BikingToronto

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Huge Cycling Budget Increase and MEC Sells Bikes!

2009-11-06T12:28:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday to you. Here's all your news from the past week!

Mountain Equipment Co-op raises ire of bicycle industry
Apparently a large sports retailer getting into the bike business is somehow a no-no? Mountain Equipment Co-op, which has built its retailing reputation on a feel-good image of environmental and social responsibility, has ignited anger in an unlikely place – the bicycle industry. Its foray this month into bike…

HUGE Cycling Budget Increase for 2010?
Now, I'm not an expert in how the city allocates funds for cycling... I do know that of the whole cycling budget, some goes to the Parks & Rec department for trail upkeep, and some goes to the roads department for bikelanes... and some goes other places, but all…

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Railpath Opening and OMB Denies SmartCentres (Again)

2009-10-30T08:34:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday to you. Here's all your news from the past week! Not as much going on now that the weather is cooling down, but there's always *something* going on. :)

SmartCentres Appeal Request Denied
Back in April, SmartCentres appealed the OMBs decision to not allow a bigbox development in Leslieville. News from Paul Young of the South Riverdale Community Health Centre is that this request has been denied: The Ontario Divisional Court has just handed down their decision...

West Toronto Railpath: Official Opening - Fri, Oct. 30
Councillor Adam Giambrone invites you to the official opening of the West Toronto Railpath Park on Friday, October 30, 2009. Councillor Giambrone, the City of Toronto, and Friends of the West Toronto Railpath are pleased to open the first 2.1 km of this exciting recreational trail...

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Thanking Drivers and Evaluating 2009

2009-10-23T09:32:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday to you. Here's all your news from the past week!

Queens Quay Revitalization Update
Waterfront Toronto has released their October newsletter, which includes an update on the Queens Quay Revitalization: Waterfront Toronto’s plan to transform Queens Quay into a grand lakefront boulevard was approved overwhelmingly at October’s City Council meeting. The recommendation to replace two lanes of traffic south of the streetcar tracks…

Thank You - Cyclists Paving the Way
Cyclists make nice to drivers About 5,000 cards with the words "Thank You" have been printed for cyclists to give to deserving drivers, perhaps by tapping on the car window at a stop light, Bambrick said. A motorist who looks over his or her shoulder before swinging open their…

Michael Bryant can't drive, so he's cycling
Lawyers to make court appearance in Bryant case Lawyers in the Michael Bryant case are expected to make a brief court appearance today, their first since the former attorney-general was charged in connection with the death of a cyclist. Dan Robertson of Navigator Limited, the public-relations firm hired by…

2009: A Good/Bad Year for Cycling?
A recent Torontoist post about the Bike Union's BikeCampTO makes the argument that 2009 has been a bad year for cycling in the city. I commented on the post and listed 6 things (just to name a few) that have happened this year that makes it a GOOD year…

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Toronto #5 for Bike Commuting, and More!

2009-10-16T08:28:00.006-04:00

Happy Friday to you. Here's all your news from the past week!

Update on the Toronto Police Downtown Bike Blitz
Yesterday, there was talk of a "Downtown Bike Blitz" being put on by Toronto Police - targeting cyclists running red lights and biking on sidewalks. The Toronto Police Service has let us know (via twitter) that there is no official campaign going on: Last night on Twitter I received…

Toronto Police Bike Blitz Downtown Today?
Over on Twitter, there's some talk about police doing a Ticketing Blitz on cyclists downtown: Cops all over downtown today fining bikers who ride on sidewalks or pass thru the red light. Walk your bike on sidewalks! Anyone know more? Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Toronto Bike Messengers Looking to Unionize
The Ryerson Free Press has an article about the plight of the bike courier to make a decent wage in Toronto: “You can compare it to people taking advantage of the labour in the third world. Courier companies don’t have to pay holidays or vacation pay…

Biking to Work in North America- Toronto is Number 5!
The battle over which North American city is the best for biking is fierce and— most likely—unresolvable. Our latest Transparency will tell you which cities’ residents make the largest percentage of their commutes by bike. Portland, Oregon, you can keep on gloating. A collaboration between GOOD and Chris Korbey.…

New Off-Road Trail in East Don Valley
Great news via the Don Watcher Blog: Since the summer the city has been busy creating a new trail in the East Don. The new trail will link a park known locally as Milne Hollow which is accessible from Lawrence Ave. East just east of the Don Valley Parkway…

