Ontario looking for feedback on province-wide cycling network

Ontario is taking action to implement #CycleON Action Plan 1.0, to help keep Ontario cyclists safe and encourage more people to ride a bike. As part of the plan, the province will identify a long-term aspirational network of cycling routes across Ontario that will:

• Promote recreational cycling and cycling tourism;
• Connect municipal cycling routes and places of interest;
• Identify areas of provincial infrastructure that should accommodate cycling; and,
• Prioritize future cycling infrastructure investments on provincial highways.

The interactive map shows the routes recommended in the draft province-wide cycling network, which was developed with input from stakeholders, quantitative evaluation and qualitative analysis. Until May 12, 2017, the province is inviting the public to submit comments on the draft province-wide cycling network online through the Environmental Registry. If you prefer to submit written comments, please submit these to the Ministry of Transportation’s EBR Coordinator.

Approximately half of the recommended province-wide network routes use existing cycling infrastructure. This means that a cycling facility is already in place according to data from sources such as municipal master plans and municipal staff. All the routes identified on the network are subject to further evaluation. The Ministry welcomes input on the location and condition of these routes through the Environmental Registry posting.

Please note that route conditions have not been verified through field investigation and existing facilities may require upgrades to meet current provincial guidelines. Identification of a draft preferred network is the first step towards development of a province-wide cycling network. Once the final preferred province-wide network is identified, the next step is to develop an implementation strategy in consultation with stakeholders, as part of which the routes would be verified.

Learn more and submit your comments online here.

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