The Ultimate Resource Guide for the Urban Cyclist in Greater Sudbury
Urban cycling has many great personal, as well as environmental, benefits. The City of Greater Sudbury works hard to promote cycling as a mode of transportation and is continually working to improve cycling infrastructure and facilities within the city to make cycling easier for the public.
If you were to talk to pretty well anyone from Sudbury, they would almost definitely complain about the state of the roads (especially after this winter), but hopefully, if you talk to an avid cyclist they would be more optimistic. The current state of cycling infrastructure in Sudbury might not be the best in Ontario, but the city is investing more and more resources every year into this increasingly popular mode of transportation.
routes
In Sudbury, we are home to the Rainbow Routes Association, which is a not-for-profit organization and a registered charity. They are committed to the promotion and advancement of non-motorized trails within the city and promote healthy active lifestyles and affordable recreation. Throughout the city of Sudbury, there are 10 trails supported by the Rainbow Routes Association that are included in the Trans Canada Trail (TCT), making these routes part of one of the longest trail systems in the world.
The Ramsey Lake Cycle Tour de Sudbury is a fantastic ride that takes you around Ramsey Lake on dedicated cycling trails. This route gives the rider the opportunity to cycle through the city, and also through some beautiful sections of the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area.
Some more of Rainbow Routes Association’s most popular and cycling routes across the city include:
- Rotary Park Trail (2.9 km): A safe and easy trail connecting New Sudbury to Downtown
- Vermillion River to Hillfield Trail TCT (10 km): A longer paved trail that parallels Municipal Road 55
- Hillfield Trail TCT (2 km): A favourite for Lively residents, taking you from Hillcrest Park to Fielding Memorial Park
- Kelly Lake Trail TCT: (4.5 km): Enjoy a great view of Kelly Lake and the Fielding Park bird sanctuary via boardwalks and hard-packed trails.
- Lake Laurentian Conservation Area to Moonlight Beach TCT (3.5 km): This great trail connects Moonlight Beach to Laurentian University, providing easy access to the beach for people adventuring from the South End.
- Martindale to Downtown TCT (4.5 km): Follow the scenic route along Junction Creek into Downtown.
- Martindale Road to Tom Davis Square (3.2 km): Ending right in the heart of Downtown Sudbury, this is the perfect route to get into the downtown core.
local biking businesses
Sudbury has a strong community of road cyclists and mountain bikers, and this community would not be possible without the presence of great local bike shops servicing our city. These great businesses stock all the gear, equipment, accessories, and of course bikes to get you ready to hit the road. Also, from here you will be able to find rentals depending on the season, and professional bike tune-ups to get your machine in tip-top shape. Make sure to support your local bike shop, as they are a crucial pillar in the development and promotion of cycling in your city and will also be able to provide insider knowledge on biking in the area!
- The Outside Store: 2140 Long Lake Rd, (705)-522-1755
- Adventure 365: 444 Barrydowne Rd, (705)-222-2772
- Sessions Ride Company: 609 Notre Dame Ave, (705)-523-7400
bike Sudbury:
Bike Sudbury/Vélo Sudbury is a volunteer-based organization comprised of people who love to bike for transportation or recreation, and are committed to building a better cycling culture here in the City of Greater Sudbury. Bike Sudbury does a lot to promote cycling in the city and works to improve the cycling infrastructure. They are deeply involved in the community and host many activities for their members including group rides, bike exchanges, bike tune-up workshops, social activities throughout the year, and bike valet parking.
The volunteers and members of Bike Sudbury, which was formerly known as the Sudbury Cyclists Union, are strong advocates for safe cycling and do a lot of work to inform the public about the importance of sharing the road.
Every year the cycling community in Sudbury grows stronger, and each year the municipal and provincial governments continue to work to develop better, safer, and more convenient cycling infrastructure. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for cyclists in Sudbury, and can't wait to enjoy time on our bikes this summer!