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

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!

Motorists and Cyclists: respect each other and share the road

Warden Avenue is one of the most popular recreational cycling routes in York Region.  You can ride it from Markham all the way to Lake Simcoe in Georgina.

Here's some footage of my ride on Warden travelling southbound from Stouffville Rd to Major Mackenzie Drive on Sat, June 20th at about 1pm.  Major Mackenzie is around where the country meets the city. Unfortunately, the City of Markham's urban boundary expansion is pushing development further north. There are lots of farms, greenery and rolling hills.  This particular segment has a wide paved shoulder, but further north it is a shared roadway with no shoulders.



Warden, Kennedy, McCowan and others are enjoyed by hundreds of cyclists each week.  I often hear of complaints between motorists and cyclists.  Either motorists are trying to pass unsafely or aggressively, or cyclists taking up the road and not leaving space to pass.

York Region has developed an educational campaign in partnership with York Regional Police (YRP) and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) to promote cycling safety and respect for all road users. 

The campaign was launched on May 14 with a media event at Highway 7 and Leslie Street in the Town of Richmond Hill.

The York Region Cyclist’s Handbook, a practical guide containing rules of the road and safety tips, was launched at the event. 

On June 2^nd, the Province passed the Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act, which includes increased fines for offenses like dooring a cyclist, and a 1m safe passing law.

We all have a part to play in making our roads safer. Please ride and drive with care.

Testing the Greenbelt Cycling Route

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust has received funding from the Greenbelt Foundation to implement a new cycling route connecting communities throughout the Greenbelt. The project will create a signature provincial cycling route from Northumberland to Niagara (460 km) using existing infrastructure, and is expected to launch in late summer 2015.

I was fortunate to be one of the over 200 people who participated in the Greenbelt Route Mobile Workshops from May 5-10. The Workshops were a great opportunity to hear presentations from visiting and local experts on cycle tourism, cycling infrastructure and services; network with other cycling, tourism, business and Greenbelt leaders; and, most importantly, experience and evaluate the route.

Here are some of the highlights of the 63 km York Region segment of the route from the mobile workshops on May 7 and 8, 2014.

Greenbelt Route Mobile Workshop from Shawn Smith on Vimeo.

Touring Musselman's Lake

Musselman's Lake is a small community in Whitchurch-Stouffville and the lake itself is a significant natural and recreational asset.  Being a popular destination among touring cyclists, and I decided to check it out for myself.  It was worth the trip.


Most online bike routes around Musselman's Lake (such as this one from Warden to Cedar Beach on the shores of beautiful Musselman's Lake) follow Ninth Line, on the east side of the Lake.  I found this part of Ninth Line to be a bit narrow and uncomfortable for cycling, since there tight turns and are no shoulders.  A better alternative, in my opinion, is to go along the west side on quiet residential streets.  There's a section connecting Connor Blvd to Cedarvale Dr that is closed to motor vehicles, but accessible by bicycle or on foot.

Musselman's Lake is a tranquil community with some awesome views, although most of the shoreline is privately owned.  It makes for an excellent rest stop.  Connect to Ballantrae via Aurora Road to the north, and to Stouffville via Ninth Line to the South.

 

Here is the trail connection between Connor and Cedarvale on the north side of the Lake

Ice cream shop at Ninth Line & Cedarvale

Restaurant at at Ninth Line & Cedarvale