SHIFTING GEARS

Shifting Gears

Grow your knowledge of the city with a bike tour of Toronto By Mike Friskney

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a number of interesting developments in Toronto. One of those is the resurgence of bike riding. It seems homebound individuals and families have turned to cycling as a way to escape for a change of scenery.

In fact, pausing for a pedal has proven to be such a phenomenon that if you had decided to purchase a bike during the early part of summer, you would have had a hard time doing so. By July, demand for two-wheelers had reached a pitch so feverish that whether you shopped in-store or online, retailers, from big box to cycling speciality stores, were completely sold out. Even finding a reasonably priced used bike on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace has been nearly impossible.

If you were one of the lucky ones to get your hands on a bike, you’ve probably logged a fair number of kilometres hitting the trails, pathways and roadways of your community. But bike riding isn’t just for grabbing some fresh air and exercise. If you book yourself and your family on a guided bike tour, cycling becomes a great way to discover new things about Toronto.

Don’t just ride past landmarks, learn about them.

“The appeal of going on a guided bike tour is that it’s a chance to experience the city from a different perspective,” says Terrence Eta, who has been operating Toronto Bicycle Tours & Events since 2011. “It provides you with new insights, new connections about the city.”

Bike tours are fun too, and adding a tour element makes a bike ride even more enjoyable. Participants can cruise at a leisurely pace along pathways and bike lanes, stopping at various points to hear memorable stories and intriguing facts, ask questions and take photos. “A guided bike tour is a laid-back way to stitch together all these different places and hear stories about them, all wrapped up in one experience that lasts just a few hours,” says Eta.

Photo credit: istock/pilin_petunyia

Choose from a variety of Toronto bike tours. Depending on your interests, there’s a Toronto bike tour that will fit your needs.

TORONTO BICYCLE TOURS & EVENTS Offers four standard tours plus custom tours:

HEART OF DOWNTOWN TOUR is a great intro to the city with must-see cultural and historic landmarks.

ISLAND TOUR allows you to explore the beauty of the islands, along with the history of this quaint cottage enclave, the largest car-free community in North America.

DOWNTOWN & ISLAND COMBO TOUR is a fun one-day experience where you’ll explore downtown during the daytime and enjoy the Islands at night.

ROUND THE CITY TOUR is the ultimate day of discovery with a 7-hour pedal that takes riders through 15 neighbourhoods.

Photo credit: istock/peterspiro

FITZ TOURS Offers three standard tours:

TORONTO BIKE TOUR: THE ESSENTIALS where riders will visit must-see locations and get a feel for the city’s layout and culture.

TORONTO BIKE TOUR: HOODS & HIDDEN GEMS will show why locals love the city so much, as you explore all the hidden gems.

TORONTO ISLANDS BIKE TOUR is all about nature, lake and city views, rustic cottages, and a beachfront campfire!

AIRBNB Offers various tours as well.

HISTORY IN MOTION – WATERFRONT WEST is a unique experience along the Waterfront Trail, stopping at key locations like Ireland Park, Coronation Park and Sunnyside pool.

VISTAS & FRESH WATER TORONTO BY EBIKE is a great way to familiarize yourself with eBiking as you travel from Cabbagetown to Ontario Place.

TORONTO WATERFRONT BIKE ADVENTURE will take you along the waterfront and islands, as you hear stories about key people and events from the last 300 years.

Bike tours are safe for all ages and levels of riders.

For some people, the idea of taking the family on a bike tour on the streets of a major city like Toronto may seem unsafe. This is not true. Before Covid-19, the primary clientele for bike tour companies in the city were tourists, many who were families. As a result, the routes the bike tours take are predominantly made up of pathways and designated bike lanes.

“When parents contact us, they often say they want to book our Island tour because they know there are no cars on the Island,” says Eta. “To let them know that all of our tours are safe, I point out that we have families on all of our tours. We’ve had kids as young as eight riding on their own.”

Covid-19 precautions so you can ride with peace of mind.

Some of those precautions include: wearing face masks, maintaining a six foot distance between riders and guides, disinfecting bikes and helmets after each ride, and hand sanitizer being offered by guides to guests. Plus, group sizes are usually between two and five riders.

For a complete list of Covid-19 measures being taken by each bike tour operator, visit their respective websites.