Ontario By Bike Network:

Industry Update - March 2026

NOW AVAILABLE

2026 Cycling in Ontario Guide

We are pleased to announce the 2026 edition of the Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide is now available in print and digital formats.

View at: OntarioByBike.ca/2026

This is the 14th annual edition of our extremely popular free publication, 40,000 copies available in both English and French. The 56 page magazine format guide is used by cyclists of all types for planning multi-day or day long trips, getting ride ideas and inspiration from the articles. In 2025, total readership for the guide reached 87,000! Judging by the demand to date, we expect to have 70% distributed by the end of April.

Order Print Copies & Assist With Distribution

• If you would like to order print copies for your location - business, visitor information centre, event - and assist with distribution we would be happy to ship you quantity needed, while supplies last.
• Simply click on our email address info@ontariobybike.ca and include your mailing address and quantity requested (English/French). (Boxes come in 100 but can be shipped in any quantity.)
• For smaller orders (<6), place an order using form at OntarioByBike.ca/2026

Thank You

A sincere thank you to all our advertising partners, staff and volunteers who make this annual free publication possible. With a number of distribution channels secured, shows/events attended and individual orders we are fulfilling, we are well on our way sharing the 2026 guide to enthused cyclists ready to travel to destinations around Ontario.

Last Chance - Nominations Open Until March 23

2026 Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses Awards

Winner Photo Contest 2025

This photo 'Afternoon light in Tommy Thompson Park ’ was shot by Victor Cabahug from Toronto and is the WINNER of our 2025 Ontario By Bike Photo Contest! 

Victor's photo perfectly captured the relaxing and beautiful atmosphere in Tommy Thompson Park (known as the Leslie Street Spit), a beautiful nature area in Toronto just east of downtown (originally a human-created spit of land) that is closed to motorized vehicles and is a playground for cycling and hiking. 

The 2025 photo winner is published on page two of the 2026 Cycling in Ontario/Le vélo en Ontario guide. Every year we receive hundreds of incredible cycling photos from around Ontario, certainly making it hard to pick a winner. To see some more stunning shots and photos that received an honourable mention, and to find out more or promote the annual photo contest visit:

OntarioByBike.ca/PhotoContest

2026 Destination Partner Renewals

Every three years each participating region in the Ontario By Bike Network is due for renewal. Working with our destination partners who are actively engaged in seeing cycle tourism grow and support our programming in each region, we make the certification program free for businesses and provide the following services for regions in the renewal year:

• Host an informative webinar
• Ensure all business listings are valid and continue to meet certification criteria
• Update webpages and regional tool kits
• Promote region as a great place to cycle in our enewsletter
• Provide continued administration of program, assistance to businesses and partners for three additional years

2026 Renewing Regions include, with the following webinars dates available

• Durham Region - April 8, 10-11am - Info/Register HERE
• Guelph/Wellington County - April 16, 10-11am, Info/Register HERE
• Chatham-Kent - April 20, 2-3pm, Info/Register HERE
• City of Kawartha Lakes - April 23, 2-3pm, Info/Register HERE

Other 2026 Renewal Regions - Webinars to be scheduled at a later date

• City of Peterborough & Peterborough County
• Grey County
• Haliburton Highlands

*Webinar/workshop dates TBA and communicated to all regional partners and businesses

Other Workshops & Webinars

• Bruce Grey Simcoe Workshop - In-person - Collingwood - March 24
• Ottawa - April 22, 2-3pm - Info/Register HERE
• Niagara - June 2, 10-11pm - Registration coming soon

*Additional webinar/workshop dates TBA

We'll be in touch with existing certified bicycle friendly businesses in each 2026 renewal area to verify listings and with a direct invitation to the webinar for your region. Look out for that email if located in one of the renewal regions listed above.

All webinars and workshops are listed, and new ones added as scheduled, along with registration links at the following page:

OntarioByBike.ca/Workshops

Why Attend a Webinar/Workshop

Our webinars and workshops are free to attend and open to all stakeholders across each host region, but of particular interest to businesses and locations in the tourism and service industry. If you can't attend on the date for your region, you can register to attend a webinar/workshop in another region.

Who Should Attend?

• Staff, managers, owners of tourism businesses and locations interested in becoming certified as bicycle friendly
• Staff, managers, owners of tourism businesses and locations already certified as bicycle friendly for program updates, or for new staff training purposes
• Local tourism stakeholders, organizations and contacts who are interested in tapping into the growing market of cycle tourism

What You Will Learn?

• How welcoming cyclists is good for business
• Who are cycle tourists and what do they want
• New local, regional and provincial cycle tourism developments
• Opportunities to better access the cycle tourism market
• How to become a certified bicycle friendly business
• Local and provincial marketing and promotions
• About other tourism contacts supporting the cycle tourism market

Make plans to attend an Ontario By Bike spring workshop or webinar. Find dates and details at: OntarioByBike.ca/Workshops

New Ontario Cycle Tourism Research Reports

From Cyclists: About Cycle Tourism & Cycling in Ontario

Ontario Cycle Tourism & Cycling Activity Report 2025

Find this report and its accompanying infographic that provides detailed insight into cyclists’ riding habits and trip preferences, highlighting the fact that cycle tourism in Ontario is growing and making a valuable contribution to the tourism economy in the province. This research builds on previous studies and reports published in 2023 and earlier.

