For tourism industry partners, the Welcome Cyclists Network is a program certifying and promoting bicycle friendly businesses and cycle tourism in a growing number of regions across Ontario. The Network is open to accommodations, food services, attractions, cycling related businesses and organizations interested in cycle tourism. The Welcome Cyclists Network is launched in each region with an informative workshop, after which local businesses may register on-line, at no charge, to participate and ultimately reach the growing number of cycle tourists in Ontario.
For more information on the Welcome Cyclists Network Project, please contact us by:
Email: information (at) welcomecyclists (dot) ca
Phone: 416-338-5083
Toll Free:1-866-333-4491
Fax: 416-392-0071
Mailing Address:
c/o Transportation Options
850 Coxwell Ave
Toronto, Ontario
M4C 5R1
In the News:
- Mid-North Monitor - October 28, 2011
Tourism + Cyclist = An Ideal Partnership - Napanee Beaver - September 22, 2011
Shops Taught How to Build Bike Savy - Ontario Business Report (Ministry of Economic Development & Trade) - August 2011
Cycle Tourism Takes Off - Ottawa Citizen - June 18, 2011
Make Tracks for a Cycling Holiday - Le Devoir - June 4, 2011
Le train-vélo, locomotive du développement cyclotouristique - The Independant - June 2, 2011
Cobourg an Excellent Place For Cyclists - Goodlife Mississauga Magazine - March/April 2011
Cycling Boomers - Brockville Recorder & Times - January 27, 2011
Caught in the Cycle - St Lawrence EMC - February 3, 2011
Cycle Tourism Potential for Businesses - Northumberland Today - May 19, 2010
County businesses hear tips on attracting cycling enthusiasts by Valerie MacDonald - The Niagara Falls Review - April 23, 2010
Power of the Wheel by Jenny Jelan - Frontenac EMC - March 4, 2010
Wolfe Island to invite cyclists to "linger longer" by Margaret Knott - Town Crier / Niagara This Week - January 28, 2010
Welcome Cyclists Network Workshop in Niagara by Carla Carlson
About Welcome Cyclists Network:
The Welcome Cyclists Network is a project of Transportation Options, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable mobility and tourism solutions across Ontario. We do so by engaging in projects that research, develop and promote new transportation and tourism choices, with a focus on those that are integrated, environmentally sound, healthy, service-oriented, and improve the experience of users.
Past projects include:
New Mobility HUBs Program, Moving the Economy, Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum 2009
Current projects include:
Bike Train Initiative, Park Bus, Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum 2010, Welcome Cyclists Network
Project Staff:
Louisa Mursell
Projects Director, Transportation Options
Louisa has been working on sustainable, green and new tourism initiatives for a number years. She has recently assumed the position of Projects Director, with Transportation Options having worked with the organization since 2008. Responsible for launching the Welcome Cyclist Network in 2010 with an extensive workshops series and support program, working as the Greenbelt Express and Operations Manager for the Bike Train Initiative and as Assistant Coordinator of the 2009 Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum, she holds much knowledge of the cycle tourism industry in Ontario – and is always keen to learn more.
Vivien Leong
Welcome Cyclists Network Manager, Transportation Options
Vivien joined Transportation Options on a full time basis in December 2011. Having worked on Bike Train promotional weekends, provided event support and assisted with research projects over the past three years, she is well versed in our programs. Vivien is an avid cyclist and also brings with her a vast array of experience from her activities with CultureLink Settlement Services, Toronto International Film Festival and Toronto Cyclists Union. Vivien has recently completed her Master in Environmental Studies at York University, with her research including tourism and sustainable transportation planning.
Joanne Hurley
Manager, Finance and Administration, Transportation Options
Joanne joined Transportation Options in January 2011 to work on our financial management and improve the organization's operational capacity. Bringing many skills to the organization the role that keeps her most busy is completing accounting and ensuring financial accountability for our growing number of projects, with a variety of funding sources. She is happy working with Transportation Options because she is committed to sustainable tourism, to getting more bikes on the road (including her own) and hanging onto the coat-tails of the innovative team that makes these projects work.
Project Background
The Welcome Cyclists Network Program was developed in response to Bike Train passenger feedback from the 2007 pilot year evaluation survey. Some passengers who completed the survey indicated their accommodation did not have adequate bicycle storage facilities and/or other related services. This prompted the development of a set of standards and criteria to certify bicycle-friendly accommodations and to provide tourism product knowledge training to managers of hotels, inns, motels and bed & breakfasts, food service providers, attractions and other businesses of interest to cyclists.
In preparing for the 2008 test pilot a lengthy research report was compiled that included examples of a number of other large networks world-wide that have successfully implemented a similar program.
• Bett und Bike - Germany
• Cycling Scotland
• The Czech Republic
• Bienvenue Cyclistes, Quebec
In 2008 the Welcome Cyclists Program was test piloted in the Niagara-area in partnership with Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce. A well attended initial workshop was offered and there was much interest in expanding the program.
Following the initial workshop a number of participants went on to create their own regional network, naming it Cycle and Stay Niagara. Receiving widespread attention and an increase in the number of cycle tourists booking rooms this is a concrete example of the often intangible benefits of networking.
