Ontario Trail News - cyclist killed while road cycling and cycle tourism workshop in Lambton and more from Ontario Trails

Clarington cyclist killed Easter Sunday after colliding with car

Cyclist accident 2

Dave Parsons

CLARINGTON -- Members of the Durham Regional Police Traffic Services Branch conduct an investigation after a 60-year-old cyclist was killed when he was hit by a car at Bloor Street and Solina Road Sunday, April 5 about 10:55 a.m. April 5, 2015.

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Clarington This Week

By Mike Johnston 

CLARINGTON - A 60-year-old Clarington man is dead after he turned his bike in front of a car as it attempted to pass a group of cyclists on Bloor Street Easter Sunday, April 5, report Durham Regional Police.

According to police, seven cyclists were biking westbound on Bloor Street at 10:55 a.m. about to turn left onto Solina Road. Police said a red Pontiac Vibe was also westbound and attempted to pass the cyclists in the eastbound lane. The cyclist turned in front of the car and was hit.

The victim died at the scene, said police. The driver of the car, a 21-year-old Clarington woman, was taken to hospital with minor injuries and released. Police are not releasing the name of the victim.

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Cycle tourism workshop planned for April 16 at Lambton College

By Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer

Monday, April 6, 2015 2:53:56 EDT PM

(Tribune file photo)

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Dedicated bike lanes could be cropping up on Colborne Road and Cathcart Boulevard this year, with the community's OK.

A proposal in the city's transportation master plan, approved by council last year, said city development manager Mike Berkvens, calls for bike lanes on those streets to make traversing Sarnia's cityscape on two wheels easier.

“The cheapest way and the biggest bang for our buck is using the existing road and just doing line painting,” said Berkvens, noting council has set aside $250,000 this year for bike trail development and sidewalk improvements.

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Ontario Trails News - about regional trails networks and Trailhead North

Trailhead North - a Trailhead Ontario Project

Developing regional trail network can have tourism benefitsLOCAL

Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com

Area trail development coordinator Kirsten Spence says developing a regional trail network can help boost tourism.

By Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com

THUNDER BAY -- An area trail development coordinator sees a vast amount of untapped potential in Northwestern Ontario.
Kirsten Spence gave a presentation to the Thunder Bay District Municipal League and said trails are overlooked when it comes to their ability to enhance regional tourism.
“They’re an excellent product that’s already developed which can be used to keep people half a day long or an hour longer in a community, that’s a success,” Spence said.
“A lot of municipalities are looking at trail development as a way to diversify their economies moving from single sector to multi sectors. Trails are one of those offerings that can help municipalities with attraction.”
She said there’s an extensive inventory of existing trails through Northwestern Ontario that can all play a part in showcasing the region.
There’s already evidence showing trails can serve as an attraction.
“You look at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. That park has a lot of trails and that’s a large reason why people visit that park,” she said.
Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey has been working on developing both local and regional trail development strategies as a tourist draw.
Having a network benefits the entire region.
“What people have to realize is if you have one good tourist attraction you’ll get some people to come in for a day,” Harvey said. “If you have attractions through a whole region people will stay an awful lot of longer and that money they spend is not only multiplied, it’s multiplied exponentially.”
Development is ongoing with the Kinghorn Rail Trail, which would use a discontinued rail corridor to provide a path from Thunder Bay to Nipigon.
Spence said the project is a “work in progress” as developers are trying to get it right.
“Most people aren’t going to travel the 111 kilometre trail at one time,” she said. “We have to make sure it’s well planned out in terms of access areas and logical starts and stops.
Harvey sees the Kinghorn Rail Trail, which has been discussed since 2005, as having the potential to be a significant draw.
“That could easily become a world-class trail where people would come from around the world for things like the Pass Lake Trestle, the incredible vistas and views, the lakeside experience you can have on that trail,” Harvey said.
The rails have already been cleared from the trail while the ties are in the process of being removed. There are also a number of hurdles which need to be cleared, which Spence hopes an upcoming Provincial Trails Act will help address.

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