May 25-June 25 is bike month here in the GTA, and its a great time to get outside and go for a ride (http://bikemonth.ca/about). Wether you’re a commuter, leisure rider or triathlete, cycling is a great way to get outside for some fun and exercise.
While living in a city can make it more challenging to find safe routes from automobile traffic, I’ve found a few trails that are bike friendly:
1. The Martin Goodman Trail (MGT) - is a multi-use recreation trail that stretches along the entire Lakeshore - from Oakville, Mississauga and into downtown Toronto. Its open to pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, etc, and closed to cars. While it gets crowded on holidays and weekends, if you can sneak in a weekday ride you’ll have more room. But beware of children running around when parents fail to keep a close eye on them - I’ve had a few close calls.
2. Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) - Located downtown, also accessed from the MGT, is TTP, a public park that is open on only on weekends and holidays. If offers mostly unpaved trails but is closed to traffic and has some great birdwatching and cool lake breezes in the summer. The potholes can be bad here, so be wary.
3. Toronto Islands - From the Jack Layton ferry terminal (accessed directly from the Martin Goodman Trail) you can take your bike on the ferry to the Toronto Islands and bike almost anywhere you like on the islands. The islands are free of cars, making it a safe, scenic, leisurely place to ride.
4. Don River Trail (DRT) - A pedestrian and cyclist trail that stretches from the lakeshore (connecting with the MGT at Cherry Street) all the way up to Sunnybrook Park and Taylor Creek Park, ~10km. The trail stretches along the Don River and Don Valley Parkway.
5. Sunnybrook Park - while open to some automobile traffic, its still a much safer option then city streets. There are lots of winding paths and trails that cyclist can ride on. Riding the loop from the playing fields at the top of Sunnybrook Park down to E.T. Seton Park return is ~10km. There are several parking lots so if you wanted to drive there with your bike on a rack its an option.
I’ve incorporated all these cycling trails in my training, and when you’re stuck living in the city and tired of the long winter spent inside on your bike trainer and going to spin class, these trails offer a decent option to get outside for a ride.
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Of course, it wouldn’t be bike month in Toronto without the annual Ride for Heart, a campaign for the Heart and Stroke Foundation taking place on Sunday, May 31 along the Gardiner Expressway and DVP. I’m participating again this year, but this time I’m now a VIP rider and promised to fundraise at least $1000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. I’m quite close to reaching my goal (94% there) but I still need a little help. If you’d like to donate here’s the link to my fundraising page:
Any amount helps, and it all goes to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. I promise to ride all 75km again this year, and to report on the event in my blog, of course.
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No matter what skill level of cyclist you are, make sure you get outside for some fun rides this month. I always have a smile on my face after getting outside for an awesome spring ride and I bet you will too.
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