Take a Bike Tour of Toronto
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a number of interesting developments. One of those is the resurgence of bike riding. It seems home bound individuals and families have turned to cycling as a way to escape for a change of scenery.
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 the summer, you would have had a hard time doing so. By July, the 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 able to get your hands on a bike, you’ve probably logged a fair number of kilometres by now 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.
“Being on a bike on its own is fun. No one ever gets off a bike in a worse mood than when they got on it,” reminds Eta.
Adding a tour element makes a bike ride even more fun as participants cruise at a leisurely pace along pathways and designated 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. Customers tell us all the time, ‘We saw so much!’” states Eta.
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
- Island Tours
- Downtown & Island Combo Tour
- 7-hour Round the City Tour which takes riders through 15 of Toronto’s neighbourhoods.
All tours can be booked as private tours.
“We also do custom routes,” says Terrence Eta. “We literally run tours all over the city. If someone has something in mind for a custom tour, we encourage them to pick up the phone and give us a call.”
- Fitz Tours
Offers three standard tours:
All tours can be booked as private tours.
- AirB&B
- History in Motion – Waterfront West
- Vistas & Fresh Water Toronto by eBike
- Toronto Waterfront Bike Adventure
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 was tourists, many who were families. As a result, the routes the bike tours take are predominantly made up of pathways and designated bike lanes.
“Often when parents contact us, they say they want to book our Island tour because they know there are no cars operating on the Island,” explains Terrence Eta. “To let them know that all of our tours are safe, I like to point out that we have families go out 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
Like all service providers, bicycle tour operators have had to implement COVID-19 protocols to keep their clients and employees safe. 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 to five riders.
For a complete list of COVID-19 measures being taken by each bike tour operator, visit their respective websites.
No bike? No worries
If you don’t have a bike, it’s not a problem. Most of the tours mentioned above include a rental bike as part of their tours. To be sure, it is recommended that you confirm with the operator before booking.
