THUNDER BAY -- The city is looking to attract young professionals to Thunder Bay with a focus on active transportation.
Next week will see Thunder Bay's first-ever Bike Summit, called Biking Means Business. City mobility coordinator Adam Krupper said research shows that young professionals are driving less, which means they're walking and biking more.
"It's about looking at what it is young professionals want out of a community, from a lifestyle, out of an employer," he said of the summit.
?While Thunder Bay covers a large area, Krupper said the average commute is around 4.7 kilometres. That's a 45 minute walk or a 15 minute bike ride. Walking that distance in a place like Toronto is common but many in Thunder Bay see it as an insurmountable distance.
"We're still used to parking in front of a door and then walking a couple of dozen metres to a doorway and then drive to the next location," Krupper said.
"I think we can walk more."
The summit will have a business breakfast, a workshop at Superior Collegiate and an evening public session complete with keynotes speakers, including Dr. Markus Moos. Moos is a Canadian researcher looks at how economies in cities are changing and how cycling plays an important role in that change.
Coun. Shelby Ch'ng said she's excited to hear new ideas for the city to attract and retain young professionals.
"Essentially keep the city as a whole moving forward," she said.
The summit will be hosted April 14 at the Da Vinci Centre.
Interested residents are encouraged to attend. For more information, and to register, visit bikingmeansbusiness.eventbrite.ca
