Cycling Route Research Project

Summary of FindingsJune 2012

Transportation Policy Branch 2Outline

Roles and Responsibilities Recent MTO Cycling Initiatives Project Background Project Methodology Key Findings

Planning and Design Partnerships Other Considerations

Questions

Transportation Policy Branch 3Roles and Responsibilities

- Provincial highways capital budget

- Provincial highways design & engineering

- Provincial highways operations

- Long-term, strategic planning

- Air, rail, marine and transit policy

- Transit capital budget

- Traffic Law (the HTA)-Road user education

Transportation Policy Branch 4Recent MTO Cycling Initiatives

Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has undertaken several initiatives to support cycling in Ontario:

Transit Supportive Guidelines

(With municipalities) Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 18, Bicycle Facilities

Ontario Bikeways Planning and Design Guidelines

Paved shoulder pilot project on Highway 6

Update of the Driver’s Handbook

Road Safety Community Partnership Program

Transportation Policy Branch 5Project Background

Goals of the project: To collect information on best practices in planning, operating

and marketing cycling routes, primarily for tourism and recreational purposes

To catalogue a selection of major municipal and regional cycling routes in Ontario

Requests for accommodating cycling on provincial roads are increasing, so understanding what is already in place is important

Information gathered could, if mandated or directed, be useful in developing priority areas for accommodating cycling on ministry roads

Transportation Policy Branch 6Project Methodology

Municipal Questionnaire Staff asked about the characteristics of key

cycling routes

Jurisdictional Scan 9 major cycling routes or networks—3 each in

Canada, the United States and Europe

Consultations Tourism industry, trails organizations, road

user groups, the planning profession, cycling retailers and others

Route Selection Criteria Identifying key characteristics to consider

when planning a regional cycling route

Transportation Policy Branch 7Current State

Municipalities reported 8,479 km of priority cycling routes: on- and off-road; existing and planned

Few routes that cross municipal boundaries were reported

The importance of cycle tourism varies widely across the province

Cycling generally is not a primary motivator for travel, rather a secondary activity for visitors

Anecdotal information and some primary data indicate cycle tourist in Ontario are residents of Ontario or bordering US states

Generally young to middle age adults holding white collar jobs with middle to higher incomes

Transportation Policy Branch 8Perceived Barriers

Lack of alternatives to mixed traffic on busy highways in some areas Lack of coordination between route providers, leading to poor or

missing connections between routes Lack of understanding by governments and businesses about the

economic benefits of cycle tourism and how to serve cycle tourists Lack of cycle touring support facilities such as public

washrooms, drinking water, cycle-friendly businesses Insufficient signage on existing cycling routes Lack of maps, online trip planning tools and other promotion for

cyclists Limited opportunities to transport bicycles on trains and buses Difficulty crossing over Canada/US border with bicycles

Transportation Policy Branch 9Key Findings

Planning Most important criteria when planning a cycling route:

Attractiveness (e.g. lakes and rivers) Safety

Connection to town centres and mobility hubs important Option to bypass town centres also important

Security of route (e.g. cell phone service, emergency access) Continuity of route

Design Off-road facilities essential for attracting diverse users Consistent design and maintenance is desirable

Transportation Policy Branch 10Key Findings

Partnerships Beneficial for planning to be coordinated by a single organization

Capital funding from all levels of government identified as a key factor essential to the success of a major cycling network

Capital expenditures typically shared between senior-level and local governments in most jurisdictions with major cycling networks

Broad willingness on the part of stakeholders to participate in marketing a provincial cycling network

Support for adding a provincial brand to existing routes, but not for replacing the existing brands with a provincial one

Transportation Policy Branch 11Key Findings

Other Considerations Potential for conflicts between bicycles, ATVs and horses and buggies

in some areas More information needed about best practises in bike route

maintenance More information needed about protection against liability

Transportation Policy Branch 12

Questions?