What is an electric bicycle?

An electric bicycle meets the definition of “motor-assisted cycle” under the Ontario Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as follows:

• The electric motor must be 500 watts or less.
• The motor must not be capable of propelling the cycle faster than 32 km/hour.
• The motor must disengage when the operator stops pedaling, releases the accelerator or applies the brake.
• The cycle must be capable of being propelled by muscular power using the pedals, but it is not necessary to always be pedaling.
• The operator must wear a bicycle helmet.
• The addition of the power assist enables the rider to pedal with less effort, to achieve a greater distance, to climb hills and ride against the wind more easily. In its size, weight, speed and the driving skills required, the e-bike is similar to the conventional bicycle

For a detailed description of motor-assisted cycles as defined by the Motor Vehicle Act, visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation web site at www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq

Are electric bicycles allowed on the KTCT?

Yes. Following a comprehensive review, KTCTA decided in November 2008 to allow electric bicycles on the KTCT.

Why did KTCTA decide to allow electric bicycles on KTCT?

KTCTA received requests from members of the public to use electric bikes on the KTCT, and as a result carried out a review. KTCTA is supportive of this new green technology, which may benefit trail visitors with disabilities and mobility restrictions. As well, E bikes are powered by an electric motor and muscular power, and have zero emissions.

The maximum speed of 32 km/hour (20 mph) is equivalent to the speed reached by an average cyclist on a traditional bicycle. Regulators wanted electric bicycles to match the speed of conventional bikes. If the speed had been set lower

(24 km/hour), as first proposed, commuter cyclists would find electric bicycles too slow to be a reasonable alternative to travel by car.

Do other Provinces or cities allow electric bicycles on their trails?

Yes. KTCTA is following the lead of other jurisdictions, such as the City of Ottawa, City of Victoria which permit electric bicycles on trails where bicycles are allowed. Electric bicycles are common in many cities in California, where they were developed, and in Europe. As well, currently, eight Canadian jurisdictions (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Yukon Territory) have legalized power-assisted bicycles for public road use and are treating these vehicles as conventional bicycles and not as motor vehicles

Do electric bicycles have to follow the same rules as other cyclists on the trail?

Yes. All cyclists must obey the posted etiquette rules and be courteous to others. KTCTA strives to ensure that all visitors to the trail have safe and enjoyable visits.

Do I need a license for my electric bicycle?

No license or registration is required. However, cyclists on electric bicycles are required by law to wear helmets and be 16 years of age in Ontario.

Will this issue be considered again in the future?

The issue of electric bicycles will be reviewed by the KTCTA within the broader context of Ontario Provincial Legislation- as the use of E bikes in Ontario on roads and trails will be reviewed by the Ministry of Transportation in the fall of 2009.

For more information on regional parks and trails, please visit the Ministry of Transportation web site at www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/vehicle/emerging/e-bike-faq

The snow has gone and thoughts are now about cycling, walking, hiking and horseback riding. Generally, the trail is in good shape with some small areas that needs to be repaired due to some illegal use. This winter there was a significant increase in snowmobile use, snowshoeing and cross country skiing along the trail. The tread surface is soft and we encourage users to wait until it dries out – three or four days of continuous sun would make it better for travel.

There are plans to install more signs and barriers this spring. New directional signs will be erected near the Highway 36 Bridge connecting to downtown Lindsay. A new map for the East KTCT has been produced and is available at tourism offices in Lindsay and Peterborough, as well as some local businesses. A brochure about the entire trail is available. The three public schools along the east section of the trail have adopted sections of the trail as their environmental school zone and will soon be planting wildlife shrubs and installing blue bird nesting boxes.

Four managing partners have signed an agreement to help manage the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail – Eastern section. These partners are: Fowler’s Corner Lions Club, Omemee Lions Club, Village of Reaboro Residents, and Kawartha Lakes Green Trails Alliance. The trail has been divided into managing zones and each of these partners will help maintain their section.

