The Town Achieves Bike Friendly Community Status
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Town of Caledon was awarded a bronze level designation, as a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by Share the Road Cycling Coalition (STRCC) at the 10th Annual Ontario Bike Summit Awards on April 17, 2018. Caledon joins Brampton and Mississauga as a BFC, making Peel Region the second region in Ontario to have all of its local municipalities become BFC certified. This also brings the number of BFCs in Ontario to 42 (three Gold, eight Silver and 31 Bronze, representing 70% of Ontario’s population).
“I’d like to thank Council, staff and members of the Cycling Task Force who have done an outstanding job in achieving the BFC designation,” said Councillor Jennifer Innis. “But, let’s not stop here. Our next goal is to work towards a Silver designation and I’m confident that we’ll be able to achieve that also.”
Caledon offers a wide range of possibilities for the cycling enthusiast from near and far. Enjoy our variety of flat trails, hilly roads and mountain bike trails. Our rolling hills, parks, conservation areas and collection of heritage towns, villages and hamlets makes Caledon a popular and desired cycling destination.
Some of the improvements that the Town is most proud of, which helped secure the Bronze designation, include on-going partnerships to assist with planning and outreach, investment in infrastructure upgrades, a commitment to cycling education and financial investment in cycling improvements.
Recent achievements:
- Approval and endorsement from Council for a dedicated cycling improvement budget of $200,000 in the 2017 and 2018 budgets, which was supplemented with dedicated grant funding from the Ontario Municipal Commuters Cycling program.
- 50 km of signed bicycle routes for the first year of a pilot program, installation of bike racks, bike counters, bike repair stands and a new information/map kiosk.
- Caledon’s first crossride trail crossing on the Caledon Trailway at Airport Road.
- The completion of the Kennedy Road reconstruction project which now includes paved shoulders that connects the Etobicoke Creek Trail from Mississauga and Brampton to the Greenbelt Route and Caledon Trailway via Kennedy Road and Heart Lake Road.
- Partnered with community members and local cycling clubs to conduct community rides across the Town.
- The “Dutch Reach” training in mandatory orientation sessions for all staff operating Town-owned vehicles.
- New flashing lights installed on the Caledon Trailway crossing at Olde Baseline Road on a declining and hidden hill warning both cyclists and vehicle drivers.
“The number of communities that have applied for a BFC designation have increased from 52 to 72 in the past 2 years, with 20 new communities who have submitted applications since 2016,” said Justin Jones, Manager, Bicycle Friendly Ontario. “Caledon has some great community partnerships to support cycling education and encouragement efforts, and considerable work has been done to upgrade and enhance existing infrastructure to promote cycling. A job well done!”
May 1, 2018 marks the start of the cycling season and residents are encouraged to explore Caledon and try out some of the new trails and roadways. The Caledon Trailway is an excellent route for all cyclists as it connects several communities within the Town.
For more information or to share any feedback about cycling in Caledon, visit: Caledon.ca/cyclecaledon.
About Share the Road Cycling Coalition
STRCC is a provincial cycling advocacy organization working to build a bicycle-friendly Ontario. In partnership with municipal, provincial and federal governments, the business community, road safety organizations and other non-profits, STRCC’s goals include: Enhance access for bicyclists on roads and trails; Improve safety for all bicyclists; Educate citizens on the value and importance of safe bicycling for healthy lifestyles and healthy communities. Learn more about SRTCC.
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