It’s now easier and more affordable than ever before to explore Lindsay and the Kawartha Lakes by bike, thanks to the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce.
The nonprofit organization has expanded its bike share program to include a collection of 25 bikes for rent at six locations throughout Lindsay.
On top of the original three pick-up and drop-off locations, the bikes can also now be found at Logie Park (325 Logie St.), Wilson Field (235 Colborne St. W.), and across from Victoria Park beside the Lindsay branch of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library (190 Kent Street).
“The chamber really believes that having a program like this and having bikes available is good for our local economy,” says executive director Terry Guiel. “The more accessible we make our community, the better, and I think we’ve got a very affordable alternative here for people.”
The bikes can be rented by downloading the On Bike Share app and selecting an available bike. At a lower price point than last year, the bikes cost $2 per hour, $10 for a six-hour half-day, and $18 for a 12-hour full-day rental.
The program was first introduced in 2023 under the guidance of the chamber’s former executive director Alyssa Adams, who secured a grant through Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RT08).
The program launched with two locations at the Fleming College Frost Campus (200 Albert St. S.) and behind the chamber office (180 Kent St. W.), with a third location opening last year at the Kawartha Museum & Archives (50 Victoria Avenue N.).
“Initially it was conceived as a great way to connect with Fleming College and be supportive of student needs for alternative transportation around town,” says Guiel.
“We also feel that providing an opportunity for tourists to rent bikes and check out the community, and hit the trails and just enjoy a healthy alternative way to get around and see our beautiful community, was something good for tourism.”
Two of the new locations, Wilson Field and Logie Park, were intentionally chosen not only because they make for good riding landscapes, but because of their proximity to new subdivisions.
“When you have visitors or people coming into your community and they see these bike rental locations, I truly believe it sends a message that the community cares and it’s a progressive community that believes in a broader transportation network that includes walking and cycling,” says Guiel.
“I do know that people from Toronto who have these types of infrastructure of bike rentals and scooter rentals are retiring here for better quality of life in the subdivisions around downtown Lindsay. It would be nice to provide some of those amenities they are used to and love from their communities.”
The Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce received funding to install the new bikes through the City of Kawartha Lakes Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund.
The program is also supported by Launch Kawartha’s LEAP Program, and through a Cogeco sponsorship to cover insurance costs.
“A healthy society and a healthy community is a benefit for all of us and riding more and more is becoming an important fabric of not just how we get around, but how we stay healthy as a community,” Guiel says. “A smart city considers not just roads for cars, but sidewalks for pedestrians and bike lanes for bikes. They are all part of a greater transportation network.”
While there are no current plans for more bike share locations, Guiel hopes to integrate a digital map within the app or to create a physical version that notes each of the bike locations, popular trails and local businesses, and how long it would take to cycle to another community.
“I would like to see some partnership in the program in order to expand it or maintain it and maybe even reach a point where a local charity or charities could benefit from the rentals,” says Guiel. “But right now, we are letting people know about the program and getting them on the bikes as much as possible to make a healthier community.”
For more information about the bike share program and to download the On Bike Share app, visit lindsaychamber.com/bikeshare.
