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Ontario By Bike Network:
Industry Update - March 2023
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NOW AVAILABLE
2023 Cycling in Ontario Guide
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We are pleased to announce the 2023 edition of the Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide is now available in print and digital formats.
View at: OntarioByBike.ca/2023
This is the 11th annual edition of our extremely popular free publication, 40,000 copies available in both English and French. This years edition in magazine format is 56 pages and used by cyclists of all types for planning multi-day or day long trips, getting ride ideas and inspiration from the articles.
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 quantity needed, while supplies last.
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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.)
Thank You
To all our advertising partners, staff and volunteers who make this annual free publication possible. With a number of distribution channels secured, shows/events and individual orders received, we have already distributed 60% of print copies within the first month.
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March 2 - Cycle Tourism Conference Canada
Ontario By Bike was pleased to host our 5th Cycle Tourism Conference recently. With over 160 attendees and 30 speakers from Ontario, Canada and international destinations, industry partners learned more about the latest trends and opportunities in cycle tourism.
If you missed the conference, catch up and view the presentations online, as well as all other info at: OntarioByBike.ca/CTC23
Sessions and speakers presented on the following:
- Reaching the Cycle Tourism Market through Innovative Trail & Route Development & Marketing - with speakers sharing about: a culinary bike route in Quebec; bike packing route developed in Pennsylvania; expansion of Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to Lake Superior; cross border trails, Michigan and Ontario.
- Developing Cycle Tourism Product to Reach Emerging Market - E-Bikes; gravel cycling & events; mountain biking and fat biking
- Capturing & Growing the Cycling Event & Tour Market - Various cycling event organizers and tour operators
- Using Digital Resources, Data & Tools to Engage & Measure the Market - Various digital tools presented to promote and measure and market cycle tourism
- Keynote speakers from: Rails-To-Trails Conservancy USA & Vélo & Territoires/France Vélo Tourisme
PLUS - Bicycle Friendly Business award recipients for 2023 - Showcase (see below)
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The conference was very successful with attendees pleased to be back and making in-person connections. Post conference survey showed:
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8.92 out of 10 was average overall conference attendee experience and rating of event. (10 being the most useful and enjoyable)
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99% of attendees indicated that the conference provided information and takeaway tools that will be able to further develop cycle tourism product in their jurisdictions
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100% of attendees surveyed indicated they would be interested in attending another Cycle Tourism Conference in the future. (Only hosted every 3 years, expect next date in 2026.)
Thank you to all that attended as well as the sponsors of the 2023 conference.
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Congratulations to 2023
Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses in Ontario
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We recently announced the 2023 award winners, all certified bicycle friendly businesses part of the Ontario By Bike Network, who've taken extra steps to welcome and accommodate cyclists at their locations.
The 5th annual awards were presented at the conference for each of Ontario’s 13 tourism regions, 22 awards in all for the following categories:
- Best Bicycle Friendly Business Award (Accommodations, food service providers, attractions)
- Best Bike Business (Bike store, rentals or bike tour operator)
Winning businesses receive significant recognition as each one will be featured in our consumer/cyclists enewsletter in 2023, included on media release, received an award decal, and are further recognized on our web page: OntarioByBike.ca/2023AwardWinners
Be sure to look out for our announcement for 2024 award nominations at the end of 2023.
2023 Award Winners
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Winner Photo Contest 2022
Fall cycling on the Caledon Trailway taken by Richard Oldfield, the 2022 photo winner is published on page 2 of the 2023 Cycling in Ontario/Le vélo en Ontario guide. Every year we receive hundreds of incredible cycling photos from around Ontario, certainly making it 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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2023 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 for regions in the renewal year:
- Host an informative Spring 2023 webinar
- Ensure all business listings are valid and continue to meet certification criteria
- Update webpages and regional tool kits
- Promote region as a great place to cycle in our enewsletter
- Provide continued administration of program, assistance to businesses and partners for three additional years
2023 Renewing Regions Include
- Durham Region
- Haliburton Highlands
- Kawartha Lakes
- Grey County
- Chatham Kent
- Peterborough & the Kawarthas (TBD)
We'll be in touch with existing certified bicycle friendly businesses in each area to verify listings and invitation to a webinar this spring. Look out for that email if located in one of regions listed above.
