April 5, 2023 - As we anticipate another big cycling season and look ahead to warmer months, Ontario By Bike announces the 22 winners of the 2023 Bicycle Friendly Businesses Awards.
The winners of the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards were announced at an awards ceremony at the 2023 Cycle Tourism Conference, Canada, hosted on March 2, 2023 in Toronto by Ontario By Bike. This is the fifth year of awards presented by Ontario By Bike, the lead organization developing and promoting cycle tourism in Ontario.
All of the award winners have made efforts to offer exceptional services and amenities to cyclists stopping at their locations. The annual awards are open to businesses certified by Ontario By Bike as bicycle friendly, having to meet criteria that helps ensure cyclists are welcomed at businesses they choose to stop at, whether as a cycle tourist, on a longer trip, or while biking closer to home. The Ontario By Bike Network is free for businesses to participate in and the information on each business and location is easily accessible online, along with cycling trails and road routes for each region in Ontario. Ontario By Bike a program of Transportation Options, a is a not for profit organization established 30 years ago.
Whether cycling close to home, travelling to destinations across Ontario, or exploring Ontario’s vast and beautiful trails and road routes, a stop at any one of these award-winning locations to eat, visit or sleep will be a highlight of any bike outing, whether a day trip or longer multi-day tour. Cyclists can find over 1,620 Ontario businesses certified as bicycle friendly by Ontario By Bike who are ready welcome cyclists across the province.
Enthusiasm for cycling and cycle tourism in Ontario, brought to new heights by the pandemic bike boom, is not slowing down. Together with the continued interest in more local travel, the growth in e-bikes – making travel by bike even more accessible, and the disrupted supply of bikes back to normal, cycling and cycle tourism in Ontario is expected to have another strong year.
“We are incredibly pleased to announce the award winners of the fifth annual best bicycle friendly businesses in Ontario. This year’s recipients from all across Ontario have shown a commitment to welcoming cyclists to their locations whether that be a hotel, bed and breakfast, brewery, art gallery, bike business or unique farm store. We are honoured to celebrate and showcase their services and enthusiasm in serving this market, and encourage cyclists to stop by and discover why.” Louisa Mursell, Executive Director of Ontario By Bike/Transportation Options.
Award winning businesses will be featured in the popular monthly e-newsletter that is issued by Ontario By Bike and avidly read by over 16,400 cyclists. Additionally, cyclists can find info on bike routes, itineraries and all certified bicycle friendly businesses at www.ontariobybike.ca, rated the most used website for ideas to plan cycling outings and routes in Ontario. Paired with the newly published and annual Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario 2023 magazine, cyclists have all the resources they need to get rolling.
2023 Ontario By Bike Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners:
www.ontariobybike.ca/2023awardwinners
(See below for quotes from award winning businesses.)
| Ontario’s Southwest Best Business: Crazy 8 Barn – Palmyra Bike Business: WindsorEats – Windsor | Niagara Region Best Business: South Landing Inn – Queenston/Niagara-on-the-Lake | Hamilton Halton Brant Best Business:Heart’s Content Organic Farm – Brantford Bike Business: Heron Head Bikes – Brantford |
| Huron, Perth, Waterloo & Wellington Best Business: Bingemans Camping Resort – Kitchener Bike Business: Flow State Bike Co. – Arkell | Greater Toronto AreaBest Business: Residence & Conference Centre – Toronto Downtown – Toronto Bike Business:The Cyclepath – Danforth – Toronto | York Durham Headwaters Best Business: McMichael Canadian Art Collection – Kleinburg |
| Bruce Grey Simcoe Best Business: Super 8 by Wyndham – Port Elgin Bike Business:Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals – Collingwood | Kawarthas Northumberland Best Business: Haute Goat Farm Inc. – Newtonville Bike Business:Down to Earth – Lindsay | South Eastern Ontario Best Business: Katarina’s Coffee Shop – Prescott Bike Businesses: On the Trail – Augusta |
| Ottawa & Countryside Best Business: Beau’s Brewing Co. – Vankleek Hill Bike Business:velofix Ottawa – Ottawa | Ontario’s Highlands Best Business: Yours Outdoors / Haliburton Forest – Haliburton Bike Business:Gearheads – Petawawa | Explorers’ Edge Best Business: Four Corners Algonquin – Whitney |
| Northern Ontario Best Business: On The Bay B&B – Providence Bay, Manitoulin Island | *Geographic disbursement based on Ontario’s 13 tourism regions |
Quotes From 2023 Award Winning Businesses:
“We love cyclists and the positive influence they bring to our business and we enjoy sharing in their stories. We are only a tiny piece of the cycling puzzle, but we try to play our part with enthusiasm and generosity.” – Susanne Spence Wilkins, Crazy 8 Barn
“We have organized tours for cycling and are avid promoters of cycle tourism in our region. For many [the Friday Night Lights tour] was an outlet to meet new people and visit establishments and parts of the city they have never been too. Many of those that participate in the tour have become regular customers as well as friends.” – Pina Ciotoli, WindsorEats
“We are located in Queenston on of the Niagara Parkway Recreational Trail and several other popular bike routes. This allows us to cater to road cycling and also mountain/trail biking. As well, it is important for us to recommend and work with all cycle friendly businesses in the area, supporting the cyclist community as a whole.” – Matthew Ius, South Landing Inn
“We provide convenient place to stop and accommodations on the Trans Canada Trail between Brantford and Dundas area. At the farm we grow and sell organic medicinal and edible herbs. We love hosting cyclists who just come off the trail whether they are on a multi-day tour or day ride out to enjoy the great scenery, rolling hills, restored wetlands and native trees.” – Ella Haley, Hearts Content Organic Farm
“In addition to the rentals and tours, we have a variety of unique bicycles to view at our shop. It is slowly becoming a bicycle museum. There are lots of fun stories but the best are about the looks on kids’ faces and smiles when they get a new bike. It’s the best part of this gig.” – Stan Gorecki, Heron Head Bikes
“We are close to the trail network in Arkell, on a regular route for road cyclists, we’re dog friendly, and have a cafe and bike gear all in one location. Flow State Bike Co is a hub for cycling groups to gather and celebrate the ride!” – Nate Lessnick, Flow State Bike Co.