Bicycling Magazine: When Worlds Collide
Bicycling is covering the Bryant / Sheppart Incident in great detail: Darcy Allan Sheppard and Michael Bryant came from different worlds, but when they met in the heart of the posh shopping district on Toronto’s Bloor Street, their worlds violently collided. In the wake of that collision, one life…

Igor Kenk has been denied bail
Igor Kenk is not getting out of jail any time soon... "The man accused of being Toronto's most notorious bike thief has failed to persuade a judge to reinstate the bail revoked last December. Looking dishevelled with long hair and a beard after months of incarceration at Don Jail,…

Bike Cops on Toronto Streetview
Bike police doing their thing: via blogto.com Toronto Bike Cops are awesome. Have you found any cool Toronto bikey stuff on Google Streetview? Share it in the Forum.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Pirates, BikeStations and Celebrities!

2009-10-09T07:55:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday to you. Here's all your news from the past week!

Torontoist - Fix Your Bike, Matey

Torontoist visits Bike Pirates: Fix Your Bike, Matey "We started in a backyard, in a communal living house," said Geoffrey Bercarich, another longtime volunteer. From that backyard, Bike Pirates moved to a curb, then to a storefront at Bathurst and College streets, where a benefactor, known to members as…

Recreation Committee to Discuss BMX "Go Forward" Strategy

The Recreation Committee is discussing the BMX "Go Forward" Strategy (PDF link) this Friday: This report presents a Toronto BMX Go Forward Strategy that, in part, sets out a number of principles and strategic actions that would help make Toronto an improved cycling community for BMX, as well as…

Environment report knocks Toronto's lack of bike lanes

From the CBC: Environment report knocks Toronto's lack of bike lanes Toronto's cycling enthusiasts celebrated a small victory this week after the province's environmental commissioner released a report criticizing the city over its lack of bike lanes. In his annual report, this year entitled Building Resiliance, commissioner Gord Miller…

Canada's bike industry is growing despite economic turmoil

Info from a call for interviews from Bicycle Trade Association of Canada: Canada's bike industry is growing despite economic turmoil The Canadian cycling industry, like every other sector, has been impacted by the global economic crises. Numbers recently collected from Canadian specialty bike retailers and suppliers, however, suggest that…

InsideToronto: City bike plan pedals ahead slowly

City bike plan pedals ahead slowly According to city transportation staff, various hitches in proposed bike lanes around the city have meant that the process has slowed down somewhat. Public works and infrastructure chair Glenn De Baeremaeker wryly blamed democracy. "Some councillors have asked that there be more consultation…

Cycling Education in Public Schools

Interesting little piece from the Sun: First driver's-ed, now bike-ed Toronto public schools should take a spin at cyclist education, one trustee says. Josh Matlow is trying to get his colleagues at the Toronto District School Board to agree on a bicycle safety awareness campaign for students. "We offer…

Sidewalk Cycling Fine in Scarborough? $3.75

Afraid to bike on the big bikelane-free arterial roads in scarborough, where cars go 80-100 km/h? Breaking law nets $3.75 fine Sidewalk cycling is still 'a joke' in Scarborough Getting caught cycling on the sidewalk is a lot cheaper in Scarborough. A ticket for sidewalk cycling in most parts…

E-bikes face new sidewalk parking rules

From the Toronto Sun: E-bikes face new sidewalk parking rules Pedestrian and cycling advocates want the city to put the brakes on where e-bikes can park and ride. "They could seriously injure or kill a pedestrian if they hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk," says Dylan Reid, co-chairman of…

Today at the Public Works Committee

Via the TCAT Newsletter: The Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee (TCAC) put forward some recommendations to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee that will be heard today. These recommendations include: * that Transportation Services attend the TCAC Oct 29th meeting to report on its plans for accommodating bike lanes on…

Your Chance to Improve Bike Parking Regulations

Via the TCAT Newsletter: TCAT was recently approached by Alan Heisey, a municipal lawyer and year-round Toronto cyclist for over 30 years. He has been reviewing the City of Toronto's new comprehensive zoning bylaw and believes that the sections pertaining to bicycle parking could be further improved. Heisey's law…

Bumpy road for Bike Station

From the Toronto Star... a column about the challenges that have confronted (and have yet to confront) Toronto's first Bike Station: Bumpy road for bike station It is the kind of facility planners and cyclists have long insisted Toronto needs to encourage green commuting. But timing is everything, and…

Rachel McAdams: Bicycle Built For One in Toronto

A solo Rachel McAdams goes for a bike ride in her hometown of Toronto, Canada on Sunday (October 4). Last month, the 30-year-old Canadian actress attended the Altuzarra Spring 2010 show during NY Fashion Week. She sat next to Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, who told JustJared.com that Rachel was…

