TORONTO, July 15 /CNW/ - The award-winning Bike Train Initiative will be
heading to North Bay for an inaugural pilot weekend August 7-10, making
cycling holidays in Ontario's Near North easy and accessible.
The Ontario North Bike Train will take passengers from downtown Toronto
to North Bay and the diverse landscapes of Ontario's Near North. Passengers
will travel on Ontario Northland's Northlander rail service, winding through
the scenic back country of Muskoka and the Algonquin Highlands.Ontario North Bike Train (Toronto-North Bay Pilot)
- Adults $153 return; capacity 56
- 1 weekend: August 7-10
- Bike Train welcome event, group rides and cocktail party
- Special hotel packages starting at $120 including breakfasts and
boxed lunches
- Partnership with Toronto Bike Union offers 15% off Green Travel
Rewards for membersThrough the journey to North Bay, passengers can win great prizes via an
onboard trivia twitter competition. The Bike Train Twitter account will be
awash with tips from passengers and locals alike on great cycling routes,
refreshing swimming spots, fun attractions, and delicious dinner locales. Upon
arrival in North Bay, the Honourable Monique Smith, Minister of Tourism and
MPP for Nippissing will be on hand to personally greet the Bike Train in North
Bay.
Originally developed by Toronto cyclist Justin Lafontaine and launched in
partnership with VIA Rail between Toronto and Niagara in 2007, the Bike Train
has proven to be a fun, economic and environmentally friendly way to enjoy a
cycling getaway. Passengers travel in comfort in the passenger car while their
bicycles are safely secured in a baggage car with bike racks.
Knowledgeable Bike Train staff are available onboard to provide cycling
maps and useful information. Passengers join a community of travellers who are
happy to share stories and anecdotes about their trip during the train
journey. With 1,000 passengers to date and new routes that span the province,
the Bike Train is putting Ontario on the map as a leading cycle tourism
destination in North America.
Visit www.biketrain.ca for schedules, tickets and updates. Media tours
and interviews can be arranged.
QUOTES
"I am delighted The Bike Train is heading north. It is a unique and
remarkable success story within the tourism industry," said the Honourable
Monique Smith, Minister of Tourism and MPP for Nippissing. "By expanding bike
train service to select parts of the province, this initiative is helping to
revitalize local tourism and is positioning Ontario as a go-to destination for
cycling holidays."
"Ontario Northland is pleased to have the opportunity to work with Justin
Lafontaine and the Bike Train team on this exciting project." Cheryl Sutton,
Vice President of Passenger Services for Ontario Northland continued, "What a
wonderful way to showcase North Bay's pristine waters, fresh air and abundant
forests, something the residents of the North often take for granted."
"We are thrilled that North Bay was chosen as a feature destination for
the newly expanded Bike Train Initiative," said the Mayor of North Bay Victor
Fedeli. "This project is an exciting way to showcase our community to the
cycle tourism market and to further encourage active transportation and the
use of our area trail system."QUICK FACTS
- Bike Train won two Ontario Tourism Awards in 2008:
- Best Tourism Marketing Partnership & Excellence Award for Tourism
Innovation
- North Bay partners include the City of North Bay, Discovery Routes
and Ontario Northland
- 1,000 Bike Train passengers to date on the Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt
Express
- North Bay features several recreational trails and on road routes
that pass by lakes, bogs, wilderness and northern communities
- Toronto is home to more than 1 million cyclists according to the City
of TorontoABOUT THE BIKE TRAIN INITIATIVE
The Bike Train Initiative introduces bike racks onboard select passenger
rail trains to destinations across Ontario, making cycling holidays easy and
accessible. The initiative is a project of Transportation Options, a
non-profit organization dedicated to stimulating sustainable systems of
transportation, and is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Government
of Ontario, and Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, and supported by more
than 30 organizations and businesses. For more information visit
www.biketrain.ca.
ABOUT ONTARIO NORTHLAND
The Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (Ontario Northland), an
operational enterprise of the Province of Ontario, was established in 1902 and
is a recognized leader in promoting sustainable economic growth by
establishing and operating transportation and telecommunication links
throughout Northern Ontario.
For further information: Justin Lafontaine, Project Director, Bike Train
Initiative, Office: (416) 392-1556, Cell: (416) 712-8819, Email:
jlafont@toronto.ca
