Summary – Summer 2012

A similar survey was conducted summer, 2011. There were 100 trail users interviewed at four different locations, different days and times on the trail.

1. Top 3 reasons for using the KTCT were:
   • Exercise
   • Enjoy Nature
   • Recreation
2. The months most often used were:
   • July
   • August
   • June
   • September
3. 35% of the trail users stop in at businesses to purchase items.
4. On the average between- $10-15 dollars was spent.
5. 65% of the trail users did not encounter any ATVs or Dirt Bikes on the trail- 35% did.
6. 30% felt signage was adequate; 30% not adequate and 40% did not respond.
7. 75% knew about the trail by Word of Mouth- someone told them about it.
8. 50% drove vehicles to access points to cycle/walk the trail; 35% cycled the trail from home; 15% did not respond.
9. 75% were not aware of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail web site; 25% were aware of it.
10. 95% of the trail users felt safe on the trail.
11. Installation of benches was the major recommendation made.
12. 100% of the trail users rated the quality/condition of the trail between Excellent and Very Good.
13. Special events and donation boxes on the trail were the most common suggestion to raise funds for the trail.
14. 100% of the trail users felt the trail was very important to important to have in the community.
15. Top three improvements to the trail were:
    • Garbage cans
    • Washrooms
    • Parking
16. Top three place of residents for trail users were:
    • Peterborough
    • Omemee
    • Lindsay
17. Those interviewed – 50% were walkers and 50% were cyclists.
18. Those interviewed- 50% were female and 50% were male.

Colin Angus with Al MacPherson after an amazing presentation during the Adventure Travel Festival about his travel around the world using ONLY human power.

A big thank you to the Fowlers Corner Lions Club for their successful repairs of the trail barrier in Fowlers Corner.

Biker Babes riding the west section of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail.

Our 2011 Adventure Travel Festival was a great success!

Watch for information about our Adventure Festival speakers – Colin Angus and Kevin Callan, coming soon! Mark down in your calendar – June 1st and 2nd, 2012.

Eric Larson (centre) Explorer, Al MacPherson (left) President KTCTA and Pete MacLoghlin (right) Event Committee Volunteer thank Eric for his inspiration talk at a farewell gathering at Pete and Chic MacLoghlin’s house. The event was a great fundraiser for the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail. Plans are underway for the next event planned for June 1 and 2nd, 2012.

Students, staff, and faculty from Sir Sandford Fleming College Trails course along with KTCT volunteers help redeck the bridge in Omemee along the KTCT.

Rick Johnson (MPP) and Al MacPherson (President KTCTA) annouce (August 30/11) the lease extension of the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail unitl 2018. As stated by Rick Johnson plans are to have this extended until 2025.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Rick Johnson visited the Frost Campus on Aug. 30 to celebrate the extension of an agreement the province has with the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association (KTCTA).

The KTCTA, a non-profit organization, has reached an agreement with the province to extend its current agreement by five years, until 2018, continuing to maintain and improve the trail in the Kawartha Lakes area.

The trail runs through the campus and the KTCTA has a close working relationship with Fleming College to ensure the campus portion is maintained and safe for all users. On the campus portion of the trail, users can view a regional map of the trail as well as signage that details local plants and wildlife, and a donor wall. The campus has also extended its lease agreement with KTCTA.

The strengthened partnership between Ontario and the KTCTA will ensure that this once-abandoned railway corridor will continue to offer Ontario families a healthy all year round experience.

“This extension will allow our Association to maintain its momentum and focus on updating, developing and managing a critical link for the Trans Canada Trail system,” said Allen MacPherson, president of the KTCTA.

“The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association will continue to develop and maintain a key green space that is enjoyed by the community while promoting tourism and economic development in the City of Kawartha Lakes,” said MPP Johnson, who is also Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli.

Quick Facts

• The Kawartha Trans Canada Trail Association was established in 2006 as a charitable, community organization and has invested more than $1 million in upgrades to the trail, through the participation of about 120 volunteers.
• Since 2006, the number of trail users has increased from a few dozen to an estimated 2,000 per year, which benefits the community and the local economy.
• The trail is used by local schools for both physical activity and outdoor education such as biology or geography field trips.

On Thursday August 11, volunteers came together to repair a section of trail washed out by the heavy rains from two weeks ago. Aside from KTCTA volunteers, there were Reaboro, Unity Church and Fleming College managing partners involved and the Boy Scouts from Reaboro. Many hands had the job done in two hours.

Another photo of volunteers repairing damage to trail.