Last summer, my partner booked us on a novel trip—we traveled to Niagara aboard the “bike train” for its inaugural voyage. It was a cool experience.
We arrived at Union Station in the morning, after biking through a misty High Park and along the lakeshore. The press was in full effect, and it seemed half the “bikers” were actually people associated with either the media or City Hall.
The whole concept seemed revolutionary. Instead of driving or taking a bus, we hopped on the VIA train and our bikes were lifted by the crew into a “bikes” only car, outfitted with racks for dozens of bikes. We received free t-shirts. A “wine tasting” was offered on the train. It was cool travelling the “Golden Horseshoe” from Toronto, through Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. We stayed a night near the falls and did the touristy stuff, including an afternoon walking with all the other tourists at the madhouse that is “Clifton Hill.” The following day we were off for a beautiful 20-km ride along the Niagara river to Niagara-on-the-lake. Our Saturday night was spent enjoying theatre at the Shaw Festival (A classic musical called “A Little Night Music”). We stayed in a B+B and had a great ride back on Sunday. It was a magic weekend and felt deservedly “environmentally” and “socially” progressive.
Looking to make tracks off the beaten path? You might consider a weekend bike trek in Niagara and the “bike train” might be the ideal way to get your wheels in motion.
