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Ontario By Bike Network:
Industry Update July
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Ontario By Bike 2016 Network Update
The Ontario By Bike Network continues to grow and move forward with exciting projects in 2016!
- The certification program is now administered in 34 regions across Ontario
- Over 1,250 certified bicycle friendly locations in Ontario
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Ontario By Bike has hosted 62 workshops engaging over 1,800 attendees
- Spring 2016 workshops: Durham Region, Ottawa; and new region Chatham Kent
- New certification category - Breweries! There are now 13 certified bicycle friendly breweries that are part of the Ontario By Bike Network.
Marketing and Promotions:
- Website: 140,000 unique visitors used information on OntarioByBike.ca in 2015. Strong growth continues in 2016. September 2015 saw website redesign incorporating a responsive, mobile friendly design.
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Consumer E-newsletter: Consumer
e-newsletter sent 7 times/year, now reaches 7,500 cyclists. Subscriber list has grown over 19% in the past year (
view archive here
).
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Social Media Marketing: We continue to share stories, events, images and information about cycling in Ontario to thousands of cyclists across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your news with us as we are always looking for interesting content.
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Consumer Events 2016: Promoting the Ontario By Bike Network and cycling experiences to consumers at both the Montreal & Toronto Bicycle Shows, Outdoor Adventure Show, Ultimate Travel Show, Ride for Heart, Bike to Work Day, Epic Tour Halton (September)
- 2016 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario Guide: For the 4th year, Ontario By Bike has produced the annual Cycling in Ontario Guide.37,000 copies distributed (25,000 in English & 12,000 in French), with 9,500 French copies poly-bagged in VeloMag.)
- Ontario By Bike Ride Itineraries and Small Group Tours: Limited to 35 riders our tours are quick to sell out. Once the ride is complete, we create and post online our itinerary that can be downloaded and used by other groups and self supported cyclists. If you are located in one of the following areas or adjacent to route you may wish to include these on your website or provide as information to your guests/customers. Download itinearies HERE.
- Kawartha Trans Canada Trail (Uxbridge-Lindsay-Peterborough-Lakefield)
- Dundas to Brantford/Paris ending in Port Dover
- Niagara Circle Route South (Read recent blog article)
- Coming September - Simcoe County Rail Trails (Info online and booking now available through our TICO licensed partner OK Cycle Tours)
Registered Trademark: Earlier this year, we received approval from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office that Ontario By Bike and the Ontario By Bike Design are now registered trademarks of
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Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike!
Share your destination or business posts using the hashtag #OntarioByBike!
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Ontario By Bike
Site Visits Continue in 2016
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Example of Bike Parking. Credit: Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (2015) |
The Ontario By Bike Network continues to
visit certified bicycle friendly locations across province as part of a Site Visit Protocol and quality assurance program.
Currently, to become certified as a bicycle friendly location, all locations must complete a self-audit at the time of registration. The regional site visits are an important and valuable component to the Network that has been rapidly expanding since launching in 2010 and now features over 1,250 locations.
To ensure your location continues to meet the minimum requirements for certification, visit our
Criteria Checklists.
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Featured Business: Crazy Eight Barn
Originally, built around 1898, this unique 8-sided barn was built for stabling animals, but was left empty for years!
Local and seasonal food are showcased and cyclists will love rolling their bikes right inside (if
they wish) to enjoy the grub.
Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy the ice cream, milkshakes,
pies and butter tarts!
Crazy Eight Barn is very welcoming to cyclists and has grown a reputation among cyclists as a 'must-stop' destination in southwest Ontario. They also hosts seasonal 'Bike to the Barn' events for locals (or others).
When we invited business owner Susanne to speak at a recent workshop hosted in region, she shared stories of years of welcoming cyclists and tales gathered from the many cross continental cyclists that pass by, often promoting her location via their travel blogs and word of mouth.
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Keep Cycling Maps and Resources on Hand!
Cyclists always appreciate when businesses and other bicycle friendly locations have the
latest cycling maps and resources available for reviewing or to take with them.
Don't have any maps or resources at your business?
We suggest calling your local tourism office to find out how you can get a quantity. Cycling maps often move fast, laminating a copy for display may have more longevity. Also consider making an Internet-connected computer readily available for cyclists who require route, trail or other tourist information.
Not sure who to contact? Connecting with Ontario By Bike by sending us an email, as we do have a limited selection here in our office of maps, or can help direct your inquiry.
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Let Cyclists Know They're Welcome!
