Ontario putting $50 million toward commuter cycling infrastructure

On Monday, Steven Del Duca and Eleanor McMahon, Ontario’s ministers of transportation and tourism, culture and sport, respectively, announced a new commuter cycling infrastructure initiative. It was Bike to Work Day, an appropriate occasion, to roll out the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program.

The new funding, $50 million worth, comes from the province’s carbon market, in order to support new and existing cycling infrastructure—such as the construction of new bike lanes or upgrades to present ones—around Ontario. Additionally, the province has taken steps to untangle other logistics related to cycling, including the introduction of a cycling “web hub” providing key information to cyclists through a single online source.

The set of initiatives is part of Ontario’s #CycleON strategy, previously reported by Canadian Cycling Magazine, which was unveiled in 2013 in order to get more Ontarians—with a provincial playground threaded with over 80,000 km of trails—in the saddle.

“Ontario is home to an extensive cycling and trails network that stretches across the province, connects our communities and offers unique views of our urban and rural landscapes,” said McMahon in announcing the OMCC. “By building new cycling infrastructure, we are making it easier for people to get on their bikes and explore all that Ontario has to offer.” And by investing in cycling infrastructure, new momentum, Del Duca suggested, will be generated for the entire province.

“Building commuter cycling infrastructure is important in helping us make Ontario a great place to ride a bike,” Del Duca said. “Working together with our partners, the cycling community and local municipalities, I know we will succeed in making Ontario a cycling leader in North America.”

The application form and program guide for the new commuter cycling program will be available at Grants Ontario on Monday.