All spring workshops will be listed along with registration links at the following page:
OntarioByBike.ca/Workshops
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2023 Cycling Events - Free Listing | |
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Is the cycling event in your area making the most of our free event listing opportunity?
Our cycling events calendar webpage is one of the most visited on our site (OntarioByBike.ca/Events). Cyclists use this resource to find events they are interested in participating in at destinations around Ontario. Event participants often stay overnight, visit the area and local restaurants/cafes, many travelling with a larger group.
Spread the word, share with contacts, free event listings are available year round, so be sure to have the event organizers complete the simple form at the following link (also available direct from events page): OntarioByBike.ca/Events-Submission-Form
We also use the event listings on our webpage to populate the events listed in our monthly enewsletter to cyclists, reaching 16,500 subscribers. Yet another opportunity for events to reach more cyclists and possible participants. Photo credit: Julianna Harbec
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Attending Events
We have already been to a number of events this year (Outdoor Adventure Show in Toronto & Montreal Salon du velo/Bike Show) with our Ontario Cycle Tourism Info Centre and connected with thousands of cyclists eager to make ride plans to visit destinations across Ontario with their bikes this year. We are looking forward to attending more later this spring. Find us at:
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2023 Ontario By Bike Rides Announced | |
We recently announced our four rides for this summer. As usual spaces on our small group rides are selling fast as cyclists are keen to make plans for the upcoming ride season. New this year, Ontario By Bike is booking the rides directly, having recently acquired the necessary TICO license. | |
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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
Oxford Rural Road Ride - OntarioByBike.ca/MayRide2023
Dates: Saturday, May 27 – Sunday, May 28 (2 days / 1 night)
Toronto Trails & Ravines Tour - OntarioByBike.ca/JuneRide2023
Dates: Saturday, June 17 – Sunday, June 18 (2 days / 1 night)
North Bay & Lakes Tour - Ontariobybike.ca/AugustRide2023
Dates: Friday, August 25 - Saturday, August 26 – Sunday, August 27
(3 days / 2 nights)
Georgian Bay Collingwood Explorer - OntarioByBike.ca/SeptRide2023
Dates: Saturday, September 23 – Sunday, September 24 (2 days / 1 night)
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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.
Window Decals & Signs
If you need a replacement window decal, one that is useful in showing cyclists that you are a certified bicycle friendly location, email us and we can send you a new one.
Additionally we also can provide a larger format (7"x7") reflective aluminum sign for a nominal charge, and will be reordering a supply this spring should you be interested, let us know (see more HERE).
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!
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Updates to Bicycle Friendly Certification Criteria
With over 1,650 businesses certified as bicycle friendly locations across Ontario, we get frequent requests to add or modify categories and criteria. As such we often have to share a reminder - that this is a not-for-profit program, with finite resources, focussing on driving visitors to business entities and partner destinations. However, taking into account recent requests and consultations, we have made the following updates. To review our full and updated certification criteria, plus our terms and exclusions visit: OntarioByBike.ca/Criteria.
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Food and Vendor Markets (such as Farmers' Markets) are now eligible for certification under Tourist Attractions category if they are open for more than 2 days per week in the same location and meet the other certification criteria under this category.
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For Business Areas to be certified there must be a bicycle friendly overnight accommodation within 10km or less of business area. If the accommodation is within 3km it can count towards the five bicycle friendly businesses required for certification.
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For Accommodations, we have added the following as a Suggested Additional Service: 'Secure ground floor or elevator-accessible overnight charging location, for e-bikes where the battery cannot be removed from the bike frame.'
|  | Ontario By Bike Ride 2022 - Trans Canada Trail - Uxbridge to Lindsay | |
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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 16,500 subscribers for our monthly consumer/cyclists e-newsletter.
Get in Touch
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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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