Cycling routes on hold, but the push is on

The cycling committee minutes documented the advice from Orillia lawyer, Edward Veldboom and the need to maximize public safety and minimize liability through the cycling master plan. He explained that even if a section of a roadway is not identified as a cycle route, should an accident occur as a result of negligence by the municipality, the municipality still could be held liable.

Among the recommendations the committee heard is to: look at what other municipalities are doing; install signage (cyclists are allowed to use any roadways under the Highway Traffic Act); designate cycle routes and sign known hazards; develop a standard framework for designation routes; contact police to determine accident rates along routes; and evaluate routes with a road checklists and cyclists in mind.

Ontario Cycling Trails

Southern Ontario Training Centre

SOTC is a high performance cross country ski training centre located near Barrie, ON, where, under the guidance of a full-time professional coach, athletes from across Ontario pursue excellence in cross country skiing while engaging in post-secondary studies if they choose. SOTC athletes train together on a year-round basis while representing their home clubs at provincial, national and continental competitions. SOTC is hosted by the Hardwood Hills Nordic Development Centre (HHNDC), aka “Team Hardwood,” utilizing the world class trails and other training amenities at Hardwood Ski and Bike and the surrounding area.

Ontario Cross Country Ski Trails

Watch Water Levels - its dangerous in places!

Lower Trent Conservation Authority advises municipalities and the public of the following conditions for the watershed area stretching from Quinte West to Grafton and from Lake Ontario to Rice Lake, based on existing conditions of local water levels and the current weather forecast.

Conservation Ontario

Commemorative war trail links through London

A local member of the Upper Canada Military Re-enactment Society is behind a new tourism initiative commemorating events that took place in southern Ontario during the War of 1812.

Dave Westhouse, a member of the society since 2002, is hoping the War of 1812 Discovery Trail will be ready by the bicentennial of the famous conflict in 2012.

"I saw that the re-enacting we were doing is local," Westhouse said. "It's real history from our area."

Although London didn't exist during the war, two nearby battles that may be included in the trail include Reservoir Hill, in the Springbank Park area, and the Battle of Longwoods, which took place about 25 to 30 kilometers west of London along Longwoods Road.

Trails of 1812

http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/498710--cyclist-sues-for-20-million-over-injuries-suffered-in-good-friday-race

Christopher Uy is a different person now, this much he knows. His short-term memory is shaky and his personality has undergone a transformation he seems aware of, but can’t quite grasp.

It happened in a split second. Last April, riding in his first-ever road bike race — the Hamilton Cycling Club’s Good Friday Race — Uy was riding at more than 40 kilometres an hour when the pack he was in suddenly bunched up. Uy hit the brakes, crashed and went over the handlebars, the carbon frame of his bicycle snapping in two.

Note to earlier post: ROMA and cycling tourism - unless the product is developed and lessons learned, and tort reform enacted these can be risky undertakings.

Cycling Tourism

Tourism cycling was a hot topic at the recent Rural Ontario Municipalites Association's convention, Hamilton Township councillors heard at Tuesday night's meeting. Northumberland County is developing a master plan but liability issues are one of the holdups in completing it, says Warden Rick Lovshin. See more in tomorrow's issue of Northumberland Today and on this web site.

Trailhead Ontario welcomes Parks Canada

Trailhead Ontario is pleased to welcome back Parks Canada and Mark Schmidt as a speaker and moderator. Over the past year Parks Canada has revitalized its approach to parks and trails in the National Parks. Please come and hear Mark talk about exciting developments at Parks Canada, his unique insights into trail building and his efforts to provide a top quality trail experience in some of the most beautiful parks, Parks Canada has right here in Ontario!

Trailhead Ontario on facebook

MNR and Liberals Ignore Concerns of Northern Ontario's Citizens - Midnorth Monitor - Ontario, CA

"In Northern Ontario in recent years there has been a public outcry concerning public access to crown land. Basically the citizens of Northern Ontario are concerned that they are loosing traditional access to much of Ontario's publicly owned backcountry because of the MNR's efforts to create remote based tourism opportunities. The Ontario Outdoor Recreational Alliance (OntORA) is a group of concerned citizens who have banned together to fight what they see as an erosion of their rights to use the back country whether to hunt, fish, hike or pick blueberries."

OTC has a good relationship with MNR but things could be better locally. We'll have a meeting with OntORA to discuss things.

Ontario Trails

OPP & OFSC SAY MARCH SNOWMOBILE FATALITIES ARE PREVENTABLE

Don’t Make Your Last Ride of the Season the Last Ride of Your Life
(ORILLIA, ON) - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are concerned about an increase in fatal snowmobile incidents this March. While the number of deaths investigated by the OPP has seen an overall decline to date this season, five tragedies in the past two weeks indicate that sledders are not adjusting their riding habits to the late season conditions.

