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Ontario By Bike Network:
Industry Update - June 2018
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Updates & Changes for Campgrounds
Criteria & Listings
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Photo: Laura
McDonald / Alternatives Journal
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We have recently made some updates to our obligatory/minimum certification criteria for campgrounds. In fall 2017, we issued a survey to cyclists with questions related to service and amenity preferences at campgrounds. With responses from 361 bicycle campers, as well as input from partners that included Ontario Parks, we have made some changes. The largest change being campgrounds are no longer required to have covered and secure bike storage for bicycle campers to make use of overnight,
as campers responded that they had a preference to
keep bikes closer to campsite.
To view the updated campground criteria, click HERE.
With the updated criteria, we also updated our listings for campgrounds, providing campgrounds with their own icon and separated their listings from the larger accommodation category, which is now intended for roofed accommodations only.
Let us know if you would like more information on these changes, send us an email or give us a call. And help spread the word: if there is a campground in your community that may be interested in reaching the cycle tourist market, let them know about the Ontario By Bike Network.
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Share Your Stories
If you are a certified bicycle friendly business and regularly welcome cycle tourists to your location, we would like to hear more about your experience and to share your story to cyclists looking for new experiences and also our industry partners.
Try to capture a short video, or take some photos of cyclists at your location (make sure you have their permission to do so). Also, c
onsider tracking the number cyclists coming through your front door this season.
Send us an email to share your story and we might just share it further; far and wide.
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Featured Business - Four Ninety B&B
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A relatively new participating location to the Ontario By Bike Network in
Muskoka & Algonquin,
Four Ninety Bed & Breakfast has quickly jumped into the cycling market. After attending an Ontario By Bike
Cycle Tourism Development workshop in Gravenhurst last fall and learning about the services and amenities that help make memorable experiences for cyclists, they set to create an offering that meets the needs of cyclists visiting their region.
Building Partnerships
After the workshop they visited their
local bicycle shop to make further connections, discuss the market and the local (and regional) cycling product.
They also met with the private mountain bike facility in the area,
Buckwallow Cycling Centre,
to explore partnership opportunities.
Offering Services for Cyclists
They built a secure bike storage shed and an area for bike washing. They purchased a basic bicycle repair tool set and picked up copies of regional cycling maps. But i
t's the little touches that count too, like offering homemade energy bars and providing guests with access to their chemical-free, therapeutic, oxygen hot tub and with
ozonated water throughout their stay.
This "
Bike & Stay" offer was shared with Ontario By Bike and was sent out through our
social media, resulting in the package being viewed by over 2,000 cyclists and calls for bookings.
As we've mentioned above, if you have packages and products targeting cyclists, share your story, and send info to
[email protected] so we can get the good word out!
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'Tis the Season - To Check Your Listing
Cyclists are now out in full force with summer weather having finally arrived.
Are you making the most of your listing with Ontario By Bike? Make sure your information is up to date, your business description complete and that your website url and email contact address are correct. Upload pictures and a logo and check the location of your icon on the Ontario By Bike map.
To find your listing, using the search form, search by category icon, your regional 'Great Places to Cycle' webpage or zoom into your location using the online map. If you are having trouble accessing your listing, let us know and we will help you make any changes required.
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2018 Destination Renewals & Webinars
As the spring progresses, Ontario By Bike's Destination Renewals continue for 2018, with a series of upcoming Cycle Tourism webinars for stakeholders across Simcoe County, Halton Region, Hamilton, as well as Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford Counties in southwest Ontario.
We are currently verifying all certified locations in these regions.
If your business is located in one of the following areas, please assist us by taking less than 5 minutes to verify your listing:
At various dates starting June 12th, Ontario By Bike will be hosting a free, 1 hour webinar for businesses and stakeholders located in each of those regions above. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the growing cycle tourism sector, new developments regionally and provincially, as well as specific tactics on how to develop cycle tourism in your community and at your business.
Thank you!
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Partner with Ontario By Bike
Ontario By Bike is working with tourism partners to create digital content and promotional models that help them reach our community of cyclists. This includes content on our blog, dedicated feature stories on our e-newsletter
and promotional posts through social media.
Success looks like thousands of views to online posts that drive traffic to partner resources,
as well requests for partner cycling maps in the hundreds, all mailed directly to consumers who hit the 'click-to-request' button.
Ontario By Bike also offers digital advertising on our website and e-newsletter. With 375,000 pageviews since the start of the year and 15,000 opt-in subscribers to our popular consumer e-newsletter, let us help get your message in front of cyclists.
Want to discuss opportunities to get cyclists engaging with your destination, business or event?
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Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike!
Share your destination or business posts using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!
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Mountain Biking Drives
Economic Development
Bikes mean business. Cycling comes in many forms (
think paths, roads or mountain bike trails, as well as events, tours or independent travel
) and communities, regions and larger destinations around the world are increasingly recognizing the local economic development opportunities associated with cycle tourism.
"The effect is particularly pronounced in North America, where swathes of rural towns have had to grapple with sharp economic changes."
An article recently posted on
Adventure.com, "How Mountain Biking is Saving Tiny Towns Around the World", shares stories on how mountain biking is having a positive impact on small communities
from Nepal to North America. You may find it an interesting read.
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Until next time, cheers
From
Louisa Mursell &
Michael McCreesh
Ontario By Bike Network
Project of Transportation Options
850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1
Office: 416-827-2774
Toll-Free: 1-866-701-2774
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