Monday, September 4, 2017

How to use apps to download York Region content

You can access the cycle routes for free through Strava, MapMyRide, and Ride with GPS on your smartphone. These apps will give you turn by turn navigation on the go. These are all available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Instructions on how to access the routes are below:

Strava www.strava.com

1. Create a Strava account on your computer or smartphone.

2. Click on the link for the route you want to ride on this page.

3. After logging in, click the star next to the route name.

4. On the Strava app on your smartphone, log in and tap the ‘Record’ button.

5. Tap the triangle on the bottom left side of your screen.

6. Tap ‘Use Route’ next to the route you want to ride.

MapMyRide: www.mapmyride.com

1. Create a MapMyRide account on your computer or smartphone.

2. Click on the link for the route you want to ride on this page.

3. After logging in, click ‘Send to Phone’

4. Open the email from MapMyRide on your smartphone. The route will automatically load into the app.

Ride with GPS: www.ridwithgps.com

1. Create a Ride with GPS account on your computer or smartphone.

2. Click on the link for the route you want to ride on this page.

3. After logging in, click the pin on the top right hand side of your screen.

4. On the Ride with GPS app, log in and tap the three horizontal lines on the top left hand side of your screen.

5. Tap ‘Pinned’.

6. Select the route that you want to ride.

7. Tap the three dots on the top right of your screen.

8. Tap ‘Ride this’.

All-Terrain Ride

The Butter Tart Ride

Group of Seven Trails

Main to the Moraine

Pedal to the Kettle

Simcoe Beaches

Tour de Holland

Markham Town and Trail

Village Roundabout

York Century

York Region Cycling maps are now available on Avenza!

Avenza is a mobile map application that enables you to download maps for offline use (doesn't use data) on your Apple iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. Use your device's built-in GPS to track your location on the map and navigate York Region on the go. You can also plot information about locations, import and export placemarks, measure distance and area, and even plot photos.

Step 1: Get the app

Download the app for free by searching “Avenza” on the iOS App Store, the Google Play Store, or the Windows Store

Step 2: Get the map

Search for "York Region Cycling" and download the North and South maps.

https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/144060/york-region-cycling-map-south/

https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/144059/york-region-cycling-map-north/

Step 3: Try it

Friday, August 25, 2017

Tour York Region's gems with Greenbelt Explore online maps

Greenbelt Explore is a new online tool which allows cyclists and hikers to customize routes and tours.

https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/7507259-tour-york-region-s-gems-with-greenbelt-explore-online-maps/

Community 09:00 AM by Amanda Persico Aurora Banner

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Greenbelt Explore is a new online tool, which allows cyclists and hikers to customize routes and tours thoughout York Region. Clockwise from top left, cyclists can tour 1) The Holland Marsh and see one of the York Region's hidden gems. (Photo courtesy Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation).2) Whitchurch Robinson Tract (Photo courtesy Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority)3) The Village Roundabout tour that takes cyclists through quaint Main Street Schomberg. (Photo coutesy Country Lane Treasures).4) Home to 99 Steps, Thornton Bales is a challenging and rewarding hike that showcases a variety of headwater types, nestled in King Township. (Jim Craigmyle Photography). - Submitted Photos

There’s plenty to see in York Region — sometimes you just have to stop and take a look.
Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation are making it easier to explore the Greenbelt as it ripples through York Region.
Greenbelt Explore is a new online tool which allows cyclists and hikers — for the novice and experienced alike — to customize routes and tours.
With a collection of different itineraries and tourist attractions, Greenbelt Explore encourages residents to get out of their cars and experience the best nature has to offer, from beaches and hiking to beer and local food experiences.

“We want people to get out of their cars and make contact with nature,” said Susan Murray, communications and operations vice president with Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

“The itineraries provide the best of nature that’s protected. It’s the best of what already exists.”
As a cyclist herself, Murray has been working on the online collection for the last several years.

