By Ken Pastushyn

As dawn broke over the Detroit River, the University of Windsor’s Vanier Hall buzzed with anticipation. More than a hundred cyclists—fresh from breakfast and brimming with energy—clipped on their helmets and wheeled out for a moment they’d long awaited: the official ribbon-cutting of the Gordie Howe International Bridge’s new bike lanes.
This wasn’t just any morning ride. The cyclists, participants in the 2026 Great Waterfront Trail Ride, were about to inaugurate a new era of binational cycling, linking Windsor-Essex and Southeast Michigan. The bridge, freshly opened to pedestrian and bike traffic just a week earlier, now promised to transform how two countries—and their waterfront cities—connected by pedal power.
Federal, provincial, and local dignitaries mingled with cycling advocates sharing stories and ambitions. Marlaine Koehler, executive director of Ontario’s Waterfront Regeneration Trust and emcee for the morning, captured the moment’s spirit: “Together with our partners, we connected the dots to create the outstanding experiences you are enjoying today.”
The event was more than a celebration; it was a statement. Organizations like the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and the Trans Canada Trail had worked for years to make this vision a reality—one where cyclists could glide across borders and explore the lakes and riverfronts that define this region.
Harb Gill, Conservative MP for Windsor-West, spoke of the growing economic impact of cycling tourism, noting that in the past two years, 2.5 million Canadians had taken cycling vacations. “In Michigan alone,” he added, “cycling contributed $668 million to the economy.”
Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh, reminisced about his own first cycling adventure—riding from Tecumseh to Cedar Point, crossing borders before bike lanes and international trails were a reality. “Today,” he said, “I could ride north from Port Huron, cross the Gordie Howe Bridge in the middle, and roll all the way south to Monroe, even Toledo, Ohio.” The bridge had made that dream practical.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens reflected on the bridge’s long, sometimes turbulent, journey to completion—a 25-year odyssey through political headwinds. “A little bit of friction, a little bit of tension. Some say it was a bridge over troubled waters,” he quipped, now looking forward to crossing it himself by e-bike to enjoy the Detroit River’s views and the trails stretching to Belle Isle and beyond.
Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald, mayor of Leamington, invited cyclists to explore the region’s unique blend of vineyards, greenhouses, and authentic taco spots—“and I’m not talking Taco Bell,” she laughed. With two freshwater lakes and a tapestry of trails, Essex County was ready to welcome riders from both sides of the border.
Tourism Windsor-Essex CEO Gordon Orr echoed the sentiment, celebrating the area as a “cycling Mecca” and spotlighting the partnership with the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail—a route winding from Thunder Bay to Quebec along the lakes’ edge.
Meghan Reddick, chief marketing officer for the Trans Canada Trail, emphasized the magnitude of the network: “When you are on that trail, you are on the world’s longest trail.” She proudly noted the trail’s new southern extension to Pelee Island and its integration into the international bridge, making cross-border cycling part of Canada’s coast-to-coast adventure.
Heather Grondin of the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority highlighted the bridge as an attraction in itself, built for safety and accessibility with dedicated fencing and lighting—and offering panoramic skyline views.
As the ribbon fluttered to the ground, the final speaker, Thessalon Mayor Jordan Bird—this year’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Partnership Ambassador—summed up the spirit of the day: “I look forward to seeing you on the trail, thank you, and let’s get rolling.”