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Bicycles at the Beach - Lake Huron

Bicycle ONTARIO - Cycle Tourism




Develop Cycle Tourism In Your Community
Become A Bicycle Touring Destination

Cycling tourists can be divided into different market segments in a number of different ways. The following describes four different types described by demographic, frequency, distance, speed, motivation and preferred location. These groups all need to be considered in the development of a cycling tourism strategy. Considering all of these groups, the ability to provide cycling trails as well as safe on road routes wherever possible has the broadest appeal for cyclists.

Occasional
Demographic: Young adults, families with children and mature adults. May ride with friends or family including children.
Frequency: Ride sporadically or only a few times per year.
Distance: Short distances up to an hour or two.
Speed: Ride close to walking speed with frequent stops. Less than 20 kilometers per hour.
Motivation: Fitness, fun, family and social activity.
Preferred Location: Paths or sidewalks close to home or cottage, parks or recreational areas.
Negatives: Riding with motor vehicles and hills.


Short Distance Riders
Demographic: Mature adults and retirees. May ride with family, friends, group or solo. 
Frequency: Regular weekly to monthly rides.
Distance: Day ride distances of 30 to 40 kilometers [20 to 25 miles].
Speed: Just above walking speed with frequent stops, 20 to 25 kilometers per hour. 
Motivation: Ride for fitness and social or family connection.
Preferred Location: Rail trails, paths or roads with low volumes of motor vehicle traffic.
Mostly near home with occasional longer group trips. 
Go on organized rides including internationally with arrangements for bicycles, accommodation and luggage.
Negatives: Hilly rides and roads with motor vehicle traffic particularly where there are no paved shoulders.
Travel Accommodation: Often prefer to stay in affordable accommodation – economical motels and restaurants.


Long Distance Riders
Demographic: Mature adults and retirees. Ride with grown up children, family, group or solo. 
Frequency: Ride frequently, weekly to monthly rides.
Distance: Day ride distances of 65 to 100 kilometers [40 to 60 miles] or more.
Speed: Usually ride at top speed with few stops, 25 to 30 kilometers per hour. 
Motivation: Ride for fitness and joy of the experience.
Preferred Location: Well-maintained trails and paved roads with low volumes of motor vehicle traffic and paved shoulders. 
Enjoy rolling topography. Go on multi-day rides solo or with others close to home or on a cycling vacation. 
May travel internationally for rides that provide desired experience. 
Negatives: Find trails boring or too busy with other users.
Travel Accommodation: Accommodation and meals to match budget, sometimes the best available.

Competitive Riders
Demographic: Young to mature adults with group or solo. 
Frequency: Ride regularly to train and maintain fitness level.
Distance: Day ride distances of 100 to 160 kilometers [60 to 100 miles] or more.
Speed: Generally ride at top speed stopping only when necessary, 30 kilometers per hour or more.
Motivation: Ride for fitness and joy of experience, competitive challenge.
Preferred Location: Paved roads with low motor vehicle traffic and good paved shoulders. 
Multi-day rides solo or with others - particularly club rides. Challenging rides in terms of distance and hills.
Negatives: Trails are generally not suitable since they have other slow moving users and not designed for fast bicycling.
Travel Accommodation: Generally affordable accommodation for groups, college residences, budget motels or camping.



CHARACTERISTICS OF BICYCLE TOURISTS
(Exclusive Data Based On Bike ON Tours Customer Survey)
  • primarily age 30 to 55; in our research it was found that 44% are age 30 to 45, 33% are age 46 to 55, 6% are age 56 to 65 and 17% are under age 30.
  • professional - white collar jobs most with annual incomes of over $60 000; in our research it was found that 47% had annual incomes of $60 000. to $80 000.,18% had annual incomes of over $80 000.,12% had annual incomes of $40 000. to $60 000. and 23% had incomes under $40 000.
  • enjoy eating out, canoeing, camping, hiking, theatre, shopping, museums/historic sites, water sports/swimming/beaches; our research found these to be the most popular interests in declining order of frequency while other interests mentioned include sight seeing, golfing, skiing and walking


