In 2015, an impressive 1,757km network of cycling paths was completed in South Korea. The network follows the country’s four major rivers – Hangang, Nakdonggang, Geumgang, and Yeonsangun – and it connects South Korea from east to west and north to south. Built by K-water, a government agency responsible for water management, the network also helps to rejuvenate areas along the rivers and protect areas from floods.

One of the most popular segments of the network runs between Seoul and Busan, South Korea’s two most populous cities. Spanning about 600km, the route is mostly flat and comprises paved bicycle paths, with a few on-road sections where vehicle traffic is low. The route is well-marked with signage.

Deemed suitable for all ages, the most challenging part of the 4 Rivers Path is its overall length. Participants can apply for a medal and a certificate to celebrate the achievement of cycling the full pathway. Proof of completion is collected with a series of passport stamps at certification centres along the way. These red booths also usually have bicycle parking, tire inflation pumps and areas to rest, as well as free Wi-Fi.

A mix of campgrounds and hotels are available for overnight accommodations, and there is no shortage of riverside views. One attraction that is sure to be a highlight for cycling enthusiasts is the Sangju Bicycle Museum, home to a large collection of bicycles of all types and sizes, as well as an overview of the history of bicycles in South Korea. 

Several websites and blogs recommend riding the route around October, in between South Korea’s cold winters and hot summers. 

Thanks to a new law passed in 2018, pedal-assist e-bikes are now categorized as regular bicycles in South Korea. They are permitted on cycling infrastructure across the country as long as they meet special requirements, including a maximum speed of 25kph and a maximum weight of 30kg.

More eAdventures here.
Check our eBikes International Spring 2021 edition here.

June 3, 2021 – Why celebrate the bicycle? Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling, or doing sports – has significant benefits for health. At all ages, the benefits of being physically active outweigh potential harm, for example through accidents. Some physical activity is better than none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can quite easily achieve the recommended activity levels.

The mobility needs of people who walk and cycle – often the majority of citizens in a city – continue to be overlooked, states Share the Road Programme Annual Report 2018, even though the benefits of investing in pedestrians and cyclists can save lives, help protect the environment and support poverty reduction. Meeting the needs of people who walk and cycle continues to be a critical part of the mobility solution for helping cities de-couple population growth from increased emissions, and to improve air quality and road safety.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), safe infrastructure for walking and cycling is also a pathway for achieving greater health equity. For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death. Accordingly, improved active transport is not only healthy; it is also equitable and cost-effective.

• The bicycle is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation;
• The bicycle can serve as a tool for development and as a means not just of transportation but also of access to education, health care and sport;
• The synergy between the bicycle and the user fosters creativity and social engagement and gives the user an immediate awareness of the local environment;
• The bicycle is a symbol of sustainable transportation and conveys a positive message to foster sustainable consumption and production, and has a positive impact on climate.

Background
Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health, the General Assembly decided to declare 3 June World Bicycle Day.

It encouraged stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.

The Assembly welcomed initiatives to organize bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society.

World Bicycle Day:
Encourages Member States to devote particular attention to the bicycle in cross-cutting development strategies and to include the bicycle in international, regional, national and subnational development policies and programmes;

Encourages Member States to improve road safety and integrate it into sustainable mobility and transport infrastructure planning and design, in particular through policies and measures to actively protect and promote pedestrian safety and cycling mobility, with a view to broader health outcomes, particularly the prevention of injuries and non-communicable diseases;

Encourages stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace;

Encourages Member States to adopt best practices and means to promote the bicycle among all members of society, and in this regard welcomes initiatives to organize bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society.

Read more here.
Watch more here.

The Simcoe County Loop is quickly becoming one of Ontario’s most popular cycling adventures. At 160km, the Loop connects nine municipalities and three bodies of water.

It comprises seven different trails and is predominantly off-road, multi-use pathways made of crushed limestone. The southernmost point of the Loop is located in Barrie, about one hour north of Toronto, but there are many different locations where you can start your ride. 

