We Take You For A Paddle Boat Ride Around Peterborough

Our lifestyle reporter Julie Morris, along with her friend Tracey Johnston, set out on a paddle boat ride on the Otonabee River and Little Lake on Friday (July 25th)...

. @CupcakeJu and I have started our paddling adventure @Ptbo_Canada #pedalandpaddle #paddleboat pic.twitter.com/PIKJf6tjfK

— Tracey Johnston (@TraceyMJohnston) July 25, 2014

There is nothing better than being a tourist in your own city! Here are some pictures they snapped along the way...

Selfie: Tracey Johnston and Julie Morris

Yep, awesome city indeed.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Cycle Tourism Signage Program & Digital Route Mapping To Launch In Peterborough & Kawarthas

Photo courtesy Sean Arruda (via Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism)

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, part of Peterborough Economic Development, and Shimano Canada have partnered to create a new, marketable cycle tourism product. The multi-phase project will focus on a series of varied length cycling routes joining the County of Peterborough and the City of Peterborough through a regional cycling signage program and digital route mapping. These permanently sign-posted routes will take riders off of the beaten path, and introduce them to the best roads our region has to offer. The routes utilize scenic country roads throughout the County and tie into a number of trail systems in the City of Peterborough to highlight popular routes which are enjoyed by many of the area’s passionate local cyclists, but are yet to be discovered by visitors to the area—as cycle tourism contines to grow in popularity.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

PTBOCanada Sponsored Post: Win An E-Bike This Summer From Kawartha TV & Stereo!

Kawartha TV & Stereo wants to help celebrate the fun that is Peterborough in summer! They're giving away an E-Bike valued at more than $1,000 so you can cruise around to all of the great places that make our awesome city awesome, and be a tourist in your own town! The Tokyo E-Bike from Daymak has a 500W motor and a top speed of 32kph, ensuring you’ll make it to your destination in plenty of time. Kawartha TV & Stereo has an extensive E-Bike and scooter collection at the store, and they are always happy to pair somebody up with their dream-green-electric-machine!

Toyko E-Bike from Daymak

HOW TO ENTER E-BIKE CONTEST!

To enter Kawartha TV & Stereo's Awesome Summer E-Bike Giveaway and have a chance to win the Tokyo E-Bike from Daymak (pictured at right and below around town), simply go to kawarthatv.com/flyers and sign up for their newsletter before July 31st. It's as easy as that. You’ll not only be entered to win the E-Bike by signing up—the draw is on July 31st—but you’ll also be automatically entered into every monthly draw they have for as long as you stay subscribed to the newsletter.

"Like" Kawartha TV & Stereo on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for more information and updates as they get closer to the big draw on July 31st!

Enter now, and have a look at the E-Bike that could be yours...

Remember to enter Kawartha TV & Stereo's Awesome Summer E-Bike Giveaway by going to kawarthatv.com/flyers and signing up for their newsletter! The draw is July 31st from that list of names.

SPONSORED POST PRESENTED BY PTBOCANADA

For more info on Kawartha TV & Stereo (188 Park St. S) go to:

Website: KawarthaTV.com
Facebook: KawarthatTV
Twitter: @KawarthaTV
Contest/Newsletter Signup:  KawarthaTV.com/flyers
Email: sales@kawarthatv.com
Phone: 705.740.0000

***If your business/organization is interested in a PTBOCanada Featured or Sponsored Post Advertorial, email sales@ptbocanada.com for info!

Shifting Gears Has Kicked Off

The 11th Annual Shifting Gears Workplace Transportation Challenge has kicked off. Shifting Gears is a month-long competition created to inspire Peterborough area employers, employees, and individuals to use active modes of commuting, such as walking and biking, as well as public transit and ride sharing.

“Shifting Gears is a long-standing community campaign that has a significant impact on employee travel behaviour during the month of May,” said Susan Sauvé, Transportation Demand Management Planner at the City of Peterborough. “There are many reasons to participate in Shifting Gears, both as an employer and an employee, with the benefits ranging from better personal health and air quality to lowered family transportation costs and reduced demand on parking spaces.”

Every employee can participate in Shifting Gears by signing up as an individual or through their workplace at Peterboroughmoves.com. Employees who participate in the program and log more than four car-free trips before May 14th will qualify for a rewards card that can be redeemed for great cycling and walking gear or a 10-trip transit pass. All participants also qualify for grand prizes, including the Grand Prize of a $750 gift certificate for Resorts of Ontario, and a free Student Car Share membership, with $10 of free drive time.