Myth and Reality of Cycling and Safety

Great article from RaiseTheHammer.org: Myth and Reality of Cycling and Safety Too much of the car-vs-bicycle debate is overrun by myths and rank misinformation. Myth: Cyclists don't pay for the roads and therefore have no right to use them. Reality: Municipal roads are paid for out of property taxes,…

Torontoist: Sharrows Land on Bloor

Sharrows on Bloor at Yonge (top) and Church (bottom). Photos by David Topping/Torontoist. Though they only last for three hundred metres so far, this is no small victory for cyclists. Bloor Street East, between just west of Yonge and just east of Church, has just gained freshly painted sharrows…

E-Bikes now fully legal on Ontario roads

Toronto Sun: No more getting the gears for e-bikes The electric bike's long journey to legality is over. "E-bikes provide an important transportation option to Ontarians. They are affordable, green and easy to use," Transportation Minister Jim Bradley said in a release. "The McGuinty government is pleased to welcome…

Have a great Thanksgiving Weekend everyone!

Joe.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Complete Streets and BikeCamp T.O.

2009-10-02T08:49:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday everyone. Here's all the news from the past week.

The Quest for Complete Streets in Toronto

The private automobile is the only method of transportation that is routinely given a bye past the first round of design; everything else has to be studied and justified or is relegated to the margins as an afterthought. Even the way that streets are designed and funded is stacked in favour of the car: design most frequently begins with vehicle lanes—how many and how wide—and then tries to squeeze all other users into whatever space remains. Sorry, we need four wide lanes for cars. But sidewalks? Benches? Bike lanes? Crosswalks? Those are frills and we can't afford them. Some suggest that we'd arrive at a more equitable division of space if we designed from the edges in: start with sidewalks, buffers, and space for cyclists, and then squeeze cars into whatever space is left in the middle.
National Post Editorial: Time to stop giving bicylists a free ride

Everybody knows that drivers of automobiles must pay their way. To drive on city roads, they pay heavy gasoline taxes to offset the cost. Drivers pay to park. They pay for car licences and driver's licences, which are all taxes. They pay heavy third-party liability insurance fees in case they run somebody over or ram into another car. All this is fair and just, right?
Toronto Marathon features Paramedics on Two Wheels

This past weekend, the 50,000 or so competitors and spectators at the Waterfront Marathon in Toronto were able to get a bandage, oxygen or splint applied by a professional in mere minutes if they needed it.
Bike Parking Empty at Ryerson - Why?

Out of its 65 racks, only 13 are actually being used, according to ancillary services. Campus bike thefts reached their peak in 2005 and the problem continues. Despite a colourful mural marking the location, student cyclist Shannon Jager has never heard of the service, which can be found by a laneway near Bond and Dundas Streets. "I didn't even know we had such a thing," said Jager, who uses public bike racks to store her bike.
Cycling's Enemy is not the Car

Cycling's enemy is not the car; it is the idiot. And idiots travel by foot, car, and bicycle. If anything, the bicycle has more in common with the car than it does with the pedestrian, since the bicycle is a vehicle too.

Yonge St. Bike Lane Ribbon Cutting - Tues, Sept 29th @ 11:30am

Media are invited to join Councillor Pam McConnell as she officially opens the Yonge Street pedestrian promenade and bicycle lanes. The section of Yonge Street that has been improved is located between Front Street and Queens Quay.
Darcy Allan Sheppard was a good man, bike couriers tell media

A local bicycle courier’s association addressed the media this afternoon during a press conference to challenge the negative media portrayal of the cyclist killed during an altercation with Michael Bryant last month.

BikeCamp TO: Sat, October 17, 2009

It's essentially a series of simultaneous participant led/generated workshops - all related to various aspects of cycling, and the politics of cycling advocacy. BikeCamp is an opportunity for bike union members, would be members, and the wider cycling advocacy community, to come together and jam on a variety of ideas, campaigns, events.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Ontario Bike Summit and Kenk in Trial

2009-09-25T08:50:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday everyone. Here's all the news from the past week.

Fighting for a safer ride of way

Eleanor McMahon, founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, organized the first Ontario Bike Summit, running through tomorrow in Waterloo, to talk about how the province can make cycling safer and more accessible.

