Many cyclists have an old bike or two in their garage, and often the question is how to get rid of them in an appropriate way.

There is an organization called Ride the Earth Cycles, located in the Niagara Region, which is dedicated to helping youth [...]]]> Donate your old bikes at the Tour de Mississauga!

Many cyclists have an old bike or two in their garage, and often the question is how to get rid of them in an appropriate way.

There is an organization called Ride the Earth Cycles, located in the Niagara Region, which is dedicated to helping youth develop skills and providing bicycles to those who need them through their Youth Development Project.

The bicycle is a powerful mode of transportation to individuals around the world — from the far reaches of Africa where it can mean getting an education, access to water and even access to health care, to the local Niagara region where migrant workers require bicycles to access meaningful work.  They will value your refurbished old bike!

Your donated bicycle will be distributed to organizations where youth are gaining the skills and experience in repairing bicycles to then be distributed to those in need around the globe.  In doing so they will also be gaining an appreciation for the bicycle’s immense power and importance to others around the world and discovering how they can effect social change.

And meanwhile…. the old bikes are out of your garage!  It’s a WIN WIN WIN situation!

DROP-OFF: We are so pleased that U-Haul has agreed to be a Tour sponsor and is donating the use of a truck to collect the old bikes on Saturday, September 17 @ 10 am – 2 pm (Tour registration package pick-up day) at Mississauga Celebration Square, Glass Pavilion, attached to the Central Library, and the day of the Tour itself: Sunday, September 18.  All the old bikes will then be delivered to Ride the Earth Cycles in Niagara.

NOTE: There is a drop-off location in Port Credit, should you prefer to drop off your old bikes there, during the week of Sept. 10-17.  E-mail: topca@topca.net.

LET’S FILL THE TRUCK WITH BIKES, and provide others in need with the joy and freedom of owning their own bike!

SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL CYCLISTS, September 15 at 11:59 [...]]]> The 4th annual Tour takes place on Sunday, September 18, 2011 and will introduce cyclists to the best off-road trails and on-road bike routes available throughout the north-east quadrant of the City, starting and ending at the newly renovated Mississauga Celebration Square.  Click for full-sized POSTER.

SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL CYCLISTS, September 15 at 11:59 p.m. THE DEADLINE FOR USING THE CITY’S ONLINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM HAS COME. We are now getting e-mails from would-be registrants that they didn’t get their PIN in time to meet the deadline to register.  MCAC volunteer citizen members have decided to hold a WALK-IN registration on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 @ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. YOU MUST COME IN-PERSON, YOURSELF, as you will have to physically sign the City waiver.  This is at the same time and place where we will be providing pre-Tour CHECK-IN for the over 1000 cyclists registered so far.  We are now developing a process to handle the manual registrations on Saturday, and appreciate your patience in advance!  We want everyone on the Tour who wants to come.  The weather forecast looks even better than 2 days ago!  See you!  E-mail contact@mississaugacycling.ca if you think you’ll go this manual route, so we can better prepare!  Thanks!  Click here for Registration info.

THIS IS NOT A RACE!  The journey is the destination! Cyclists of any ability or age (recommended 10+), on any kind of bike (including electric assist), are welcome to participate in this non-competitive cycling tour.  Discover Mississauga’s hidden gems which you can only see by bike!

Go to the TOUR HOME PAGE for complete information about the 2011 Tour.  Below is a synopsis.

ROUTE PREVIEW: MCAC volunteers were out since late Winter, scouting routes for the 2011 Tour through the north-east quadrant and taking photos.

Click to view the PHOTO ALBUM: Etobicoke Creek Trail (66p PDF — may take a few seconds to download), which shows the adventure in store on the 30km and 60km routes, along with some MCAC comments.

Note the 50m ‘land portage’.  Note also that the Edward Scarlett Park leg of the Trail was simply a meadow back in the Spring, and cyclists had to ride along a truck rut — trail construction has been proceeding all Summer, to prepare for the Tour riders!  Apart from 2 inclines (walk your bike if you like) the route is fairly flat.  HYBRID BIKES are fine to handle the trail.

The 100km route is on this trail for only 1km, and road bikes can handle that portion, as noted on the 100km map.

Much is new for this year, and we listened carefully to your comments from last year in making changes for the better….so read all about it and we will see you in September!

New Registration

We are really pleased that we have been able to keep the Tour Registration FREE again this year, and again provide a FREE BBQ compliments of the Region of Peel (open until 3:00 p.m. for later arrivals — we heard you!!).  There will also be SWAG from our sponsors, all delivered on one small convenient card (no waste or messy papers like last year!).  And to further streamline check-in on the day of the Tour, your participation package can be picked-up the day before, on Saturday, September 17 @ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Square’s Glass Pavilion attached to the Central Library.  Yes, someone can pick-up for you if they have your registration receipt.

