Tinkerbell's Excellent Adventure

The post below was submitted by Tinkerbell after a trip on the Niagara Bike Train.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. A bicycle named "Tinkerbell"? Hey, don't blame me, blame the biped. And while I admit that the biped's choice of names leaves something to be desired, you gotta admit that she does plan some pretty cool trips. Like this last one, taking the Bike Train to get from Toronto to Buffalo.

Union Station

I've been down to Union Station, but I always get left outside while the biped gets to go in. Who knew the lobby was so grand! And it was much improved with being chock-a-block full of bicycles. Getting onto the Bike Train was a breeze. I was just wheeled up the ramp and hoisted into the baggage car. So much better than the indignity of having my handlebars and pedals removed and being stuffed into a box like on that trip to Cuba. Don't get me wrong, wheeling around Cuba was a blast. But you know, you just never feel the same after you've been disassembled....

Train full of bikes

The train ride to Niagara Falls had a bit of a party atmosphere. With most of us being there for the Bike Train it automatically broke the ice and started up conversations. Two hours later the train pulled into Niagara Falls and we were off loaded from the baggage car. There were some lovely looking bicycles there - mountain bikes, cruisers, recumbent, tandem and my personal favourite, a pink girl's bicycle complete with streamers on the handlebars.

The next part of the journey was cycling from Niagara Falls to Fort Erie. Most of this 40 km trip is on a bike path that runs parallel to the Niagara River and the Niagara Parkway. Unlike the section of the Niagara Parkway from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is THE place for motorized transport to go cruising, this part of the parkway had very little traffic on it for a Saturday. If you're so inclined, you could probably do the whole stretch without having to stop until you hit some traffic lights at Fort Erie. Except for a few gravel patches waiting to be paved over, the path was smooth and sans potholes. Now that's the way to maintain a bike path!

Bridge Crossing

Crossing the Peace Bridge was a lark. At 2:30 in the afternoon the line of semi-trailers, RVs, cars, motorcycles etc stretched right over the Peace Bridge and up the QEW. But bicycles (and pedestrians) are specifically directed to use the sidewalk. Imagine that American Express Go To The Front Of The Line commercial and you'll get a sense of what it felt like to bypass all that traffic. When you get to the bottom of the bridge, there's instructions to park your bikes, walk in and ring the bell for service. This has got to be one of the smoothest, and quickest border crossings on record. It took less time to go through US Customs than to cycle over the bridge! Of course, it probably didn't hurt that the biped renewed her passport instead of using the old one - the one with the Cuban stamps...

At the border

It was only another 2 km to our destination after that, where my trusty, well travelled sidekick Piglet, got mauled by the triplets.

The return trip took place on Monday. It was equally pleasant and uneventful and the only items to note are that going through the Duty Free store by bicycle is no problemo, bicycles don't pay the toll to get back into Canada, and the Canadian side is not as well signposted as the US side. All of a sudden the signage stopped and we ended up wheeling up to a customs booth for lack of any directions otherwise. I'm going to give Canada Customs the benefit of the doubt. They've just finished redoing this border crossing so maybe the signs haven't gone back up yet?

On the trip home I compared notes with the recumbent that also crossed the border, but at the Rainbow Bridge. Based on that conversation, the Peace Bridge is the way to go. The Rainbow Bridge wasn't as bicycle friendly and they made bicycles pay a $0.75 toll.

Niagara Falls

It would have been nice to have hit a winery or two while in the Niagara Region, but this trip was about family. But that just means there's an excuse to go back and do it again.