Markham Helps You Get Active Safely

The Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) is a long-term strategic plan to improve walking, cycling, and other modes of active transportation for everyone in Markham. The ATMP will identify a well-connected and safe active transportation network, and recommend infrastructure projects, policies and strategies to support an action-oriented implementation of the plan.

The City is currently undertaking a series of public consultations to engage Markham residents in the development of the Active Transportation Master Plan.

Visit the ATMP public consultation page to share your feedback with us.

The road closure pilot on Enterprise Boulevard has now ended. Please complete this survey and let us know what you think about this pilot project.

Markham Villages and Valley Loop

This new active transportation loop connects Main Street Unionville to Main Street Markham, making it easier and safer for cyclists and pedestrians to get to these popular and iconic village hubs through part of the Rouge Valley Trail system, Carlton Road and Raymerville Drive. Both Main Streets are also linked to more trails of the Rouge Valley Trail System, effectively allowing you to travel across the old villages of Markham and Unionville while enjoying the beautiful scenery and neighbourhoods of our city.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue to develop this new route.

The loop is 12 km long.

For more trails and access points to the Markham Villages and Valley loop, see our trails map.

Places of interest along the Loop:

• The Villages: Find out about our local businesses through the BIAs
• unionvilleinfo.com
• mainstreetmarkham.com
  

• Take our Heritage Walking Tours
• A Walking Tour Guide of Historic Main Street Unionville 
• A Walking Heritage Tour of Markham Village

• The Rouge Valley Trail  

Thornhill Urban Loops

Discover the valleys and trails in Thornhill with two urban loops. In addition to leading an active lifestyle, you can support local businesses along the way!

We recommended hiking these trails with comfortable footwear. If you choose to bike, we recommend a mountain bike as the loops are fairly lengthy (7 KM). Also, follow safe cycling rules when riding on streets.

For those choosing to rough-hike the informal trails in the Royal Orchard Park or German Mills Creek valley, be prepared for muddy, soggy, wet and uneven surfaces.

Remember to watch for the following:

• Safe gaps in traffic flow before crossing a street
• Road curbs at crossing points to avoid tripping

Milliken Urban Loops

Discover and enjoy your neighbourhoods! Milliken offers two more urban loops to enhance your active lifestyle.

If hiking, wear comfortable footwear. If cycling, follow safe cycling rules when riding on streets.

Remember to watch for the following:

• Safe gaps in traffic flow before crossing a street
• Road curbs at crossing points to avoid tripping

As Markham moved into Phase 2 of Ontario’s Recovery Plan, Markham has implemented traffic restrictions on Main Street Unionville, effective immediately and until October 31, 2020, between Fred Varley Drive and Carlton Road. These restrictions encourage drivers to use the laneway to the east of Main Street Unionville (where local business parking lots are located) to divert traffic away from the village itself. Parking is also restricted to provide more walking space. These measures increase safety for our cyclists and pedestrians coming to Main Street Unionville to browse, shop and dine as the support #ShopLocal and our local businesses in their recovery from COVID19.

Set a summer cycling goal, bike to local Markham landmarks and win prizes! This scavenger hunt on two wheels is a great way to stay active and explore the city this summer. Every two weeks, a new theme will be announced, with a new set of locations to visit and a new chance to win. Registration and the first theme launches on July 8.

Subscribe to the Markham Cycles newsletter, check out markhamcycles.ca, or check back here for updates!

Markham Cycles More is organized by Markham Cycles and City of Markham’s Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, with funding from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Due to a major storm event and flooding in January 2020, a 1KM portion of the Rouge Valley Trail between Markham Road and Tuclor Lane will be closed for repairs. The storm caused the Rouge River to flood and damaged the trail surface. The City is replacing this section of the trail with asphalt to improve the trail surface and safety to the public.

The construction work will begin on the week of Monday July 13, 2020, and it is anticipated that the work will be completed by end of July 2020.

The trail will be closed to the public during this period. Please note that this timeline is based on work progress and may be subject to change.

Any questions about this closure can be directed to Dereje Tafesse (416.881.7571) or Alain Cachola (416.688.7754) in the Engineering Department.

Every Saturday in fall until October 17th, Markham Cycles will be setting up a pop-up booth in different parks in the city. We will be offering quick bike tune ups and simple repairs, giving away cycling maps & bike lights and more.

Repairs available include fixing flats, adjusting brakes, oiling chains, adjusting seat height and pumping up tires. For more major repairs, we will refer you to one of Markham’s local bike shops.

For more information, visit: Markham Cycles — Saturday in the Park

Hours: 1 PM to 4 PM every Saturday (weather permitting)