As a Mississippi Mills…

As a Mississippi Mills resident, I urge you to align the MTO spine route with the Voyageur Cycling Route by using the abandoned rail trail from Arnprior to Ottawa via Pakenham, Almonte and Carleton Place. Mississippi Mills has worked tirelessly during the last 9 years to promote cycling for both residents and visitors. Not only have we attained the bronze-level as a Bicycle Friendly Community, we also have an Active Transportation Advisory Committee reporting to Mississippi Mills Council that has initiated new bike lanes and trails throughout our community.

Almonte is a popular destination for tourists of all kinds, including cyclists, with its bicycle-friendly art studios, historic sites, museums, farmers markets and restaurants -- and Hummingbird, which literally makes the best chocolate in the world! See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-made-chocolate-named-best-in-the-world-at-lond on-competition/article30895853/. Pakenham, also on the abandoned rail trail, is also a charming town, as is Carleton Place (not actually part of Mississippi Mills, but still a lovely place to visit). In addition to charm and beauty, Almonte and Carleton Place also have necessities such as grocery stores, hospitals and health clinics. Almonte has a repair shop dedicated to bicycles. And did I mention the Mississippi River, which meanders not far from the rail trail, intersecting it at several points? Beaches to cool off at after a hot, tiring ride, beautiful vistas of rocks, rapids, old stone houses and log cabins, forests and fields -- a perfect showcase for the beauty of Ontario.

Please include Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place on your proposed Province-wide Cycling Network. Doing so will greatly enhance the cycling experience of everyone making use of this route.

[Original Comment ID: 209313]