New Routes

We say it every year, but these are the BEST. ROUTES. EVER.  We have designed separate 30km, 60km and 100km events, leaving at staggered times from 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.  Points of interest include the Airport, Britannia Farm, the Hershey complex and IceLand, and the downtown core.  Ride through vast industrial employment areas (very quiet on Sundays — you will be amazed).  Explore the beautiful natural areas along a 10km stretch of the Etobicoke Creek Trail (shown at left).  Discover the old village of Malton and see beautiful Wildwood Park.  Tunnels, bridges, natural areas and urban pavements: these routes have got it all!  Most of the riding is fairly flat: any reasonably in-shape adult will be able to complete the 60 km route (might be an idea to get out riding a few times beforehand…).  The shorter 30km route (ideal for families) is incorporated into the first leg of the 60 km Tour, which gives participants a chance to decide if they’d like to continue and do the longer ride, or take the shorter route back to the finish.  There is also a new 100km road-only route for this year, designed with last year’s roadie comments in mind.  There are ‘get back quick’ options for all routes, if you are in a hurry for the BBQ!  Maps will be posted online prior to the event and will be included in your registration package.  But of course we’re road-spraying the colour-coded routes again since that was so popular last year!  Click for full information and MAPS for the Routes.

New Apparel

By popular demand, a Louis Garneau cycling jersey will be made available before the Tour for $65.  We’re getting e-mails about size availability, and here’s what we ordered…. 77 jerseys: 1-XS; 3-S; 21-M; 23-L; 22-XL; 6-XXL; 1-XXXL (Pro Reflective, no elastics, full zipper, Diamond fabric).  We’ll have them FOR SALE on Saturday, September 17 @ 10 am – 2 pm (CHECK-IN DAY at the Glass Pavilion attached to the Central Library) and on Sunday, September 18 (TOUR DAY at Celebration Square).  CASH ONLY PLEASE AND EXACT CHANGE IF POSSIBLE.  After that, the jerseys will be for sale through the City’s e-Store.

New Venue

Mississauga Celebration Square is the new START and FINISH for all Tour routes.  The Square opened officially on June 22, and already it has become the premier destination in the City, with a summer-long schedule of events.  The City Centre has been featured as a ride-by on all previous Tour routes, but now we plan to fill the Square with bikes on Sept. 18 and send the clearest possible message that ‘Mississauga is Cycling’.  With two giant video screens to help convey information to participants and better facilities to keep us organized as the Tour grows, we sure plan to make ourselves at home, permanently!  How does the Square look right NOW?  Check it out 24/7 on the City’s LIVE WEBCAM.

VOTE WITH YOUR WHEELS

By participating in the Tour, participants can vote with their wheels for a bike-friendly City.  As the Tour grows, so does biking visibility and the impetus for more road and trail improvements.  Construction/upgrades are underway on key parts of the 2011 Tour routes even as you read this!  So, come out,  enjoy our City, meet others in a relaxed event and vote with your wheels for more cycling infrastructure.

Please stay tuned for ongoing updates from your cycling colleagues at MCAC!  Questions?  E-mail: contact@mississaugacycling.ca

Note:  There is even an opportunity to donate old bikes for a good cause as well!

Questions?
[contact-form-7]

Burnhamthorpe Bridge is a rare river crossing in Mississauga for cyclists. As [...]]]> Mayor Hazel McCallion, C.M., LL.D. and Members of Council of the City of Mississauga invite you to the Showcase Event for the Completion of Burnhamthorpe Road Bridges, Lookout Points and Cycling & Pedestrian Trails Tuesday, July 6, 2010 10:00 a.m. rain or shine.

Burnhamthorpe Bridge is a rare river crossing in Mississauga for cyclists. As long as I have seen, it has never really been considered  a safe crossing by cyclists. Here are some qualities to examine while at the showcase:

Will this party announce no need for the signs that read: “CYCLISTS DISMOUNT – WALK BICYCLE ACROSS BRIDGE”?

Will trail cyclists have their very own trail that doesn’t merge in with the sidewalk across the bridge?

Will road cyclists have room on the road via bike lanes, sharrows, or even a paved shoulder to cycle across the bridge on the road?

Will the railings be tall enough for trail cyclists to feel safe from falling yet still not block out the fabulous view of the Credit Valley?

Now this event is a party, so show up there with bike bells on. Even if this new bridge doesn’t have everything we’re looking for, the city should be applauded for the efforts they have made. If you have a critiquing comment (good or bad), please send it to your councilor and a copy to the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee.  Let’s hope there’s time in the showcase for a little Q & A.

For full details on the showcase event, view this PDF invitation.

This FREE Registration event will take you through the northwest quadrant of Mississauga, Ontario beginning and ending in Streetsville. Once again, participants will enjoy a FREE BBQ at Streetsville Memorial Park at the Tour’s end, compliments of the Region of Peel, [...]]]> The 3rd Annual Cycling Tour de Mississauga takes place on:  Sunday, September 19, 2010

This FREE Registration event will take you through the northwest quadrant of Mississauga, Ontario beginning and ending in Streetsville. Once again, participants will enjoy a FREE BBQ  at Streetsville Memorial Park at the Tour’s end, compliments of the Region of Peel, which is promoting active transportation and lifestyle choices.  Click here for the Region of Peel’s Walk and Roll program.

