April 4, 2023 - Launched in July 2022, Georgian Trail E-Bikes Rentals has barely had time to catch its breath given its rapid success renting e-bikes. From eight e-bikes to 13 in only a few months, the community has welcomed this new start up with open arms. Cycling is already hot in the region, and Georgian Trail E-Bikes has found a sweet spot as it rides the e-bike boom with their novel “contactless” rental program that caters to folks who want to explore further.
Recent winners of a 2023 “Best Bicycle Friendly Business” award we caught up with them to learn more about their success, and the serendipitous conversation that sparked the new business.
Please tell us about your cycling background?
Georgian Trail E-Bikes Rentals: Our love of cycling came at a young age like it did for most of us. Our fondest childhood memories always included stacks of bicycles in front of our friends’ houses or in our parks. Cycling as kids meant freedom and adventure, and as we got older, we continued to seek out thrills. While it’s not unlikely to find us on dirt bikes, ATVs, and even motorcycles, we always have the most fun riding around town on our e-bikes together.
What was the motivation to start Georgian Trail E-Bikes and how did it come about?
GTEBR: This business is owned by two sisters and our husbands, and we can thank a toddler’s innate curiosity for bringing Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals to life, the first of its kind in the South Georgian Bay area. While in Florida for a family vacation in early 2022, our then-3 year old son/nephew (depending on the sister you’re talking to) saw a gentleman with his e-bike outside on a patio where we had stopped for dinner. “Is that a bicycle or a motorcycle?” he asked, and before we could answer the e-bike owner said “actually, it’s sort of a mix of both”. That led to a 45-minute chat and we spent the rest of the trip doing research on brands and services we could offer and worked on developing a business plan for the rental service. We were also motivated by the active and outdoorsy lifestyle that attracts so many people to the South Georgian Bay area and were up and running in less than 6 months.
How did the community respond to this new e-cycling/transportation option?
GTEBR: The response from the community has been overwhelming and will always be a part of our journey. We are incredibly grateful for the industry connections we made early on such as the Collingwood Climate Action, the Apple Pie Trail, and Ontario by Bike… just to name a few! These relationships helped us connect to the cycling community at large. In doing so, we have had guests of all ages, abilities, and levels of cycling experience try out our e-bikes and have been humbled by just how much of an impact we’ve had. Stories range from those who had never been on an e-bike and now don’t want to go back to a traditional bicycle, those who were so happy to have their elderly family join them on their ride, and those who didn’t think they’d be able to cycle anymore… until now!
Has the bike boom been one of the drivers of your rapid success?
GTEBR: The bike boom has for sure played a large part with bicycles surging as an alternative method of transportation, and the interest in electric vehicles has been a huge factor. This industry as a whole has taken off, and our e-bikes have shown to be no different. We also have our location to thank for our success – we are centred in a very large tourist area with so many things to see and do while you’re here. With so many changes to how we live and work in today’s world, we have seen a vast increase in “staycations” and so many people looking for outdoor activities. We feel we are also significantly benefitted by our “contactless” system – we allow our renters to book online, fill out the corresponding waivers prior to arrival, and use our self-serve pickup and drop off service when they start and end their rides. We have heard from many that this simple process is what drew them to our rentals.
Talk about the Georgian Bay community re: cycling, trails etc.
GTEBR: Cycling is a huge pastime in South Georgian Bay, offering riders an extensive trail network and some of the most scenic views in the province. With these trails spanning throughout the area and connecting so many beautiful towns, riders can see all that this region has to offer. With our e-bikes, riders of all abilities can enjoy a fantastic riding experience, both on and off the trails – allowing them to see more of the region than ever before. The cycling community is a tight-knit group of people from all walks of life, and we are pleased to be able to offer this experience to help expand this network.
You stock Himiway e-bikes, a new e-bike brand here… how did decide on their models?
GTEBR: Once deciding that e-bike rentals were a necessary addition to the South Georgian Bay tourism industry, we conducted extensive research on multiple e-bike brands. We knew we needed our rental e-bikes to offer power, long-range, speed, quick charging, and safety, all while being user-friendly. After all of our comparisons, we were confident that Himiway e-bikes were rated the best in their class. We were then able to discuss with the manufacturer and became an authorized Himiway dealer – one of the first in Ontario. This was the perfect solution to ensure we could get great e-bikes into the hands of all those who want them. While we offer the Zebra model for rent, the brand’s lineup is so vast allowing us to offer customers a great e-bike option for varying skill levels and preferred price points. We are so impressed with the quality of the e-bikes and the customer service behind the brand which allows us to be very confident in providing this brand of e-bikes to both our rental and purchasing customers. This has proven to be a great choice as we have received such positive feedback from both renters and purchasers.
You recently won a Bicycle Friendly Business Award…pls tell us more.
GTEBR: We were absolutely thrilled to be awarded the 2023 “Best Bicycle Friendly Business” for RTO7 by Ontario by Bike. There are so many great bicycle friendly businesses in the Bruce/Grey/Simcoe area, and we are so honoured to be given this award in our first year of being members of the Network. We were able to accept our award at the Destination Bike: Cycle Tourism Conference, Canada in March, speak to the attendees about our business, meet so many cycling enthusiasts and make such great connections.
What are your plans going forward, and also new initiatives… ?
GTEBR: We opened to the public for rentals in late July 2022 with 8 e-bikes and we were able to expand to 13 e-bikes by Fall 2022 as the official method of transportation for the region’s “Apple Pie Trail”. This year, we plan to have 22 e-bikes available for rent by opening 3 new locations, teaming up with a Bed & Breakfast as part of their Summer vacation package, and continuing our membership with the Apple Pie Trail. We recently became members of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) and are currently in the process of becoming GreenStep certified. We have spent the off-season developing our plans to make our e-bike rentals even more accessible by popping up at events and festivals to offer on the spot demos and rentals. We are also in talks with local businesses to establish a passport style program so our riders can experience all this area has to offer while receiving exclusive perks and discounts along the way.
Anything you’d like to add?
GTEBR: The South Georgian Bay area is a great get-away spot and we encourage folks to #RideTheBay and we’d be happy to assist with an e-bike rental along with creating a custom itinerary of routes, shops, and restaurants we recommend. Additionally, we have a rent-to-own program where the cost of a rental is deducted from the cost of an e-bike should renters choose to purchase one through us in the future.
Thanks for your time and all the best with your new venture.
GTEBR: Thanks as well.
