Ride your way into Bike Month

 

Let’s get ready to ride! Bike Month has officially kicked off and the City of Vaughan is encouraging citizens to grab their bikes, get outside and cycle through local neighbourhoods, parks and trails. 

There are a number of ways to get rolling:   

VAUGHAN’S CYCLING AND MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL TRAILS NETWORK

Looking for a trail to ride your bike on? Vaughan is home to a growing network of sidewalks, cycle tracks, bike lanes, multi-use paths and recreational trails – and it continues to expand. Some of these projects include the 2020 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Update, the Vaughan Super Trail, the Clark Avenue Cycle Tracks, the expansion of the Humber Trail system, closing gaps on the Bartley Smith Greenway Trail, trail upgrades at North Maple Regional Park, the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) Cycling Network Plan and more. A comprehensive update on all of these projects is outlined in Vaughan’s Active Transportation Programs - Second Annual Update (PDF). 

BIKE MONTH EVENT CALENDAR

Thinking of joining a community bike ride? Check out the Bike Month Event Calendar for cycling events for all ages and abilities happening throughout Vaughan and the Greater Toronto Area. 

CYCLING WEBINARS

In partnership with York Region, the City is encouraging residents to tune in to cycling webinars focusing on road rules and family cycling. 

SMARTCOMMUTE

This June, Vaughan residents are encouraged to log their bike rides with SmartCommute – a program supported and implemented by municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area to provide resources and solutions for the public on sustainable commuting options, gridlock, greenhouse gas emissions, and health and well-being improvements. SmartCommute connects users with like-minded people to explore commuting options, such as carpool partners, transit, walking and cycling routes, finding a mentor and planning trips. Once registered, users can also log their trips and track calories burned, fuel and money saved, and distance and duration travelled. In doing so, citizens are entered for a chance to win a prize – six $50 e-gift cards and a $100 grand prize e-gift card. 

ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL

Who says travelling to school can’t be fun? The City of Vaughan recently launched Active School Travel, a new pilot program to promote active, accessible and sustainable modes of transportation, such as walking, wheeling (by using assistive mobility devices), cycling, scootering, rollerblading and skateboarding when travelling to and from school. This pilot program is underway in eight schools across the city. 

CYCLING SAFETY

A bicycle is considered a vehicle under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. This means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities to obey all traffic laws as other road users. Cyclists are also required to wear a helmet if under the age of 18, although it is recommended that all riders wear one, and have the following on their bike:

• white reflective tape on the front forks
• red reflective tape on the rear forks
• a white front light
• a red rear light or reflector
• a working bell or horn

RIDER ETIQUETTE

When sharing space with pedestrians, cyclists should:

• ·keep to the right.
• pass on the left when safe to do so.
• yield to pedestrians. 
• let pedestrians know they are approaching with a friendly greeting or by ringing a bell or horn.

 When riding along or on the road, cyclists must:

• travel in the same direction as motorists.
• obey traffic lights and stop signs.
• use hand signals to communicate their intentions with motorists and pedestrians.

eBIKES

Micromobility devices – such as e-scooters, golf carts, Segways, electric skateboards, hoverboards and other motorized personal vehicles – should not be used on sidewalks, cycle tracks, shared pedestrian and bike paths or recreational trails in the city. Exemptions apply to those who require motorized wheelchairs and medical devices to get around. To report unsafe sightings, contact Access Vaughan by phone at 905-832-2281 or email at accessvaughan@vaughan.ca with the date, location and nature of the incident. You can also report concerns to York Regional Police through the non-emergency phone line at 1-866-876-5423 or through the online form at yrp.ca. 

For more information, visit vaughan.ca/cycling. You can also explore Vaughan’s cycling facilities in the York Region Cycling Map.