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Ontario By Bike Network:
Industry Update - March 2022
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NOW AVAILABLE
2022 Cycling in Ontario Guide
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We are pleased to announce the 2022 edition of the Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide is now available in print and digital formats.
View at: OntarioByBike.ca/2022
This is the 10th annual edition of our extremely popular free publication, 40,000 copies available in both English and French. Now at 56 pages, in full colour magazine format cyclists avidly make use of the trip planning info, ride ideas and draw inspiration from the articles.
The guide and its growth over the past 10 years would not have been possible without the assistance of many, from volunteers, to dedicated professionals, plus our tourism advertising partners that support and make this free publication possible. Thank you. Celebrating 10 years at: OntarioByBike.ca/Ten
Order Print Copies & Assist With Distribution
- If you would like to order print copies for your location and to assist with distribution we would be happy to ship you any quantity.
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Simply click on our email address info@ontariobybike.ca and include your mailing address and quantity requested (English/French). (Boxes come in 100 but can be shipped in any quantity.
- If you have any additional distribution suggestions or can help us get copies to other outlets in your area, let us know.
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Ontario Cyclists Ready to Ride in 2022 | |
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With the days getting longer and warmer, cyclists in Ontario will soon be out in force, and are already making plans that include cycling trips and outings in Ontario. Time to get ready for the cycling season ahead!
Providing further insight, Ontario By Bike issued a survey in Nov/Dec 2021, and from over 1,200 responses learned the following and more.
- Cycling activity increased during Covid.
- 61% ride year round and shoulder seasons.
- Ontario By Bike website remains the most used resource for ideas planning cycling outings and routes.
Cycling Activities Anticipated for 2022 Cyclists
- 75% of respondents were considering making non-local regional travel plans that include cycling in 2022.
- 46% of trips that include cycling in 2022 were anticipated to be overnight trips, 30% were considering day trips.
- 31% were considering participating in some type of organized cycling activity, including events and tours in 2022.
Find more that includes Ontario cyclists profile, preferences, habits, past travel and impact of spending on businesses in Ontario Cycle Tourism and Cycling Activity Report newly available on our research pages: TransportationOptions.org/OntarioResearch
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Win An Award!
Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses in Ontario
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Our fourth annual and 2022 Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are now open for entries.
For the 1,550 certified bicycle friendly businesses part of the Ontario By Bike Network, we want to award and promote your location and celebrate the extra steps you've taken to welcome and accommodate cyclists. Winners will access an incredible promotional opportunity to reach thousands of cyclists, all for free.
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Does your business excel in catering to and welcoming cyclists that visit your location?
Do you go above and beyond offering specific services and amenities for cyclists?
Are you the most bicycle friendly business in your region?
We want to showcase and celebrate what you do!
If you are part of the Ontario By Bike Network, we invite you to submit an application to be considered the best bicycle friendly business in your geographic region.
- Award Category for: Accommodations, Food Service Providers, Attractions – 1 per region
- Recognition for: Bike store, rentals or bike tour operator – 1 per region
There will be one selected per region as defined by the Government of Ontario RTO/Regional Tourism Organization boundaries.
If you have previously applied for the Ontario By Bike Business Award and not been selected a winner, let us know if you would like to resubmit your entry and we can send you your past submission for review and updates.
As a winner your business will:
- Be featured and promoted via our digital channels including our monthly e-newsletters avidly read by 16,200 subscribers
- Receive an award and recognition from Ontario By Bike
We will be announcing two winners monthly in our consumer/cyclists e-newsletter and including them on the following page where you can also find the link to all past winners: OntarioByBike.ca/2022AwardWinners
We look forward to your participation. If you have any further questions please direct them to info@ontariobybike.ca
Submit your application by filling out the form accessed from link below, and before April 4 to participate in the 2022 contest.
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Winner Photo Contest 2021
"Sunflowers in Whitchurch-Stouffville" taken by Dabera Yu is published on page 2 of the 2022 Cycling in Ontario/Le vélo en Ontario guide. Having received an incredible selection of photos, it was certainly hard to pick a winner. To see photos that received an honourable mention and to find out more about our annual photo contest visit: OntarioByBike.ca/PhotoContest
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Upcoming Webinars
& 2022 Destination Partner Renewals
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Every three years each participating region in the Ontario By Bike Network is due for renewal. Working with our destination partners who are actively engaged in seeing cycle tourism grow and support our programming in each region, we make the certification program free for businesses and provide the following services in the regions listed below.
- Hosting an informative Spring 2022 webinar
- Ensuring all business listings are valid and continue to meet certification criteria
- Updating webpages and regional tool kits
- Promoting region as a great place to cycle in our enewsletter
- Providing continued administration of program, assistance to businesses and partners
2022 Renewing Regions & Webinars to be Hosted For
- Windsor Essex Pelee Island - April 20, 10am to 11am
- Sarnia Lambton County - April 21, 2pm to 3pm
- City of Brantford & County of Brant - April 25, 10am to 11am
- North Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington - April 26, 10am to 11am
- Norfolk County - April 27, 2pm-3pm
- Waterloo Region - May 11, 2pm-3pm
- Ottawa - May/June - TBC
- City of London - TBC
Additional webinars in 2022 will be hosted for the following, held over from previous years renewals: Bruce County - Southwest/Saugeen Shores - April 26, 2pm to 3pm; South Eastern Ontario - TBC.
