Riders in the Cedar community south of Nanaimo now have a new place to hone their skills with the official opening of the Cedar Bike Pump Track. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday, including an honorary flag lap in memory of Mike Davidson, a longtime BMX executive. The new track is designed for riders of various skill levels. It features a beginner’s loop, as well as two wall rides for more advanced riders. Located on the outskirts of Cedar Secondary School, the pump track sits on the site where Nanaimo BMX got its start and where legendary downhill mountain biker Stevie Smith went to school. “It’s giving kids the opportunity to have a safe place to ride, to build friendships, to build community within community,” said Michelle Corfield, founder of the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation. The Legacy Foundation funded the project, which aims to increase opportunities for youth riders in Smith’s name. Smith died in a tragic accident in 2016. The Cedar Bike Pump Track is the second project funded by the foundation. The first was Nanaimo’s Stevie Smith Bike Park. “Pump tracks and bike parks give kids a place to gather. They’re safe places for kids to be active, to get outside, get off their iPads,” Corfield said. The Regional District of Nanaimo will manage and maintain the track under an agreement with School District 68.
