CEO’s Message

Dear Friends:

Cycling is on the move in Ontario – and we are proud to be part of this burgeoning movement. From Stratford, to St. Thomas, Norfolk County to Mississippi Mills, from Guelph to Sudbury and Sarnia to Sault Ste. Marie – we are working with communities to mobilize their citizens, make plans for community cycling events and leverage their assets, enhancing the opportunities for their citizens to enjoy the view from their bicycle. It’s a beautiful thing! In fact, there are so many innovative and exciting things going on, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share them all with you at our upcomingOntario Bike Summit in Toronto on April 24-25th.

If you’re looking to be inspired, to leave with scads of great ideas on how to make your community safer – or to take in lessons learned from bicycle friendly communities who are already reaping the benefits of their investments, please join us. Registration will be available as of March 7th. In the meantime, have a look at the exciting program we’ve created for you. And don’t forget about having fun in the process. Whether it’s signing up for a mobile workshop, joining us for an evening of celebration at Steam Whistle Brewing or reconnecting with colleagues from across the U.S. and Canada -- we’re looking forward to seeing you!

On a serious note – while there is much to celebrate, there is much to do. The challenging economic picture in Ontario reminds us that we are in a fiscally constrained environment. That is a reality which will shape our advocacy agenda. All is not lost however. As the Ontario government looks for innovative solutions to cut rapidly escalating health care costs, seeks to enhance economic development and job creation in the context of a high Canadian dollar and a sagging manufacturing sector, and as big “infrastructure” spending is on the wane, the bicycle emerges as a solution.

Indeed, there is mounting evidence of the momentum to carry cycling forward as a solution to these challenges. First, there is growing consensus of the many benefits of cycling, and our research confirms what we are seeing in communities across the province (28% of Ontarians are regular cyclists up from 24% in 2009.) The cycling movement in Ontario continues to grow, both in terms of its capacity and diversity as evidenced by the 5 Regional/Local Bike Summits we co-hosted in 2011, with 6 planned for 2012 and 8 Share the Road Rides planned across the province for 2012. There are numerous tourism initiatives under way in Ontario currently, with growing interest in rural Ontario communities in particular in attracting economic development through bicycle travel and tourism opportunities. And finally, the response to our Bicycle Friendly Communities Program has been phenomenal, with this Program emerging as a significant tool for improvements in infrastructure and livability.

Our 2012 Ontario Bike Summit theme is “Shifting Gears”. Now is the time to energize our municipal sector and enhance their ability to harness the benefits of bicycling investments. Now is the time to ask the Ontario government to make strategic investments that foster healthy people and healthy communities. Join us April 24-25th in Toronto as we gather to discuss strategies for change – for “Shifting Gears” – as we work together to devise solutions to enhance our economy, our environment and our public health.

We look forward to seeing you!

Yours in safe cycling,

Eleanor McMahon
CEO and Founder Share the Road Cycling Coalition

   

 2012 Ontario Bike Summit

 

 Agenda

Click here for the agenda (as of April 16) of the summit including speakers, sessions, and workshops.  Check back often as updates will be posted as soon as they can be announced.  Agenda subject to change.

 

 Workshops

Click here to view our list of workshops.

 

Registration

New this year! We’re partnering with the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation to bring you three days of inspirational speakers and information on Complete Streets and designing Bicycle Friendly Communities. Save on registration costs by attending their one-day Complete Streets Forum followed by the Ontario Bike Summit, for a total savings of $75! For more information on the Complete Streets Forum click here.

 

 

Ontario Bike Summit ONLY Full Registration

Corporate, Government, Institutions - $399 (before April 2), $449 (April 3 and after)

Non-Government/Not-For-Profit - $299 (before April 2), $349 (April 3 and after)

Ontario Bike Summit ONLY One Day Registration

Corporate, Government, Institutions - $225 (before April 2), $275 (April 3 and after)

Non-Government/Not-For-Profit - $175 (before April 2), $225 (April 3 and after)

April 24 Keynote Lunch ONLY - included with Full Registration or One Day April 24 Registration

$75

April 24 Celebration Of Cycling Evening at Steam Whistle ONLY - included with Full Registration or One Day April 24 Registration

(includes dinner, 2 Steam Whistle beers, Bicycling With Heart Award & Wheels of Change Advocacy Award presentations, and the chance to win 2 great cycling get-away prize packages from Niagara & Haliburton)

Click Here to view our Celebration of Cycling Evening Invitation - registration open to the cycling community

$50 adults

$40 students

 

 

Ontario Bike Summit & Complete Streets Forum Combined Discounted Registration 

(prices below have been discounted by $25/day - discounted prices do not apply to single tickets to April 24 Keynote Lunch or Celebration of Cycling Evening)

 

Registration for the Complete Streets Forum is sold out.  If you have registered for the Forum and would like to add the Ontario Bike Summit at the combined discounted registration rate as per below, please email natalie@sharetheroad.ca

 

Complete Streets Forum - April 23 - SOLD OUT

Full Registrant $150 (before April 2), $250 (April 3 and after)

Non-governmental agency $125 (before April 2), $200 (April 3 and after)

Student or Senior $100 (before April 2), $150 (April 3 and after)

 
Ontario Bike Summit Full Registration - April 24 & 25

Corporate, Government, Institutions - $349 (before April 2), $399 (April 3 and after)

Non-Government/Not-For-Profit - $249 (before April 2), $299 (April 3 and after)

Ontario Bike Summit One Day Registration - April 24 or 25

Corporate, Government, Institutions - $200 (before April 2), $250 (April 3 and after)

Non-Government/Not-For-Profit - $150 (before April 2), $200 (April 3 and after)

 

 

Accommodations

A block of rooms has been secured at our host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Toronto for a discounted rate of $169/night for a standard room.  Click here for reservations.  Rates are only guaranteed until April 13th, so please make your reservation prior to that date.  After April 13th rate is subject to change based on availability.

