These comments are on behalf…

These comments are on behalf of the Town of Saugeen Shores, located in the County of Bruce, and part of Regional Tourism Organization 7.

Staff attended one of the earlier province-wide network concept public input session with the MTO held in fall 2016. During this session, the concept presented for Bruce showed a Priority Cycling Network Concept Option that followed an existing rail bed from the Guelph/KW area through Walkerton to Saugeen Shores.

This route which was marked as a priority cycling network concept was removed when the draft was release in April 2017.

The Town of Saugeen Shores has chosen to make comment, as the Municipality understands the value of cycle tourism, and is actively working towards becoming a certified bicycle friendly community through the Share the Road, Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) program.

The removal of this route means that there is no access by bike through the centre of Bruce County from the Guelph, KW and GTHA. There is access to our neighbouring counties from these key areas (Huron County and Grey County), and the Municipality believes that this is a significant missed opportunity.

There is much more to experience, including many tourism and economic development opportunities throughout Bruce County, including along the Lake Huron shore.

The Municipality is proud to be a part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (GLWT) extension from Grand Bend to Espanola, and are excited that this has been identified as part of the province-wide cycling network. The Town has made some recommendations to the proposed GLWT.

The Town of Saugeen Shores recommends that the Province and the MTO reconsider a cycling route through the centre of Bruce County, as well as the GLWT as part of the province-wide cycling network.

Thank you for the consideration of these comments.

[Original Comment ID: 209473]