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Indoor bike trail park in Brandon for winter time!

Indoor bike trail park in Brandon for winter time!

Marcelaa
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14

Marcelaa
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14

Indoor bike trail park in Brandon for winter time!
9/26/2020 at 6:29 PM

Winter in Canada is almost 6 months, and in Manitoba is almost 7 months !lol!. Why the city don't build a indoor bike trail park to enjoy in winter... This could be in Keystone Center or another area. I think is a good proyect to developing great attraction in the city for tourists and residents... And the most important, our children.
snowman5
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1022

snowman5
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1022

Yes, great idea...
9/26/2020 at 7:04 PM

As long as you and your friends are willing to rent it out for $150 to $250 an hour. That's how much it can cost to rent out ice time for the rinks. They'll consider it for the Keystone if they can at least break even with the cost of dirt and the usage of space. Are you up to paying for it? Because it shouldn't and can't be free to use on the tax payers dime.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
landlocked
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 76

landlocked
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 76

you
9/27/2020 at 5:47 AM

snowman5 said "As long as you and your friends are willing to rent it out for $150 to $250 an hour. That's how much it can cost to rent out ice time for the rinks. They'll consider it for the Keystone if they can at least break even with the cost of dirt and the usage of space. Are you up to paying for it? Because it shouldn't and can't be free to use on the tax payers dime.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong. "
are not wrong
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Indoors
9/27/2020 at 1:45 PM

Totally get what you mean re there being a ton of benefit to more indoor recreation options for the half of the year that some might call "hibernation season." Different considerations this year re Covid and group sizes indoors compared to other years.

Post above brings up the reality of cost. I do know that heating, staffing and something as simple as running lights in a large indoor space all add up more than you might think. Has to get paid for by someone and if there isn't a responsible case for government/taxpayer it has to come from user-pay (or some hybrid option?)... or there has to be a business case for it for an entrepreueur to take on (which would also of course I'd assume involve some type of fee as part of profitability case). Maybe evolution of solar and wind power potentially open up ways to make this kind of thing at least a little more sustainable?

Not sure if this plays right into what you're suggesting, but as far as indoor rec space there was talk a couple years ago about building a field house at the Keystone... though havent heard much on the concept since then:
https://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=885269&cat_id=3
hutchster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859

hutchster
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859

...
9/27/2020 at 4:07 PM

As mentioned by others, a long winding cycle course would take up a massive amount of space or a short course would be mind numbingly repetitive, perhaps a local gym already has a VR stationary system that would work for you, or maybe someone could open up a space with that kind of system in place if its viable.
Trevor B

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Trevor B
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Why
9/27/2020 at 4:37 PM

does it have to be done by the city? Why not some residents who want to do it, rent a large building, make the trail, pay for the electric bills, gas bills, insurance, and all the other expenses? And make it free for everyone.
Gussins
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 380

Gussins
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 380

Is
9/27/2020 at 7:11 PM

the Keystone Center now owned by the city?
Trevor B

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Trevor B
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Nope
9/27/2020 at 8:21 PM

Gussins said "the Keystone Center now owned by the city? "
The Keystone Agricultural and Recreation Centre Inc. runs it on behalf of the City, Province and ProvEx.
Gussins
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 380

Gussins
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 380

Ok
9/28/2020 at 2:20 AM

Trevor B said "The Keystone Agricultural and Recreation Centre Inc. runs it on behalf of the City, Province and ProvEx. "
Thanks.
Orion's-Belt
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 579

Orion's-Belt
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 579

Not sure
9/28/2020 at 5:15 AM

I’m not entirely sure why they think the city needs to pay for this. By all means go tot he always and get a lon and open up your dream business. The city already funds a lot of stuff for activities. Go to the sportplex. Any outdoor pool or soccer field or baseball field. I’m sure there is more
oldcowgirl
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 657

oldcowgirl
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 657

skateboarding
9/28/2020 at 8:30 AM

Article on the Brandon Sun website this morning about 3 young men working on opening a "skateboard shack" in a building on Park Ave east. Nice to see young people taking an initiative and a good story about young people doing good instead of destruction.

I also realize skateboarders don't need as much space as a cyclist.
GetRec'd
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 234

GetRec'd
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 234

....
9/28/2020 at 2:53 PM

Marcelaa said "Winter in Canada is almost 6 months, and in Manitoba is almost 7 months !lol!. Why the city don't build a indoor bike trail park to enjoy in winter... This could be in Keystone Center or another area. I think is a good proyect to developing great attraction in the city for tourists and residents... And the most important, our children. "
It's a fair enough question, but I think a couple things to keep in mind...

1. It would never work at the Keystone Centre. It's arguably the busiest building in Western Manitoba through the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

2. It would be a fairly precarious business decision to have a facility just operating bike trails for 7 months per year. Unless it was a shared facility, it is going to be incredibly difficult to even clear your overhead, and on that topic:

3. It would likely be prohibitively expense for users, unless it was heavily subsidized by the City, Province, or Federal Governments. Seeing as there are already winter activities and facilities that they spend massive amounts of money on subsidizing (like the Sportsplex), I can't imagine they would be interested in doing the same for a facility catering to a "summer activity."

The City would be better, in my opinion, investing in an indoor soccer/cricket facility. But, I love your enthusiasm and think it's a cool idea!
Spaghetti Monster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1909

Spaghetti Monster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1909

Perhaps—
9/28/2020 at 5:06 PM

—-if there was a big enough building with a large roof area. They could put up a relatively inexpensive structure (think greenhouse) and possibly heat it with mostly waste heat. Still seems unlikely though.
Trevor B

Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Trevor B
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8881

Ya
9/28/2020 at 5:39 PM

GetRec'd said "It's a fair enough question, but I think a couple things to keep in mind...

1. It would never work at the Keystone Centre. It's arguably the busiest building in Western Manitoba through the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

2. It would be a fairly precarious business decision to have a facility just operating bike trails for 7 months per year. Unless it was a shared facility, it is going to be incredibly difficult to even clear your overhead, and on that topic:

3. It would likely be prohibitively expense for users, unless it was heavily subsidized by the City, Province, or Federal Governments. Seeing as there are already winter activities and facilities that they spend massive amounts of money on subsidizing (like the Sportsplex), I can't imagine they would be interested in doing the same for a facility catering to a "summer activity."

The City would be better, in my opinion, investing in an indoor soccer/cricket facility. But, I love your enthusiasm and think it's a cool idea! "
it's an interesting idea, but just don't see it feasible.

Even if you look at putting it in say the vacant south end Sobey's. The lease alone on that space would be large. Then add in heating, electrical, maintenance, staff, and any other expenses. There's no way you could have it free for everyone. You would have to have it filled with customers paying a fairly decent amount, maybe $50 or more per person. Then knowing how residents of Brandon are, that's far too expensive and won't go.

Sadly this is the same for many other ideas that pop up on here. Everyone seems to think it should be the city that does it instead of private business. The city already has kilometer's of paved trails. Ya I realize it will be cold out and snow on the trails during the winter.