2020 Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses – Award Winners

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Congratulations to the 2020 “Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses”OBB 2020 Award
in Ontario.

The following businesses were selected to win the Ontario By Bike award for their efforts in and excelling at providing services and a welcome to cyclists visiting their locations as well as supporting cycling within their community. A winner was selected from each of the 13 tourism regions in Ontario, plus a recognition award was given to the best bike related businesses for each region, where nominated, as these businesses provide an important service supporting cycle tourists.

We encourage you to plan a visit, and cycle by to find out more yourself and first hand.

Ontario’s Southwest / RTO1

Best Bicycle Friendly Business:BgB patio
Banded Goose Brewing Co. – The small SW Ontario town of Kingsville and this local brewery take welcoming cyclists seriously. With expanded patios that take over the main street, closed to traffic at varying times through the weekends this summer, plus ample town and trail parking, it is easy to start and/or end a ride here. Discover the Greenway Trail that is 48km in length and passes right through Kingsville or find a mapped road route nearby. Take out an active or honorary membership in their very own Banded Goose Bicycle Club to enjoy a group ride or member discounts and gift cards.

Niagara Region / RTO2

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Talwood Manor B&B – Well versed in catering to cyclists needs, this comfy B&B goes a step beyond in offering early breakfasts, ice packs for sore muscles, beach towels and chairs and luggage transfer. Safe bike storage for up to 8 bikes plus repair tools and equipment are readily available. Located in Port Colborne, this is a great base to explore all the road routes and off-road trails in Niagara Region, along Lake Erie and the Welland Canal.

Bike business: Zoom Leisure Bikes

Hamilton Halton Brant / RTO3

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Lola Choco Bar and Sweet House – Fuel yourself mid-ride or celebrate post ride with a freshly made coffee or tea and a healthy sweet treat at this cafe located in the charming Village Square in downtown Burlington. Just a short ride from the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, this little desert and coffee house invites cyclist to stop for a break and enjoy the beautiful historic architecture. Cyclist are warmly welcomed and can find secure space to park their bikes and some tools for minor repairs. Additionally, all visitors arriving by bike receive a 10% discount on their order.

Bike Business: The Bicycle Shop Brantford

Huron, Perth, Waterloo & Wellington / RTO4

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Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum – Ontario’s largest community museum invites visitors to learn more about the history of the Waterloo Region from the last 12,000 years. The adjacent heritage village lets you take a stroll back in time to 1914 to explore some of the architecture and daily life of people in the area. The museum can be accessed from the trail through Homer Watson Park and the Great Trail. From water refill, clean washrooms and friendly and knowledgeable staff, the museum makes for a fun excursion or short rest stop on a ride in Kitchener and Waterloo Region.

Greater Toronto Area / RTO5

Bike Business: Pedal Toronto

York Durham Headwaters / RTO6

Best Bicycle Friendly Business: BgB patio
Pheasant Run Golf Club – Located just a short ways north of Toronto, this beautifully situated golf course makes for a fantastic stop if you ride along scenic and hilly Warden Avenue through York Region. Enjoy a refreshment break and relax on their patio, soaking up the scenic vistas of the area. Warden Avenue is a frequently used cycle route between Toronto, Markham and Lake Simcoe. The route features many rolling hills with breathtaking views that even let you see the skyline of Toronto on a clear day. It is often used as part of the challenging York Century Ride, a 100km loop between Newmarket and Lake Simcoe.

BruceGreySimcoe / RTO7

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Affairs Bakery and Cafe – Cyclists are always welcome with friendly service and smiles at this cafe located in the village of Creemore, just south of Collingwood. Bike racks and nearby outdoor seating, along with butter tarts, date squares, cappuccinos and more are just some of the energy treats available for refueling before or after tackling the nearby hills and road or trail routes in Simcoe County. Water refills are complimentary, and so too are all the cyclists who stop by and spread the word about this popular bicycle friendly cafe.

Bike Business: Humdinger Bicycle Tours

Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8

Best Bicycle Friendly Business: BgB patioBrighton Inn Bed and Breakfast – This bicycle friendly four bedroom B&B is set in a renovated Victorian home on the main street. With some excellent cycling nearby, make this your base for the weekend or longer, or a stopover on a cycle tour passing through town. Explore Presqu’ile Provincial Park on quiet park roads along the 10km park peninsula. Brighton is an ideal place to stay whilst riding the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and before heading east to Prince Edward County or west towards Toronto. The 69km Presqu’ile Promise Cycling Route is another great ride option, taking in all the local sites and a number of nearby small towns.