We will be providing a selection of different touring routes based on participants’ input from last years 2nd annual Tour de Mississauga.

Visit our official Tour de Mississauga section for more information on routes and registration.

CAA introduces its Bike Assist “automotive” service to all CAA members.

CAA of Ontario states that “more and more commuters (are) using their bikes as their main vehicle for transportation during the summer months”. Their response is to offer the same roadside [...]]]> You know cycling is becoming a widely recognized mode of transportation when…

CAA introduces its Bike Assist “automotive” service to all CAA members.

CAA of Ontario states that “more and more commuters (are) using their bikes as their main vehicle for transportation during the summer months”. Their response is to offer the same roadside assistance to their members’ bikes as they do with their motorized vehicles.

According to CAA of South Central Ontario:

“Similar to your Roadside Assistance, Basic Members receive four tows up to 10 km, Plus Members receive four tows up to 200 km, and Premier Members receive one 320 km and four 200 km towing services. Bike assistance counts as one of your allotted roadside calls during your membership year. Service will be provided to cyclists where there is permitted vehicle access.”

I have personally experienced several times where cyclists will benevolently stop and help other cyclists with mechanical troubles on the trail or street. Sometimes I’m the one helping and other times I’m the one being offered assistance. There is always that one time, though, when you’re all alone and either don’t have the tools you need or the breakage is too severe to fix or feel safe to continue riding.

MCAC congratulates CAA in their offering of this service. What makes it attractive is that it isn’t offered as an add-on price to a regular membership. Could it be that we may be seeing some non-car owners taking on a CAA membership? This is definitely worth considering.

Have you had experience with the CAA Bike Assist service yet? We would love to hear from you.

This is a great way to inspect the new map if you didn’t make it out to the International Bike Show to get the latest map (or if you stopped by [...]]]> It’s here – the 2010 bike and trails map for Mississauga! This is the 7th edition.
Download it from our Bike Maps page.

This is a great way to inspect the new map if you didn’t make it out to the International Bike Show to get the latest map (or if you stopped by the Mississauga Cycling booth before the new 2010 maps were printed). The 2010 maps will be available at the “newstand” locations. See the Bike Maps page for more information on how to pick up a printed copy while supplies last.
There are some new lanes and trails to discover. As the Mississauga Cycling Master Plan is finalized in June 2010, expect the Mississauga Bike Map to become outdated much quicker than it has in the past.

Here is a sample of new bike facilities to find on the new 2010 Mississauga Bike Map:

• Confederation Parkway between Burnhamthorpe Road to Queensway (bike lanes) provides a connection between the existing bicycle lanes and the new multi-use trail on the Queensway.
• Erin Centre Boulevard between Winston Churchill Boulevard and Erin Mills Parkway (bike lanes) … provides a connection between the existing bicycle lanes and edge lines, linking Churchill Meadows and Streetsville.

Other on-road facilities that were implemented in 2009 …

• Kariya Drive between Burnhamthorpe Road and Elm Drive
• Elm Drive between Kariya Drive and Mississauga Valley Boulevard
• Mississauga Valley Boulevard between Central Parkway (south int.) and Central Parkway (east Int)
• Fifth Line West between Glen Erin Trail and South Millway
• McLaughlin Road between Cantay and Courtneypark Drive

Direct link to the 2010 Bike Map

Riding a bicycle in or along a crosswalk is not permitted in Ontario as per the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Under the Act, a cyclist is required to stop, dismount, and walk their bicycle in the crosswalk.

A Cross-ride is a separate bicycle crossing (separate from the pedestrian crosswalk). A combination [...]]]> What is a Crossride?

Riding a bicycle in or along a crosswalk is not permitted in Ontario as per the Highway Traffic
Act (HTA). Under the Act, a cyclist is required to stop, dismount, and walk their bicycle in the
crosswalk.

A Cross-ride is a separate bicycle crossing (separate from the pedestrian crosswalk). A combination of new pavement markings (zebra stripes and elephant feet) and signage has been implemented to clearly identify the marked bicycle crossing and to warn motorists of the potential for cyclists in the marked bicycle crossing.

This pilot project allows a cyclist to ride within the separate bicycle crossing. Riding a bicycle through a crosswalk without a separate facility continues to be prohibited. A cyclist must still obey the rules of the road.

Pilot Project (Location 1): Sheridan Park Drive & Homelands Drive/Speakman Drive (click for map)
Pilot Project (Location 2): Sheridan Park Drive & Fifth Line Wes (click for map)

Crossride at Sheridan Park Drive & Homelands Drive/Speakman Drive

Crossride at Sheridan Park Drive & Fifth Line West

The city of Mississauga is actively running a pilot project for crossrides at the time this article is posted. Try to plan your cycling route along one of these to test them out. Transportation & Works have representatives that sit on the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee, so sending your comments on your crossride experiences  can be sent to the Mississauga Cycling Committee from our Contact Us General Inquiries section on this web site. If you find these to be favorable additions for cycling in Mississauga, please also let your ward councilor know.