With several recent serious bicycle accidents reported in the media, we thought this might be a good opportunity the remind motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to share the road.  Please help us to keep Downtown Owen Sound safe for everyone.

Downtown Owen Sound’s Bikeface Cycling recently shared some information with us about the Share the Road Coalition.  The coalition is a provincial cycling advocacy organization created to unite cycling organizations from across Ontario and work with and on behalf of municipalities to enhance their ability to make their communities more bicycle- friendly. The organization’s mandate is province-wide with a specific focus on developing public policy at the provincial level in order to provide the kind of legislative, programmatic and funding instruments such as exist in other Canadian provinces notably Quebec and British Columbia.

With cycling a burgeoning mode of transportation across the globe, and communities looking to enhance the health and well being of their citizens, the Coalition is developing partnerships with like-minded stakeholders across Ontario and has focused on developing partnerships geared to building a Bicycle Friendly Ontario. The organization began in memory of OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, the husband of our Founder, Eleanor McMahon, killed in a cycling tragedy in June 2006.

Since its inception, the Coalition has focused on outreach work with a view to building partnerships with active transportation stakeholders notably: cycling advocates, local cycling clubs, organizations and municipal advisory groups, municipal leaders and officials, law enforcement, planners, provincial politicians and officials, public health professionals, and funders. By uniting Ontarians who share a common set of objectives we are committed to leveraging the resources of those who have those common interests, with the objective of making Ontario the most bicycle friendly jurisdiction in the world.

For more information about the Share the Road Coalition, you can visit their website at www.sharetheroad.ca, or contact Patty Marr or Doug Miller at Bikeface Cycling in Downtown Owen Sound (269 10th Street East – 519-376-9777).

Also:  Please remember that bicycle riding on sidewalks is not only very dangerous, it is against the law in Owen Sound. (click here for more info)