Whether you tackle this ride in one day or over several days depends on many factors, including how many stops you want to make to visit local attractions. Along the way, you’ll find museums, a provincial park and national historic sites, as well as harbour lookouts, beaches and rest areas.

Cycle Simcoe has prepared an interactive map to help you plan your trip. You can also download a PDF of the map, which includes a full list of cycling-friendly businesses and accommodations.

A growing number of blog posts and online reviews are celebrating this route, and almost all of them mention stopping at Em’s Café in Coldwater for baked goods, or the Grounded Café in Midland for coffee and smoothies. If it’s the right time of year, you will also want to check out Midland’s famous butter tart festival.

After you’ve completed the Loop, you can commemorate your journey with an exclusive “I rode the Simcoe County Loop Trail” t-shirt. Available only to people who have ridden the Loop, all you have to do is tag Cycle Simcoe in a social media post and they will send you a shirt.

Although there has been some confusion about whether or not e-bikes are permitted on all sections of the trail, we have reached out to several local representatives and confirmed that pedal-assist e-bikes are welcome. 

More eAdventures here
Check our eBikes International Spring edition here.

April 7, 2021 – Oakridge, Oregon is known as the mountain biking capital of the Pacific Northwest, and it is one of seven destinations that has been recognized as a gold-level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) for its high-quality mountain biking opportunities.

There are more than 35 trails in the Cascade Mountains that surround the City of Oakridge. Most of the 130 miles of trail are singletrack and can be accessed by either fire road or shuttle service.

The trail difficulty ranges from beginner to advanced and, for riders looking for even more variety, there are also hundreds of miles of paved forest roads for road cycling.

Like many off-road cycling destinations, it can be challenging to determine whether or not e-bikes are permitted. E-bikes are specifically banned from singletrack routes within the Willamette National Forest; however, there are 25 trails marked for e-bike use on Trailforks.com. This includes the 5.3-mile-long Dead Mountain Trail with over 3,000 feet of descent, and the 4.6-mile Lawler Trail, one of the area’s most technical routes.

According to local touring company, Cog Wild Bicycle Tours, more e-bike trails include Alpine, Tire Mountain, Cloverpatch, Cloverpatch Tie, Winberry and Larison Creek.

Building on Oakridge’s reputation as a world-class mountain biking destination, the Mountain Bike Oregon Festival was launched in the area in 2005. This three-day festival started out small, but it now regularly sells out with hundreds of visitors participating in bike demos, skills clinics and trail rides.

In between mountain bike runs, consider going for a canoe ride or checking out Salt Creek Falls, Oregon’s second-tallest waterfall. There are many options for overnight accommodations including campgrounds, an RV Park, several inns and the Westfir Lodge. Before turning in for the night, don’t forget to visit the nearby hot springs.

April 18, 2021 – If you’re looking for an interesting e-bike destination, Medicine Hat has several attractive features, including its title as Canada’s sunniest city. Medicine Hat sees the sun on about 330 days each year and has a network of over 115km of trails to explore.

The Heritage Trail Network (HTN) comprises paved, shale and gravel trails that are open for multiple uses, such as walking, cycling, skateboarding and bird watching. Pedal assist electric bicycles are permitted on the trails, and the recommended speed is 20kph.

There are a variety of different routes to explore along the HTN. One of the shorter routes is the McCutcheon Trail, which is 2.5km long and features great views of the City. Longer routes include the aptly named Marathon and Half Marathon, which are 42km and 21km long respectively. 

The HTN also connects trail users to nine different parks and a number of amenities. You can stop to swim in the lake at Echo Dale Regional Park, view a mural of Medicine Hat’s history at Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park, and admire the century-old trees at Kiwanis Central Park.

In addition to this detailed brochure with information about the HTN, the City has uploaded all of the trails to the popular Trail Forks app.

