Ontario Trails Continues Long History of Supporting Safe Cycling

Letter to Norm Miller, MPP -

September 8, 2010

Dear Mr. Miller;

On behalf of the membership of the Ontario Trails Council (OTC) we welcome and endorse your effort to introduce a private members bill to improve cycling safety and the building of dedicated cycling lanes.

Since 2002 the Ontario Trails Council has worked with various partners, such as Velo-Ontario, Cycle Ontario Alliance, Bruce County, Manitoulin Island Economic Development, CAN-Bike, Chatham-Kent Trails Committee, Rainbow Routes, Walk and Bike for Life, Go for Green, Ontario Cycles, Toronto Cyclists Union and a host of others to advocate for cost effective cycling insurance, cyclist training for youth, dedicated cycling lanes and public awareness of the economic and health benefits of cycling.

Ontario Trails has made direct comment on the building of cycling friendly roads in North Bay, Thunder Bay, Sudbury and other places. Specifically, in 2003-07 we offered direct input recommending the building of cycling infrastructure as part of the Hwy 11 bridge construction at Hunter's Bay bridge development in Huntsville. We believe that the directive contained in your proposed bill to provide road access to cyclists, or other alternative, would have assured that project managers would have implemented our suggestions.

As a member of the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee, in partnership with the Ministry of Health Promotion we have often discussed in committee the benefits of on-road cycling and the use of an integrated recreational trails and cycling lanes as an alternative transportation strategy. We made these suggestions in support of the Metrolinx and GTA Greenbelt Development plans, and we ensured these recommendations were carried forward into the Provincial Policy Statement and the Ontario Trails Strategy.

In 2008 in a series of meetings with the Ministers of Finance, Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Transportation, OTC repeatedly made request to make road improvements that see improved road longevity while providing a space for cyclists. It is our hope that your bill will be passed and thereby ensure an easier pathway for groups at the local and regional levels to implement safer cycling alternatives.

Best regards,


Mr. Patrick Connor, SSA, CAE, BA(H)
Executive Director
Ontario Trails Council
V.P. Canadian trails Federation
Director, National Trails Coalition