• Membership • Meeting Notes • Contact •

A Regional Niagara Bicycling Study was approved by Regional Council on February 16, 1995. The purposes of the study were to develop bicycle-related policies and guidelines, to identify a bicycle network that could be phased in over time, and to encourage and support all types of cycling in Niagara for residents and visitors alike.

Regional Council agreed to establish a bicycling advisory committee to direct the implementation of the study. It was viewed that the Committee could play a useful, active role in providing input on a wide range of topics and issues related to bicycling. Regional staff play an active role on the Committee.

Typically the Committee meets every six weeks on Thursday evening in Committee Room 4, Regional Headquarters. Meetings are open to the public.

Long-term Goals

1. To advise Regional Council on:

• bicycling issues as they affect the Regional Niagara Policy Plan and Regional Roads program,

• Regional transportation systems, their maintenance standards and schedules, signage, and integration with other local or agency bicycling systems in Niagara,

• the integration of bicycling facilities into significant development proposals as they arise like the Welland Canals Parkway, the Waterfront Trail and the TransCanada Trail, and

• the promotion of safe bicycling.

2. To promote bicycle tourism in Niagara that builds on the beauty of the Niagara region, its fruitlands, wineries and other natural and man-made attractions.

3. To raise the profile of bicycle tourism in Niagara as it contributes to the economic health of the region.

4. To co-ordinate Regional Niagara’s efforts on bicycle promotion and facilitation with those of local municipalities.

5. To examine opportunities for bicycling along major off-road linear corridors.

6. To regularly monitor and review progress on the implementation of the Regional Bicycling Study including the identification of route deficiencies for utilitarian and recreational cycling.

7. To provide, where possible, on-road bicycle lanes and/or off-road bicycle paths connecting residential, recreational industrial and commercial areas as well as existing recreational trails.

8. To encourage and facilitate, Region-wide bicycling programs, events and tours.

9. To act as a central registry in Niagara for information on local bicycling clubs, events and bicycle planning initiatives.

10. To encourage cycling amongst residents of Niagara:

• as a health promoting activity with all the benefits that accrue with physical activity.

• as an environmentally sustainable, quieter form of transportation that helps to reduce reliance on private automobile use.

• as a method of reducing society’s fossil fuel consumption and its inherent pollution of our environment.

• as a financial tool in assisting municipalities to reduce their budgets for traditional municipal transportation services that require extensive ongoing and expensive infrastructure improvements.

11. To encourage and support the enforcement of existing legislation that addresses bicycling issues.

Short-Term Objectives

1. To participate with and assist local municipalities or other agencies in the development of local bicycle studies that integrate well with the approved Regional network.

2. To help determine some priority Regional Roads projects that can be signed and marked for both recreational and utilitarian bicycling.

3. To design an appropriate bicycling route sign or signs that can be used in identifying routes along the Regional Bicycle Network for utilitarian, touring or recreational purposes.

4. To prepare a detailed bicycling map suitable for broad public distribution.

5. To provide input and advice, including the interpretation of technical standards and guidelines, on proposed Regional Roads projects that may have a bicycling component.

6. To provide advice on scheduling for the maintenance and cleaning of roads identified in the Regional Bicycling network.

7. To encourage and facilitate one Region-wide bicycling event annually.

8. To provide advice to both the Planning Services Committee and the Public Works and Utilities Committee on long-range policy or development matters that may have a bicycling component.

9. To encourage and support programs for bicycling education through school programs, CAA promotional literature and other means.

10. To meet on an annual or semi-annual basis with other local and/or Regional bicycling advisory committees to share information and provide advice on current bicycling issues.

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