Funding Grants have been submitted for upgrading the west section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail that connects to Durham Region – Uxbridge. We are optimistic the grant submissions will be successful and we will have another 20 km of high quality trail constructed by September, 2009.

We are always looking for volunteers check out the volunteer section of the blog for more information.

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association, Director Doug Baker and President of Heart of Ontario Snowmobile Club is pleased to announce that the WEST section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is open for snowmobiling. The west section stretches from Highway #7 by Lindsay to Durham Road #2 (Simcoe Street) and beyond. There are a number of interconnecting Ontario Federation Snowmobile Clubs(OFSC) trail routes off this main corridor check out their web site: www.heartofontario.ca

The Trail is an official OFSC sanctioned trail and requires a trail permit that can be purchased at outlets listed on their web web site. The East section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail is not officially open. Efforts are being made to have this section manged by an OFSC Club.

For more information contact: Doug Baker by email- use email address listed on web site or check out the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club web site: www.ofsc.com

A map of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail was presented to former Director Blane Harvey on December 12th, 2008 for his commitment to the efforts of the Association. Blane has stepped down as a director due to a recent promotion to Vice President of Sir Sandford Fleming College. We wish Blane all the best.

On October 16th the Lindsay Post reported that over the Thanksgiving weekend a police ATV patrol conducted a check in the former Emily Township that resulted in five ATV-related charges.

What wasn’t mentioned in that report is that the charges were laid against ATVs that were on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail.

Our Association has worked hard to prevent ATV use on the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail: there are signs at each access point, bollards to prevent entry, and rocks strategically placed to stop ATVs from ducking around the bollards.

We, and the many trail users concerned about ATV use, appreciate the efforts of the police to monitor ATV use.

For a detailed explanation of and rationale for our policy on motorized use of the Trail, refer to the FAQ section of the blog.

After observing flora and fauna along the trail, Ms. Johnson’s grade 4 students at Jack Callaghan P.S. created a mural. Wade and Emily, standing in front of the mural, explained the process. They used markers to colour, cut out their creations (Wade seemed particularly proud of his poison ivy) then glued onto mural paper. The mural is posted along a hallway, to encourage other classes to continue to use the Trail

Principal Kathy Spaeth tells us that the school has been using the trail for cross-country running training and a number of classes have been out exploring the trail.

With the Official Opening just a week away, the Trail surface in fine shape, and some signage in place, the Operations Committee, under the direction of Jim Paterson, continues to make improvements. Jim sent in this report:

This next phase includes the placement of rocks adjacent to each of the sets of bollards at various intersection locations between Lindsay and Omemee. This will further restrict access to the trail by motorized vehicles such as ATV’s. In addition, there are existing drainage problems on each side of the section of the trail just east of the Slanted Road. We are having some ditching work done on this section and also having a culvert installed to move the water away from this area of the trail. Once the ditching and culvert work is done we will have the trail re-graded.

You can check out photos taken by Bill Elliott in a gallery. One photo shows the old bridge just west of the hamlet of Reaboro. This bridge did not have any decking on it and was recently covered by our KTCT volunteer from Reaboro, Denis Grignon. Thanks Denis!

No fewer than four elementary schools have schoolyards adjacent to the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail.

On August 28th, staff at three of these schools were presented with a set of ten lesson plans. These lessons, intended for grade 4-6 classes and linked to Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum expectations, were commissioned by one of our managing partners with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion.

In the photo you see Green Trails Directors Ellen Woodward and Marg Fevang turning over the binder and a knapsack packed with field guides, magnifiers, and bug boxes to Jack Callaghan principal Kathy Spaeth.

The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association has been able to arrange assistance from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ Stewardship Rangers Program to do trail maintenance on Monday, July 28th, and Tuesday, July 29th, along the section of the Trans Canada Trail from the Pigeon River bridge in Omemee eastwards towards Fowler’s Corners. They will be picking up litter and removing brush that overhangs the trail.

On Monday, June 23rd, Fleming College hosted a sod-turning ceremony for the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. This article appeared in the Lindsay Post.