WHAT WILL ATTRACT THEM 
  • bicycle friendly streets and paths - wide enough for bicycles and other users
  • access to scenic roads, natural areas, waterfront, cultural and historic attractions
  • good restaurants
  • accommodation with a hearty breakfast either provided or nearby
  • bicycle repair shops and other interesting stores
  • adequate and secure bicycle parking
  • theatre, music and arts festivals
  • route maps and effective advertising

This information from the above mentioned studies and reports may be reprinted provided that notice is given by 
E MAIL and provided that the following is included:
"Reprinted courtesy of  Bike ON Tours- Ontario Canada- 
Route Guides For Bicycle Touring- Consulting-      
http://www.bikeontours.on.ca"


SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM MULTI-USE TRAIL DEVELOPMENT.... 
The Trans Canada Trail Foundation had an economic impact study prepared which included trail construction, expenditures of users, maintenance costs and expenditures on equipment associated activities associated with trail use. An estimated 42,000 Ontario jobs would be related to the Trans Canada Trail with $2.4 billion in value added income annually - $152.8 million of this from non-local users. $1.04 billion of tax income would be generated annually. The study concluded that "there are significant opportunities to be realized and many ongoing economic benefits can occur as a result of a well established, well marketed and well supported Trans Canada trail in Ontario." 

BICYCLE TOURISM IS ON TARGET FOR TOURISM TRENDS....
In a lecture on October 28, 1997 in London ON Canada sponsored by Tourism London Peter McGugan, leading international trend tracking consultant, speaker said that bicycle tourism is on target for the current tourism trends of nostalgia, escape to the sweet safe past, historic tourism and ecotourism. Tourists are looking for a unique different vacation which is individualized and well organized so that it is easy and hassle free according to McGugan.  He suggested adding features which would make bicycle touring a unique experience such as visiting a farm or a cheese factory, arranging farmhouse style meals or having gourmet picnics along the way. 

BICYCLE TOURISM IS BEING PROMOTED IN SOME AREAS....
In Adirondack North Country, New York a planning process was begun in 1997 to make the region a "premier bicycle touring destination".  Goals were developed for five years including working with county and state highway departments to improve shoulder widths and bicycling conditions, developing a bicycling promotion campaign and creating a bikeways map showing on road trails, trailheads for mountain biking and retail stores serving cyclists. 

BICYCLE TOURISM PROVIDES ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND IS SET FOR MAJOR GROWTH....
La Route Verte, Quebec is the subject of an extensive reports including information on building the route; route users and their spending; economic spin-offs and projected growth in use of the route. Spending by cyclists in Québec totaled over $166 million in 2000 and $95.4 million of that was spent by Route Verte cyclists. This corresponds to approximately 2,000 jobs (person years) and revenues of $15.1 million for the Government of Québec and $11.9 million for the Government of Canada. Québec’s athletic cyclotourists spend most (57%) of the money associated with the use of the Route Verte, or a total of $54.6 million. People who live near the Route Verte also spend a considerable amount of money on Route Verte related activities — over $24.5 million. 

The annual number of trips generated is estimated to be 16,700 for out of province tourists and 26,400 for domestic tourists withexpenditures of $40. to $60. per trip - 57% for food and lodging, 18% for transportation, 15% for entertainment services and 12 % for other products and services.  It is anticipated that cycling tourism will experience major growth over the next few years, based on several trends. In the Netherlands and Denmark cycling tours represent close to twenty per cent of all itinerant tourism. Thenumber of cycling tour agencies in the United States has increased from a dozen in the 1980's to over a hundred.  Also the 35 to 45 age group are seeking some adventure on their holidays with activities such as nature related tours and cycling. 

TOURISTS ARE WHITE COLLAR AND USE ALL TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION....
The European Cyclists Federation provides criteria for cycle friendly catering establishments and accommodation.  The paper points out that while cyclists are not an homogenous group, many are age 25 to 49, there is a high proportion of children accompanying adults andmost are middle ranking and senior white collar workers. It also states that cyclists use all types of accommodation from camping to 5 star hotels and rely on cafes and restaurants along the route for supplies.



​c. Bike ON Tours 09/2015