Environmental

Socio-Cultural

Economic

Ensure optimal use of resources key to tourism 

Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities

Implement long-term economic operations

Maintain essential ecological processes

Conserve the built & living cultural heritage & traditional values of the community

Provide fairly distributed socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders

Aid in the conservation of natural heritage & biodiversity

Contribute to inter-cultural understanding & tolerance

Provide stable employment, income-earning opportunities, social services to host communities & contribute to poverty alleviation

Global Warming

One of the biggest environmental costs when travelling is the carbon footprint created when flying. 

Language

Learn the lingo! Attempting to master a few words of the local language is a great way to bring down barriers. It illustrates cultural respect when greeting, thanking and saying goodbye to locals in their own language. 

Local Customs 

Religious beliefs, customs and traditions vary significantly around the world & play a large part in daily life. It’s important to be familiar with the local dress code, cultural etiquette & potentially any relevant political information. 

Remember: you are the visitor & by showing respect, you will be respected yourself.

Packing

Keep your luggage to a minimum & avoid disposable goods. Waste-disposal facilities can be limited in some destinations & recycling is often non-existent in many areas of the world. 

Gifts & Presents 

You may make special connections or experience great hospitality. Gifts that are evocative of your home country such as postcards or photographs make excellent presents to show your appreciation. 

Eat with Locals

Support local businesses & preserve traditional cuisine by dining in local restaurants, not just your hotel. It’s a great way to sample local specialties & ingredients. 

Souvenirs & Shopping

Wherever possible, buy souvenirs from local shops. Haggling is often customary & can be fun, but stop once you’ve been offered a reasonable price; a few dollars won’t make a difference to you, but it can mean everything to someone trying to make a living. Avoid buying souvenirs that exploit wildlife or threaten endangered species. Finally, items from ancient civilizations may still be found or bought in certain countries. Leave them: a country should keep its historic artifacts. 

Plants & Shells

One of the joys of travelling is the spectacular variety of plants & shells you may come across. These should remain in their natural environment, so avoid picking up or collecting any. 

Remember: it’s also illegal to import certain plant species. 

Wildlife & Animal Welfare

Avoid disturbing wildlife & damaging their natural habitat. Take care not to touch coral reefs, feed animals or fish, and stay quiet when viewing animals when on safari. 

Begging

Don’t give out sweets or money, especially to children. Giving will only teach them that begging is rewarded. It is far better to interact with children in a positive way. Though begging is the sole source of income for many of the world’s poor, it’s far more constructive to give money to charities which can offer long-term support to a greater number of people. 

Litter

Many countries do not have adequate litter collection or recycling, so the less litter you leave behind, the better. Plastics in particular take a long time to decompose, so consider bringing along a reusable water bottle. 

Photos

People in colourful local dress make good subjects for photographs, but make sure to ask before you snap a picture. Many people, for a number of reasons, do not like being photographed, so you should always gain permission first. 

Water

If it’s necessary to wash in streams or rivers, do not use detergents or other chemicals; it may be someone’s drinking water further downstream. So, use eco-friendly soaps instead & use water sparingly. 

Continuing Support

You may have come across charitable projects or been impacted by humanitarian or conservation concerns while travelling. Many tour operators offer a wide variety of charitable initiatives, or advise you where to direct your support, so you can give back to the destination of your choice. 

Feedback 

If you have any positive or negative comments regarding sustainable tourism issues on your vacation, provide feedback! 

Groups

Examples

Obligatory/Minimum Requirements

Accommodations

Hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals & other private accommodation locations that may be used by cycle tourists. 

• Covered & secure bike storage area
• Cycling information, including any published cycling route maps
• Staff able to direct cyclists to information on cycling routes in immediate area; local bike shops, bicycle rentals and tour operators, weather reports
• Basic bike repair toolset
• Healthy, local food & beverage options; if served onsite 
• Assistance with Ontario By Bike Network evaluation whenever possible, including informing the network of the number of room nights sold to cycle tourists & inviting them to review accommodations 
• All frontline staff informed of participation in the Network & mentioned service amenities
• Any additional requirements as may be established through consultation 

Campgrounds

N/A 

• Secure daytime bike lock-up area, such as bicycle stands or posts for bike parking in most visible location possible
• Cycling information, including any published cycling route maps (if there are no cycling maps for the area, access to Internet-connected computer)
• Staff able to direct cyclists to information on cycling routes in immediate area, local bike shops and hours, bicycle rental and tour operators, weather reports
• Basic bicycle repair toolset
• Healthy, local food and beverage options, if served on-site
• Assistance with Ontario By Bike Network evaluation whenever possible, including informing the Network of the number of nights stayed by cycle tourists, and inviting cyclists to review the campground accommodation
• All frontline staff informed of participation in Ontario By Bike Network, and above services and amenities
• And any additional requirements as may be established through consultation

Food Services

Restaurants, cafes, food shops & stops that may be used by cycle tourists. 

