New Community Bus Service Launches In Peterborough March 4th

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Peterborough Transit has a brand new Community Bus service that begins Sunday, March 4th at 10 a.m. The Community Bus will be available to all residents and is designed to provide an additional transit option for people that normally use the Handi-Van or find using the regular bus challenging.
 
“I am excited about the roll out of the Community Bus service and the increased accessibility to transportation services that it will provide,” says Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Chair of Transportation. “I see the Community Bus being especially needed and appreciated by people that are finding the regular bus a bit difficult to use but don’t need the door to door service of the Handi-Van and want to retain more independence.”

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The Community Bus will follow a set route. It will serve Lansdowne Place, grocery stores, seniors’ homes, medical clinics and the hospital. 

The service will use a mini bus that has no stairs and seats 10 to 15 passengers, plus two spots for wheelchairs.

Photo courtesy City of Peterborough

The service will operate Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Service will run on an hourly basis. Transit fares for the Community Bus are the same as for the regular transit service.
 
You can find more details about the Community Bus route and schedule at the Transit terminal and online here.

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Almost 2,500 Riders Used Peterborough Transit's Free Service On New Year's Eve

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For the 3rd consecutive year, Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers sponsored free transit services in Peterborough on New Year’s Eve.

This year, 2,476 riders used the service, down from about 3,000 last year, with bone-chilling weather playing a significant part in the decline this year.

Photo via @donvptbo

"This was the third year that I rode the buses on New Year’s Eve,” says Councillor Don Vassiliadis, Chair of Transportation. “The only difference between this year and the last two years was the weather. It was extremely cold. Riders were happy to have a warm and safe ride home."

Photo via @donvptbo

The George Street bus route saw the most riders, with 497 people accepting a free ride home on Peterborough Transit. On average, 206 riders per route took advantage of the free service.

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There Will Be Free New Year’s Eve Bus And Handi-Van Service For 3rd Consecutive Year

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The City of Peterborough has announced it is partnering with Wolfe Personal Injury Lawyers for the third consecutive year to offer late night transit service on New Year’s Eve. Approximately 6,000 riders used the free New Year’s Eve service in the first two years.
 
Transit service will be provided on all 12 regular routes and buses will run free of charge between 7:20 p.m. on December 31st and 3:20 a.m. on January 1st. The last bus will leave Peterborough’s downtown Simcoe Street terminal at 2:40 am. Route maps are available here.

Photo of transit users using the service on New Year's

Handi-Van service will also run during the same hours, with up to two vans in service. Handi-Van customer service staff will accept trip request bookings from eligible clients until 12:20 a.m. and service will continue until 3:20 a.m. 

Handi-van bookings are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Handi-van riders wishing to travel during peak times are encouraged to reserve their trips in advance.    

Don Vassiliadis, Chair of Transportation for City of Peterborough, riding a bus on New Year's Eve

Details regarding the hours of operation will be posted on the What’s New at Transit page here and at the downtown Transit Terminal.

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328 Paddlecraft Just Filled Both Tubs At Trent Severn National Historic Site In Epic Display

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Last year, 138 paddlecraft were jammed into one of the ginormous "tubs" at the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site in Peterborough on Lock n' Paddle day, breaking the previous record of 101. 

This is what it looked like at Lock 21 during last summer's Lock 'N Paddle...

June 26th, 2016

This year, Lock 'N Paddle upped their game even more, filling both tubs on a beautiful Saturday (June 24th) with more than 150 canoes and kayaks each (to mark Canada's 150 birthday) and lifting them 65 feet.

It was one heck of a jigsaw puzzle for organizers and Lockmaster Ed, seen in this video below...

A post shared by ptbo_canada (@ptbo_canada) on

But they did it. Look at this picture we took from mission control...

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

Here is the view from the front Trent-Severn Waterway tweeted out...

Here is the view from above photographed from a drone by Justen Soule for Parks Canada...

And once the lock chambers were at an equal elevation, the Lock Master halted the lockage and participants and visitors raised their paddles and sang both O Canada and Happy Birthday in celebration of 150 years of Confederation.

Have a listen of the Happy Birthday...

Here is the moment the chambers aligned...

A post shared by ptbo_canada (@ptbo_canada) on

Here's a closeup of the East chamber tub filled...

PHoto by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

And here's a closeup of the West chamber tub filled...

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

360 panorama by Evan Holt, PtboCanada

UPDATE: Here is video our Evan Holt filmed from inside a canoe...

Well done Lock 21, well done Peterborough!

Photo by Neil Morton, PTBOCanada

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Trent-Severn Waterway Fully Open for Navigation

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Parks Canada advises that the Trent-Severn Waterway is now fully open for boating traffic for the 2017 Navigation Season. All lock stations along the system are now welcoming visitors by land and through all locks.

Parks Canada thank all visitors and residents for their patience and cooperation as their staff worked diligently to address high water levels and flows caused by excessive precipitation to ensure safe boating conditions.

This year, lockage fees are free for recreational boaters, a great way to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Boaters may order their passes on-line or they can be issued at any Lock Station. All that is required is your vessel registration number.   

Along with free lockage, the Trent-Severn Waterway’s signature event in celebration of Canada 150 will be “Lock’n Paddle” taking place on June 24th. The plan is to load 150 paddlecraft into each of the two chambers of the Peterborough Lift Lock National Historic Site of Canada.

Once the lockage takes place and the chambers are lifted to level, they plan to salute our great nation by singing “O Canada”.

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Trent-Severn Waterway Navigation Season Start Delayed Until May 26th

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High water levels and flows caused by extreme amounts of precipitation have resulted in unsafe boating conditions across waterways.

