BikesandTransit.com is pleased to introduce the second new suggested daytrip route for 2011 - The Welland Canal - with a little help from CoachCanada!  This daytrip is by highway coach and bike, in a bike bag. No worries, the bag is easy to purchase at the bus terminal on your first trip, and it's simple to place your bike beneath the bus. Then, in just a few hours from Toronto or Hamilton, you're on your bike, racing giant Laker steamships along the north/south Welland Canal Trail - and winning!

With most of the 42 kilometre ride on wide, smooth asphalt trail, and only three to four hours needed to pedal the route, take your time! The buses in Port Colborne and St. Catharines are six and eight hours apart, so there's time to explore Port Colborne, picnic, rest in Welland, get lost a few times, and catch the bus home in St. Catharines.

Read about the ride on BikesandTransit Travel - The Welland Canal

Recommended: for all riders, 8 to 108! The route is almost perfectly flat. For comfort and safety, always bring along a Niagara Region Bicycling Map or print outs.

MAPS:

Zoom in! and study BikesandTransit.com's Welland Canal map, then, go big! and go home:

• Google Map: View the Welland Canal Trail bike route from the Coach Canada bus stop in Port Colborne to the bus terminal in St. Catharines (42k)

To get the most out of your day, always print up or order a copy of the Niagara Region Bicycling Map. The Niagara bike map is essential on this route to find your way along the municipal trail between Thorold and the St. Catharines bus terminal.

Niagara bike maps are available along the Welland Canal Trail ride - in Port Colborne at Pedal Bike Shop (at the Main St. W. bridge), and  - in Thorold at the Lock 7 Visitor Centre ($2). Bikes and Transit Map Packets are available from BikesandTransit.com.

RIDE PHOTOS:

• Bike the Welland Canal - Port Colborne to St. Catharines - with Coach Canada

SCHEDULES and FARES:

• Visit CoachCanada.com for the Toronto-Port Colborne and St. Catharines/Toronto Bus Schedules

• Live in Toronto? Take your bike to the Coach Canada terminal at Bay and Edward by TTC Subway @ St. Patrick - $3.00 fare / $10.00 family pass

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS:

The Welland Canal is an international landmark - and you're going to love the towns of Port Colborne and Welland along the way:

• The Welland Canal
• Port Colborne and Canal Days
• Welland
• Thorold
• St. Catharines
• Welcome Cyclists! Network

TRAVEL TIPS:

• Live in Hamilton, Grimsby, Beamsville, St. Catharines? Catch the Coach Canada bus to Port Colborne and ride your bike to St. Catharines, or home!

• Thinking about staying overnight? Visit the Welcome Cyclists! Network

• The adult bus fare to Port Colborne from downtown Toronto is $30.00 / 15.00 for kids - plus $10.00 for a bike bag the first time - The fare back to Toronto from St. Catharines is $22.50 / $11.00 for kids.

• Arrive early - at the Toronto Bus Terminal at Bay St. and Edward St. (just above Dundas) - to get your ticket. Get your bike bag ($10.00) from the Coach Canada counter - upstairs, far west end of the Edward St. side.

COMMENTS:

Be sure to come back to this page after your bike ride to add your comments about your day - good and/or bad - in The Welland Canal comments section!

BikesandTransit.com... go big! and go home!

Download Maps

Waterfront Trail: 

Waterfront Trail: Jordan Station

Waterfront Trail: Port Dalhousie

Waterfront Trail: Port Weller