Sustainable Orillia Bike Challenge
By Fred Larsen – Special to SUNonline/Orillia
Sustainable Orillia is excited to announce the launch of the 4th annual 2026 Sustainable Orillia Bike Challenge, a nine-week community event running from May 11 to July 12. This initiative invites residents to cycle more and drive less, encourages families to get active together, and celebrates the city’s cycling network while promoting continued growth and connectivity.
Over the nine-week event, residents will celebrate key cycling dates including National Bike to Work Day (May 15), Bike to School Week (last week of May), Bike Month, (June), and World Bicycle Day (June 3), while discovering the many benefits of cycling. Organizers say riding a bike is fun, accessible to everyone, supports health, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, strengthens communities, and offers a smarter, more sustainable way to get around.
Those interested in participating in the challenge are invited to register online or via paper forms available at the Bike Stop of Orillia. Participants will record the number of days they rode a bicycle during the event. Bronze, silver, and gold crests will be awarded based on the number of bike-riding days: bronze for 10-20 days, silver for 21-40 days, and gold for 41-56 days. All participants will be entered into a random prize draw, and families (at least one parent and one child per team) will compete for first, second, and third place prizes – restaurant gift certificates generously donated by local sponsors.
New for 2026, the challenge includes an opportunity to explore the 160 km Simcoe County Loop Trail, either in a single day or over multiple days. Those who complete the circuit will earn a T-shirt from Cycle Simcoe and be entered into a special prize draw.
Prizes and crests will be awarded at a celebratory gathering hosted by the event’s primary sponsor, The Bike Stop of Orillia, within a week of the challenge’s conclusion. Partners supporting this year’s Bike Challenge include The Bike Stop of Orillia and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
This event reflects Sustainable Orillia’s vision of building a connected community where infrastructure supports both social connection and environmental care. This year, the challenge aims for a 20% increase in participation, heightened awareness of opportunities to enhance cycling infrastructure, such as connected trails, bike lanes, parking, and updated maps, and a collective effort towards reduced local car emissions. The community is invited to increase total ride days from 809 last year to 1,000 in 2026.
For more information about the event, contact info@sustainableorillia.ca.
(Images Supplied)