At the end of 2020, Medicine Hat received confirmation of funding from Alberta’s Municipal Stimulus Program that will help to further extend the trail network, adding 15–20km of trails near the Gas City campground. The City hopes this addition will further boost tourism and bring more visitors to the campground.

If you are keen to explore the city beyond the trails network, a new program by the city will help to make that safer. In June 2020, Medicine Hat lowered the speed limit on downtown roads from 50kph to 40kph to help protect pedestrians and cyclists.

So grab your sunglasses and sunblock, and get ready to explore the growing network of trails in Canada’s sunniest city.

April 9, 2021 – Ireland’s new scenic Royal Canal Greenway, features 130km of walking and cycling trails that pass through four counties. The trails are a great way for outdoor-lovers to see some of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of the country.

Ideal for cyclists, walkers and runners of all ages and levels, the Royal Canal Greenway stretches alongside a historic 225-year-old canal. It begins in Maynooth and passes through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Longford.

There are cafés, picnic spots and attractions along the way, and rustic and industrial landscapes combine with rolling fields, pretty waterside villages, working locks and historic landmarks.

Read the full article by Andrea Smith here.

March 12, 2021 – (Ottawa, Ontario) Investing in public transit strengthens communities, helps Canadians get around in faster, cleaner and more affordable ways, and ensures good jobs today while charting a path to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 . Investing in pathways and trails for cycling, walking, hybrid e-bikes and scooters, and wheelchairs gives everyone the opportunity to get out, get active, and access public transportation.

Today, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Parliamentary Secretary Andy Fillmore announced $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges. This is the first federal fund dedicated to building active transportation through Canada – powered by people – and part of the Government of Canada’s plan to create one million jobs, fight climate change, and build a more sustainable and resilient economy.

Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested almost 500 kilometers of trails from coast to coast to coast. Projects include the Grouse Mountain Regional Park trails in North Vancouver, the Flora Foot Bridge in Ottawa, a bikeway extension in Corner Brook, and a new cycling path along the Mine, Notch and Kingsmere corridor in Chelsea, Quebec. As we build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will expand these smart investments that support Canadians.

The new $400-million fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment outlined by Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister McKenna on February 10, 2021. It will support communities as they build vibrant neighborhoods where people can safely live, work and play. The fund will also help Canadians living in rural communities and places without active transportation options to unlock the potential in their communities.

In addition to this new fund, Minister McKenna and Parliamentary Secretary Fillmore also launched stakeholder engagement for Canada’s first Active Transportation Strategy. The strategy will be informed by input from the public and key stakeholders including provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations and businesses and will help the federal government make smarter investment decisions to:

Support the active transportation networks of the future; Promote healthier, walkable communities that are environmentally sustainable and affordable; and Support better data collection to ensure measurable outcomes.

Investing in active transportation will build strong communities across the country and deliver a better quality of life for all Canadians. Safe pathways and trails that connect to public transit will provide Canadians with more commuting options that reduce emissions and protect the environment. Together, we are building a cleaner, inclusive, and resilient country for generations to come.

Quotes

“Canadians love using safe cycling paths and trails to get around their towns and cities. It’s a great way to stay healthy, enjoy nature, and connect to public transit, and it is good for the environment. This investment will make it easier for more people to get around on foot, bikes, scooters, wheelchairs and e-bikes. This is the first national project of its kind in Canada.“

-The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Today is a great day in Canada for climate action, human health, and livable communities. With the launch of the fund for active transportation with support for an Active Transportation Strategy, the path is set for more Canadians than ever to choose cycling, rolling or walking as safe and enjoyable alternatives to motorized transport. Today is the day we put active transportation networks within reach of every community.”

-Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Vélo Canada Bikes and active transportation supporters across Canada are absolutely thrilled that such a significant investment in active transportation has been made. Today’s federal investment in active transportation infrastructure will lead to significant health, environmental, social, and economic benefits for our country.”

