P R E S E N T A T I O N T O T H E O N T A R I O C Y C L E T O U R I S M F O R U M 2 0 1 3

B I K E S M E A N B U S I N E S S

S U E M A T H I E U

Building Blocks of a Regional Cycle Tourism Strategy

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Overview 2

Assess Your Infrastructure

& Resources

Look at the Markets

Match Products

with Markets

Decide What Needs to Be

Done

Prepare an Action

Plan

Do it!

Work with

Partners

Who is going to do it? 3

Establish a cycle tourism committee

Local cyclists

Bike businesses

Municipality

Regional or local tourism groups

What does your Region have to Offer?

Look at what you have to work with – or could easily develop: Paved bike trails

Abandoned rail lines

Quiet back roads or roads with paved shoulders

Hilly or flat

Forest or natural areas for mountain biking

Outstanding natural features or scenery

Experiences

Services and amenities

Small communities

4

Which Cycle Tourism Markets are the Best Fit?

Four primary cycle tourism market segments:

Leisure/Family

Recreational

Touring

Mountain biking

Others:

Competitive

Events – charity, community, bike clubs

5

Leisure/Family Cyclists

Families

Older adults

Shorter trips

Slower with lots of stops

Off-road trails with good surface

Flat

Cycling an activity while on a trip

6

Recreational Cyclists

Cycle regularly

30 – 50 km per day

Stops en route

Paved bike lanes, roads with low traffic, paved shoulders

Few hills

Cycling is part of the reason for the trip

Hub and spoke

7

Touring Cyclists

Groups or solo

75 – 100 km + per day

Fewer stops

Roads with paved shoulders or low traffic

Varied topography – some hills

Cycling is the purpose of the trip

Different destinations each night

8

Mountain Biking

Several types of experiences:

Cross country - least extreme, travel longer distances

Downhill

Free riding

Dirt jumping

Look for designated riding areas, bike parks or trails

Younger, primarily male

Also events and competitions

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What Needs to be Done – Build an Action Plan

Cycling infrastructure, e.g. Upgrade existing trails Develop new trails More paved shoulders – identify preferred routes Signage

Other Suggested bike routes/itineraries Community improvements Educate businesses – Welcome Cyclists Support services – bike shops, trailhead parking, luggage

transfer Information – maps, website

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Build an Action Plan 11

List the actions/tasks to achieve each initiative:

Be specific

Identify:

Who will be responsible

Where will the money come from

When will it happen

A solid, detailed action plan makes implementation a lot easier

Making it Happen

Municipal support is essential Build a business case to sell them on supporting cycling tourism

Partners are critical: Bike businesses

Tourism groups

Economic development agencies

Other businesses

Make sure your partners know what is expected of them – in detail and with a timeframe

Follow up to keep things on track

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Tips for Success 13

Go for some ‘quick wins’ – in the context of your long term strategy

Get municipal staff and councillors on side

Talk up the benefits to your region – economic, health, tourism

Find some local ‘cycling champions’

Give profile to local success stories

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