City of Windsor to Host 2025 Ontario Bike Summit

Canada’s Largest Cycling Conference Will Showcase Cycling and Active Transportation Progress and Opportunities in Windsor & Essex County

(Burlington – February 13, 2025) – The Share the Road Cycling Coalition (The Coalition), Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization, today welcomed the news that the City of Windsor will host Canada’s largest cycling and active transportation conference, the 2025 Ontario Bike Summit, at Caesars Windsor from May 27-30.

The event is expected to draw 250 delegates, including elected representatives from all levels of government, municipal and provincial staff, and industry leaders from across Canada and internationally to share innovations, best practices, and opportunities for progress in cycling.

This year’s Summit theme, “Bridging Communities, Building Connections”, will celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge and highlight its innovative active transportation infrastructure, which will facilitate active travel and tourism. The event will also showcase Windsor’s investments in connecting residents and tourists to nature, neighborhoods, and attractions. The Summit is organized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, a province-wide cycling policy and advocacy organization based in Burlington.

“We are delighted that Windsor is hosting the 16th annual Ontario Bike Summit. With cycling infrastructure investments providing connections to the new bridge and the new National Urban Park, Windsor is the ideal location for conference attendees to both learn from Windsor’s progress and be inspired by innovations underway in cities across North America,” said Eleanor McMahon, Founder and Board Chair, Share the Road Cycling Coalition.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens welcomed the announcement: “We are pleased that cycling and active transportation professionals and enthusiasts have chosen Windsor for the 2025 Ontario Bike Summit. We look forward to showcasing Windsor’s active transportation networks, including infrastructure investments that connect cyclists to the dedicated multi-use path on the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Over the past six years, Windsor’s cycling network has increased by 40 km, with almost 15 km of new multi-use trails and 24 km of new bicycle lanes. Residents and visitors now have access to nearly 175 km of multi-use trails and nearly 100 km of bike lanes, including 12 km along the waterfront, the Malden Park mountain bike trails, Ganatchio Trail, Little River Corridor, the 42.5 km Windsor Loop, 15 km of woodland and prairie hiking trails at Ojibway, plus access to 205 parks across the city and over 2,400 acres of green space. In 2024, our 10-year capital plan was approved to invest $35.2 million in active transportation, including bike lanes, as we continue to grow.”

“We also look forward to active transportation professionals experiencing the trails and pathways in Windsor that are part of the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS), a unique 800-kilometre active transportation network that connects the seven County municipalities, facilitating safe cycling opportunities for residents and tourists alike,” Dilkens added.

The City of Windsor maintains more than 1,000 km of sidewalks and trails, nearly 100 km of bike lanes, and more than 175 km of multi-use pathways.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island CEO Gordon Orr noted the growing contribution that cycling makes to the tourism offerings and economy in the region as highlights that will be shared at the Summit, “The City of Windsor and our municipal partners in Essex County and Pelee Island offer abundant opportunities for cycling tourism experiences and we look forward to sharing with conference attendees how the unique topography, the award-winning wineries and culinary tourism as well as the nature-based attractions across the region have shaped our approach to attracting tourists.”

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About the Share the Road Cycling Coalition

The Share the Road Cycling Coalition is Ontario’s cycling advocacy and policy organization, created to unite cycling organizations from across the province, work with and on behalf of municipalities to enhance their ability to make communities more bicycle-friendly, and advocate for investment and engagement by provincial and municipal governments.

Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition’s work has led to significant legislative change, provincial investments in cycling infrastructure, and public policy advancements in Ontario. Core to the organization’s mission and mandate are safety, education, and awareness campaigns.