Cycling Programs

Halton Hills provides both the serious and recreational cyclist with a selection of scenic rides. From escarpments and valleys to the Greenbelt Cycling Route, pass through the charming hamlets of Glen Williams, Terra Cotta and more beautiful terrain perfect for cyclists.

Halton Hills approved its first Bicycle Master Plan in 2010 which has since been updated to the Active Transportation Master Plan in 2020. Since then, in-town cycling has improved annually with investments in safe cycling infrastructure including bike lanes, multi-use paths, and trails suitable for bicycles. Directional signage throughout the Town helps to direct cyclists to the best cycling routes to popular destinations. Bicycle repair stations are located at the Georgetown and Acton Branches of the Halton Hills Public Library and at the Gellert Centre.

Learn more about Active Transportation in Halton Hills

Bike It Working Group

The Halton Hills Bike It Working Group is a group of volunteers who have a passion for promoting cycling and cycling safety. The group works in partnership with the Town of Halton Hills with the goal of achieving Silver designation in the Bicycle Friendly Community Program which is administered by the Share the Road Coalition. Halton Hills received its Bronze designation in 2014.

The task force organizes a series of cycling initiatives each year that are designed to encourage more cycling by our residents. There is a need for volunteers at all of our events and the task force is always interested in welcoming new members. Contact Councillor Jane Fogal if you are interested in volunteering.

NEW! Halton Hills Cycling Map

Grab a copy of our highly anticipated Halton Hills cycling guide, available at facilities across Halton Hills! The new guide features maps showcasing 13 loop rides across Halton Hills, offering different routes mixed with multi-use trails, park paths, bicycle lanes and signed bike routes for you next cycling trip. Get a print copy at a Halton Hills facility (while supplies last) or download a digital copy online.

Download Cycling Map

Free Bike Rack Program

The Town of Halton Hills’ recognizes the bottom-line benefits of businesses becoming more bike friendly for their customers and employees. This year the Town of Halton Hills is offering a FREE bike rack (valued at $600 each) to the first Halton Hills businesses that provide proof they have applied for the Bicycle Friendly Business certification through the Ontario By Bike Network.

Benefits of certification

It’s free
Tap into a growing market
Demonstrate leadership in your community
Get noticed – Certified members can create a profile and list their business online on the Bike Friendly Business Map

All interested businesses are encouraged to contact Ivan Drewnitski, Transportation Planning Technologist for the Town of Halton Hills.

Learn more about Bicycle Friendly Business certification criteria, how to qualify and how to register your location on the Ontario By Bike map.

About the Ontario By Bike Network^TM

The Ontario By Bike™ Network is a project by Transportation Options, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable mobility and tourism solutions across Ontario. Transportation Options engages in projects that research, develop and promote new transportation and tourism choices, with a focus on those that are integrated, environmentally sound, healthy, service-oriented, and improve the experience of users.

Why should a business join the Ontario By Bike Network?

Adapt and evolve your service and product offerings to better cater to cyclists, a valuable and fast-growing tourism market in Ontario;
Customizable business listings on the Ontario By Bike™ website with a business icon placed on their online map, helping cyclists find your business when planning their cycling trips;
Ontario destinations and businesses are featured in consumer e-newsletters, sent to over 14,000 cyclists (8 issued annually);
Social media promotion highlighting cycling experiences and businesses to an engaged and growing online community on Facebook and Twitter;
Improved search engine visibility for your business through valuable online links from the Ontario By Bike Network™.

Please note bike racks are only available while supplies last. At this time due to physical constraints, we will not be accepting any applications within the Georgetown and Acton Downtown Districts.

The Greenbelt Route

The Greenbelt Route is a 475 kilometre on-road signed cycling route that travels from Niagara Falls in the south west to Northumberland in the east. This amazing route travels through Halton Hills and follows rural roads through the scenic villages of Limehouse, Glen Williams and Terra Cotta.

For more information on the main route or the loop routes please check out the Greenbelt Route.

Hosting a Cycling Event

Are you an event organizer looking to host a cycling event in Halton Hills? Submit a Special Event Application to the Town of Halton Hills and someone will respond promptly.