South Eastern Ontario / RTO9

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Auberge Chesley’s Inn – On a well traveled route along Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, the Inn is situated in downtown Cornwall, a great location for an overnight break on a multi-day ride. Close to all city amenities, cyclists return year after year to enjoy the comforts offered, quiet garden retreat and safe overnight bike storage. An Inn since the early 19th century, there are four rooms in this well appointed historic building, maintained by current owners who take great pride in welcoming cyclists.

Bike Businesses: BikeON Tours & I-Cycle Electric Bicycle Company

Ottawa & Countryside

Best Bicycle Friendly Business: BgB patio
Alt Hotel Ottawa – This modern and stylishly decorated hotel is centrally located in the heart of Ottawa making it a great spot to explore the city by bike. Cyclists will find secure bike storage and knowledgeable staff on site to learn more about what to see and do in this bicycle friendly city. Explore Ontario’s beautiful capital by bike along a well mapped out network of trails and roads or enjoy a scenic ride along the Rideau Canal and Ottawa River using our carefully crafted ride itinerary. Make it a multi-day trip with a stay at the Alt Hotel and benefit from reduced rates for a limited time.

Ontario’s Highlands / RTO11

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Molly’s Bistro and Bakery – Start and end your ride in Haliburton Highlands from Molly’s Bistro Bakery in Minden. With lots of parking and the promise of home baked goods and country cooking to lure you back for time well spent on the outdoor patio. Non-motorized ‘biker gangs’ are known to frequent this establishment, and many cycling groups and clubs return regularly for the friendly and welcoming service after a smooth road ride or conquering mountain biking trails and hills nearby.

Bike Business: Yantha Cycle

Explorers’ Edge / RTO12

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Magnetawan Grill & Grocery – The Magnetawan Grill & Groceries is the perfect spot to fuel up for a ride to explore the Almaguin Highlands and Parry Sound areas. Right in the centre of beautiful Magnetawan, overlooking the Magnetawan River, this little grocery store also features a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Magnetawan makes for a great start and end destination to explore the surrounding area. Magnetawan & Area Businesses have created a number of local trail and road routes that let cyclists enjoy the beauty of this unique and un-crowded area.

Northern Ontario / RTO13

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Twin Peaks Bed and Breakfast – This Victorian inspired and newly renovated accommodation sits on a beautiful 12 acres plot of land centrally located on Manitoulin Island, offering all the amenities cyclists need for a perfect stay. Close access to cycling routes, bike lockers, ready to go breakfast and nearby stores and beaches will let you fully enjoy Manitoulin Island. The Manitoulin Cycling Map features a number of different cycling routes. The Mindemoya to Cup & Saucer Loop or the Mindemoya Lake Loop can both easily be accessed from the Twin Peaks B&B.

2020 is the second year of the Ontario By Bike “Best Bicycle Friendly Business Awards”. The awards are given to showcase the efforts of all those businesses out there that are working hard on keeping Ontario a top destination for cyclists. We would like to thank everyone who has participated in this year’s contest as we received many outstanding nominations and heard lots of inspiring stories from all. We are proud to continue our partnership in promoting businesses across Ontario as top spot for cyclists to eat, visit, and sleep.

Ontario By Bike has awarded one business in each of the 13 tourism regions, as a winner for 2020. Additionally, a recognition award was given to best bike businesses for each region, where nominated, as these businesses provide an important service supporting cycle tourists.

Ontario By Bike’s bicycle friendly business network consists of over 1,500 certified tourism businesses across the province. The certification program has criteria that help ensure cyclists are welcomed at businesses they choose to stop at whether it be as a cycle tourist, on a longer trip, or while biking closer to home. The Network is free for businesses to participate in and the information on each location and much more about cycle tourism in the region is easily accessible on our website. Each winner is a certified bicycle friendly location, a part of the Ontario By Bike Network.

See our 2019 Best Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners opens in a new windowhere.

 
Award Winner 2021