Ontario Trails News - be careful while hunting other Ontario Trails News

Kill Greenbelt expansion idea, Ontario Tory leadership hopefuls say

King Connection

By Tim Kelly 

The trio vying to lead the Ontario Progressive Conservatives agree on one thing: they don’t want to see the Greenbelt expand.

Asked by a local developer Monday afternoon what they think about Liberal government suggestions that the Greenbelt, which covers 99 per cent of King Township, could expand, Christine Elliott, Patrick Brown and Monte McNaughton gave thumbs down to the idea.

“I obviously oppose the latest suggestion that the Greenbelt grow by a million acres.

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A second Southern Ontario man fined for careless hunting 3

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 12:51:15 EDT PM

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A second southern Ontario man has been fined $750 for careless hunting and trespassing also in the Restoule area Nov. 7.

Brett Scheerer of Elmwood pleaded guilty to careless hunting and trespassing on private land and was fined $750. He also forfeited his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to the Crown. In addition, he is prohibited from hunting for five years and must successfully complete the Ontario Hunter Education Course before hunting in the province again.

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Ontario Trails News - about cycling issues, Ontario Trail Activity and more!

MY "SICK" RIDE

Rediscovering cycling on my fab fold-up has led to much more than just getting around

BY MATT MERNAGH 

APRIL 8, 2015

 

7:57 PM

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R. Jeanette Martin

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My wee red folding bike elicits shouts of "Sick!" when I zip by a gaggle of high-schoolers awed by its white tires and petite frame. 

As I ride up Roncey, a driver slows to roll down his window and ask if it's for sale. But most inquiries are from fellow cyclists asking how it rides and where they can buy one. 

When I'm not around, a few people have gone so far as to see if they could steal it by breaking it in half. But most bike thieves seek whole folding bikes, not their parts, because of their customization.

Their super-funky style makes them like the bike version of a VW Beetle, and their history goes back to the 1900s, when they were designed for military use. 

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WHY A MINIMUM GRID?

A by-the-numbers guide to what it is and why it's necessary

APRIL 8, 2015

 

7:58 PM

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WHAT IT IS

A none-too-ambitious plan to build 100 kilometres of protected bike lanes on main streets and 100 kilometres of bike boulevards (which allow bikes to travel both directions on one-way streets) on residential streets by 2018.

WHY THE SHORTCUT?

Because at the current sorry rate it'll take 158 years to build the 495 kilometres of bike lanes promised in the 2001 Bike Plan. And that's despite the fact that bike ridership has grown by miles in recent years. We're not even a quarter of the way there, having built only 112 kilometres.

SAFETY

55% of Ontarians who say they want to cycle more.

73% Percentage of Torontonians who say lack of cycling infrastructure is stopping them from taking to two wheels as an everyday mode of transportation. 

CONVENIENCE

55% Percentage of all trips Torontonians make that are less than 7 kilometres, a distance that can easily be travelled by bike in less than half an hour.

CONGESTION

Streets aren't getting wider, and bikes take up way less space than cars and buses.

ENVIRONMENT 

Air pollution is killing us. 

1,300 Premature deaths every year in Toronto due to air pollution, according to Toronto Public Health.

HEALTH

2.5 Hours of physical activity Health Canada recommends per week.

AFFORDABILITY

$50,000 per kilometre

Cost of bike boulevards on residential streets (includes paint, signage and studies).

$125,000 per kilometre

Cost to retrofit existing bike lanes into protected lanes (includes bollards, signage and studies).

$72,140,000 per kilometre

Repairs to the elevated section of the Gardiner Expressways over 10 years.

SUPPORTABILITY

25 out of 44 City councillors on record as supporting the Minimum Grid during the election

HOW YOU CAN SHOW SUPPORT?

Buy a T-shirt; tie a yellow Minimum Grid ribbon on your ride; join Cycle Toronto; use the hashtag #MinimumGrid.

Tags

 Bike Special 2015

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Ontario Trails News - News on fatbikes, from Trailhead North

Join Us at Trailhead North

From Trailhead North

The organizers of Trailhead North are pleased to announce a significant outcome expected from the two day symposium on trails taking place in Thunder Bay, April 17, 18 2015.

A fat bike etiquette. Fat bikes are those larger tire all season all terrain human powered bicycles that are emerging as a winter riding option for road cyclists and mountain bikers in the winter.

The Ontario Trails Council, the provincial trails association and co-organizer of the symposium was approached by the cycling community to come up with guidelines on use of fat bikes on trails.

