Promoting cycling tourism- your area

[shootingstar]

Is your area marketed from a tourism standpoint, for cycling travellers?

Local tourism & city does something on their websites. Gives links to cycling maps. Great for those who plan things in advance. There is a wee little foldout bike map for city of Vancouver which is updated--free, useful and also on web.

Full cycling map in hard copy for Metro Vancouver (for longer rides, suburbs) costs money. Usually at bike shops. Web version is available if you plan in advance/have access to colour printer. Not convinced most LBS have staff who are into promoting certain bike routes nor are into pointing out certain vistas a visitor can see along the way for certain routes. Usually they're more into bike gear and mechanics.

And if you were a visiting cyclist, you wouldn't know too easily/fast which hotels you could stay for cheaper 10-15 kms. away from downtown, but close to the light rail transit lines to bring on your bike if lacking time to cycle alot but wanted to see much of the area.

We could do alot better given the fact, there are routes that feature some beautiful vistas...some well-promoted, others not so much.

[e.e.cummings]

This is what I have read on one of our local sites - Quebec has the 'Route Verte' (the green route):

The Route verte has won two prestigious awards: the Prix Ulysse, one of the Grands Prix du tourisme québécois for the Montreal region, and first place, among the ten best bicycle routes in the world, selected by the National Geographic Society.

I see it being promoted at bike shows, and I would imagine that if you called Tourism Quebec they would have the maps, because at the Montreal Bike Show, there were lots of free maps. I find it strange that I cannot find a free map of Montreal, which is a great city to cycle in (particularly with the introduction of the Bixi, they have really beefed up the path network) however I cannot find one for free.

I used to work in tourism for another province - I am not sure how well Quebec promotes its own cycling routes, but from what I saw at the bike show, the free publications are probably partially subidized by tax dollars, so I would guess they give a decent support to cycling promotion in the province.

I would love to come and cycle in B.C. - my first impression is hilly routes. Am I right? Also, do you have some good wine route tours? Love B.C. wines.

[tulip]

Every year, there is Bike Virginia, which is a four or five day tour through a different part of the state. Thousands of people come to it, many from way far away. It's great, and it really showcases different parts of the state. I've learned more about my adopted state through Bike Virginia than if I didn't participate.

There's a trail under construction between Williamsburg and Richmond (about 60 miles, I guess). When it's done, it'll be really great. It's called the Capital-To-Capital Trail, or Cap2Cap for short.

[azfiddle]

I don't know if bike tourism is being actively promoted in Tucson, but there are definitely a lot of bike routes in the area, and you can get a free map published by the a local government organization at any bike store in the area. You can also find it on line here: http://www.pagnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=106

My DH and I use it all the time to plan our rides.

[shootingstar]

Great for a jursidiction to have fun massive group event rides annually or so. And easier sometimes, if registrants/participants don't have to fundraise (or they pay alot just to ride by donating, without fundraising for ie. multiple sclerosis) True, they can draw people from several hundred miles/kms. away from their home city/state/province.

There are lots of opportunities for cycling in Vancouver without hills but any route over 30 kms., one does deal with a hill or 2 at least. Doable. Of course, there are always challenge of a local mountain, if you want it.

In my opinion, which may be biased, but after living and cycling in Toronto for 10 years, it would be variety of vistas and outdoor scenery in Vancouver area one would see as cyclist, that would override most hill-climbing requirements. Do come one day! Kelownagirl could speak in greater detail about bike routes in Okanagan Valley/B.C.'s wine region in interior British Columbia. But from what we experienced the cycling routes are confined withina a city/town or have been part of rail trail. Among the vineyard areas, it can be sufficiently hilly and steep in certain areas and remember it gets hot/dry there.. 35+ degrees C... There's nothing comparable to eastern & central Canada, climate-wise. But it is beautiful there, different from Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region. I've cycled in both wine regions east and west, several times in each.

We haven't been to Arizona yet..and too bad, we didn't take advantage when dearie's brother was living in Scottsdale, AZ.

As for a free vs. fee-based cycling city map that has street detail, guess it's a cost issue for Montreal and Vancouver. It does cost money to produce them, so..

Methinks to be a cycling tourist, to be cycling lots while travelling, it really requires time to research, plan and adjust a route as one moves along. Just figuring out decent routes within a strange city/town without local cycling enthusiast to assist, is abit like detective/scavenger hunt at times. One just has to have sense of adventure for the unknown ahead.

[papaver]

We have those routes too, and the cycling days and stuff... but there's one initiative that I find really cool: it's a kind of couchsurfing for cyclists. There's a site where you can create your own route and on that route you can contact people (cyclists too), and they give you a room and breakfast. Often for free or for a small amount. And if you are really lucky they give you dinner and a food pack too.

Some of my friends have tried it, and they really love it!

We also have 'gourmet tours'... :d those are cycling events where you follow a route and every 10 kms or so you can eat or drink something local. That is very very popular. You wonder why

[IFjane]

Every year, there is Bike Virginia, which is a four or five day tour through a different part of the state. Thousands of people come to it, many from way far away. It's great, and it really showcases different parts of the state. I've learned more about my adopted state through Bike Virginia than if I didn't participate.

There's a trail under construction between Williamsburg and Richmond (about 60 miles, I guess). When it's done, it'll be really great. It's called the Capital-To-Capital Trail, or Cap2Cap for short.

Virginia is not one of the best states for promoting cycling tourism, but we are trying and I hope getting better from year to year. Tulip is right about BVA - it is a great opportunity to tour a different part of the state each year. Virginia's advocacy group is Bike Walk Virginia: http://www.bikewalkvirginia.org/

They sponsor an early century ride from Richmond to Jamestown & back (and vice versa, should cyclists want to start at the other end). It, too, is called the Cap2Cap & is one of my favorite rides. Y'all come join us!

[shootingstar]

In Ontario, a private company partnered with VIA Rail, Canada's passenger rail company, for the Bike Train. http://www.biketrain.ca/

There are several train routes which originate from Toronto out in different directions to Niagara Falls area (wine country area, etc.), Montreal and up to North Bay, Ontario (which is over 1,000 kms. north of Toronto). Not sure what all the extras the company provides.

So cyclists as a tourist group, is being taken a bit seriously in some areas. Might take time. For the ignaural ride to North Bay, the mayor of that city met the cyclists.

Now, I recall when my dearie rode across Canada, he met a mayor of North Bay. This was 8 years ago. Guy actually gave him a lift for 100 kms., since bike wasn't functioning properly. Not sure if present mayor is the same guy.

[MomOnBike]

I'd say, Shootingstar, that you are doing a fine job of promoting tourism. That bike train is now officially on my list of things I want to do with my bike. (Now if the lottery would just cooperate. . .)

[staceysue]

I was wondering about that yesterday. I was thinking about touring and wondering what people do to get through big cities safely. Do most of the bigger ones have maps of safe routes through? I suppose the bike shops would be helpful, but it would be so nice to be able to just print up a map online.

[stokerpam]

We picked up a free bicycle map at a Kiosk along a canal path near some tennis courts in Montreal, at a visitor info center - try there