Re: #Cycle for carrying out…

Re: #Cycle for carrying out this type of analysis in the future.

Make Safer Highways and Streets

Education is undoubtedly part of a larger strategy to improve road safety. Two of the points within this section appear to be the same, “Launch a public education campaign on cyclist rights and responsibilities”, and “Work to improve awareness of cycling rules and procedures”. We suggest that one of these points include a more targeted approach to education by requiring that all new bikes have point-of- sale information about the rules of the road, rights and responsibilities.

OPHA has valued past collaboration with your ministry on improvements to the Driver’s Handbook. From our interviews with driver training Instructors, we learned that many of them are already teaching how to share the road, but we found there were significant variances in what they were teaching and the accuracy of the information they were providing. Please see http://www.opha.on.ca/getmedia/eba60408-865a-4402-870d-59f93053e399/Beg… for the full report or contact Jackie.gervais@niagararegion.ca. Now is a critical time to engage new drivers in conversations about everyone’s rights on the road. The action plan should look to cover ways that current drivers can be educated about how to safely interact with cyclists. There are many new road designs, pavement markings and types of cycling infrastructure that drivers may be unfamiliar with. Education campaigns need to consider reaching both new and experienced driver audiences. In addition to the above recommendations for this section, the following statement found in the action plan would benefit from greater clarity; the action plan speaks to “Continue[ing] to reach out to road safety experts”. More details surrounding the intent behind this action would be helpful.

Promote Cycling Awareness and Behaviour Shifts

There is a strong need for a certified province-wide cycling education program. Currently there is no standard and a hodgepodge of cycling training programs exists. A reputable provincial cycling instructor training program is needed to ensure that certified instructors are teaching people of all ages how to cycle safely. Presently, many communities have been using the CAN BIKE program. Should this curriculum be part of the province-wide cycling education program, more certified CAN BIKE National Trainers would be needed to teach new cycling instructors. Greater investment in cycling training can help to support the safe riding practices we would like to see people using on the road.

Share the Road Cycling Coalition has been conducting opinion surveys regarding cycling attitudes. Partnering with an agency that already has a strong reputation and experience would be valuable. One area to consider conducting research in is developing a standard for measuring cycling level of service. Understanding what a baseline looks like to support cycling could give municipalities the tools they need to assess their own cycling-friendly supports and infrastructure.

As part of the action “Create Ontario Cycling Coordination Committee”, the committee should also be responsible for keeping current with research and best practices and disseminating information to help guide policy. The Committee should be engaged with academia and research like the Cycling in Cities http://cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca/ program which investigates factors that encourage or discourage bicycling, transportation infrastructure associated with increased or decreased risks of cycling injuries, and air pollution and cycling. This research program is based at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health. It has many partners including researchers from Simon Fraser University, Ryerson University, the Universities of Montreal, Toronto and Victoria, cycling planners, and cycling advocates.

Increase Cycling Tourism Opportunities

Undoubtedly, improved cycling infrastructure and the promotion of cycling in Ontario will be of great benefit not only to tourists but to local communities and their residents as well. Providing small incentive grants would help local tourism agencies to promote cycling in their own municipalities as a connection to the larger provincial cycling network and provincial marketing efforts. Annually, there is the Ontario Bike Show in Toronto and Velo in Quebec. These types of shows attract people from all over who are interested in great places to cycle. Offering small incentive grants would allow cycling tourism agencies the opportunity to participate at such shows and create enticing displays.

We appreciate the opportunity to offer our comments on Action Plan 2.0. We would be pleased to further discuss our submission and welcome any questions about the suggestions and recommendations found within it. We look forward to learning more about #CycleON: Action Plan 2.0 as the Province continues to make progress on this important plan which can offer many health benefits to people throughout Ontario.

Thank you for your consideration.

Pegeen Walsh

Executive Director

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