For safety reasons, Parks Canada has delayed the start of the 2017 navigation season for the Trent-Severn Waterway and Rideau Canal by one week to Friday, May 26th.

Until May 26th, the Trent-Severn Waterway and Rideau Canal will be closed to all boat traffic, and all forms of water-based activities are discouraged. This closure will most importantly protect boater safety, and help to prevent further shoreline erosion and property damage experienced by local residents and businesses.

During this week, Parks Canada will continue to diligently make adjustments to water flows in order to restore safe conditions in preparation for the navigation season.

The public are welcome to continue to enjoy the canals' lock stations, which will be fully open to land-based visitors effective May 19th. Lock staff will be on hand to welcome them.

All visitors are encouraged to always exercise caution around water but especially now with elevated water levels and flows.

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Over 15 Different Vehicles Will Be At Canadian Canoe Museum's Touch A Truck Event May 28th

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The Canadian Canoe Museum is hosting its 4th annual Touch A Truck event on Sunday, May 28th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum's parking lot at 910 Monaghan Road.

This is the perfect event for young families who love to learn and explore. Children have the opportunity to climb, explore and touch over 15 different vehicles such as a fire a truck, a school bus and a mobile production truck!

The $5 admission (3 years of age and older) for the event includes admission to the Museum. Harvey’s will also be on site again this year, flipping burgers!

Proceeds from this event support the initiatives of the Canadian Canoe Museum.

Interested in bringing a truck? Click here.

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Riverview Park & Zoo Train To Open May Long Weekend

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Barring any issues with their spring inspection, the Riverview Park & Zoo's train will open on the May long weekend. "We haven't missed it yet so I hope there's no issues," the zoo's Jim Moloney tells PTBOCanada.

The train has been a big hit at the zoo since first opening in the early '70s. Here are some pictures of the construction and train from those early days...

The splash pad is more weather dependant but should be open by mid-June, Moloney tells PTBOCanada.

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Epic: Peterborough Lift Lock Will Be Attempting To Fit 300 Canoes & Kayaks Into Their Chambers At Once

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Last June, 138 canoes and kayaks filled one of the Lift Lock Chambers as part of part of Lock 'n Paddle Day at the Lift Lock (aka Lock 21) in Peterborough for National Canoe Day celebrations. That broke the previous record of 101 set in 2007.

Well if you thought that was epic, then Trent-Severn Waterway's Manager of Operations Chad Buchner says wait until you see what they have planned for this year's Lock N' Paddle. Buchner tells PTBOCanada they are not only going to fill the west chamber again this year but also the east chamber—both tubs!

2016 Lock 'N Paddle

So yes, on Saturday, June 24th this summer—as part of 150 Canada celebrations—the goal is for 300 paddlecraft to fit into the chambers at one time. It will be like a jigsaw puzzle to fit them all in but Buchner and the Trent-Severn team think they can do it.

2016 Lock N' Paddle

"We are going to try and squeeze 150 paddlecraft in each of the two chambers," Buchner tells PTBOCanada, which is fitting since Canada is turning 150.

Buchner says he hopes this will turn into a huge community event with hundreds of spectators lining Lock 21 to watch the Chambers fill up, and documenting the day on social media to share across Canada and beyond.

Manager of Operations Chad Buchner

More details are coming soon on the big day and how to be involved, so make sure to save that date—June 24th—and follow Trent-Severn Waterway on Twitter and Facebook as buzz builds for this amazing community event.

Learn more about the Lift Lock's amazing history here.

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Awesome New City-Wide Bike Share Program Launched

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Fleming Student Administrative Council (SAC) announced an innovative new Bike Share program on Wednesday (April 19th) available to students, visitors and residents.

There are 15 bicycles located at three different racks in Peterborough: Fleming College Sutherland Campus, Peterborough Green-Up and the VentureNorth Building.

Bikes at VentureNorth Building in downtown Peterborough

Funded in part by the City of Peterborough and Fleming SAC, the bikes are maintained and organized through Zagster. The award-winning bikes are designed with rider safety in mind and include automatic lights, a bell and full reflectors.

Riders join the program by signing up for $25 annual memberships. Rides for members—who must be 18 or older—are free for the first two hours, then $2 per hour after that. The service is free for Fleming students to use.

“This initiative further complements our efforts to make student transportation accessible and affordable," says Christopher Smith, General Manager of Fleming Student Administrative Council. "Through the Fleming student leadership, we are pleased to introduce this program.”


“Zagster’s unique model of all-inclusive bike sharing has proven successful in more than 150 communities across North America, including dozens of college campuses,” says Zagster Communications Manager Jon Terbush. “We’re confident this program will likewise achieve its goal of making bike sharing easy, accessible and affordable.”

Picture courtesy Fleming College

“Several years ago Fleming committed to being a leader in sustainability," says Fleming College President Dr. Tony Tilly. "The Bike Share program will build on a culture of sustainability that we teach our students that they take with them in life and in work well beyond their time at Fleming.”

City of Peterborough Transportation Chair Don Vassiliadis adds: "Fleming SAC has been dedicated to increasing transportation options available to students. The City of Peterborough shares the vision of the Bike Share program and is pleased to be partnering on this initiative. Bike Share not only supports Fleming students but also Peterborough residents and its visitors all while making Peterborough greener and cleaner."

HOW IT WORKS

-> Bikes can be found via the free Zagster Mobile App.

-> Each bike has a unique number which riders enter into the app to obtain a number to open the lockbox on the back of the bike.

-> After a rider returns the bike to a designated Zagster bike station, the rental ends and the bike is available for the next person to enjoy.

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