Bike It Halton Hills

Bike it Community Cycling Events logo

Annual Used Bike Swap - April 22, 2023, 10 a.m. to noon

The Halton Hills Bike It Working Group is hosting its Annual Used Bike Swap as part of the Race to Net Zero Event, an event that gives residents the opportunity to recycle their bikes in an environmentally friendly way by putting them in the hands of those who can use them. Donate your used bikes and trikes (in working condition) or get a great deal on a used bike for yourself of a family member with all proceeds going to local food banks!

Donate

Donated bikes, trikes and cycling equipment will be accepted by volunteers on April 19, 20, and 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Acton Arena parking lot. Look for the Hey Ray storage container! Donations will also accepted on the morning of the sale from 8 to 11 a.m.

Buy

Bikes can be purchased on April 22, 2023 from 10 a.m. to noon at Acton Arena and Community Centre (415 Queen St, Acton, ON L7J 2N2). Bikes will be sold "as is" and priced as follows (cash only):

Kids bikes: $10
Youth bikes: $20
Premium youth bikes: $40
Adult bikes: individually priced

All bikes sold as is. proceeds from the sale will be donated to local foodbanks.

Questions?

Have questions or need more information on the Used Bike Swap? Contact hhcycling@haltonhills.ca.

mother and children testing out bicycles

Bike it to Market - June 17, 2023, 8 a.m. to noon

Ride your bike from anywhere to the Georgetown Farmers Market and leave it in our free secure bike parking while you enjoy a pancake breakfast courtesy of the Georgetown Rotary Club and McDonald’s! Breakfast is free to all who arrive by bike - look for our secure bike parking in the Main Street parking lot.

Stay for children’s activities hosted by the Bike It Task Force or wander through the market to find great produce and one-of-a-kind products! Main Street from the Farmers Market to Maple Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic to make the ride safer for the whole family.

More information, email hhcycling@haltonhills.ca.

Picture of volunteer staff at the 2022 Pancake Breakfast Image of residents attending the 2022 Pancake Breakfast

NEW: Progressive Group Cycling Rides

Building cycling confidence and endurance

The Bike It Working Group is hosting aseries of progressive group rides for novice and intermediate cyclists to help improve fitness and cycling confidence. Each ride will begin with a review of the rules of the road, safety tips, andcycling skills instruction. Rides are progressively longer and hillier and will be led by Bike It volunteers.

This series of rides will also be helpful those preparing to ride in the CASHH Tour The Hills fundraising event in September.

This volunteer-led series starts with a short in-town route and builds to a 16 km rural route featuring hillier terrain. There is no fee for these rides but participants are asked to register their intent to join each of the rides by email hhcycling@haltonhills.ca. Cyclists must wear a helmet to participate and must be at least 14 years of age to join the ride.

Ride 1: Dust off your Bike - Tuesday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.

Meetup location: The Old Seed House Garden parking lot (153 Maple Avenue, Georgetown)

This 8 km ride is for novice cyclists and includes modest hills. View a preview of Ride 1.

Ride 2: Acton and Leathertown Festival - Sunday, August 13, 10:30 a.m.

Meetup location: The Acton GO Station

This 12.3 km ride will go out of town to experience some hills. Learn how to use gears to facilitate hill climbing and after the ride, enjoy entertainment and food at the annual Leathertown Festival. View the preview for Ride 2.

Ride 3: In-town Ride the Hills - Saturday, August 26, 9 a.m.

Meetup location: Cedarvale parking lot (181 Main Street S., Georgetown)

This 16 km ride has some in-town hills and extends the duration. View a preview of Ride 3.

Ride 4: Out of Town - Saturday, September 9, 9 a.m.

Meetup location: Cedarvale parking lot (181 Main Street S., Georgetown)

This 15 km route will build capacity to ride further on hilly terrain. View a preview of Ride 4.