• Healthy food options on menu
• Inclusion of local foods and specialities, whenever possible
• Secure daytime bike lock-up area in most visible location possible – preferably bicycle stands or posts for bike parking – or provisions for cyclists to bring bikes onto property (e.g., patio)
• Cycling information for region, if available, including any published cycling route maps
• Assistance with Ontario By Bike Network evaluation whenever possible, including informing the Network of the number of cycle tourists visiting the location, and inviting cyclists to review the location
• All frontline staff informed of participation in Ontario By Bike Network, and above services and amenities
• And any additional requirements as may be established through consultation

Tourist Attractions 

• Secure daytime bike lock-up area, such as bicycle stands or posts for bike parking in most visible location possible
• Access to washrooms (where possible), rest area (preferably covered) and water (either from a water fountain or by purchase from a concession stand)
• Cycling information for region, if available, including any published cycling route maps
• Healthy, local food and beverage options, if served on-site
• Assistance with Ontario By Bike Network evaluation whenever possible, including informing the Network of the number of cycle tourists visiting the location, and inviting cyclists to review the location
• All frontline staff informed of participation in Ontario By Bike Network, and above services and amenities
• And any additional requirements as may be established through consultation

Business Areas

• Bicycle-Friendly Business Areas (BFBA) must submit the registration for the designation through a Business Improvement Area, Chamber of Commerce or similar association.
• At least five (5) applicable businesses participating and certified as bicycle friendly locations, including one of each category – accommodations, food services, attractions. Note: A certified bicycle-friendly accommodation business located no further than a 3km distance away for proposed business areas.
• Ample bike parking available within the proposed business area.
• Allocation of (at least) one storefront location designated and clearly promoted as a Bike Welcome Centre, equipped with a bike repair station and up to date local cycling information and maps.
• Cycling infrastructure and/or signed route in and out of the proposed business area.
• Dedicated webpage indicating the BFBA designation, listing certified bicycle-friendly business locations
• Participating locations display Ontario By Bike Network Decal in visible locations.
• BFBA must be located within a region supporting the Ontario By Bike Network.
• Bicycle-Friendly Business Area champion(s) to outreach and promote Ontario By Bike Network to member businesses through distribution of the Business Outreach Kit.
• When hosting community events, additional bike parking or bike valet service is made available. Cycling was promoted as an option to get to and from local events.
• Assistance with Ontario By Bike Network evaluation, including an annual Business Perception Survey of both participating and non-participating businesses.
• All association staff informed of participation in the Ontario By Bike Network, the Bicycle-Friendly Business Area designation and above services and amenities.

Bicycle-Related Listings

This category is for businesses that provide services to cyclists (e.g., bike shop, service, tours, rentals). 

There are no certification criteria at present. 

Test #

Question

Criteria

Test 1 

Can you trust the data? The golden rule: You can’t manage what you don’t measure. 

• Sustainability programs must be built on evidence-based and scientific data
• Poor inputs ‘indicators “ will deliver measures and outcomes Indicators need to be ‘SMART’ Simple, Measurable, Achievable. Repeatable, Timely)
• Data must be consistently collected and independently verified
• Being comprehensive does not equate to having hundreds of criteria, particularly if you only need to meet 51% of criteria or fewer to pass
• Deep historical data are essential because it allows performance based trend lines to be mapped while fostering knowledge management

Test 2 

Would it meet strict audit guidelines? The golden rule: Sustainability is not a logo, it’s what you do! 

• Does the programme accurately track operational performance against industry and competitor benchmarks and baselines? 
• Does it have internationally recognised carbon reporting calculators which will allow science based targets to be determined? 
• Does it provide ISO trained independent auditors which deliver ISO quality reports? A checklist is not a report. Anyone can verify data. Auditors have a code of conduct. 

Test 3

Is the program credible? 

• Credible programs are built on good science and serviced by trained and talented people who care. Ask who the people are? 
• Good science needs to be constantly reviewed, questioned and refreshed by independent researchers
• Is it holistic? Sustainability is not a linear concept; it needs to have 360 degree thinking covering design, construction and operations
• Does it have a secure software platform which allows data to be seamlessly uploaded and analysed to provide ROI advice?

Test 4 

Is it bankable? Does it meet owners, managers, financial market & consumer needs? 

• Owners want bottom line metrics on the performance of their assets
• Management wants practical advice on how to improve resource efficiency and reduce costs and risks
• Consumers want peace of mind and transparency that they are staying in a healthy building which is good for their wellbeing and good for the planet
• Financial markets demand data integrity