Transcript Welcome Cyclists Cycling Project Update.October 10.2013

CYCLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
GREY COUNTY
Louisa Mursell
Projects Director
Phone: 416-827-2774 / 1-866-701-2774
Email: [email protected]
www.transportationoptions.org
www.welcomecyclists.ca
© 2013 Transportation Options
Cycle Tourism Development - Grey County
Key factors:
• Partnerships
• Transportation Options
• Services & Businesses – Welcome Cyclists Network
• Infrastructure – New Routes
• Info & Marketing – Next Steps
SERVICES & BUSINESSES
• Accommodations
• Food Services
• Attractions
• Bike Stores
Certified Bicycle Friendly
What is the Welcome Cyclists Network?
• Goal is to create a network of cycle friendly businesses that
together enhance the regions cycle tourism product
• Comprehensive program
• Individual business profile / collective profile
• Economic development
• Target end users – visiting cycle tourists and local cyclists
Promoting cycle tourism & bicycle friendly businesses in Ontario
36 workshops – 1060 attendees
775+ participating locations - 26 regions
Network Participants Benefits
• Workshop & Tool Kit
• Product knowledge
• Access to growing cycle
tourism market
• Potential for group marketing opportunities
• Formation of a larger network in region
NETWORK PARTICIPATION
• Workshop Attendance
• On-line Registration
Criteria Checklist
www.welcomecyclists.ca
Welcome Cyclists
Locations Offer:
• Secure bike lock-up area
Certification
• Local cycling information
Criteria
• Use of basic bicycle repair tool set
Checklist
(accommodations only)
• Healthy, local food options (where served)
• Rest area and water (attractions)
www.welcomecyclists.ca
Welcome Cyclists Network
Grey County Workshops
• 2 Previous Workshops October 2012:
57 attended
• Recent outreach
• Ongoing outreach
• Total businesses currently participating: 35
Certified Bicycle Friendly Locations In Grey County
•Noah's Inn
•Ansaku B&B
•Best Western Inn on the Bay
•Between The Maples B&B
•Georgian Manor B&B
•Hawthorn Cottages & Camping of Lake
Eugenia
•Holly Cottage B&B
•Maxwell's Cabin B&B
•Pedulla's Mountainside B&B at Blue
Mountain
•Pretty River Valley Country Inn
•Red Hills Country House Bed & Breakfast
•Rob Uffen's Trout House
•Sea and Ski Vacation Rentals
•The Guest House at Eugenia Falls
•The Treehouse Bed & Breakfast
•Georgian Bay Cycle Tours
•Pedal Pushers Cycle & Spa Clinics/Tours
•Ride On Bikes
•Bikeface Cycling
•Squire Johns
•Bruce Wine Bar Kitchen
•Kimberley General Store
•McGinty's Cafe
•The Cheese Gallery - Edible Art
•The Dam Pub Gastropub
•Beaver Valley Cidery
•Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery
•Georgian Hills Vineyards
•Blue Mountain Village
•Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain
•Town of The Blue Mountains Town Hall
•Grey County Tourism
•Meaford Chamber of Commerce
•Owen Sound Tourism
Feedback From Participating Locations
•“We congratulate you on this venture, will
most definitely be part of this.” Guest House
Eugenia Falls
•Ride on Bikes – Back of business card
‘Proud Member of Welcome Cyclists’. Listing
assisting with on-line SOE
•Many businesses enthusiastic – used to
welcoming cyclists and would like to see
more
•Welcome Cyclists decals and signs
displayed
•Outreach to additional businesses
Review to TripAdvisor and on Welcome Cyclists
September 2013 – Pretty River Valley Country Inn
"We do an annual cycling trip with roughly 15 guys.
We've been to Colorado, Lake Placid and North
Carolina and this year to Southern Ontario. We
stayed a night at the Pretty River Valley Inn... it was
exceptional. A very welcoming group that even went
to town to get us a cake for a birthday celebration
and gluten free bread for some with dietary
sensitivities. Very very friendly. They were incredibly
accommodating and the rooms were perfect.
The facilities are nice and clean with a pool and hottub to loosen up the muscles after a long ride.
On that point, the out and back that we did from the
Inn was superb. It was one of the best rides I've
done. Starting the ride with the Scenic Caves hill is
tough, but once you're up there, the riding is world
class.
I highly recommend this Inn for your next cycling
trip.
