Ninth Line bike lane now open

New bike lanes and paved shoulders on Ninth Line now connect the City of Markham to the Town of Stouffville.  Check out the innovative green markings at the intersections which provide guidance for cyclists crossing the intersections and communicate to turning motorists to watch for people on bikes.

Here's a clip from a 5km ride I did in Markham starting at Major Mackenzie & Ninth Line, covering a range of different facility types.



Route map

Mountain Biking in the York Regional Forest Brown Hill Tract

It was a beautiful Fall day, and adventure was beckoning, so earlier this week I checked out the York Regional Forest - Brown Hill Tract in East Gwillimbury, which is known to be one of the best mountain biking spots in York Region.  There's a good mix of single track forest trails, and I hope to come back to ride some more.

Access from McCowan

Parking lot at Ravenshoe (which has a larger parking area)

Cry Baby trail

Access path along Ravenshoe

 Old Jay trail (lots of leaves so a bit difficult to follow trail).  Yes, I was using an electric cruiser!

Stinky trail

PDF-maps has a smartphone and tablet friendly GPS-enabled map of the Brown Hill Tract that can help with navigation.

The Joy of Biking to School

For me, biking my kids to school is a chance to be outside, spend time together (not the same as in a car), and see them develop confidence and a sense of independence.  I loved it when my son, after having walked his bike up a certain hill many times, was finally able to get to the top by bike.  He was so excited to go home and tell his mom.  Getting to school by our own power is an accomplishment we can be proud of. It's a lot of fun too.

Here's a preview of our ride to school a year ago last Fall:

And there are other benefits too...

Lake Simcoe Shoreline in Georgina

York Region has a waterfront too: the beautiful shores of Lake Simcoe.  Experience it by cycling the Lake Simcoe Trail for about 50 kilometres along Lake Drive and Hedge Road, connecting key destinations within Georgina including the Georgina Island Ferry, Sibbald Point Provincial Park, De La Salle Park / Franklin Beach, Willow Beach, The ROC, Claredon Beach Park, and Adeleine Park as well as the communities of Virginia, Sutton and Keswick.

Check out the Briars Resort for dining or accommodations.  It has lots of bike parking.

Ice cream at Jackson's Point

Lake Drive is part of a larger vision: the Lake to Lake Route.  York Region, in partnership with local municipalities and conservation authorities, has started an ambitious plan to build a 121 kilometre cycling route and walking trail from Lake Simcoe at the northern edge of the York Region through the City of Toronto to Lake Ontario.  The Lake to Lake Cycling Route and Walking Trail will be a major recreational and commuter route that connects key destinations and natural heritage areas.

A family cycling trip to Orillia

It was labour day weekend, and my wife and I were still clinging to the last few precious days of summer holidays.  So, we decided to make them count and go on an overnight family cycling trip.  We landed on a visit to Orillia, about an hour's drive away, booked a hotel, loaded the bikes, and away we went.  We were pleasantly surprised.

We stayed at the Best Western Plus Couchiching, which I definitely recommend.  It backed right on to the Millenium Trail, a 10km trail from one end of town to the other.  The free hot breakfast made for a great start to the day, and I also made use of their hot tub and sauna after the day's activities.

This was our first taste of cycling touring as a family away from home.  We had a great time and hope to do more trips like this in the future.

Hotel with trail in foreground

Here are some photos along the Millenium Trail in Orillia.  It passes along the Lake with several nice beaches and parks.

Tudhope Memorial Park

Paved path, dirt road.  I like the priorities!

Wayfinding

At Couchiching Beach Park, we happened upon a delightful train ride that was run by the Orillia Rotary Club.

At this entrance crossing, the path bends away from the road to provide better sight lines and reaction time to motorists and cyclists.

Here's the view from the other side

This park had a lot of amenities including a beach, kayak rental, splash pad, and playground

East end of the trail (the narrows)

A well-deserved cold treat on a hot day!

