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Waterfront Trail and Greenway News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

COIP*The waterfront municipalities of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, conservation authorities and community groups* MapArt* Dun-Map*Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee* The MMM Group* Heart and Strok Foundation* Mountain Equipment Co-op* Toronto Cyclists Union* St Lawrence Cement

March 2009

In this issue:

  • Waterfront Investment Program – Phase II – Update
  • Toronto Bike Show a Success
  • GWTA Gets French Coverage
  • Bike Train Expanding in 2009
  • Bikes and Transit.com
  • Updates Along Toronto’s Waterfront

Upcoming Conferences and Community Events:

  • Roseneath Spring Festival


WATERFRONT INVESTMENT PROGRAM – PHASE II – UPDATE

The Trust is meeting with provincial and federal representatives to present the Waterfront Investment Program comprising 36 projects, submitted by 19 partners for a total investment of $19 million. In response to requests from the province, we have developed phases for the program’s implementation. The phases largely reflect potential start dates. Thanks again to all who have submitted projects. The program continues to be very well received.


TORONTO BIKE SHOW A SUCCESS

The Toronto Bike Show has become a yearly tradition for the Trust. It’s a great opportunity to connect with cyclist and Waterfront Trail users and promote the Waterfront Trail and Greenway and, of course, the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA). We spoke with hundreds of cyclists, distributed tons of GWTA brochures and sold dozens of Waterfront Trail mapbooks.

Family Option – Burlington to Pickering with and overnight at Fort York

This year, we were pleased to unveil the new family friendly “One Night Adventure.” With start and finish points easily accessible by GO Train, the One Night Adventure makes it easy for families to participate in the GWTA. The package includes:

  • 2 days of fully supported riding
  • Day passes for Ontario Place
  • Accommodations at Historic Fort York
  • Commemorative GWTA T-shirt
  • End-of-ride celebration in Pickering!

More info at http://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/whatsnew.htm#Recommendations

Survey

As usual, we brought a survey to the Bike Show to gauge cycling habits and opinions about the Waterfront Trail and Greenway. Here are some highlights from the survey (101 respondents):

  • 96% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the Waterfront Trail is a tourist attraction
  • 98% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that events like the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure help create a culture that celebrates active living, healthy environments & community
  • 61% of respondents had heard of the GWTA prior to the Bike Show
  • 98% of respondents said that the GWTA is a great summer vacation idea
  • 74% of respondents strongly agree that closing gaps in the Waterfront Trail is important (21% agree)
    The top 2 reasons for using the Waterfront Trail were for relaxation and recreation (58%) and for fitness (45%). Other answers include don’t use (22%) use it to commute (7%).
  • 34 % of respondents had been to the Waterfront Trail website



GWTA GETS FRENCH COVERAGE

The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure has recently received coverage in two French language publications. Recent articles have appeared in VeloMag, published by Velo Quebec (circulation 16,500) as well as a feature in the April edition of InfoVelo, distributed by the Velo plaisirs cycling group http://www.veloplaisirs.qc.ca/Default.aspx?tabid=86&language=fr-CA.

This coverage nicely complements our efforts to reach out to the French-speaking cycling community, which include the translation of the entire GWTA site into French as well as our participation at last month’s Bike Show (Expodium) in Montreal.


BIKE TRAIN EXPANDING IN 2009

Cyclists in Ontario will be happy to learn that the popular Bike Train service is expanding in 2009. The award-winning project introduced bike racks onboard select VIA Rail departures between Toronto and Niagara Falls in 2007, and more than doubled the number of passengers last year. Project founder Justin Lafontaine is working with VIA to develop 3 new routes in addition to the existing Toronto - Niagara Greenbelt Express. One of the new routes will connect with the eastern section of the Waterfront Trail. Stops under consideration are Cobourg, Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall. The prospect of having these routes in place post-GWTA is especially exciting for us. Last year, in our post-ride survey 83% of participants said they would like to return to the communities. Having the Bike Train in place would make these return visits more convenient for riders.

While the new routes have not yet been confirmed, the Bike Train schedule for 09 will be announced within the coming weeks. Stay tuned to www.biketrain.ca for updates.

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust is happy to renew its support for the project in 2009 as a project administrator.


BIKES + TRANSIT .COM

Donald Weidman, founder of last summer's popular GO-by-Bike to Ajax project, has begun a new initiative to encourage people to combine their cycling trips with transit. Bikes + Transit.com focuses on all five modes of transit travel: commuter train, subway, city bus, highway coach and (don't forget) the Island ferry. In 2009, the spotlight will be on nine weeks of naturally beautiful and easy local cycling destinations.

Stay tuned to the Bikes + Transit.com website for updates: www.bikesandtransit.com.


UPDATES ALONG TORONTO’S WATERFRONT

From: Waterfront Toronto

  • EA and Urban Design Study Begins on the Future of the Eastern Gardiner
  • Lake Ontario Park Plan and the Spadina Wavedeck Win Prestigious Design Awards
  • Port Union Waterfront Park – Connection to Pickering
    • Port Union Waterfront Park will now create a western-gateway into the City of Pickering from the City of Toronto with the addition of an eastern trail initiative named “First Nations Trail”


UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS:

ROSENEATH SPRING FESTIVAL

When: May 23rd, 2009 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Roseneath Fair Grounds. (Highway 45 - # 9109), home of the famous Carousel, in the village of Roseneath (Northumberland County, Ontario).

Events for the whole family include a pancake breakfast, music and entertainment, environmental and conservation displays, antique farm equipment display and the Northumberland Wood Carvers exhibit. Admission is $2:00 and a door prize will be awarded.

For further information contact Faith Osmond at dfosmond@xplornet.com or 905-352-2606.


Cheers!

Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director;
Vicki Barron, Director of Administration and Special Projects;
Petrina Tulissi, Manager of Promotions and Events;
Ian Lobb, Tour Director, Great Waterfront Trail Adventure Tour; and
and David Arcus, Project Coordinator, Editor Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust
372 Richmond Street West, Suite 308
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1X6

Tel: 416-943-8080
Fax: 416-943-8068

Email: info@wrtrust.com

Visit http://www.waterfronttrail.org to download 77 online colour maps of the Waterfront Trail, from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Brockville!

Thank You to our Supporters!:

 

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