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Bike Train rolls into region

Melissa Churly

Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 01:00

Local News - A tourism initiative that will see bike racks on Via Rail trains is expected to bring a new crowd of tourists to Niagara. The trains will travel from Toronto to Niagara Falls and are equipped with a baggage car that can accommodate up to 56 bicycles. The Toronto-Niagara Bike Train made its inaugural journey from Toronto Tuesday and carried 35 passengers and their bikes.

"The train is a fantastic way to travel," said Niagara Falls Coun. Jim Diodati. "It's another excuse for people to come to Niagara and to do it in a healthy and environmentally conscious way."

The price for a round-trip ride on the Bike Train is $59, including taxes and a bike rack reservation. One-way trips cost $35.

The train will run for four weekends this summer: July 21-23; Aug. 11-12; Aug. 18-20 and Aug 25-26, but more trains are expected to be scheduled for next year.

Via plans to have train users fill out evaluation forms about their trip to gauge the popularity of the program.

"There aren't a lot of ways for a cyclist without a car or a licence to get down here," said Justin Lafontaine, Toronto-Niagara Bike Train project leader.

Lafontaine came up with the idea in April 2006 while on a cycling tour in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

"I was talking to one of the other riders who lived in Niagara about planning another event, but without a car, there is no way to get out here."

Lafontaine doesn't have a driver's licence and he said there are a lot of people, especially in downtown Toronto, who don't get licences.

"Most people who live in the central core just ride their bikes to work. They don't really need a car."

He said there were no convenient ways to transport bikes to Niagara. Via trains travelling here didn't have baggage cars and most bus services require bikes to be boxed.

So Lafontaine brought idea to Via and the Tourism Ministry, which is investing $57,000 in the project.

"It's going to provide travellers with a unique way to experience Niagara and enjoy the many cycling opportunities," said Tourism Minister and St. Catharines MPP Jim Bradley.

"Niagara is becoming more than just a Falls destination," regional chairman Peter Partington agreed.

"The many bike routes that have been built have connected people to all the great features of the area. It's good news for Niagara and it's good news for the people of Ontario."

Lafontaine said he is proud of the support from the project's many partner organizations.

"We had such a great turnout in Toronto and I'm just amazed at the support and excitement of everyone."