-Kate Walker, Vice-chair of the Board, Vélo Canada Bikes

Quick Facts

• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $130 million in 126 active transportation projects through the Investing in Canada plan.t. In addition, hundreds more infrastructure projects funded by the Government of Canada have included components that promote active transportation.
• As part of the Strengthened Climate Plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the Government Canada announced its intention to develop Canada’s first Active Transportation Strategy and explore options to deliver more walking trails, cycling paths and other forms of active mobility. A framework has been developed to support stakeholder engagement on the development of a strategy.

Related Products
• Framework for the National Active Transportation Strategy

The goal of the STIL project, led by the Natural Resources Center (Luke), is to build easy, multi-day cycling routes to Lapland in Finland, Finnmark in Norway and Norrbotten in Sweden, and to create a network of service providers interested in cycling in the regions. A route package of more than a thousand kilometers will probably be published as early as summer 2021.

Read more here.

March 2, 2021 – As part of its commitment to the environment and fighting climate change, the Government of Nova Scotia is investing $19 million in rebates to support low-income families in making their homes more comfortable and energy-efficient and help Nova Scotians buy clean, reliable electric vehicles.

It will also move toward a new renewable energy standard, with 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2030.

“Bold action on climate change is a priority. We know it’s possible to have a cleaner economy that creates jobs, supports a healthy environment and benefits all Nova Scotians,” said Premier Iain Rankin. “Electric vehicles, more comfortable homes, healthier communities and careers in renewable energy and efficiency will help our province and the planet.”

To emphasize the importance of addressing climate change, government has renamed the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Climate change will be a priority in every Minister’s mandate.

Half of the $19 million – $9.5 million – which will come from the Green Fund, is to go into the HomeWarming and the Affordable Multi-Family Housing energy efficiency programs. This will help 1,200 more low-income Nova Scotians make their homes more comfortable and protect their family budgets.

More than half the Green Fund will be spent to support those most in need.

The other half will be invested in a rebate program for new and used electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and e-bikes. Rebates will be $3,000 per new vehicle and $2,000 for used vehicles, with $500 for e-bikes. This will be in addition to the $5,000 federal rebate available for new electric vehicles.

The Department of Energy and Mines will release the new Renewable Electricity Standard next month. Work will begin immediately to ensure new wind power is made available at the lowest possible cost to ratepayers.

Nova Scotia will join the federal government in buying energy from new local renewable sources through the Green Choice program. By 2025, all electricity for provincial government offices will be from renewable energy projects. This will reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions and create new jobs, without impacting Nova Scotians’ electricity bills.

Quotes:

We’re putting a new focus on climate change in Nova Scotia. I’m delighted to get to work on these important initiatives, which will help Nova Scotians and our environment.Environment and Climate Change Minister Keith Irving

Transportation emissions are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases. They’ve also shown to be one of the hardest to reduce. We are pleased to see the province build on the successful federal electric vehicle rebates. These incentives will be an important climate action tool for our province, and will help Nova Scotians choose an electric vehicle or e-bike for their next ride.Scott Skinner, president and CEO, Clean Foundation

Quick Facts:

• the Nova Scotia government announced the Green Choice program in 2020 to add more clean, renewable electricity by allowing large electricity customers, such as the federal government, to purchase 100 per cent renewable electricity to power their facilities
• the amount of renewable energy on Nova Scotia’s grid has tripled over the past 10 years
• there are nearly 500 electric vehicles registered in Nova Scotia now, and more than 100 charging stations across the province
• more than 300 local businesses work on Efficiency Nova Scotia projects and are part of the Efficiency Trade Network. Together, those businesses employ about 2,500 Nova Scotians

February 17, 2021 – 2020 was a huge year for cycling in Toronto, with the City implementing the most temporary and permanent bike lanes in one year in our city’s history. As Toronto’s Office of Recovery and Rebuild specifically highlighted, Toronto’s successes in active transportation last year cannot be an anomaly, but rather a model to move forward every year through our pandemic recovery and beyond. 