"Fatbikes are becoming more and more popular, there are many cross country and other types of trails that fatbikers can use, but that aren;t necessarily designed for their use - we want to work with the FB community to develop and etiquette for users so they can expect and respect other users on trails," states Patrick Connor Executive Director of Ontario Trails Council.

Co-organizer, Kirsten Spence of Quercwood Consulting, adds, "Multi-use trails often have complicated numbers of people using a variety of equipment to do their recreation. This means bicycles now with fatbikes, snowmobiles, cross-country, snowshoers, winter hikers etc. So having an etiquette will educate all users what to expect and how to interact safely on recreational trails."

Through the Trailhead North development process the event has secured support from various groups and organizations. These included the City of Thunder Bay, The Active transportation Committee in the City, The Kinghorn Rail Trail, Trans Canada Trail through Path of the Paddle, City of Marathon Economic development - all of these groups want groups like OTC and Trailhead North to produce outcomes from meetings.

The creation of a fatbike committee will be such an outcome and should produce a guideline before the summer is out in time for the next riding season.

With a membership of over 200 organizations that stretches all over Ontario, including Trans Canada Trail, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, and over 80,000 km of trails the OTC will carry this northern fatbike etiquette to all other Ontario trail communities.

Trailhead North is taking place April 17, 18 at the Nor'wester Best Western. More information can be found at trailheadnorth.com

Ontario Trails News - OFAH promote youth getting outdoors, and find your favourite Ontario trails!

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SOURCE: Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters

March 18, 2015 11:09 ET

OFAH Youth 'Get Outdoors' This Weekend

PETERBOROUGH, ON--(Marketwired - March 18, 2015) - Eighty youth from across the province will come together at the OFAH Get Outdoors Youth Leadership Conference this weekend in Orangeville to learn about Ontario's outdoor heritage. Whether they come from the country or the city, each of these youth has a common passion to "get outdoors."

With the theme of "Reaching New Heights," participants will have the opportunity to push themselves while indoor rock climbing with the help of the trained staff at Boulderz Climbing Centre in Etobicoke. 

On Saturday, participants will head to the Dufferin Northern Peel Anglers & Hunters Association for an action-packed day on the ranges. With one-on-one instruction from qualified instructors, participants will take part in trap shooting, rifle shooting and archery and then bolster their fishing skills with a fly tying demo and invertebrate identification.

Media are invited to attend the day, which includes terrific video and photo opportunities. Event highlights will also be posted on Facebook and Twitter (#OFAH15).

Date & Start Time: March 21, 2015 - 9:30 a.m. sharp
     
Where: EASY TO FIND -- Dufferin Northern Peel Anglers and Hunters Association, just north of Orangeville, located at 246147 Dufferin Road 16, Orangeville. 

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) launched the Get Outdoors program in 2002 to inspire more youth involvement in hunting, fishing and conservation. This national award-winning youth conservation program puts the emphasis on promoting our outdoor heritage through first-hand exposure and is the only one of its kind in Ontario. The Youth Leadership Conference is held in conjunction with the 87th OFAH Annual General Meeting and Fishing & Wildlife Conference. For more information visit www.getoutdoors.org.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 725 member clubs, the OFAH is the largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization in Ontario. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• MEDIA CONTACTDavid Ryrie
  Youth Education Manager
  705-930-1805 (cell)
  david_ryrie@ofah.org

Ontario Trails News - many snowmobile trails are closing now, beware of ice conditions says OTC.

Find your favourite Ontario Trail!

Snowmobile ice trails closed for the season

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by Expositor Staff - Mar 18, 2015

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MANITOULIN—In light of the recent news (and the front page article in this paper regarding the Brechin couple that found themselves in the North Channel Friday afternoon during a snowmobile trip), The Expositor contacted Manitoulin Snowdusters media spokesperson Brad Middleton for a trail update. Currently all Snowdusters trails on Manitoulin and area waters are listed as ‘closed’ or ‘limited.’

Mr. Middleton explained that following the Friday incident, the Ontario Provincial Police requested the Manitoulin Snowdusters close all of the ice trails, which they did.

As of Monday morning, the land trails are listed on the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club’s website as either ‘closed’ or ‘limited.’

“This is not only because there are some big bare patches starting to show, but also because it is getting hard to get in and out of the towns to get gas etc. due to bare roads and streets,” Mr. Middleton explained.

“However, if anyone chooses to use the land trails on March Break they still can, technically,” he added. “As always, and like the signs say, you are using the trails at your own risk.”