Stay tuned for an email specifically to your region with information on above. All Spring workshops will be listed along with registration links at the following page:
OntarioByBike.ca/Workshops
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Cycling Events & New Calendar Coming Soon
With cycling events poised to make a return in 2022, many event organizers are busy planning, working on logistics and resuming promotions. If there is an event in your destination, consider reaching out to see how you can partner.
We will soon be relaunching our events calendar page. A whole new, easier to use format, that will provide cyclists with expanded info will be available beginning of April. If you are an event organizer watch out for our email as you will be able to submit your event listing using an online form, which after review, will be placed online, at no charge.
Our events page is one of the most visited pages on our site and we look forward to supporting and helping promote the large number and variety of cycling events across Ontario. OntarioByBike.ca/Events
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Events Attending
We are excited to get back to seeing cyclists again and bring our Ontario Cycle Tourism Info Centre to a number of events this spring. Find us at:
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Ontario Bike Summit - April 5 to 6
Industry events are also coming back online. We will be participating at OBS next month. Virtual ticket options are still available for this hybrid event.
Organized by Share the Road, this year's theme is Resilience Through Bicycle Friendly Communities. OBS is the premier cycling conference in Canada attended by thought leaders, politicians, senior city officials, and representatives from the cycling industry.
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2022 Ontario By Bike Rides Announced
We recently announced to past riders four rides for this summer and are already 45% sold out before promoting to our larger community. We are fortunate to have been able to host these events over the last two years, adhering to restrictions, and catering to a small group.
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In the past years we have enjoyed working with our tourism partners at ride destinations, using Ontario By Bike certified businesses for food and accommodations, and post-ride, publishing our self-guided/supported itineraries online. See more at: OntarioByBike.ca/Itineraries
Essex Windsor Loop - OntarioByBike.ca/JunRide2022
Dates: Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12 - Monday, June 13 (3 days / 2 nights)
Uxbridge Kawarthas Rail Trail - OntarioByBike.ca/JulyRide2022
Dates: Saturday, July 23 – Sunday, July 24 (2 days / 1 night)
Lanark Trail Tour Ontariobybike.ca/AugustRide2022
Dates: Friday, August 26 - Saturday, August 27 – Sunday, August 28
(3 days / 2 nights)
Hamilton Brantford Port Dover Trail Ride - OntarioByBike.ca/SeptRide2022
Dates: Saturday, September 24 – Sunday, September 25 (2 days / 1 night)
You can also find out more about the economic and tourism impact of these rides at with a report published at: TransportationOptions.org/OntarioResearch
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Check Your Listings / New Listings | |
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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. To make any edits, login to your account and follow the instructions HERE. If you are having any difficulties with your listing, let us know and we will help you make any changes required.
New Listings
If you haven't already made the most of this free marketing opportunity and become a certified bicycle friendly business, register now! It is an easy 2-step online registration process to get certified, and we are always available to provide assistance. Find further info on how to register a your business HERE.
Let us help cyclists find your location!
|  | Photo Credit: Four Fathers Brewing Co. | |
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We are always looking for stories and updates about what is new for cyclists to discover and enjoy at your location or destination. Please do drop us a line to share.
As we ramp up for the spring and coming cycling seasons, we are active on social media channels and also have a very engaged community and 16,200 subscribers for our monthly consumer/cyclists e-newsletter.
Get in Touch
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In Memory, A True Cycling Champion | |
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It is with great sadness that in February the cycling community in Ontario lost a long time friend and tireless supporter, Alan Medcalf.
Alan's contribution was enormous, working as a volunteer and advocating for cycling improvements in all the right ways. He also founded Canada's only bike mechanic training institute, Winterborne. Over the years Alan helped Ontario By Bike in its initial growth stages and at workshops around eastern Ontario. He was always available to provide insight, share knowledge and encouragement and had many cycling connections in Brockville, where he retired to, and Waterloo, where he spent many earlier years. On all our Ontario By Bike Rides through the 1000 Islands and Brockville, we would ride by his house, where we would see Alan out front and ring our bells or in earlier years go for a ride. Alan was extremely strong in his fight against ALS, and as he said goodbye was happy to have 'beat the odds', enjoying six years living in his community, with his wife and being close to his children and grandkids.
Alan will be greatly missed.
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Louisa Mursell & Peter McMurtry
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
Email: info@ontariobybike.ca
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Want to read more: Link to our past industry e-newsletter archive HERE
Link to our past consumer/cyclists e-newsletter archive and subscribe HERE
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Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike! | |
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Share using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!
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