Greenbelt Route launches Aug 16th: York Region highlights

Last week, I was fortunate to join 130 cyclists from cities across North America to participate in the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure - Greenbelt Edition.  The Greenbelt Route, a 475 km cycling route from Northumberland County to Niagara Region, has now launched.  I rode the two days through York Region and had a fantastic cycling adventure exploring the countryside and it's communities along the way.

"After three years of planning alongside the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and in collaboration with 27 partner communities, the official launch of the Route is a spectacular milestone. More than 1,100 signs are up, the Route is mapped, the website is live, and all in time for last week's inaugural six-day ride celebrating 10 years of Ontario's Greenbelt." 

http://www.greenbelt.ca/greenbelt_route_making_headlines_2015

• Learn more about what the Greenbelt Route in York Region
• Tales from York Region: Five things to do along Greenbelt Route
• Landmark sign erected along Greenbelt Route in King
• Tips for riding the Greenbelt Route

Here are a few highlights:

Whitchurch-Stouffville

• Right in the heart of Memorial Park is the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre (a good rest stop)
• Stouffville Main Street offers many shopping opportunities as well as food stops like the Earl of Whitchurch Pub
• Galluci Winery is directly on the Greenbelt Route, on Ninth Line, as is Timber Creek Golf and Family Fun Centre
• The Route passes Musselman's Lake with a ice cream shop, Belgian Chocolates as well as Fishbones Restaurant, with a patio overlooking the lake.

Aurora

• As you cross Hwy 404 along St. John's Sideroad, look for the horses roaming the fields
• As you approach Industrial Parkway, the Nokiidaa Trail continues south past the Aurora Arboretum.  This is where the Greenbelt Route intersects with the future Lake to Lake Route.
• As you pass by the provincially significant McKenzie Marsh wetland on the Nokiidaa Trail boardwalk link, look for turtles, herons, and other wildlife.

Newmarket

• Take a detour north along the Tom Taylor Trail another 2km for the historic Main Street Newmarket with lots of shops and restarants such as Cachet or Hungry Brew Hops, or cool off in the fountains at Riverwalk Commons.
• Cross Yonge Street along Savage, and connect with the John F. Smith Trail to Mulock.

King

• Be prepared for some hills along 19th Sideroad between Bathurst and Keele.  You'll pass by Thornton Bales Conservation Area as well as the Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill.

• I stopped for lunch at the Kettleby bakery.  A sleepy and picturesque little community with a great park at the end of the main street.  Holland Marsh is directly to the north.
• Round the Bend Farm is a short detour on Jane St, south of Lloydtown-Aurora Road.
• In Pottageville, I recommend a stop at Pathways to Perrenials, which is like an oasis.  The Blossom Cafe is open from 11am - 3pm and is staffed by a professional chef.

• Schomberg has a nice Main Street with some unique shops and restaurants.  Sheena's Kitchen, the Schomberg Pub, and the Grackle Coffee Company are among them.

A few more photos: http://www.waterfronttrail.org/pictures-from-2015-gwta-day-3

Cycling in the Greenbelt allows you the opportunity to enjoy its beauty and bounty:  Rolling hills, scenic landscapes, farm fresh food, and welcoming people.  Adventure awaits!

Toronto Zoo pathway

From Whittamore's Farm (try the scones) on Steeles Ave, at the far reaches of Markham and Scarborough, I rode south through Rouge Park along Beare Rd and Plug Hat Rd to a new Toronto Zoo pathway.  Check it out!

Bike lane on Steeles, unfortunately it's just a short segment, Whittamore's on the left

Beare Rd

Start of the zoo path (notice the use of green at the crossings)

Crossride

A refuge island mades this crossing easier

I love what the City of Toronto has done with this bridge, adding a cycling path protected by barrier.

Now it's easier to bike to the zoo!

There's a good connection to Conlins Road to cross Hwy 401, leading to a vast network of off-road trails to explore.