Local business owners, tourism operators and community organizations are invited to a series of free workshops focused on the development of the Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop.
Five workshops will be held between September and November in Smiths Falls, Sharbot Lake, Portland, Carleton Place and Calabogie. Ontario By Bike is presenting the series with support from the rail trail project partners and Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization.
The proposed 320-kilometre off-road cycling loop would connect portions of the Cataraqui Trail, K&P Trail, Algonquin Trail and Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail. In Rideau Lakes, the route would travel through South Elmsley, Portland, Forfar and Chaffeys Lock, with the potential for connections to other villages.
The regional partners hope to establish a continuous, multi-day cycling route by 2030. Project organizers estimate the completed loop could generate approximately $65 million in direct spending in surrounding communities.
“The Ontario By Bike workshops are the next steps in this ambitious, multi-year project to develop Canada’s longest continuous rail trail cycling loop by 2030,” said Nicole Whiting, executive director of Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization.
Whiting said the project has been community-driven and the workshops will give businesses and residents an opportunity to help shape its development.
Participants will receive information about the cycle tourism market and what cyclists look for when choosing places to eat, stay and visit. The workshops will also cover low-cost ways businesses can welcome cyclists and the process for becoming certified as bicycle-friendly through Ontario By Bike.
Louisa Mursell, executive director of Ontario By Bike and Transportation Options, said the loop is expected to attract thousands of cycling tourists.
“These visitors spend more and stay longer than regular visitors and will be looking for accommodations, food and beverage, and a variety of other activities,” Mursell said.
The sessions will also include discussions about possible cycling itineraries, visitor experiences, local services and attractions. Participants will be asked to identify service gaps and partnership opportunities that could improve the trail experience.
Recent research by Ontario By Bike found 54 per cent of responding certified bicycle-friendly businesses reported increased business from cyclists during the previous two years.
The Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop is a partnership involving Renfrew, Lanark and Frontenac counties, the Township of Rideau Lakes and the Town of Smiths Falls.
The workshop schedule is:
- Smiths Falls: Sept. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Smiths Falls Welcome Centre, town hall, 77 Beckwith St. N.
- Sharbot Lake: Sept. 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Kick & Push Brewery, 24613 Highway 7.
- Portland: Sept. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Portland Community Hall, 24 Water St.
- Carleton Place: Nov. 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Bob Rintoul Hall, Carleton Place Arena, 57 Neelin St.
- Calabogie: Nov. 10 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Calabogie Community Hall, 574 Mill St.
Attendance is free, but advance registration is requested. Registration is available through the Eastern Ontario Rail Trail Loop workshop page on Eventbrite.
SOURCE: Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization and the Township of Rideau Lakes.
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