Toronto-Niagara Bike Train

The Toronto-Niagara Bike Train (known in short as "The Bike Train") is an award-winning [ [http://www.ibiketo.ca/node/1611 "Justin LaFontaine and the Bike Train Wins!" "i bike T.O."] 1 October, 2007] initiative in Southern Ontario allowing cyclists to travel by train on VIA Rail between Toronto, Niagara Falls, with limited stops at St. Catherines. The Bike Train initiative is independently coordinated, promoted, and ticketed service, utilizing existing VIA Rail passenger trains, with an additional baggage car containing bike racks for 56 bicycles. Each passenger ticket for scheduled Bike Train departures includes both a passenger seat and a bike rack reservation.

The Bike Train initiative was developed in response to the growing tourism demand and economic opportunity for improved transportation access for cyclists between Toronto and the Niagara Region.

stupid History =

Project founder Justin Lafontaine conceptualized the idea for the Toronto-Niagara Bike Train Initiative during a trip to the Niagara Region in April of 2006. On that trip, he accompanied the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and several others from the region on their annual Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail cycle tour from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario to Grimsby, Ontario. Impressed with the many trails, diverse landscapes, towns, cities and attractions, he was quick to begin planning another trip to the region.

When discussing the opportunities for cycle tourism with a fellow rider, Justin discovered that there was no convenient transportation option for cyclists between Toronto and the Niagara Region -- the existing train service did not provide baggage capacity, and buses usually require bikes to be boxed prior to loading. This led him to VIA Rail Canada and other partners to discuss the potential to introduce a Bike Train service – a concept that quickly garnered support from government contacts, tourism organizations, small businesses, media and the public.

A project proposal was subsequently developed for the Ontario Ministry of Tourism - Investment Development Office and funding for the Pilot Year of the Toronto-Niagara Bike Train Initiative was announced in January 2007.

In 2008, The Bike Train received further funding support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

Objectives

* Introduce and operate passenger rail service between Toronto and the Niagara Region with bike racks on-board
* Increase inbound cycle tourists to Toronto and the Niagara Region
* Improve accessibility while reducing automobile pollution and traffic congestion
* Promote Toronto and the Niagara Region as a leading cycle tourism destinations with unsurpassed natural beauty, well-developed cycling infrastructure, diverse accommodation and dining options, and world-renowned tourist attractions
* Increase overnight stays in Toronto and the Niagara Region
* Develop the project as a future model for other regions

Partners and Supporters

2008 Funding Partners

*Ontario Ministry of the Environment ( [http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/ website] )
*Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation ( [http://www.ourgreenbelt.ca/ website] )

Founding Partners

*City of Toronto ( [http://www.toronto.ca/ website] )
*Government of Ontario ( [http://www.gov.on.ca website] )
*Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce ( [http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/ website] )
*VIA Rail Canada ( [http://www.viarail.ca/ website] )

Project Partners

*Metrolinx ( [http://www.metrolinx.com/ website] )
*Tourism Niagara ( [http://www.tourismniagara.com/ website] )
*Transportation Options
*Waterfront Regeneration Trust ( [http://www.waterfronttrail.org/ website] )

Media Partners

*Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership
*Pedal Magazine

Legal Advisor

*Michael Carey, Lawyer, Macdonald Sager Manis LLP Cabuna.com

Other Supporters

*Brock University
*City of St. Catharines, Ontario
*Cycle Ontario
*Grimsby Chamber of Commerce
*Grimsby Downtown Improvement Area
*Grimsby Economic Development Committee
*I Bike T.O.
*Niagara Falls Downtown BIA
*Niagara Falls Tourism
*Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club
*Niagara Fruit Education Centre
*Niagara Parks Commission
*Regional Municipality of Niagara
*Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
*Ryerson University
*Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT)
*Toronto Cyclists Union
*Tourism Toronto

Related

* Cycling
* Tourism
* Transportation in Toronto

Links

* [http://www.biketrain.ca/ Bike Train Website (biketrain.ca)]

References