Cyclists now have a new way to experience Windsor-Essex County and Detroit. More than 100 riders from across North America are excited to discover the region through The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure. “I don’t know that locals appreciate everything that they have here and how we can bundle it together into some amazing experiences,” Marlaine Koehler told CTV News. “These are curious explorers that have money and are willing to spend it in the region.” The president of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust feels the five-day adventure the riders are on could have been easily extended to six or seven days. There are cyclists from all over including Calgary, Florida, and Maryland. The youngest is 20, while the oldest is 87 years old. Many were eager to start the day travelling over the Gordie Howe International Bridge as the Trans Canada Trail expands into Detroit. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday marked the launch of the new international trail connection, creating a binational cycling destination linking Windsor-Essex with Detroit. “I think it marks a huge milestone crossing the border into another country, so it just shows our network doesn’t just end in Canada. We’re expanding on into the U.S.,” said Jordan Bird, who is the ride ambassador and also mayor of Thessalon, a small community near Sault Ste. Marie. Sonja Vangjeli is visiting from Toronto and is looking forward to discovering Point Pelee and visiting Pelee Island. “I’m really excited to see that and also this bridge, being able to actually cross the border on bike is a really amazing opportunity,” she said. Jackie Lodder travelled from Burlington and was excited to visit Mexican Town, a Canadian favourite for years. “It sounds like there’s good cycling infrastructure there as well and there’s been a real refresh in the downtown of Detroit so I’m looking forward to that, but we will linger on the bridge.” Koehler says the bridge is the sizzle but is only one day of the visit. The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure started in 2008 and made a stop in the area in 2013 for the Lake Erie Trail Expansion. A lot has changed in 13 years. Koehler says municipalities have done a great job since the launch of the county wide active transportation network in 2012. She points to investments made in Amherstburg, The waterfront development in Leamington and new amphitheatre and waterfront boardwalk in Tecumseh. “These are all things that people that were here in 2013, we have a few of them, they are going to be very impressed and surprised when they see what communities have done with the vision,” said Kohler. Eleanor McMahon is the former Minister of Tourism and was on hand for today’s ceremony. She helped lobby the government for a trail for pedestrians and cyclists. “We knew what it would do for tourism and I think that’s being borne out by the National Trails tourism opening that we’re seeing today.” McMahon noted the half-billion-dollar impact cycling tourism has on the province of Quebec and feels the industry can thrive in this region. “Just makes sense. They topography is really flat. There’s lots to see. Beautiful wineries, waterfront on three sides. It’s just ideal. Watch out Niagara because Windsor and Essex County are coming for you to really take a bite out of that apple that they’ve really owned for a really long time which is the cycling tourism landscape.”
