About the Ontario By Bike™ Network

The Ontario By Bike™ Network is a project of Transportation Options, (T.O.), a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable transportation and tourism ideas and innovations by providing organizational structure and support to projects and innovations that are healthy, integrated, convenient, economically beneficial, and environmentally sound. The organizations’ vision is to build vibrant communities through sustainable transportation and tourism programs and innovations.

• Past projects include: New Mobility HUBs Program, Moving the Economy, Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum 2009 
• Current projects include: Bike Train Initiative, Park Bus, Ontario By Bike Partnership, Ontario By Bike Network

Louisa Mursell Executive Director, Transportation Options

Louisa has been working on sustainable, green and new tourism initiatives for a number years. Her current position as Executive Director with Transportation Options has her overseeing a number of innovative projects and programs fullfilling the organizations’ mandate of fostering sustainable mobility and tourism solutions across Ontario. Having worked for Transportation Options since 2008, Louisa has been responsible for launching the Ontario By Bike Network (previously the Welcome Cyclist Network) with an extensive workshops series and support program. She has also worked as the Greenbelt Express and Operations Manager for the Bike Train Initiative and as Assistant Coordinator of the 2009 Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum. She now manages all aspects and program areas for the organization and her responsibilities include program development, marketing and communications, HR, finance, fundraising, strategic planning and partnerships.

A keen cyclists and outdoors enthusiast, she holds much knowledge of the cycle tourism and outdoor adventure sectors in Ontario – and is always keen to get out there to learn more.

Peter McMurtry Project Coordinator, Ontario By Bike – Transportation Options  Peter coordinates and administers many core programs for Ontario By Bike, including the bicycle friendly business certification program, marketing and communications campaigns and coordinating rides and events. He is an experienced project manager having worked for a number of years in fast-paced industries managing large-scale projects from development to launch. He has a wealth of industry relations and communications experience and has managed stakeholder and public consultations fostering positive relationships with a wide variety of industry partners.

As an avid cyclist he has toured down the west coast of North America, all over Ontario, and is always looking for new places to cycle and get outdoors. Peter is also an active musician, playing and singing with two independent folk and bluegrass groups.

Jennifer Miao Finance and Administration, Transportation Options

Jennifer joined Transportation Options in 2016 and takes care of all accounting needs, ensuring financial accountability for our growing number of projects, with a variety of funding sources.

The Ontario By Bike™ Network Program was developed in response to Bike Train passenger feedback from the 2007 pilot year evaluation survey. Some passengers who completed the survey indicated their accommodation did not have adequate bicycle storage facilities and/or other related services. This prompted the development of a set of standards and criteria to certify bicycle-friendly accommodations and to provide tourism product knowledge training to managers of hotels, inns, motels and bed & breakfasts, food service providers, attractions and other businesses of interest to cyclists.

In preparing for the 2008 test pilot a lengthy research report was compiled that included examples of a number of other large networks world-wide that have successfully implemented a similar program.

• Bett und Bike – Germany • Cycling Scotland • The Czech Republic • Bienvenue Cyclistes, Quebec

In 2008 the Ontario By Bike™ Program (formerly Welcome Cyclists Program) was test piloted in the Niagara-area in partnership with Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce. A well attended initial workshop was offered and there was much interest in expanding the program.

In 2014, the Welcome Cyclists Network was rebranded as “Ontario By Bike” to better position our services to cyclists who use the Network and our tourism partners including the business locations that are certified as bicycle friendly. The new name more clearly and concisely defines our program and services with the addition of a place name, and further enhances the level of recognition of Ontario in the growing tourism industry sector of cycle tourism.

In 2016, the Ontario By Bike Network and design mark became a registered trademark. All rights reserved.

Following the initial workshop a number of participants went on to create their own regional network, naming it Cycle and Stay Niagara. Receiving widespread attention and an increase in the number of cycle tourists booking rooms this is a concrete example of the often intangible benefits of networking.

• Cycle and Stay Niagara