The Urban Country - Bicycles Are Transportation: Bicycle Infrastructure Ignorance

"Some people genuinely seemed to think that drivers singlehandedly pay for the roads. Others were just trolling by calling for mandatory bicycle licensing, testing and registration to pay for bike infrastructure.

We all know that our roads are paid for by municipal property taxes – which are paid for by everyone – including bicyclists. And since bicyclists can only use a subset of the roads that their tax dollars are paying for, bicyclists are actually subsidizing motorists."

Does your trail allow E-Bikes?

The Ontario Trails Council lists over 800 on and off road cycling trails. Does your allow e-bikes. As far as we know nobody has complied an answer to this question and we'd like to be able to provide e-users with an answer. (They ask all the time)

E-mail OTC at ontrails@gmail.com with what you know about E-bikes and your trails.

Sudbury Sports News - Hopping into a new winter sport

"As winter settles in across northern Ontario, outdoor enthusiasts are looking for opportunities to enjoy the season. Cross-country skiing is one way to do embrace the snow, especially for kids, according to Chris Gore.

Gore is a member of the Laurentian Nordic Ski Club, and has been involved in the club's jackrabbit program for the past two decades."

Ontario Cross Country Ski Trails

There's More To Catch In Northern Ontario - Journal & Topics Newspapers Online: Travel: bush plane, northern ontario,

"The canyon, formed 1.2 billion years ago by a fault along the Canadian Shield, drops 500 feet. Four waterfalls spill from the canyon rim into the Agawa River at the bottom of the canyon. Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in the park is 225 feet high. Day-trippers can hike several trails, visiting waterfalls and small streams, during a two-hour layover before they return to Sault Ste. Marie. Overnight guests can spend the night in a caboose converted into a small cabin.
In the canyon, I left the tour train and picked up the local train, which travels through logging camps and fishing camps, occasionally stopping to drop off fishermen at small bed and breakfasts. According to the anglers onboard, this is great walleye country."

The Canyon is also a great place to trail. Agawa Canyon

The fight to save Ottawa's Beaver Pond forest from developers | rabble.ca

"No one disputes the South March Highlands' ecological, cultural and recreational value. But the city is building an extension to the nearby Terry Fox Drive highway through the Highlands, and private developers are building subdivisions. One of the developers, KNL Developments -- a partnership of builders Urbandale and Richcraft -- owns much of the Beaver Pond forest, which it purchased in 2002, and it plans to clear the trees in the second week of January."

northumberlandnews.com / indynews.ca | Making Ontario's drinking water safe, starting at source

"TRENT HILLS - Work will begin soon on plans to protect sources of drinking water within the municipality that are considered at risk of being contaminated or depleted.

The potential threats, located within wellheads and intake protection areas, were compiled in comprehensive assessment reports submitted to the Ministry of the Environment in October by the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region, said Jennifer Stephens, the project manager for the five-member staff team working with the Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Committee to meet requirements set out in the Clean Water Act of 2006."

What you leave on the trail, may get into the water - Trail Smart

Cycle Toronto: Biking news: dedicated lanes in Toronto, raised lanes in Guelph, and Canada featured on Copenhagenize

"Today the Star ran an article about a plan to build curbs to separate bike lanes in the downtown.  Denzil Minnan-Wong, the new chair of the public works and infrastructure committee, has come out in support of building a network of separated bike lanes along major streets.  Some streets that already have space carved out with bike lanes - such as Sherbourne - will get curbs separating cars from bikes. Other streets without bike lanes - such as Richmond - may get bi-directional bike lanes. Of course, this plan must pass through the committee and then council, but it's great news for Toronto!"

Ontario Cycling Trails

Cross Ontario Resources

Cross Ontario Resources
Publications, Maps, Guide Books
Golden Horseshoe Recreation Map. Eastern Ontario Recreation Map.
Mid Eastern Ontario & City of Kingston, Recreation Map.
Southwestern Ontario Recreation Map. Map. Advermap. 2008/2009 & 2010.

Print version only: Available at various retailers. More information at www.advermap.com"

Ontario Trails Map

Snowmobilers reminded to be compliant with laws - Kenora Daily Miner and News - Ontario, CA

"As the snowmobile season works its way up to full swing, Ontario Provincial Police are reminding sledders to ride safe and compliant.

One death on an area lake has already been reported after 55-year-old Rick Schween plunged through the ice on Longpine Lake in early December as heavy snowfalls slowed the pace of ice production in the region."

North Western Ontario Trails

$15,000 OTF Grant to Ensure Access for Skiers - Local - News - Seaway News

"The Friends of The Summerstown Trails, Inc. (FOTST) is a community-based, non-profit organization with its main purpose being to maintain and develop green, recreational trails for healthy outdoor activities in the Summerstown Public Forest.  FOTST is run by a small group of volunteers and depends on public donations to manage the non-profit organization and maintain and groom the trails.  FOTST invites anyone interested in green activities such as snowshoeing, hiking, birding, biking, and cross-country skiing to contact them and join FOTST."

