Bathurst hopes to attract Atlanticade motorcycle festival

The City of Bathurst, New Brunswick is singing a different tune about motorcycles.

Last year, council pushed through a bylaw prohibiting noisy motorcycles from driving within city limits. After public outcry, the bylaw was rescinded.

Now, the city is hoping to host a major motorcycle festival in the summer of 2015.

The downtown revitalization committee approached the organizers of Atlanticade, a major motorcycle festival whichattracts as many as 12,000 bikers from all over North America.

The economic spinoff from the event is estimated at about $2 million.

Bathurst is ideally located for any type of activity like this. We're in the centreof Northern New Brunswick and I believe these people like activities to go do, said Mayor Stephen Brunet.

The relationship between bikers and the city isnt firing on all cylinders yet.

I know that a lot of the bikers might hold it against our present mayor and council, said Frank Vienneau, a long-time biker.

A committee is working on a formal proposal for the five-day rally. The proposal is due next week.

Summerside, P.E.I., was the most recent host of the event.