With thousands of points of interest and pins on a map, there is something for everyone — on-road routes and child- and family-friendly trials.
And it’s all curated and mapped with a click of a button.
“We wanted to do the work for people,” Murray said. “It’s about a curated Greenbelt experience and the experience of place.”

There’s no better way to experience this great place than on a bike, said Shawn Smith, active and sustainable transportation manager for York Region.

“You see a lot more on a bike than in a car,” said the avid cyclist from Vaughan. “On a bike, you use all your senses. You can feel the hills, feel the wind on your face.”
There are more than 470 kilometres contained within in the Oak Ridges Moraine, and about 70 km of those are in York Region.
There are several unique Greenbelt routes and tours in the region featuring quaint small-town charm, rich agricultural history, forest trails, and wildlife.
The Tour de Holland comes highly recommended.

“It’s a unique agricultural area,” Smith said. “When riding through, there is rich, dark soil on either side. You can’t find that elsewhere.”

For more information or to start planning your customized tour, visit greenbelt.ca/explore

There are several unique routes and tours in York Region:
Village Roundabout — a 59 km moderate to advanced cycling loop which travels through Schomberg, Kleinberg, and Kettleby, giving cyclists a scenic tour filled with quaint small-town charm.
Tour de Holland loop — a 68 km advanced cycling loop which travels along the rolling rural hills of King Township through to the rich agricultural and farms lands of the Holland Marsh.
Thornton Bales Greenbelt walk — a 1.2 km moderate hike featuring the infamous 99 Steps and showcasing a number of headwater types.
Whitchurch Robinson tract — a 4.4 km easy hike showcasing low forest trails and plenty of signs of wildlife.
Saints and Sinners — a multi-day 595 km trip that starts in Bradford and travels through Georgian Bay, home to a number of breweries, wineries, and cider houses.

Monday, August 21, 2017

York Region Cycle Tour: Butter Tart Ride (Newmarket, 17 km)

The Butter Tart Ride is perfect for a casual family-friendly bike ride through Newmarket. The route is only 17 kilometres long and winds through Newmarket on quiet streets and pathways.

It begins and ends at the Newmarket Riverwalk Commons. Here, there is a Farmers’ Market every Saturday with food and free live entertainment. Just a block over, you can visit Main Street, a historic street with lots of coffee shops, ice cream stores, and eateries. This is an excellent place to refuel before your ride or grab something refreshing afterwards. Make sure to stop by Maid’s Cottage for homemade butter tart, the namesake of this ride.

Along the route, you’ll find lots of beautiful parks and lakes to stop and rest at.

This is a great ride for those looking for an easy ride through town. If you’re looking for a shorter route, just do the Nokiidaa trail on the West side of the route. You will still pass through scenic Fairy Lake Park and see the shops on Main Street.

Enjoy and always remember to use a bell on trails with pedestrians!

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Bike into Spring Discovery Ride Recap - April 29th, 2017

Vaughan Public Libraries hosted a wonderful event to get people excited about cycling.

some of the library's collection of cycling books

obstacle course in the gym

bike photo station

full bike rack

York Region

York Region Cycling Coalition

City of Vaughan

Velofix was on hand with free tune-ups and also had an e-bike demo

Pedal while you read

Button-making station

The York Region Discovery Ride was the first of eight free themed rides this year.

We did a 10km route along trails, residential streets, and bike lanes.

One of our ride leaders, Norman, from the Vaughan Bicycle User Group

Happy cycling!!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

It's hard to overstate the benefits of biking to work

http://usa.streetsblog.org/2017/04/24/its-hard-to-overstate-the-health-benefits-of-biking-to-work/

Friday, April 21, 2017

Vaughan Earth Hour Glow Ride

On March 25, 2017, Vaughan BUG teamed up with the City of Vaughan to host a night ride as part of the Earth Hour celebrations. There were about 30 cyclists, from the young to the young at heart.

Here's the route and some photos.

