Devonwood Bike Trail
Encyclopedia
The Devonwood Bike Trail is a fairly straight and flat bike trail in the southern end of the city of Windsor, Ontario
. The path starts just south of E.C. Row Expressway at the intersection of Hallmark Avenue and Conservation Drive. The path has several short branches less than 100 m long to connect it to neighbouring cul-de-sac
s, and passes through a couple parks. Its southern terminus is the end of the pavement as it enters the Essex Region Conservation Authority
-controlled Devonwood Conservation Area, a heavily-wooded animal and plant sanctuary. The trail also serves the Windsor Airport
, Devonshire Mall
, and the "Silver City" mall and theatre area via bike lanes on Calderwood Avenue and a paved trail along Walker Road
.
Contrary to what one may expect, the trail is actually quite lightly travelled, considering the major attractions within 1 mile (1.6 km) of it.
(and since the Grand Marais Trail
has been completed, along with bike lanes and signs along Parent Avenue being erected), it is speculated that this trail may provide a connecting link between the Riverfront Trail and the Chrysler Canada Greenway
, which runs from South Talbot Road to the official starting point, 1.1 km south, at Highway 3
and Oldcastle Road, in Oldcastle
, and travels via Harrow
and Kingsville
to Ruthven
and Leamington
. One main obstacle is the Devonwood Conservation Area, which has several sharp curves, poor visibility at times, and is a protected nature preserve.
and Ganatchio Trail to the north, the West Windsor Recreationway to the west, a new alignment following Cabana Road to the Devonwood Conservation Area. The Loop would also follow the current Devonwood Bike Trail, following along North Service Road and E.C. Row Expressway to the subdivision of Forest Glade, where it would turn north on Lauzon Road (not Lauzon Parkway), and follow the current signed route and path along Hawthorne Drive (a residential street), to the Little River Extension
, before meeting back up with the Ganatchio Trail at the roundabout
/traffic circle
. This route has not been completed yet, but several segments are already in place. The loop has a couple crossings at E.C. Row interchange
s, which are extremely busy, and could pose a potential safety hazard to cyclists. The city hopes to finish the Loop "within the next 20 years".
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. The path starts just south of E.C. Row Expressway at the intersection of Hallmark Avenue and Conservation Drive. The path has several short branches less than 100 m long to connect it to neighbouring cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
s, and passes through a couple parks. Its southern terminus is the end of the pavement as it enters the Essex Region Conservation Authority
Essex Region Conservation Authority
The Essex Region Conservation Authority is a non-profit organization responsible for parks, wetlands, and waterways in most of Essex County and its boundaries....
-controlled Devonwood Conservation Area, a heavily-wooded animal and plant sanctuary. The trail also serves the Windsor Airport
Windsor Airport
Windsor Airport, , is located in the southeast portion of the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The airport serves a mixture of scheduled airline flights and general aviation, and is a popular point of entry into Canada for private and business aircraft...
, Devonshire Mall
Devonshire Mall
Devonshire Mall is a shopping center located in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The mall has Zellers, The Bay, Sears, and other stores, totaling over 200. The mall currently occupies over 1 million square feet in retail space, and it dominates the retail landscape in Windsor and the lower southern...
, and the "Silver City" mall and theatre area via bike lanes on Calderwood Avenue and a paved trail along Walker Road
Walker Road
Walker Road was one of the busiest roads in Windsor, Ontario before the road closure. It has an average annual daily traffic level of 32,000 cars per day at the CP Rail crossing.- History :The road is named after Hiram Walker, distillery baron...
.
Contrary to what one may expect, the trail is actually quite lightly travelled, considering the major attractions within 1 mile (1.6 km) of it.
Extensions?
Since Trans-Canada Trail signs have been posted along the western half of the Riverfront Bike TrailRiverfront Bike Trail
The Roy A. Battagello River Walk Bike Trail is the current backbone of the "Windsor Loop" bike trail network in Windsor, Ontario. The bike trail travels from the foot of the Ambassador Bridge , to traffic lights at Riverside Drive and Lincoln Avenue...
(and since the Grand Marais Trail
Grand Marais Trail
The Grand Marais Trail is the name of a small bicycle trail that follows Turkey Creek in the middle of Windsor, Ontario. It starts off as a minor spur route, connecting the West Windsor Recreationway with Huron Church Road and the neighbourhood of South Windsor The Grand Marais Trail is the name...
has been completed, along with bike lanes and signs along Parent Avenue being erected), it is speculated that this trail may provide a connecting link between the Riverfront Trail and the Chrysler Canada Greenway
Chrysler Canada Greenway
The Chrysler Canada Greenway is a 42 km-long rail trail in Essex County, Ontario, stretching from Oldcastle, Ontario to Leamington, Ontario.- History :...
