how to ride a bike then many went off on a guided tour of the downtown cycle tracks to build confidence and safety.

There were several booths where cyclists could get a free mechanical check on their bikes or participate in the free kids’ bike trade-up.

“You get more connected to the city, you see things, you hear things, you meet people, you talk to people that you would never do,” said Youth En Route executive director Laura Shutiak. “We tell our kids this all the time. Our kids in our school programs, you will never meet a friend in the back of a parent’s car.”

There was also the chance to try tandem, adaptive and e-bikes.