Full bike rack at Vaughan City Hall!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Group of Seven Tour Route from Maple to Woodbridge

Here are a few highlights from my ride which was part of the York Region Cycling Tour Route called Group of Seven Trails. Visit www.york.ca/cycling for more details or see the route at RidewithGPS.

Magnotta winery is on Chrislea Road north of Portage Parkway

Marketlane is a historic part of Woodbridge has many shops, restaurants, and a farmers market

Clarence Road is quite scenic as it passes a golf course

Sonoma Greenway runs along a hydro corridor

Geocaching by Bike on the Bartley Smith Greenway

I went for a ride with my family looking for some geocaches. We ended up finding 4 out of 5 which is pretty good. We'll have to go back some time to get others further south along the Bartley Smith Greenway trail.

Rutherford GO Train Station #BiketoGO

Bartley Smith Greenway south of Rutherford Road in Vaughan

Geocache map available at www.geocaching.com

Friday, October 28, 2016

A call for better cycling options across Highway 400 in Vaughan

Highway 400 cuts the City of Vaughan in two. It is a challenge to cross by bike or on foot. It can be done, but sadly, the vast majority wouldn't even think of it. There is just too much high speed traffic, and crossing the ramps are deemed too risky. I think crossing Hwy 400 is the biggest reason preventing more people to ride bikes in Vaughan.

Here's a video of one of my bike rides across Hwy 400 using Major Mackenzie Dr. It took about 20 minutes with my 7 year old son on a trail-a-bike attached to my bike. It's about the same time as driving, but a lot more fun for both of us.
(video shows Major Mackenzie from 9:17 to 13:00)

Here's a cycling map showing the Hwy 400 crossings in urban areas in Vaughan. There are currently six (Teston, Major Mackenzie, Rutherford, Langstaff, Portage Parkway and Hwy 7).

Major Mackenzie, Rutherford, and Hwy 7 are full Parclo A4 highway interchanges with ramps to cross, and not appropriate for children.

Langstaff and Teston are partial interchanges so perhaps slightly better than the others.

Portage Parkway is the only midblock crossing. There is a narrow shoulder on the bridge, but no cycling infrastructure connecting to it. There are also signs that say cyclists must dismount and walk across. They are intended for sidewalk cyclists, since the railing heights don't meet the 1.37m high standard for cyclists. But they are misleading: when I first saw them, it looked like they were for road cyclists too.

Portage Parkway - cyclist dismount sign

I'd like to highlight five potential crossing improvements shown in red circles above.

1. Canada Drive - America Avenue midblock crossing (aka North Maple Community Bridge). The City did an Environmental Assessment a few years ago.

2. Major Mackenzie - York Region is undertaking an EA to look at options to improve the Hwy 400 - Jane. One option being considered in a separate pedestrian/cycling bridge on the south side of Major Mackenzie, from the carpool/GO parking lot on the west, to a future transit hub near wonderland on the east. A pedestrian/cyclist underpass is already planned to get from wonderland/transit hub to the future hospital.

3. Ashberry Road - Wonderland Drive midblock crossing - shown the York Region's Transportation Master Plan as a long-term initiative (15+ years away)

4. Vaughan Mills Secondary Plan - shows a pedestrian crossing over Hwy 400 between Rutherford Road and Bass Pro Mills Drive

5. Highway 7 crossing - as part of the Vivanext Rapidway project, there will be a protected cycling/walking path down the centre of Highway 7 across the Highway 400 interchange, similar to this example in New York City. It bypasses the highway ramps on the outsides. Construction is expected to be complete in 2019.

Vivanext website

These five transformative projects will give people active transportation options in a City that is in desperate need of them. We will need all levels of government working together, a groundswell of support from residents, and the political will to make it happen. In Markham and Richmond Hill, there are four Hwy 404 midblock crossings with cycling infrastructure moving forward including one under construction north of Hwy 7. The Hwy 7 & 400 project is underway in Vaughan, but we need action on those 4 projects to the north as well. Lets make the City of Vaughan and York Region people-centred, again.