Recreational Cycling Routes &
Itinerary Development
Project Overview
• Grey County
• Create 5 new cycling itineraries
• 20-30km in length
• Geared to new target market
Opportunity
• More experienced cyclists already
finding area
• Many training rides pre Centurion
• Demand from recreational riders
• New draw to new market
• Added activities to extend stay
• Shoulder season potential
• Economic impact – businesses impacted
by cyclists spending
Target Market
Family / Leisure & Recreational
Riders
Leisure
•Secondary activity
•Off road paths or routes
•Prefer loops and flat rides
•Less frequent riders
•Less than 20km
•May be more likely to rent bikes
Recreational Riders
•Primary or secondary activity
•More likely to have own bikes
and experience riding
•Off road paths or routes
•Ride distances 30-80km
•Experience destination
All ages – Variety of abilities – Safe ride – Experience destination
Variety of classification systems used to categorize cyclists.
The above also includes touring cycling, race and competitive, mountain biking
markets all of which are not primary target markets for these routes.
Route Selection Criteria
 Route length
 Easy terrain
 Wayfinding complexity
 Road quality & infrastructure
 Existing routes
 Road safety
 Amenities (washrooms, bike
racks etc)
 Parking
 Start/finish access points
 Tourism businesses
including accommodations
 Services (bike repairs,
ATM, refuel)
 Bike rental options &
guided tours
 Destination attractions
 Communities
 The experience
Key Areas
• Beaver Valley
• Owen Sound
• Meaford Thornbury
• Blue Mountains
• South Grey
Neustadt Country Road Loop
6 riders
Features / Attractions
1 - Suphur Springs Conservation Area
2 - Neustadt Springs Brewery
3 - Neustadt Village
4 - John Diefenbaker Home
5 – Farms & countryside
Feedback:
•Hwy #10 - busy
•Gravel roads – Bike
type
•Limited stops enroute
•Brewery & village –
hours of operation
Eugenia Lake Circuit
8 riders
Features / Attractions
1 - Hawthorn Cottages & Camping /
Cedars Resort
2 - Eugenia Lake Causeway
3 - Eugenia town and cafes
4 – Guest House at Eugenia Falls
5 - Eugenia Falls Conservation Area
Feedback:
•Quiet country roads
•Limited gravel
•Lake views
•Attractions in/near Eugenia
•Businesses open various hours
•Natural heritage
Thornbury Heathcote Loop
5 riders
Thornbury
Features / Attractions
1 - Heathcote Village bakery and
boat rentals on Beaver River
2 - Farmers Pantry
3 – Clendenan Conservation Area
4 - Clarksburg Village & art galleries
5 - Thornbury town centre
5 - The Cheese Gallery
- Old Mail Road
Feedback:
•Reroute to avoid longer hills
•Frogs Hollow hill & #7 hill –
challenging but views
•Old Mail Road heritage - gravel
•Some paved shoulders
•Good shopping options
•Good add on adventures
Owen Sound East & Town Centre
6 riders
Features / Attractions
1 – Hibou Conservation Area
2 – Bayside River Café
3 - Ainsley Woods Conservation Area
4 – Tom Thomson Memorial / Grave
5 - Owen Sound Town Centre
6 –Owen Sound Marine and Rail
Museum & Visitor Information Centre
Feedback:
•Quiet Bayshore Road
•Great waterviews
•Conservation areas – free entry for bikes?
•Bay River Café – only refreshments
•Thomson grave & church
•Tom Thomson trail hard to locate entry
•Map recheck – back roads - gravel
Blue Mountain Loop
TODAY – 14 riders
Features / Attractions
1 – Blue Mountain Village
2 – Blue Mountain Summer Gondola
3 – Loree Forest Trails
4 – Georgian Hills Vineyard
5 - T&K Ferri Orchards and others
farm stops
6 - Council Beach
7 - Craigleith Provincial Park
8 – Georgian Trail
Next Steps – Route Development
• Finalize routes
• Prepare maps and route directions
• Include businesses
• Provide lure/text information
• Grey Tourism upload to website
• Increase participation in Welcome
Cyclists Network
• Cycle tourism development
Grey Tourism next steps
CYCLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
GREY COUNTY
Louisa Mursell
Projects Director
Phone: 416-827-2774 / 1-866-701-2774
Email: [email protected]
www.transportationoptions.org
www.welcomecyclists.ca
© 2013 Transportation Options