Ontario Sled Safe

AMA News and Notes March 2011 - Motorcycle USA

"Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: International Experienced Rider Training Symposium (ERTS) to be held in Niagara Falls, ON May 25-27, 2011. This Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) sanctioned event will be hosted by the Canadian Motorcycle Association and the Canadian Safety Council. Organized every three years in a different country, this event allows an opportunity for attendees to sample rider training from around the world. This year’s event will focus on principles utilized in Canadian programming. For more details including a video of the last ERTS held in Germany and to register, please visit www.erts.ca."

Trailhead Ontario

kawarthaNOW.com ® | Events On Now in the Kawarthas & Peterborough Ontario | Kawartha Events | March Break Activities

"Horse Riding Camp: Buckhorn Equestrian Farm presents 'March Break Riding Camp' from noon - 4 p.m. at Buckhorn Farm Equestrian Centre (2185 Buckhorn Road, Lakefield, K0L 2H0). Campers will learn learn all about our four-legged friends, including how to groom and tack. Each session will include a one-hour riding lesson. Other activities include crafts, nature walks and competitions with prizes. Tickets are $200 for the week. For more information call (705) 652-1225."

Ontario Equestrian Trails

Ontario Equestrian Federation

ATV use subject of meetings - The Sudbury Star - Ontario, CA

"City staff and city council's ATV Advisory Panel will hold four public meetings over the next month to get the public's views about a proposed routing map for All-Terrain Vehicles within the City of Greater Sudbury.

Before a final proposal is brought to council, the open public houses will be held to ensure that everyone has had a chance to consider the issue, the city said in a release."

Ontario ATV Trails

OFATV

Register for Binational Tourism Summit Today.

The Binational Alliance, and our wonderful partners invite you to join us in this collaborative event. Now in it’s second year, the Binational Dialogues Summit bring together the best of the Binational Summit, Star Awards, Bi-National Speaker Series and Crossing Borders Student Conference into one comprehensive annual program. March 10-11, 2011

Get Out There Magazine joins Trailhead Ontario Line-up

Trailhead Ontario is pleased to announce Marissa Schroeder talking on the topic – Implementing Internet and Media Strategies that Work. In the time demanding world of social networking, internet content refreshing, member support, direct service delivery, and new age marketing strategies – how do you keep all these balls in the air? If you are wrestling with what to do next in the areas of internet, trail marketing, social networking then come and hear how this successful publisher has done it and what tips she has to offer.

Grand River Cycle in Cambridge - London :: Ontario Bike Guide

"Whether its a flat tire, a new bike or a service part, we want you on the road and riding. We listen to you're needs and do what we can to get you on the right bike.

We are a Trek, Giant and Gary Fisher dealer in Cambridge Ontario. We specialize in high quality Road and Mountain bike products and offer the best in electric hybrids"

Ontario Cycling Trails

IMBA

Grand River Cycling Club

Canadian Cyclist - Tour of Bronte Early Registration Deadline - Ontario

"The 2011 Tour of Bronte on April 10th is a little more than a month off but the early registration deadline is just two days away. Save $15 - $20 off the race day entry fee and $10 off the price as of March 11th.

Racers are reminded that field limits will also apply to all events at the Tour of Bronte in Oakville, Ontario."

Ontario Cycling Trails

Ontario Cycling Association

A Golden day for dog sledding - Timmins Daily Press - Ontario, CA

"With the students snuggled tightly in the sleigh, while eight dogs barked and jumped excitedly at the chance to hit the trails.

It was an experience shared by the autistic students from Golden Avenue Public Schools and the dogs of North Bark Tours.

More than 20 students had the opportunity, most for the first time, to see what it was like to travel through Northern Ontario's backyard the old-fashioned way."

About Ontario Dog Sledding

Ontario Dog Sled Trails

CottageCountryNow Article: Golden times for Hoyas!

"HUNTSVILLE - History was made in Ottawa this week by the Huntsville High School Nordic team.

The two-day Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ event that left HHS holding eight championship banners ended with a heart-stopping finish in the senior boys’ four-by-800-metre sprint relay."

Ontario Cross-Country Ski Trails

Quinte News – ATV+Alcohol=Bad Idea

"Impaired driving charges have been laid against a 26 year old Brighton man.
Northumberland O-P-P stopped an A-T-V rider on Gross Street in Brighton yesterday for not wearing a helmet… and driving on a roadway.
The rider told police he wasn’t wearing a helmet… because he was just taking the machine out for a test drive."

Bikes Meant For Sharing, B-Cycle And BIXI - BikeRadar

“We see this is as a new, viable mass-transit option that works in conjunction with existing systems,” explained Alain Ayotte, CEO of Public Bike System, adding that his company has already installed systems in Melbourne, Washington, D.C., London, Minneapolis and Montreal, and claims to have 14,000 bikes in operation around the world. “Our goal is to be seen as a key cog in urban mass transit systems, where bike sharing takes care of the first and last leg of a commuter’s journey.”"