“Bingemans Camping Resort is the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle without ever having to leave the city. As a cyclist, you’ll have access to both city attractions and beautiful trails along the Grand River.” – Penny Swinston, Bingemans Camping Resort
“We are located just a short distance from popular bike trails in the city such as the Waterfront Trail and the Lower Don Trail and welcome over 50 cyclists per month.” – Sangau Ahmad, Residence & Conference Centre – Toronto Downtown
“We have a huge selection and are very close to all the best paths and MTB trails. My favorite experience this year was a family looking for a bike with training wheels for their three year old son. I watched him playing with a run bike and told them that they likely wouldn’t need to spend the extra for training wheels, he looked pretty good with his balance – they bought a bike and sure enough phoned me that afternoon to say he was riding two wheels! Fun to be a part of someone’s adventure right from the start.” – Casey Anderson, The Cyclepath – Danforth
“Our long and beautiful trails connect the McMichael not only to the quaint Kleinburg village, a popular stop for cyclists for coffee and refreshments before continuing on the country and back roads of Vaughan, but to the trails surrounding the gallery, leading down into the Humber Valley. Kleinburg Village and the McMichael work together to bring a wonderful and welcoming experience to all our cycle friends.” – Angela Poletto, McMichael Canadian Art Collection
“We pride ourselves in being a top bicycle destination in Saugeen Shores. We have cyclists that return year after year after year and it is always wonderful to see them again!” Jenn Cortan, Super 8 by Wyndham Port Elgin
“Our business was the first of its kind (for e-bikes) in this region. The excitement, positive environmental impact and thrill of riding an e-bike are all reasons why tourists are drawn to our business. We are a relatively new business but are so grateful for all the love and support we have received from the community since we started!” Loriann Marcuzzi, Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals
“With supervised bicycle parking, a bike repair kit, cafe, animal experiences, bathrooms and bike trails we’ve been delighted to be a key stop for many cycling groups over the last two to three years and we hope to grow this!” – Debbie Nightingale, Haute Goat Farm Inc.
“We are a full service bike shop with friendly, expert staff and provide guidance to local trails and safe cycling roads.” – Sandra Patrick, Down to Earth
“Being on the Waterfront Trail, we have a lot of cyclists stop through for refreshments and a break during the season. With an assortment of breakfasts, lunches, baked goods and treats, an outdoor patio, lots of space for bikes and a location just 100 metres from Kelly’s Beach, it makes for an inviting stop.” – Nicole Hudson, Katarina’s Coffee Shop
“We are a family run bike shop with a grass roots approach and are a popular stop for cyclists travelling across the country. We offer repairs, bike sales, retail store, route planning, and local group rides.” – Bill Flikweert, On the Trail
“2023 is going to be epic for cyclists at our brewery! We are one of seven launch points across Canada for the 2023 Myeloma Canada Ride. We will also begin renting a fleet of e-bikes as of Spring 2023 through a new partnership with the Prescott Russell Recreational Trail. When cyclists get back from their ride they can enjoy a refreshing glass of Beau’s award-winning beers on our gorgeous hop-covered patio, and sample our hearty summer kitchen menu!” – Jennifer Beauchesne, Beau’s Brewing Co.
“Velofix has helped just about every type of cyclist over the years. We do free repairs with local cycling groups and have also done bike services for Justin Trudeau. The mechanics are the heart and soul of this business. You get to spend one-on-one time with them during your service so that all your bike needs are met.” – Adam Kourakis, Velofix Ottawa
“We offer unique cycling experiences that are paired with art, food and culture to showcase and celebrate the local community. Along with exploring the scenic roads and communities, discovering hidden gems and meeting locals, adventures also include gravel biking, bikepacking and bikejoring. Yours Outdoors is a division of Haliburton Forest, which is a cyclists’ playground with 100,000 acres, 100 lakes, and 400 km of maintained gravel roads and trails for gravel biking, mountain biking and other uses.” – Barrie Martin, Yours Outdoors / Haliburton Forest
“We offer rental equipment, professional mechanical support, local cycling information, and event support and have detailed knowledge of riding areas and events within the area and everything needed to support any cycling adventure. We make an effort to get to know our customers and if you have visited the store more than once it is likely that we will know your name.” – Margo Johnson, Gearheads
“We offer maps, basic bicycle repair, single night stays, free wifi, long term motor vehicle parking, outdoor space, use of environmentally responsible practices and products, first aid kit, early checkout option, and complimentary adaptive bicycle/wheelchairs. We have a small number of guests who bicycle to our site, and a growing number of visitors who arrive by car and cycle locally.” – Angela Pollak, Four Corners Algonquin
“Our B&B is located steps from the Providence Bay Beach, an ice cream shop, restaurants and we offer a variety of supports to our cycling customers. This year we have e-bike rentals right across the street along with seven charging station locations, pickup and drop-offs across Manitoulin Island. In the past we’ve assisted Manitoulin Passage Ride participants get to dinner and back with our vehicle. We have also rescued five women cyclists that were caught out in a severe thunder storm with our pick-up trucks.” – Ingrid Blay, On The Bay B&B