 

Via Rail

 

A discounted conference rate has been secured with Via Rail to assist you in your transportation needs.  Summit attendees will receive 10% off your trip from all stations that Via serves, to Union Station in Toronto, and return.  Discount applies to Economy, Business, Sleeper, or Sleeper Touring class (excludes Economy Special Fare, and Business Supersaver Fare).

To book, log in to your profile, or create one prior to booking at http://www.viarail.ca/en/my-via-profile. On the Passenger information screen, select "Convention fare" from the “Discount Type” drop-down menu, and enter the discount code: 12331 in the “Discount code” field. The conference fare will be shown on the next page.

 

Sponsors:

Friends of Ilija Ride and BBQ

Share the Road Ride and Fundraiser

Join us on June 16, 2012 for a ride to benefit renowned master cyclist Ilija Petrovski and his family.

As many of you know, Ilija sustained a traumatic brain injury on January 9, 2012 and currently requires around-the-clock specialized care. The Ontario cycling community has benefitted tremendously from Ilija's knowledge and passion for racing, and now we'd like to give back to help his family provide the best possible care.

100% of the funds raised will be used to pay for costs not covered by OHIP (about $75/day) and our goal is to pay for at least 100 days of care. As Ilija was self-employed and didn't have supplemental insurance coverage, the funds raised by this ride will truly make a difference to Ilija and his family.

We have a great day planned including either a 50km or 100km ride, followed by a BBQ at Richmond Green in Richmond Hill. If you can't make the ride, please join us for the BBQ, a silent auction, freebies and a fun time!

Find out more about Ilija Petrovski and follow his progress at ilijapetrovski.com.

Join our ride and help raise funds for Ilija's care.

Greg's Law

Bill 126 “Ontario Road Safety Act” Passes 3rd Reading in Ontario Legislature “Greg’s Law” In Memory of Deceased Ontario Provincial Police Officer

Burlington, Ontario – April 22nd, 2009 – Eleanor McMahon, road safety advocate and Founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition (a provincial cycling advocacy organization) reacted positively to the news that Bill 126 (the Ontario Road Safety Act) passed third reading in the Ontario legislature yesterday.

The Bill contains provisions targeting suspended drivers, with those caught driving under suspension to receive a penalty that will include a seven day vehicle impoundment. The amendments, known as “Greg’s Law” target motorists who drive suspended, unlicensed and therefore uninsured.

Said McMahon: “Suspended driver legislation now exists in seven provinces, with Ontario joining that number. This is a clear and very positive demonstration that the behaviours of motorists who drive while unlicensed are now part of Ontario’s road safety agenda. Driving is a privilege, and not a right. Our hope is that holding unlicensed drivers to account by impounding their vehicles will be a powerful deterrent – particulalry given the disregard for the law that driving unlicensed demonstrates.”

“Greg’s Law” is named in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, Ms. McMahon’s husband, who was killed while on an off duty training ride on his bicycle on June 6, 2006 in Milton, Ontario just north of their home in Burlington. The driver who killed Sergeant Stobbart had a significant history of several infractions including 5 convictions for driving while his license was under suspsension.

Since his death, Ms. McMahon has advocated for this legislative change, and in particular, penalities like those found in Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Action (the street racing legislation) which provide for vehicle impoundment, fines and a further license suspension. Those penalities, which research has demonstrated act as a powerful deterrent are now part of “Greg’s Law”. Officials estimate that the Bill will come into force by the fall of 2010.

“It is very gratifying to have this law passed in my husband’s memory. The knowledge that Greg’s Law will provide his colleagues in law enforcement with an important tool to keep suspended and unlicensed drivers off our roads, gives us a level of comfort that lives can be saved, and perhaps other families can be spared the kind of loss we suffered,” said McMahon.

“When they continue to drive, despite the removal of privilieges, these drivers are breaking the law, with their victims and their victim’s families left to pay the terrible social and human costs associated with the losses they cause,” she noted.

McMahon underscored the issue by pointing to research from MADD Canada and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO):

• Over 500,000 drivers are currently listed as unlicensed and suspended by the Ministry of Transportation.
• Upwards of 75% of unlicensed drivers in the province, continue to drive (MTO).
• Approximately 2,000 fatal and injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers occur annually.
• One in 14 fatal crashes involves an unlicensed driver.
• Crashes involving an unlicensed driver are more than twice as likely to have a fatal outcome.
• Unlicensed drivers are one and a half times more likely to be at fault in the crash.

“I would like to thank Commisioner Fantino, and the members of the Ontario Provincial Police, for their leadership and support. I applaud Ministry Bradley and his officials, for ensuring that this important piece of legislation was tabled. The support by both Opposition parties was also helpful in ensuring speedy passage. It is wonderful to see all party support for this kind of important road safety initiative,” said McMahon.

“Ultimately, we will all be safer once this law is in force, and I look forward to working with law enforcement and the MTO in putting the regulatory framework in place to see Greg’s Law in force as quickly as possible,” McMahon added.