Highlights Include:

• The majority of cyclists take overnight trips: 52% of cyclists did one or more overnight trips that included cycling in Ontario in 2025, including 35% that did two or more trips.
• Cyclists make a large number of day trips: 65% did three or more day trips in Ontario that included cycling in 2025.

From Businesses: The Business Impact of Cycle Tourism in Ontario

Ontario By Bike Bicycle Friendly Business Survey Report 2026

A first time capturing this info from a survey completed by responding certified bicycle friendly businesses that shares insight on the impact of participating in the Ontario By Bike Network and the value of the cycle tourism market.

Highlights Include:

• 43% of respondents who are certified businesses reported that cyclists are core or regular customers 
• 54% reported business from cyclists had increased over the past 2 years
• 15% reported business from cyclists had increased significantly 

Find both of our above research reports online and consider attending one of the above webinars/workshops to learn more: TransportationOptions.org/OntarioResearch

2026 Cycling Events - Free Listing

Do you have a cycling event in your area or are you an event coordinator? If so, make sure you are making the most of our free cycling event listing opportunity.

Our cycling events calendar webpage is one of the most visited on our site (OntarioByBike.ca/Events). Cyclists use this resource to find events they are interested in participating in - at destinations around Ontario. Event participants often stay overnight, visit the area and local restaurants/cafes, many travelling with a larger group. In addition, event participants may come to test ride the routes or train in advance, or return post-event to share their experience and revisit with friends and family.

Free event listings are available year round, so be sure to activate your listing as soon as 2026 event dates are set. Event organizers can complete the simple form at the link below (also available direct from events page). If you are not the event organizer, be sure to share this info and opportunity.

OntarioByBike.ca/Events-Submission-Form 

Bonus: We also use the event listings from our webpage to populate the events listed in our monthly enewsletter to cyclists, reaching 16,700 subscribers, and for our annual print guide. Yet more opportunities for events to reach more cyclists and possible participants.

Photo credit: Iain Ogilvie, Pedaling for Parkinson Canada

Attending Events

We have already been to a number of incredible events this year (Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show and Toronto Bicycle Show & E-Bike Expo; Montreal Salon du vélo/Bike Show) with our Ontario Cycle Tourism Info Centre. We've been connecting with thousands of cyclists eager to make ride plans to visit destinations across Ontario with their bikes this year. We are looking forward to attending more later this spring. Find us at:

Paris to Ancaster

Bike Expo

April 25

Bike for Brain Health

Toronto

May 31

2026 Ontario By Bike Rides Announced

We recently announced our four rides for this summer. As usual, spaces on our small group rides are selling fast as cyclists are keen to make plans for the upcoming ride season. (See info in our mid-March e-news to 16,700 cyclists.)

In the past years we have enjoyed working with our tourism partners at ride destinations, using Ontario By Bike certified businesses for food and accommodations, and post-ride, publishing our self-guided/supported itineraries online. See more at: OntarioByBike.ca/Itineraries

Stratford & Country Gravel Explorer - OntarioByBike.ca/MayRide2026

Dates: Saturday, May 23 - Sunday, May 24 (2 days / 1 night)

Catarqui Kingston Wolfe Cruiser - OntarioByBike.ca/JuneRide2026 - Already sold out!

Dates: Saturday, June 13 – Monday, June 15 (3 days / 2 nights)

Simcoe County Loop Trail - Ontariobybike.ca/AugustRide2026

Dates: Saturday, August 29 - Monday, August 31 (3 days / 2 nights)

Guelph Wellington Routes & Rivers - OntarioByBike.ca/SeptRide2026

Dates: Saturday, September 26 - Sunday, September 27 (2 days / 1 night)

Check Your Business Listing / New Listings

If you are a certified bicycle friendly business - are you making the most of your business listing with Ontario By Bike?

Make sure your business information is up to date, your business description complete and that your website URL and email contact address are correct. Upload pictures and a logo and check the location of your icon on the Ontario By Bike map. 

To find your business listing, using the find icon and enter business name, or search by category, or connect to your listing from your regional 'Great Places to Cycle' webpage and zoom into your location using the online maps. To make any edits, login to your account and follow the instructions HERE. If you are having any difficulties with your listing, let us know and we will help you make any changes required.

Window Decals & Signs

If you need a replacement window decal, one that is useful in showing cyclists that you are a certified bicycle friendly location, email us and we can send you a new one.

Additionally we also can provide a larger format (7"x7") reflective aluminum sign for a nominal charge, and will be reordering a supply this spring should you be interested, let us know (see more HERE).

New Listings

If you haven't already made the most of this free marketing opportunity and become a certified bicycle friendly business, register now! It is an easy 2-step online registration process to get certified, and we are always available to provide assistance. Find further info on how to register a your business HERE.

Let us help cyclists find your location!

What's New With You?

We are always looking for stories and updates about what is new for cyclists to discover and enjoy at your location or destination. Please do drop us a line to share. 

As we ramp up for the spring and coming cycling seasons, we are active on social media channels and also have a very engaged community and 16,700 subscribers for our monthly consumer/cyclists e-newsletter.

Get in Touch

Louisa Mursell & Peter McMurtry

Ontario By Bike Network

Project of Transportation Options

850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1

Office: 416-827-2774

Toll-Free: 1-866-701-2774

Email: info@ontariobybike.ca

Want to read more: Link to our past industry e-newsletter archive HERE

Link to our past consumer/cyclists e-newsletter archive and subscribe HERE

Share using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!