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Vol. 13, Issue 14
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
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New on-demand transit rolling in Leamington
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You can pick up the Southpoint Sun and flyers at our newsstand in front of our office
Volunteer Steve Burton hands out crosses and stickers commemorating the Blessing of the Bikes 2022 to four-year-old Zeke Turner, right, and his seven-year-old brother Reggie. SUN photo by Deanna Bertrand
Blessing of Bikes draws 400-plus
194 Talbot St. E., Unit #2
From Environment Canada WED., MAY 4
THUR., MAY 5
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By Deanna Bertrand KINGSVILLE — Hogs For Hospice is back — or more specifically — Back In the Saddle for 2022. They officially kicked things off this past weekend with the annual Blessing of the Bikes. Concerts and events coordinator Joe Oswald estimated between 400 and 500 motorcycles and their riders were in attendance for the event held at Kingsville First Lutheran Church Sunday, May 1. Due to pandemic restrictions, last year’s blessing saw bikers ride through, with a rolling stop by a tent where Pastor Dusan Tillinger gave the blessing, but this year it was full throttle for event planners. Bikes were parked and riders were able to greet each other and enjoy free
food, music and fellowship. “Today is really about the safety of the riders,” said Oswald, “to have a safe riding season.” He also thanked the church and its members for their continued support for the past five years. Riders observed a moment of silence for those lives lost before Pastor Tillinger led in prayer, asking for a blessing of the riders this season. The H4H three-day motorcycle rally runs July 29, 30 and 31 at Leamington’s Seacliff Park. It serves as a fundraiser for Erie Shores Hospice and has raised over $1 million in the past four years. H4H recently announced its concert lineup. Headliners are rock band The Cult on Friday night and country music’s Brett Young on Saturday night.
By Mark Ribble LEAMINGTON — The new LTGO on-demand transit system is up and running in Leamington. At 6 am on Monday, May 2, the first riders boarded one of two brand new buses delivered recently and put in service by the municipality. The 35-foot buses feature free wi-fi and USB charging ports at every seat. The previous Leamington Transit system, which was a fixed-route system, had 64 designated bus stops throughout town, but the new on-demand LTGO system will feature 117 bus stops throughout the municipality — stretching from the waterfront in the south to Peavey Mart in the east, to Wilkinson Drive in the north and Fraser Road in the west. Users will be able to book a pick-up spot and time on the free app called Blaise and then make their way to their designated bus stop. The algorithms within the system will then get the rider to their destination in the quickest possible way. Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald — along with a few members of administration and local resident Charlotte SexSmith — took a ride on the bus on Friday, April 29. Many questions were asked and then answered by Leamington’s Engineering Project Manager Andy Dowling, who was aboard to acquaint the riders with the new bus and system. It’s been a long time coming, according to Dowling. “We’ve been working on this for just over two years,” he said. “We’re ready to roll.” Dowling says that one great thing about the 117 stops is that people won’t have to walk far to get to them. “It’ll be a two-and-a-half to four-minute walk for most folks to find a bus stop,” he said. “We’ve put up new bus stops in every neighbourhood. Dowling says they have future plans to add a third bus, which will then open up the possibilities of expanding the service area to outlying rural areas like Point Pelee National Park and Colasanti’s. “This will be great for summer events,” he said. “Imagine getting on the bus uptown and riding to Seacliff Park to see a concert.” That’s where Charlotte SexSmith believes the new system will shine. “With parking limited at Seacliff, this will be the way to go,” she said. SexSmith was among a handful of people on the bus for its trial run around Leamington on Friday, which made its way past the marina area and then back up to the Nature Fresh Farms Complex.
SEE BUSES - Page 2
One of two new buses that hit the streets of Leamington on Monday, May 2. SUN photo
