Ontario spending $25M to make province more cycling friendly

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TORONTO – The provincial government says it’s moving ahead with a $25-million investment over three years to create a more cycling-friendly Ontario.

The plan includes $15 million for cycling routes that provide connections on provincial highways, such as paved highway shoulders and barriers on bridges that separate cyclists from vehicles.

Some early proposals include Highway 33 west of Kingston, Highway 137 at the 1000 Islands Parkway, Highway 6 on Manitoulin Island, Highway 17 at Espanola, and Highway 17B and Highway 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Espanola.

The province has also dedicated $10 million to the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program.

The program is designed to help municipalities expand local cycling routes, connect with provincial cycling routes, and launch pilot projects to make cycling improvements.

Officials say work is also underway to identify a provincewide network of cycling routes in collaboration with a broad range of cycling stakeholders.

“We’ll continue to engage municipalities, road users, businesses, advocacy groups and non-governmental organizations to make sure we get it right,” Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said in a release.