Last Sunday to... GO-by-Bike!
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Last Sunday to go, so...
Don't miss this summer's most unbelievable bike ride... take the GO Train to Ajax, then the Trans Canada and Waterfront Trails 15km west along the spectacular Ajax, Pickering and Scarborough waterfronts.
The Trans Canada Trail
Get back on the train at Rouge Hill GO Station in Scarborough. Add 15km to your ride up the Highland Creek Bikeway to Guildwood GO Station.
A greeter, with route maps, will greet cyclists on this Sunday's east and westbound trains arriving at Ajax GO Station at 10:54, 11:54, 12:54, 13:54, 14:54 and 15:54.
Check GOTransit.com for all schedules and fares.
Visit GO-by-Bike.ca for more!
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Comments
The missing Waterfront Trail in Scarborough
I was on the Waterfront Trail ride and was concerned about the missing gap through Scarborough. I wrote on the page about my concerns and also to the City. I received this response from Alex Shevchuck. I am posting his comments as well as the letter I sent to Councillor Heaps.
Mr. Juliusson: I am surprised by this as I thought the Waterfront Regeneration Trust had worked hard to place proper signage along those streets, especially in advance of the Trail Ride.
I will ask Marlaine Koehler to provide some clarification on this.
Thanks,
Alex Shevchuk
Acting Supervisor
Area Landscape & Planning Initiatives
Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division
City of Toronto
Metro Hall - 24th Floor
(416) 392-0356
Thank you for your comments. By copy of your email, I will ask Mr. Alex Shevchuk of the City's Planning, Design and Development Division for Parks Forestry & Recreation to review your comments and advise.
Thank you again,
Adrian
Councillor A.A. Heaps
Scarborough Southwest, Ward 35
416-392-0213
I was one of the recent participant on the Waterfront Trail ride. We rode from Niagara on the Lake to Riviere Beaudette on the Quebec border. It was a great experience that went through 41 communities.
As participants we did comparisons on what we felt were the best and the worst portions of the trail. There was large disagreement over the best. There was none over the worst. The unanimous consensus was Scarborough. The area being mentioned is from the end of the bike trails at the Beaches to the east end of Scarborough.
The main reason for this was the lack of signs. Trying to follow the path was confusing at best. Even the tour leaders got lost on occasion. We would end up on Kingston Road for no reason until we found our way back.
There is no reason except a lack of political will for the lack of signs. Scarborough has beautiful streets to ride through. They are wide, nicely treed, and with low traffic. If signed properly, it could be a destination for cyclists.
An example of how it could be done is Mississauga. Like Scarborough, they have significant sections of their Waterfront Trail commitment on road. It too winds through many streets and neighbourhoods Unlike Scarborough, the route is well signed. This makes it a pleasure to ride through and the difference is notable. We saw lots of cyclists riding in Mississauga. It benefits the community too. People stopped for lunch at Port Credit, visited the local museum, bought ice cream in Clarkson. Besides our group, we saw nobody riding through Scarborough until we got close to the Rouge River. It is a shame, Scarborough has so much to offer cyclists.
I believe that in cooperation with the Waterfront Trust this portion of the Trail could be signed and become a destination for cyclists that could rival Mississauga. Even though this is not part of the Official Bike Plan it would benefit cyclists and walkers in Toronto.
Yours sincerely,
David Juliusson
The Waterfront Trust is in meetings with Dan Egans office and is attempting to get off orad trails in Scarborough. It is something that readers of this page can write to Councillor Heaps and show their support of.