July 11, 2014 – The communities of Wellington West, Ottawa are now Ontario’s first Bicycle Friendly Business Area! As part of the Ontario By Bike Network, this designation will help grow a province wide network of businesses that will enhance Ontario’s cycle tourism and collectively develop and support a growing cycling market.

The Wellington West Business Improvement Area (WWBIA) has some of the highest cycling modal share in the City of Ottawa. Randy Kemp, Chair of the Board of the WWBIA highlights, “Pursuing this designation is not an end goal, but rather a commitment moving forward that the businesses of Wellington West support cycling.”

Project Director for Ontario By Bike, Louisa Marsell adds, “The number of cyclists in the city is visibly on the rise. We are extremely pleased to have Wellington West BIA as the first certified business area under this new category, most fitting as they recognize the value of this customer base and have worked hard to incorporate cyclists needs in so many of their projects.
Fourteen local businesses made the designation possible, businesses who have committed to ensuring that cycling tourists and visitors can count on secure bike lock up areas, local cycling information on hand, basic bicycle repair tool set, healthy, local food options, and accessible rest areas and water.

The designation comes on the heels of the recent installation of bike corral parking, and the recent launch of this year’s BIA modal study. Zachary Dayler, Executive Director of the WWBIA concluded, “We want people to visit our wonderful businesses, then take on an amazing ride on one of the over 600kms of bike trail here in Ottawa. When they are all done, come on back to the area! We want your cycling adventure to begin and end along Wellington West.”