Yes, it’s true, Tourism Tofino or The Tofino Chamber or whatever it’s called doesn’t want you to bike past them on Tofino’s bike path. How do we know this – well, we are bikers (pedal-bikers not the other kind) and when we ride out the MUP to Cox Beach or beyond a funny thing happens at the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber office.

At the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber office grounds, the MUP bike path ends
in boulders on the path and loose gravel and then continues after the office grounds.

When you reach the spot where the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber land is you have to dodge cars, motor homes and trucks turning in and out of the gravel lot. Hang on to your handlebars because the paved pathway turns to loose gravel and that’s after you negotiate past the two big boulders installed at the end of the pavement.

Much better to have bicycles wipe out than to control the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber traffic.

If you make it past the boulders onto the gravel and don’t get hit by a vehicle, a cyclist then has to go around the stupid grass obstacle, whoops we mean the lovely garden feature the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber has installed right where the MUP should continue! Either you veer into the parking lot traffic area or out by the highway to get past that grassy built-up area. Then make sure you don’t get hit again by a vehicle at this end where traffic is coming and going, make your way past the other boulders and you’ve made it back to the safety of the MUP. Whew!

Check out the pedal by pedal detail concerning the above photos here.

At a time when more people than ever are using the MUP, you’d think that Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber would lose it’s arrogance and be respectful to the MUP and it’s users and be a responsible corporate citizen. Why would we use the word arrogant with respect to Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber? Because we know that years ago this issue was brought up to Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber and they refused to deal with it.
And we all know they certainly have the cash on hand.

But wait you say, staff at Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber ride their bikes to work. Yes, but seems they’re not interested in having anyone go past their land.

The MUP doesn’t end at Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber, 
so why do they think they can act like it does?

What’s the solution? Well Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber, and Live To Surf and Tofino Botanical Gardens for that matter (even though TBG we know you’ve tried a little bit to make life at your driveway safer for MUP users), check out Clayoquot-Orca Resort. They have gone a long way to making the entrance at their driveway safe for MUP users. No, you don’t have to pave your entire lot, just support the MUP and be a good community citizen.

Check the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber bike path, MUP photos and see for yourself.

Remember this is our opinion and we’d like to hear yours.

Feedback about the Bike Path at the Tourism Tofino Office

09/07/13
We Believe The Chamber Can Make the Bike Path/Walking Path/MUP Safe But Doesn’t For Some Reason
TTN: So what we would like to see is the Tofino Chamber/Tourism Tofino remove the big rhodos, the flag poles, and the big sign out of that built-up green area. Put up some Stop/Watch For Bikes and Pedestrians signs in the entry/exit areas of the ubër busy parking lot. Create a path that is safe for bikers, skaters, walkers, runners, kids, dogs, surfers, etc. to use to get past your office area.

The Chamber and Tofino tourism have more money than you know what to do with (see the website) so, why won’t you make a safe crossing for anything other than cars, trucks, and campers? Because it’s up to the Town? Well, you’re using the area and would the Town mind if you created a safe place for people to cross that area? Even the Gardens tried to clean up their area to be more safe. But you’re not.

2009/04/15
You have taken the chamber to task on issues that we have no control over.  We don’t “hate’ the MUP, and aren’t responsible for the large rocks on the path, the municipality is. The rocks were placed on the path to keep cars from driving down the MUP; in other words, to protect cyclists.

Same for the gravel parking lot, the property is not owned by the chamber or Tourism Tofino, but by the municipality.

Best,
Michael Tilitzky
Executive Director
Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce

TTN: We would like to say we are happy to see your email and the chance for a dialogue. Our wish is to rectify this situation and if that’s your wish, then let’s make it happen. Can money make this happen? You do have a fair chunk of change don’t you and wouldn’t this be a good place to put some of it?

Basically we’re not buying it, sounds like a pass the buck to us.

And while we’re taking another look around this issue, perhaps Mr Tilitzky, you would be so kind as to send us the figures for the new websites for the Chamber and Tourism Tofino - or what we’d really like would be a list of your big ticket items and see how much you are actually supporting our local small businesses.

2009/04/15
Why is the bike path not paved through the Tourism Tofino site? Do you  know who made that decision?
Who actually put the boulders on the path? Is the path public property? Can you simply push the boulders off the path?
Email from TTN visitor.

TTN: See Mr Tilitzky’s email above for some information. Have you seen those boulders? Yes, we admit, we have tried, but they’re too big for us.

Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber believes the Tofino Bike Path/MUP ends at their land.
If you don’t – be prepared to weave through boulders, ride in loose gravel, negotiate through car, motor home and truck traffic, veer around their grassy, rhododendron obstacle either into traffic in the parking lot or on the other side by the highway, negotiate again through more car, motor home and truck traffic, make your way between more boulders and you’ve made it.

The Clayoquot-Orca Resorts likes Tofino bikers and Tofino MUP users.

Check the Tourism Tofino/Tofino Chamber bike path, MUP photos and see for yourself.