Trails in Eastern Ontario

Cross Country Canada - Haywood RACE Report: NorAms, Thunder Bay, Ontario

"Domestic race attention shifts to Lappe Nordic ski centre near Thunder Bay this week with the continuation of the Haywood NorAm series.

Over 200 competitors will start in Thursday's Haywood NorAms as the 'Everything Trials' take place with three races, over four days, at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre near Thunder Bay. http://www.skinoram2011.com/index.html"

Trillium grant welcomed - The Cornwall Standard Freeholder - Ontario, CA

"The Friends of the Summerstown Trails' property will be groomed and maintained with the help of a new snowmobile purchased with a $15,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant.

Cross-country skiers and snow shoers will now enjoy freshly groomed trails.

The purchase was celebrated on Thursday at the Summerstown trails with MPP Jim Brownell and OTF representative Paulette Hebert."

Ontario Trails Council wins Economic Development Awards

Many Thanks to Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO): Awards Category: Tourism 1st Place: Ontario Trails Maps website: Innovative Technology Website, Interactive Databases Honourable Mention: Trailhead Ontario; Business Development, Branding Honourable Mention: Ontario Trails Website: Innovative Technology Website Our websites promote Ontario, physical activity, and the trails economy. We sincerely appreciate the recognition and awareness of EDCO regarding Ontario trails efforts to promote an Ontario trails Tourism economy.

Ontario Trails

Know the law, sledders advised | The Chronicle-Journal

"It’s not cited as often as the Criminal Code or the Highway Traffic Act.
But police say if sledders familiarized themselves with the rules under Ontario’s lesser-known Motorized Snow Vehicles Act (MSVA), they could be better prepared for a safe snowmobiling season.
“These aren’t tips or guidelines, these are the rules,” the OPP’s off-road safety co-ordinator, Sgt. Michael Price, said Wednesday from the force’s Orillia headquarters."

Trail Smart Ontario

Snowshoeing burns calories as you have fun | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register

"Dr. A. Neil Patrick, a Canadian chiropractor, sums up positives of snowshoeing on his website: There are four types of exercise that, when combined, will give improved results: endurance, raising heart rate; strength, building muscle; balance, reducing risk for falls; and flexibility, keeping a limber body through proper warm-up and stretching. A good snowshoeing excursion covers all four of those exercise types, making it an excellent full-body workout in winter."

Ontario Snowshoe Trails

Riders say winter cycling takes special preparation - The Whig Standard - Ontario, CA

"'If the metre from the edge of the pavement is full of ice and snow, that's not safe to ride,' Cain said, 'so I'm going to take my metre that I normally ride from the edge of the road, I'll take another metre from where the ice and snow is.'

Neal Scott is a year-round cyclist, commuting from his home in the city's west end to Queen's University, where he teaches geography.

'I usually ride up right until Christmas and then it just kind of depends on snowfall,' he said. 'As long as the streets are clear, I keep riding.' Temperature's not an issue. It's mostly just snowfall and ice.'"

Ontario Cycling Trails

Trans Canada Trail Ontario Blog » Dryden Meeting For Canoe Routes Steering Committee

"Trans Canada Trail Ontario is hosting a Steering Committee meeting to discuss the Connection Northwest Canoe Routes Project on January 10th, 2011 at 1PM CST. The purpose of the meeting is to bring together the steering committee and meet with Hap Wilson, project consultant. This meeting is the kickoff of the project.

If you have any information you would like to share with us about possible routes, partners or opportunities, please send us an email. Kirsten Spence - kspence@tctrail.ca or Hap Wilson - ecotrailbuilders@gmail.com"

Ontario Canoe Trails

Cross country ski trails a hidden treasure in Fitzroy Provincial Park - Lifestyle - By Tiffany Williams-Lepack West Carleton Local Community News

"EMC Lifestyle - It may be cold outside but the trails are blazing in Fitzroy Provincial Park.

The West Carleton Nordic Ski Club's (WCNSC) trails at the park are a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered.

It's the perfect winter escape - 10 km of skate groomed trails and 15 km of classic groomed trails. New this year, there is approximately 5 km of added trails to enjoy on the perimeter trail. Near the start of the trail one is directed to an optional detour to extend the experience."

Ontario Cross Country Trails

TRCA: index

"Determine, coordinate and report appropriate corporate interests related to applications under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act as well as applications made pursuant to the TRCA Fill, Construction and Alteration to Waterways Regulation and related program activities; provide effective project management, staff supervision and service delivery.  Provide and maintain excellent customer service."

Sunset Trails almost ready for groomers - Kenora Daily Miner and News - Ontario, CA

"Sled heads are asked to be patient just a bit longer, as the Sunset Trail Riders are waiting for the ice to thicken before sending groomers onto the trails over frozen lakes and swamps.

The spokesman for the Sunset Trail Riders, Shaun Clifford, said there was only six inches in some spots.

'We don't officially open until that's all done,' he said Wednesday. 'We want to make sure it's safe for riders.'"