Recently, Cycle Toronto spoke at a Toronto Budget Committee meeting on the cycling budget for 2021 and beyond. There are three key pieces that relate to cycling in Toronto that we want to address in advance of this Thursday’s City Council vote on the budget:

1. ActiveTO expansion

We are encouraged by a move to continue the City’s wildly successful ActiveTO and CafeTO programs, including an expansion outside of the downtown core. It is important to see a more equitable distribution of safe cycling infrastructure and weekend road openings for active transportation.

2. Cycling & Pedestrian Unit Capital and Operating Budget

There is a lot to celebrate about the City’s work in 2020, including the implementation of long-awaited major projects such as the Bloor Street West bike lane extension and a world-class complete street transformation on Danforth Avenue. However, a repeat of what we saw in 2020 cannot be expected in 2021 with the proposed cycling budget. As a response to the pandemic, Transportation Services redeployed staff throughout the department to achieve projects like Danforth and ActiveTO on Lake Shore Boulevard and Bayview Avenue, while other long-term transportation projects were deferred to future years.

The proposed Cycling Infrastructure capital budget remains at its pre-pandemic amount of $16 million for 2021, and decreases to only $8 million each year going forward. These dollars allocated for construction of infrastructure will likely go unspent as this budget does not allow for enough staff to plan, design, and implement as much infrastructure as last year. What’s more, millions of dollars in federal infrastructure money to support active transportation during the pandemic recovery could be left on the table because City staff won’t have the capacity to implement it. At minimum, the City needs the same resources it used in 2020 allocated for 2021 and beyond.

3. Vision Zero and Automated Speed Enforcement

The 2021 Budget calls for an expansion of the Vision Zero Enforcement Team to 18 officers. Cycle Toronto has been calling for engineering solutions as the first tactic to address dangerous roads and reaching Vision Zero. We believe that technology-based enforcement strategies such as Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) can play a useful role in increasing road safety and decreasing bias, if deployed equitably, and ask that enforcement resources are redeployed to ASE.

What can you do?

It took a global crisis for Toronto to take a meaningful step forward in building a better cycling network. We cannot pause. The pandemic is not over and a climate crisis looms over us. We urgently need to see an investment in cycling and equitable transportation solutions to help communities across Toronto, especially those hardest hit by the pandemic. With so much progress downtown, we need to build active transportation solutions that also work for Etobicoke, North York, and Scarborough.

Write to your councillor before City Council finalizes the City Budget thisThursday, February 18.

Dear Councillor,

Thank you for supporting the rollout of much needed and long planned for bike lanes this year. I’m asking that you keep the momentum going and increase the annual cycling budget from pre-pandemic levels. The return on investment you’ve seen this year has done so much toward supporting essential trips during the pandemic while also achieving our city’s climate goals, mobility goals, and supporting the vibrancy of our local communities.

I ask that you continue to work with staff and your colleagues on Council to find solutions to meet your constituents’ requests to ensure your success last summer becomes the benchmark for this year and beyond. This includes:

1. Bringing back and expanding the ActiveTO program to ensure safe bike lanes and weekend major road openings to active transportation are equitably distributed throughout the city
2. Adequately funding the Cycling Unit with capital and operating dollars so that 2020 isn’t an anomaly, but the regular rate of cycling network expansion.
3. Prioritizing Vision Zero funding towards engineering solutions rather than enforcement; when enforcement is needed, automated technology like ASE cameras is preferred to reduce bias and equitably advance road safety goals throughout the city.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Address or Postal Code]

If you want to help out Cycle Toronto’s budget as well, consider becoming a member to keep our educational programming, events, and advocacy going year-round.

Join Cycle Toronto

Thank you for your support in keeping the cycling momentum going!

Keagan Gartz
Executive Director

To view this release click here.