Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River Waterfront Trail Part of the Carolinian Coastline Stewardship Trail Network Lake Erie Cycling Touring Route connecting to the Lake Ontario/St. Lawrence River Waterfront Trail 1400 km Windsor to Quebec Lake Erie 7 seven counties/regions 54 Cities, towns and villages and Ports 14 Provincial/National Parks and National Wildlife areas Lake Ontario 41 Communities

Waterfront Regeneration Trust Sudbury S.S.Marie Windsor April 2011 Waterfront Regeneration Trust

Waterfront Regeneration Trust In 2008 we launched the GWTA as a way to reconnect people to this project, celebrate the work that has been done and embrace the challenges that remain ahead. The tour is based on three organizing principles: -use the WT no road closures, so you’ll see you can do this on an organzied tour or by yourself -NOT A RACE, travel at your own pace and take time to relax. -Promote existing businesses and services along the way. Waterfront Regeneration Trust

Great Waterfront Trail Adventure Catalyst for trail improvements and development 53% rate the Trail as "very good" for cycling; 19% "excellent"; 22% "good" 54% feel very safe; 46% feel somewhat safe 75% feel safe riding on a cycling lane 97% feel safer cycling on secondary roads if there is a paved shoulder Promotes active lifestyles 50% have never been on a multi-day tour 86% will use the Waterfront Trail more often 54% will consider commuting Engages the public in waterfront and sustainability issues 81% strongly agree that the Waterfront Trail is important to Lake Ontario's regeneration; 14% agree Develops local tourism 95% agree that the Waterfront Trail offers wonderful holiday opportunities 68% will return to visit communities in the next year Creates great word of mouth April 2011 Waterfront Regeneration Trust

Tourism Potential-- what Quebec says About Lake Ontario 100% state exploring the Waterfront Trail is a good reason to visit Ontario 20% knew about the Waterfront Trail 23% knew that the Waterfront Trail connected to la Route verte Velo Quebec’s Grand Tour coming to Ontario for the first time in 2011—2,000 cyclists About Lake Erie At the Montreal Bike Show 2011—97% were interested in touring Lake Erie … that between the 6 of us, the "Team Quebec" members as we like to call ourselves, there are to date some 20 to 25 people we talk to that are almost certain to go on the next GWTA. So what you guys are doing for the Waterfront Trail; getting people to know about it, use it, bringing tourism over, the development of it, it's working !!! -The idea of the Waterfront Trail came out of public hearings held by the Royal Commission on the future of the Toronto waterfront -hundreds of people expressed the view that wanted to see existing parks connected and new ones created and that these should be connected by a trail. -no sooner would we open the Trail when neighbouring communities would ask to join the project. -Overwhelming community support prompted political will. An agency was established to create the Trail and subsequent governments have provided capital investment--matched locally to create the trail. -

Tourism Potential--USA $46.9 billion is spent on meals, transportation, lodging, gifts and entertainment during bike trips and tours. Source: League of American Bicyclists Darren Flusche Policy Analyst, June 2009 Waterfront Trail recognized as one of Canada’s best cycling touring routes in recent edition of Adventure Cyclists (55,000 members) We are beside two of the largest cycling markets. We need to market to these groups what we do have.

Lake Erie Cycling Route Signed route in place by 2012-2013 Fort Erie to Windsor Use existing infrastructure—mostly on-road Approximately 620 km Complements and will be part of Carolinian Canada’s work to establish a regional network of trails designed to protect, restore and promote the Carolinian forest. Met with waterfront municipalities Create a partnership of communities Preparing maps of the route to be posted on web September 10th public cycling tour on Windsor riverfront September 11-17, 2011 Pilot cycling tour of the route International cycling tourism experts invited Launch a GWTA-style cycling tour in 2012 Partners: Ontario Cycling Tourism Partnership Alliance Carolinian Canada Coalition Share the Road (Bike Friendly Communities) Funded by the Ministry of Tourism NEED MORE ROUTES AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO GET SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR LAKE ERIE BY 2012. April 2011 Waterfront Regeneration Trust