Consumers increasingly recognize that the Ontario By Bike logo means you welcome cyclists. Here are 3 ways to show cyclists they are welcome at your business and in your community:
- Add a Window Decal
- Add an Outdoor Metal Sign
- Add Logo to Website
Consider including the Ontario By Bike logo, a short description and link to your region's "Great Places To Cycle" page from your website to ours.
For pre-crafted messages for your website and to download the Ontario By Bike logo, view our
Communication Tool Kit
.
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Cycle Tourism Conference 2016
Post-Conference Report Now Available
On March 4 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto, Ontario By Bike / Transportation Options hosted 165 tourism and cycling professionals at the 3rd
Cycle Tourism Conference.
Growing the Sector:
Making Investments Count
A
2016 Cycle Tourism Conference Post Conference Report
is now available to download and is a useful resource. The 33-page document provides an overview of the conference proceedings; summarizing all presentations. Also, v
iew presentation slide decks from all guest speakers
here
.
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Ontario By Bike Industry Partnership:
Advisory Committee Meeting June 2016
The Ontario By Bike Industry Partnership (OBBIP) is a project led by Transportation
Options
.
Working in collaboration with industry partners, this Ontario-wide initiative facilitates destination development and promotion of Ontario's growing cycle tourism product through the hosting of bi-annual web conferences
The Advisory Committee includes a range of representatives from across the Province, that come
from a variety of professional backgrounds. The group consists of approximately 30 participants, incorporating fair regional representation based on the Regional Tourism Organization (RTO) geographical breakdown of Ontario (RTO1-13).
On June 28th, the OBBIP Advisory Committee met for their bi-annual web conference.
- Click Here - To view June 28 meeting minutes and conference slide deck, listen to live recording, learn more about cycle tourism projects and initiatives happening in your area and around the province.
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Welcome Ontario's New Tourism Minister:
Honourable Eleanor McMahon
If you haven't had the occasion to meet Minister McMahon in her earlier role as head of
Share the Road Cycling Coalition, prior to joining the Ontario Legislature as an elected MPP for Burlington, you may not know about her very real and personal commitment to cycling in Ontario. For more information
LINK here to Globe & Mail article.
We look forward to continuing to work on cycle tourism development and promotion in Ontario with Minister McMahon and Ministry staff.
Photo: At the Ontario
Bike
Summit March 2016 - With Jamie Stuckless (Executive Director,
Share
the
Road
Cycling Coalition), The Honourable Kathryn McGarry (now Minister of Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry), The Honourable Eleanor McMahon (now Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport), The Honourable Glen Murray (continuing as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change).
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New Cycling Safety Videos
Cycle Simcoe, Grey Tourism and BruceGreySimcoe recently released a cycling safety video campaign that features four 30-second safety videos.
These videos, directed towards both cyclists and motorists were developed to clarify the rules of the road and encourage all road users to co-exist, practicing courtesy and truly 'Sharing the Road'!
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| Title: Leave 1 Metre - It's the LAW |
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Title: Proper Group Riding
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| Title: How to Safely Pass A Cyclist |
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Title: Safe Cycling Techniques |
C
onsider posting these videos on your business, club or organization's website!
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2016 Cycling In Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario Guide
Featuring Ontario's best road, trail and mountain bike experiences this free guide is published in both French and English and is a key trip planning resource for cyclists looking to explore more of Ontario by bike.
Request physical copies to hand out to visitors to your business, visitor information centre or bike shop! Simply send an email to
[email protected]!
Visit
OntarioByBike.ca/2016
to view both French and English copies of the guide online or download as PDF file.
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Not Yet a Participating Location?
It's easy to register on-line to become an Ontario By Bike participating location and many benefits.
Registration will be reviewed and your listing added within 48 business hours. Look forward to receiving a welcome package with decal in the mail.
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Industry E-Newsletter Archive
Our Industry E-Newsletter is sent out twice annually with content on marketing tips and promotional opportunities, best practices and trends in cycle tourism product development, featured businesses, new cycling infrastructure announcements and other valuable industry insight. To view past issues
click here.
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To A Great Season!
It's July and we're in the midst of the busy tourist season. We wish you all a busy and successful summer creating memorable
experiences
for your guests and visitors!
We want to remind you to share your new products, experiences and services for cyclists and any promotional materials for your business, destination or organization so we can in turn share these with cyclists through our network!
Our bi-annual industry newsletter will be sent out again late fall, but feel free to connect back before that should you require any assistance or resources.
Cheers,
From Louisa, Joanne & Michael
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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