Today Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Kathryn McGarry, along with MPP for Beaches-East York, Arthur Potts, and Communications & Outreach Manager for CycleToronto, Bex Thorpe, made a joint announcement on provincial funding for cycling infrastructure and training across the Province of Ontario in front of cycling enthusiasts and the press on a sunny day at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. 

Kathryn McGarry, centre, makes her cycling announcement, image courtesy of #cycleON

The Province of Ontario will commit $10 million as a part of a 20-year #cycleON strategy to promote cycling as a viable form of transportation and to help improve safety for cyclists of all ages. This initiative will see the creation of two new funding programs, the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program, and the Cycling Training Fund. Together, these funding initiatives, which will be available on an application basis across the province, will in McGarry's words, "make Ontario a leading North American cycling destination."

Bex Thorpe, of #cycleON, takes the stand, image courtesy of #cycleON

Safety was the word of day, McGarry repeating the refrain of road safety, "not just for cyclists, but for pedestrians, drivers, and other road users," who must share the road amicably in order to get along. McGarry and MPP Potts quipped about wearing their helmets, and implored the crowd to be vigilant in regards to staying safe on the streets.

Specific to the funding announcement, McGarry stated that the $10 million will go to municipalities that want to improve cycling safety by increasing local cycling infrastructure, including the implementation of paved shoulders, separated bicycle lanes, multi-use paths, and bicycle traffic control measures—similar to recent cycling improvements seen across Toronto. Also announced was the Cycling Training Fund, an initiative which will be kick-started by the upcoming Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, and will see an initial boost of $380,000 aimed at helping develop, enhance, and deliver cycling skills training programs across the province. 

Group shot, supporters (left), MPP Arthur Potts, Kathryn McGarry, (centre), and Bex Thorpe (right), image courtesy of #cycleON

In addition to these funding initiatives, the province will also commit $25 million to #cycleON, as a part of Ontario's Cycling Strategy to encourage the popularity of cycling and to improve safety. Additionally, updates to the Driver's Handbook will include information about sharing the road with cyclists, while the Making Ontario's Roads Safer Act will seek to address issues surrounding the problem of "dooring," with new requirements that drivers must maintain at least one metre between themselves and cyclists.

Lastly, it was stated that according to the National Trauma Registry, Ontario has the second-lowest cycling injury rate among the provinces, and that the Canadian Medical Association has advised that a 10 percent increase in physical activity has the potential to decrease health care expenditure by $150 million per year.

Yesterday, UrbanToronto published an article regarding the City of Toronto's plan to expand its cycling infrastructure.