Cycle maps ready to roll

BY LAURA MUELLER
laura.mueller [at] perthcourier [dot] com

Reprinted with permission from: The Perth Courier

A group that has been working hard for months is finally ready to lay out the welcome mat to attract cyclists to Perth - and help locals find a new way to discover the area.

Maps that will help tourists and residents alike find new ways to discover Perth, Tay Valley Township, Drummond/North Elmsley and Lanark Highlands are now available and will be officially launched during Doors Open Perth on July 11 as part of the Canal Week celebrations for the 175th anniversary of the Tay Canal. The maps will be available during the launch at the chamber of commerce’s booth at the Tay Basin at 1 p.m.

Four of the maps are now available at the office of the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce (34 Herriott St.) and they can be downloaded on the chamber’s website, www.perthchamber.com. The remaining five maps will be available by the end of the summer. The chamber is planning to place the maps in bike-related stores in the area, including Ottawa and Kingston, as a way to attract a different segment of tourists to Perth and area.
The maps feature nine routes ranging from a 10-kilometre ride around the urban section of Perth to a challenging, full-day 93-km ride through the hills of Lanark Highlands.

The routes were mapped out by a 12-person committee led by Madeline Bouvier, one of the chamber’s co-managers, and Karen Rennie, heritage manager for the town of Perth. Both are avid cyclists and they say the beautiful landscapes of the area provide a perfect opportunity for people to enjoy all Perth and area has to offer, up close.

“It will provide a way for people who are new to the area to explore it,” said Rennie. “For people who live here, it will encourage them to get onto the backs roads and appreciate Lanark County.”

In addition to giving detailed directions and a visual map of suggested routes, the maps also describe features along the route, such as sightseeing opportunities, where to stop for a drink or snack, and where to find washrooms.

For more information, visit the chamber’s website or call 1-888-319-3204.