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Congratulations to all participants in the
Ride and Seek Campaign!
Photos from seven winners of the Ride and Seek Campaign photo contest.
152 pledges. 50 cyclists. 649 photo submissions.
The York Region Smart Commute Ride and Seek Campaign was a great success, with participants exploring all nine municipalities and discovering cycling infrastructure, pre-selected landmarks and green space!

Congratulations to the Ride and Seek Campaign winners from
Markham and Richmond Hill: 
  • Gloria Fung, a Richmond Hill resident who cycled to all nine Richmond Hill landmarks - including the recently redeveloped David Hamilton Park - accompanied by her two little cyclists-in-training.
  • Anthony Ko, a Markham resident who cycled 504 km to nine municipalities and visited 63 landmarks - more than any other participant!
  • Jinny Tran, a Markham resident who praised the campaign as a “fun and active way to explore York Region and discover hidden gems,” especially the bike repair station in Unionville.

Congratulations to all other campaign winners:
  • Jenny Cailes, Newmarket
  • Mark Chiovitti, Vaughan
  • Brittney Harnett, King
  • Alison Lee, Toronto

Thank you to everyone who pledged and submitted their amazing bike photos. We are thrilled to see so many images of the community exploring our diverse region by bike. Please click here to view all Ride and Seek Campaign photos.
SCMRH's Advisory Committee Chair and Vice-Chair
Ride and Seek York Region Landmarks
SCMRH's Advisory Committee Chair, David Richardson, and Vice-Chair, Kevin Phillips, participated in the Ride and Seek Campaign, visiting a total of 46 landmarks in six municipalities.

Click here to read our latest blog about both cyclists’ experiences during the campaign, their favourite landmarks, and how you can continue to enjoy cycling throughout York Region this fall!
Kevin Phillips poses in a Bike Month t-shirt before a ride in East Gwillimbury
David Richardson pictured on the Lake to Lake Cycling Route and Walking Trail in Richmond Hill
Changes to your Commute Survey Results
Between September 9 and 25, SCMRH surveyed employees at our 62 workplaces to learn about their commuting habits prior to and post COVID-19 restrictions in March, and if their workplaces have policies or measures in place to allow employees to safely return to work. Please see the results of the survey below.
A *NEW* SmartTripsON Tool is coming soon!
Smart Commute is in the final stages of preparing for the launch of a new online trip tracking tool in a collaborated effort between all Smart Commute TMAs and regions across the GTHA.

The new tool will allow users to select one-off single trip or regular carpool partner matches, view options for van pools, bike, walking and transit buddy matching, and log trips to receive rewards.

More exciting news and information will be shared in the upcoming months.
What's New in Markham and Richmond Hill
This winter, walk or cycle safely on Markham's pedestrian pathways thanks to the city's Pathway Winter Maintenance Pilot Program. Under this program, one pedestrian pathway in each of Markham’s eight wards will be cleared of snow, salted and sanded.

This pilot program will encourage active transportation and physical activity during the winter months.

Click the video above to learn more information about the city's winter maintenance program from Mayor Scarpitti.
David Hamilton Park in Richmond Hill is officially open! This newly-redeveloped park features new play areas, a splash pad, a walking loop/lawn, new walkways, and sports facility upgrades.

The park is accessible by walking or cycling via the Valleymede Road bike lanes, the Lake to Lake Cycling Route and Walking Trail, or the Beaver Greenway multi-use path.

Click the video above to watch the opening ceremony, which occurred on September 19, 2020.
Markham Cycles Wraps up another Great Season!
Markham Cycles’ season has ended!
 
Throughout the summer and early fall, Markham Cycles hosted weekly community pop-up bike booths on Markham’s Enterprise Blvd and parks. Staff and volunteers at these pop-up booths offered quick bike tune ups and simple repairs to over 300 bikes, and distributed cycling maps, bike lights and more to over 550 cyclists! Keep updated with future programs and events on MarkhamCycles.ca and subscribe to their email newsletter here!
Photo credit: Markham Cycles
Welcome UA Local 853,
our Newest Richmond Hill Workplace
UA Local 853 (Sprinkler Fitters Ontario) is the newest workplace to join the SCMRH network.
Their head office and training centre will be relocating to Barker Business Park in Richmond Hill in late 2020. 

UA Local 853 is offering their employees custom smart commute options programming, including eight designated carpool parking spaces at their newly constructed site available to the 93 employees who chose to share their ride to work. 

As businesses and services begin to re-open, York Region Public Health recommends you work from home or use a private vehicle whenever possible. If you rely on carpooling as a driver or passenger to get to or from work, please check out York Region's advice for sharing your ride here.
Designated carpool parking spaces are pictured at UA Local 853's future head office and training centre in Richmond Hill.
News and Interesting Reads
  • Look out for Olli 2.0, a self-driving shuttle that will transport transit riders from the West Rouge neighbourhood to Rouge Hill GO Station in Toronto next spring. Read more here.
  • York Region Transit has added a NEW route, the 305 Box Grove Express, on November 2, which provides service from Markham's Box Grove neighbourhood to Finch GO Bus Terminal. See the route map here.
  • Introducing Pedestrians First, a toolkit from the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy that measures the walkability for citizens of all ages and abilities in cities around the world.
  • If you cycle in Toronto and are constantly looking for a place to lock your bike, use the BikeSpace app to find bicycle parking, report inadequate or unsafe bike racks or suggest places where more bicycle parking is needed.
Smart Commute Markham, Richmond Hill