The benefits of active transportation are numerous and important to each of us, our community and the environment. Encouraging active transportation promotes personal health and recreation, helps manage congestion and reduces emissions. Cycling, along with walking, rollerblading and skateboarding, are great ways to take part in active transportation.
Bicycles Are Vehicles
Under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act,
bicycles are considered vehicles.
- Obey all traffic laws (stop signs and traffic lights).
- Use hand signals for turning and stopping.
What equipment do I require to ride my bicycle?
- Reflective tape - white reflective tape on the front forks and red reflective tape on the rear forks.
- A bell or horn in good working order.
- Brakes - at least one working brake system on the rear wheel.
- Lights - white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between ½ hour before sunset and ½ hour after sunrise.
Safety
- Use a lock to secure your bike.
- Use saddlebags/panniers to carry emergency repair equipment.
- Install a rear rack to carry bags and belongings.
- Install fenders to prevent back spray and stop rocks from being thrown.
- Use a pant clip to keep clothing away from the chain and moving parts.
Helmets
In Ontario, every cyclist under the age of 18 must wear an approved bicycle helmet. If you are 18 or older you can make a choice to wear a helmet or not. When worn properly, bike helmets can reduce injuries.
View our safe cycling videos by clicking the links below. For more on safe cycling please visit
The Ministry of Transportation's website.
Trail Map, Cyclist Handbook & Cycling Map
Pick up a copy of the
Chatham-Kent Trail Map, the Chatham-Kent Cyclist Handbook and the Chatham-Kent Cycling Map at these locations:
Bike Repair Stations
In 2022 as you travel throughout the Municipality you may notice Bike Repair Stations popping up. These units are located in many communities of the Municipality to ensure that residents have an accessible and affordable location to repair their bikes. From inflating the tires with the manual air pump to patching or changing out a tire, fixing a bike tube or even how to fix a dropped bicycle chain.
Greenspoke has provided Instructional Videos to assist with learning how to properly use the GoGreenspoke Bike Repair Station with Air Pump.
- Blenheim - Memorial Park, 201A Chatham St. South
- Bothwell - Library, 320 Main St.
- Chatham - Library, 120 Queen St. (not in place at this time)
- Chatham - Memorial Arena, 80 Tweedsmuir Ave. W
- Chatham - Erickson Arena, 341 Delaware Ave.
- Chatham - St. Clair College, Grand Ave
- Dresden - Ken Houston Memorial Arena, 1212 North St.
- Dresden - Library, 187 Brown St.
- Erieau - Boulevard Trail Entrance, Mariners Road & Ross Lane
- Merlin - Conservation Area Trail, 128 William St.
- Mitchells Bay - Community Park Trail, 3 Main St.
- Morpeth - JR Smith Park, Durham St.
- North Buxton - North Buxton Park, 21979 A D Shadd Rd.
- Pain Court - Centennial Park, 20 Notre Dame St.
- Ridgetown - Library, 54 Main St.
- Rose Beach -12021 Rose Beach Line (not in place at this time)
- Thamesville - Ferguson Park, 32 Wallace St.
- Tilbury - Library, 2 Queen St.
- Tilbury - Arena, 49 Bond Ave.
- Wallaceburg - Library, 209 James St.
- Wallaceburg - Civic Square Park, Corner of HWY 40 and James St.
- Wheatley - Arena, 196 Erie St. North
Waterfront Trail
The
Waterfront Trail Network stretches 1400 km along the Canadian shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Niagara, Detroit and St. Lawrence Rivers. The trail consists of both on-road and off-road facilities, which offer primarily paved roads with sections of unpaved paths and gravel roads. The trail can be enjoyed for a quick ride or as part of a multi-day long-distance adventure.
The Great Trail
The Great Trail network traverses 214 km through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent where the Municipality maintains over 70 km of recreational trails and pathways on a variety of surfaces to appeal to walkers, runners and cyclists. The Great Trail is one of two regional multi-use trails to pass through the borders of Chatham-Kent and is a renowned tourist attraction that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