Shifting Gears is a program of GreenUP, the City of Peterborough, Wild Rock Outfitters, B!KE: the Peterborough Community Bike Shop, and Student Car Share.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Peterborough To Test New Traffic Light Sound Sensor Signals

[UPDATE: Honk honk. Happy April Fools' Day!!]

The Ontario Traffic Light Association (OTLA) is pleased to announce that Peterborough has been selected as a national test zone for a new technology designed to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.

According to a OTLA press release, during the test phase electronic traffic signals at select Peterborough intersections will be outfitted with new “sound sensor” receptors that when triggered will automatically prompt the lights to change from red to green. To trigger the “sound sensor” receptor and change the light, simply honk your horn twice.

Marilyn Phibbs, Executive Chair of the OTLA, says, “We are constantly inundated with complaints from drivers who find themselves sitting at a red light with no oncoming traffic for an unreasonable period of time. In some cases, drivers have experienced road rage during lengthy waits at a red light. We are confident sound sensor signals will resolve this problem and improve traffic flow. We appreciate the opportunity to test it in Peterborough.”

From midnight through noon today (Tuesday, April 1st), the following intersections are designated test zones: Lansdowne Street West and Monaghan Road, Sherbrooke Street and Clonsilla Avenue, Parkhill Road East and Armour Road, and King and George Street, Downtown.

Data will be collected and evaluated by the OTLA to determine the effectiveness of the system as well as any adjustments required to the sensitivity of the sensors. Drivers are reminded that the “sound sensor” traffic light system is in a preliminary test-phase only and are warned not to proceed through a red light should the signal not change to green right away. Please honk twice and wait.

Pending any unanticipated delays, the OTLA says the new technology will be introduced in communities across the province beginning this summer at an expected cost of $150 million dollars. Funds to make the technological transition will be passed along to Ontario drivers through a minimal increase in annual Vehicle License Renewal Stickers.

The Ontario Traffic Light Association (OTLA) was founded April 1st by a public citizen’s group aimed at addressing issues affecting drivers at controlled intersections. This Ontario-based organization is privately funded by the Global LED Traffic Light Manufacturers with its Head Office located at 0401 Simpleton Lane, Toronto, Ontario. Follow its Executive Chair Marilyn Phibbs on Twitter @OTLA0401.

--------------
UPDATE: Our Scott Arnold tested it out this morning...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Watch: Take A Flight In The Kawarthas

From takeoff to landing, join in on this flight from Peterborough to Bancroft to Papineau Lake. It's pretty cool.

[Vimeo]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Here's A Timelapse Video Of A Guy Driving From Peterborough To Ottawa In 37 Seconds

If only it were this quick...

[video by Todd Steenburgh]

—Scott Arnold

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Watch: Here Is Peterborough At Warp Speed

Someone tested out their my homemade electromagnet GoPro mount, and the result is pretty darn cool. Check this out...

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Historic Flight: A Boeing 737 Will Take Off From Peterborough Airport

[UPDATE March 5th: Due to overwhelming response, Carlson Wagonlit Stewart Travel has added a second departure for their weekend of celebration October 2th to 5th, 2014 in New York City. The second departure will travel same dates as the first charter. The Boeing 737 aircraft will depart on October 2nd with the first group of 136 passengers, land in Newark, disembark and fly back to Peterborough to transport the second group.]
 

----------
ORIGINAL POST:

Peterborough Airport's expansion and upgrades is such that a Boeing 737—yes, a Boeing 737—can now land and take off from there.

Local travel company Carlson Wagonlit Stewart Travel will prove that as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations, as they've secured a Boeing 737 aircraft for a weekend flight to New York which will mark the first time a large passenger aircraft will take off from the newly renovated Peterborough Airport.

The historic flight to Newark Airport will take place this fall—October 2nd to 5th—and the cost for the weekend trip package to New York is about $1,400. More than half of the seats have already been sold.

Yes, the future of travel may be right here in Peterborough, with no more commutes to Pearson, short wait times, free parking and clearing customs right in your own backyard.

Sweet.

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.

Local Gift Under $25 For The Cyclist

Stumped as to what to buy this year? Here are two local gifts under $25 for the Cyclist. Stop in at Wild Rock (located at 169 Charlotte Street) and pick up the Torch Bright Flex LED Light, which is easy to attach to the front and back of your bike to make sure others around you are aware of your presence. Be sure to pick up a container of Sports Balm, which will make for a much more comfortable ride for those that spend a fair bit of time in the saddle.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and Like us on Facebook.