, which runs from South Talbot Road to the official starting point, 1.1 km south, at Highway 3
Highway 3 (Ontario)
King's Highway 3, commonly referred to as Highway 3 and historically as the Talbot Trail, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which travels parallel to the shore of Lake Erie. It has three segments, the first of which runs from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor...
and Oldcastle Road, in Oldcastle
Oldcastle, Ontario
Oldcastle is a small community of about 300-700 inhabitants located south of Windsor, Ontario Canada in the town of Tecumseh, Ontario. Roughly, the boundaries are as follows: North- Highway 3, East- the Chrysler Canada Greenway trail, South- County Rd. 8, West- Howard Ave. It is the starting point...
, and travels via Harrow
Harrow, Ontario
Harrow is a community located in the town of Essex, Essex County, Ontario, Canada.Hiram Walker, of Canadian Club Whisky fame is credited with putting Harrow on the map. Walker built the railroad, which then brought grain from the South end of the County into the city for use in his distillery...
and Kingsville
Kingsville, Ontario
The Town of Kingsville is located in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada, and is Canada's southernmost municipality with town status. According to the 2006 census, the population of Kingsville is 20,908.-Geography:...
to Ruthven
Ruthven, Ontario
Ruthven, Ontario is a hamlet of roughly 400 residents in the township of Kingsville, Ontario. It is located at the intersection of Essex County Roads 34 and 45, but recent developments have extended the community to Highway 3 and down southwards along CR 45 to meet with the community of Seacliff,...
and Leamington
Leamington, Ontario
Leamington is a municipality in Essex County, southern Ontario, Canada, and has a population of 31,113. It includes Point Pelee, the southernmost point of mainland Canada. It has a large H. J. Heinz Company factory and is known as the "Tomato Capital of Canada", with 4 km² of this crop in the...
. One main obstacle is the Devonwood Conservation Area, which has several sharp curves, poor visibility at times, and is a protected nature preserve.
Windsor Loop
The City of Windsor has expressed intentions on creating a bike trail, bike lane, and signed-route/Bike-Friendly Street "beltway" around Windsor, using pre-existing routes, lanes, and trails, and adding new ones to streets. The trail would use the Riverfront Bike TrailRiverfront Bike Trail
The Roy A. Battagello River Walk Bike Trail is the current backbone of the "Windsor Loop" bike trail network in Windsor, Ontario. The bike trail travels from the foot of the Ambassador Bridge , to traffic lights at Riverside Drive and Lincoln Avenue...
and Ganatchio Trail to the north, the West Windsor Recreationway to the west, a new alignment following Cabana Road to the Devonwood Conservation Area. The Loop would also follow the current Devonwood Bike Trail, following along North Service Road and E.C. Row Expressway to the subdivision of Forest Glade, where it would turn north on Lauzon Road (not Lauzon Parkway), and follow the current signed route and path along Hawthorne Drive (a residential street), to the Little River Extension
Little River Extension
The Little River Extension is one of the newest and busiest recreational trails in Windsor, Ontario, having been built in 1996. The trail is used mainly as a link between the large subdivision of Forest Glade, to Ganatchio Trail, Sandpoint Beach, Stop 26 Beach, and Lakeview Park And Marina...
, before meeting back up with the Ganatchio Trail at the roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
/traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
. This route has not been completed yet, but several segments are already in place. The loop has a couple crossings at E.C. Row interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
s, which are extremely busy, and could pose a potential safety hazard to cyclists. The city hopes to finish the Loop "within the next 20 years".
See also
- Bike Trails in the City of Windsor
- Ganatchio TrailGanatchio TrailThe Ganatchio Trail is a bike trail in Windsor, Ontario, the second to be built in the city. Construction on the trail started upon the closure of Clairview Avenue. The trail currently extends over 5.3 km, and passes through several neighbourhoods, such as Riverside and Little River, and...
- Little River ExtensionLittle River ExtensionThe Little River Extension is one of the newest and busiest recreational trails in Windsor, Ontario, having been built in 1996. The trail is used mainly as a link between the large subdivision of Forest Glade, to Ganatchio Trail, Sandpoint Beach, Stop 26 Beach, and Lakeview Park And Marina...
- Riverside Drive Vista Project
- Russell Street Neighbourhood TrailRussell Street Neighbourhood TrailThe Russell Street Neighbourhood Trail is a short bike trail that travels through the historic Sandwich Town neighbourhood in western Windsor, Ontario...
- Trans-Canada Trail