New map to help cyclists navigate NOTL streets
A new map of Niagara-on-theLake aims to help cyclists navigate the town’s streets more safely and accurately.
The map and its accompanying website, CycleNOTL.ca, were created to address safety concerns related to cycling in town.
“The town had been getting complaints from residents for years and so council assigned (the community safety committee) to look into the complaints,” said committee chair Catharine Wickabrod.
The committee decided that a map was needed for cyclists to help them better navigate through Niagara-on-the-Lake’s streets. The map it designed — with the help of the town’s geographic information systems (GIS) technologist, as well as input from the committee, Niagara Regional Police, Ministry of Transportation and cyclists — outlines some of the differences between urban and rural cycling.
“Keeping in mind that a number of residents and tourists alike do not understand our unique urban/rural town and the fact that most of the rural roads do not have any dedicated bike/walking lanes and can be very narrow,” said Wickabrod. “Most of the rural roads have higher speed limits than urban roads, in fact riding a bike or walking on a narrow rural road with traffic speeds of 80 km/h hour can be frightening to most
people, and especially visitors to our town.”
The map highlights walking trails, roads with bike trails, town facilities, public washrooms, the chamber of commerce, health clinics, wineries, as well as park and pedal destinations.
The back of the map highlights rules of the road and bike safety, including road speed limits, bus routes and more.
When folded, the Niagara-onthe-Lake Cycling and Pedestrian Route Map is pocket-sized.
It is available at bike rental facilities throughout town, as
well as at town offices.
While the website, cyclenotl.ca, has been launched, Gansel said digital copies of the map are not yet available.
The committee will be working throughout the winter to populate the site with content, including a downloadable map, and bike
route guides.
Wickabrod said the committee will be doing a formal presentation on the new map before council sometime this month.