Cycling Initiatives 2023

The implementation of phase 2 of cycling infrastructure along Maple Ave from Trafalgar Road to Main Street. The infrastructure will include a cycling track to enable increased Active Transportation.
The Town will be installing a variety of signed bike routes at several locations as approved within the Towns Active Transportation Master Plan.
Town of Halton Hills will be participating in Bike Month 2023 in addition to promoting Bike to School Week
Queen Street (Highway 7) between Churchill Road and Eastern Avenue – Bike sign improvements
Share the Road Signs – 15 Side Road and 10 Side Road between Trafalgar Road and Regional Road 25
High School Active Transportation Presentation (Georgetown & Acton)
A new multiuse asphalt pathway will be installed on the west side of Sinclair Avenue from Guelph Street to Duncan Drive.
The Town will be introducing its very first bike signal at the intersection of Guelph and Sinclair.
Bike Repair Station Program Expansion
Publish the Towns first Cycling Map

Roads are for everyone

Rules of the Road

The one metre law

Did you know that Ontario has updated the Highway Traffic Act and it is now the law that drivers must give cyclists at least 1 metre when passing? Likewise cyclists have a responsibility to steer a predictable path and not weave in and out of parked cars. We have many more adults and children riding bikes and we want them all to arrive home safely.

Dooring

The new penalties for improper opening of a vehicle door (for driver or passenger) are a set fine of $300 upon conviction and 3 demerit points. The total payable fine is $365 ($set fine plus $60 victim fine surcharge and $5 court costs).

The current HTA set fine for “dooring” offence is $85 upon conviction and the total payable fine is $110 ($set fine plus $20 victim fine surcharge and $5 court fees). Additionally a conviction results in 2 demerit points being added to the individual's driver record.

Although cyclists may be the most commonly perceived road user affected by this behaviour, the “dooring” law applies to all road users and is not specific to cyclists. The government is committed to helping ensure the safety of not only cyclists but all road users.

Fines for non-compliance

The Town has increased the fine for cyclists for non-compliance with light, reflector and reflective material requirements. Currently, the fine for non-compliance with bicycle light, reflector and reflective requirements, carries a maximum fine of $20 which is less than the majority of set fines for motorists and cyclists. Increasing this fine will put this violation in line with all other cycling violations.

Intermittent flashing red lights

Red flashing lights were previously not allowed under the Highway Traffic Act even though the majority of cyclists were already using rear lamps that produce intermittent flashes of red light to make themselves more visible to others.

Considering the safety benefits from the use of these lights, and to prevent cyclists from potentially being charged, the Highway Traffic Act was amended to allow bicycles to use lamps that produce intermittent flashes of red lights.

A motorist may, if done safely, and in compliance with the rules of the road, cross the centre line of a roadway in order to pass a cyclist. If this cannot be done, he or she must wait behind the cyclist until it is safe to pass.

Bicycle helmets

All bicycle riders under the age of 18 need to wear an approved bicycle helmet when travelling on any public road. The total fine for not wearing a helmet is $75.

When buying a helmet, look for one that fits comfortably and meets safety standards. Check the inside of the helmet for stickers from one or more of the following organizations:

Snell Memorial Foundation: Snell B90, Snell B95, Snell B90S, or Snell N94
American National Standard Institute: ANSI Z90.4-1984
American Society For Testing and Materials: ASTMF1447-94
British Standards Institute: BS6863:1989
Standards Association of Australia: AS2063.2-1990
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) 16 CFR Part 1203

Sharing the road with cyclists

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides a guide for drivers sharing the road with cyclists including diagrams to illustrate different scenarios. It is good advice for everyone. Take a look at the Ministry's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the penalty to driver for not leaving a minimum of one-metre distance when passing a cyclist?
- The penalty for not leaving a minimum one-metre passing distance is a set fine of $85 plus a $5 court fee plus a $20 victim surcharge fine for a total payable of $110. Drivers who contest their ticket by going to court may face a fine of up to $500 if found guilty (fine range is $60 to $500). Upon conviction, two demerit points will also be assigned against the individual's driver record.
Will cyclists also be required to leave a minimum of one-metre distance when passing a vehicle?
- Cyclists are not required to leave a specific one-metre space; however, they are required to obey all the rules of the road. Cyclists who are being overtaken should turn out to the right to allow the vehicle to pass.
What if there isn't enough room to allow for a one-metre passing distance? Can a vehicle cross the centre median to pass a cyclist?
- A motorist may, if done safely, and in compliance with the rules of the road, cross the centre line of a roadway in order to pass a cyclist. If this cannot be done, he or she must wait behind the cyclist until it is safe to pass.

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