Looking ‘broken,’ Igor Kenk faces trial

Police recovered 2,865 bikes and $70,000 of marijuana and cocaine. At the time of his first bail hearing, the messianic ramblings of this tall, athletic man, coupled with his goatee and shoulder-length hair, gave him a Christ-like aura. Later he appeared cleanshaven, with a crewcut. But today he looked more like Moses, or perhaps Charles Manson; his beard curls down to his chest and his mane of brown hair is starting to form into dreadlocks. His face is lined and worn.

Ontarians afraid to ride bikes, survey says

“Sixty per cent of those surveyed said they don’t cycle, because they are too frightened to do so,” said Eleanor McMahon, founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, which is holding its first Ontario Bike Summit at the Waterloo Inn this week.

Donate to Cancer, win a Bertelli Bike!

Every person who donates $20 or more to my ride between now and October 1st will be entered into a draw for a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind LIVESTRONG-inspired masterpiece by Italian design maestro Francesco Bertelli. Click here to donate and be entered to win. Click here to see more of Francesco’s work.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: The Helmet Debate & Car-Free Condos

2009-09-18T07:57:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday everyone. Here's all the news from the past week.

'Car-free' condo: 42 storeys, no parking

"If you look at the evidence of what sells downtown, the majority of units under 750 square feet in the downtown core sell without parking,'' said Stephen Deveaux, a vice-president with the developer, Tribute Communities. Parking spots typically add $20,000 or more to the cost of a downtown condo.

Toronto Star Editorial: For mandatory helmets

There is resistance, however, from cyclists themselves. Earlier this week, when the City of Toronto's works committee considered calling for mandatory, province-wide use of helmets by cyclists, members of the 800-member Toronto Cyclists Union opposed the measure. They urged the city to concentrate on initiatives that would prevent accidents, such as expansion of bike lanes, rather than on mitigating measures that would reduce the injuries caused by accidents.

Knocking Heads over Bike Helmets in Toronto

Despite its dodgy lineage, the mandatory helmet issue represents an unusual opportunity for the TCU to broaden its base and mature as an advocacy group that does more than merely preach to the choir.

Nothing settled in bicycle wars

Helmets protect cyclists after they fall, she said: The objective should be to prevent collisions in the first place. "(Removing) the things that are happening to them, which I think is the responsibility of municipal and provincial government ... that's the issue," she said, calling for more and better bike lanes and better education for drivers.

New bicycles help build great neighbourhood

Thirty-three children living in the West-end community of Swansea Mews received new bicycles and helmets today, thanks to an ongoing green- and healthy living partnership between the Dutch Consulate General and Toronto Community Housing.

Give cyclists $5 a day

I have a better idea for a city program. I think the city should hire people to stand on College Street or Harbord Street, or Dundas Street East -- routes crowded with thousands of cycling commuters -- and, as the cyclists wait at a red light, hand each of them a $5 bill.

Why is that cyclist in my lane? Here's the answer

Bike lanes are designed to allow cyclists enough space to go at their own speed. But cyclists may enter the main flow of traffic at any time. If the road is narrow and there isn't enough room to comfortably ride to the right of a car, the cyclist is entitled to occupy the full lane. However, when the road widens and traffic speeds up, cyclists are expected to let motor vehicles squeeze past.

Bicycle helmets, licensing pushed

If cyclists are a city council priority on Toronto's streets, Councillor Michael Walker wants to see those cyclists wearing a helmet and licensed to ride on the road.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Who to Blame for Bike/Car Collisions?

2009-09-11T09:10:00.004-04:00

It's Friday. Time for a big list of newsy links full of bikes! :)

Weekly News Wrap-Up: The Bryant / Sheppard Altercation

2009-09-04T08:28:00.004-04:00

Wow. Busy week in news.

As more details come out about the Bryant / Sheppard Altercation, it's sounding more and more like a horrible road rage incident and less like a cycling issue. That isn't stopping from some cycling advocates to (perhaps wrongly) use the tragedy to push cycling issues.

Here's a ton of links from the past week:

Bryant / Sheppard Altercation:

Ex-Ontario Attorny-General Michael Bryant arrested after death of cyclist

Memorial For Darcy Allen Sheppard

Bryant / Sheppard Incident has Nothing to do with Bikelanes

Cycling Relations Posts:

Collisions between cars and bicycles down, cops say

Searching for a Detente between Bikes and Cars

Toronto Star Editorial: We need to share the city's roads

Other Collisions:

Three cyclists hurt in crashes

More cyclist blood shed on Bloor St.

Other Posts:

Torontoist: The Cyclist Who Drew Toronto

Richmond & Adelaide: Two-Way or Bikeway?

Curbside is having a "Back to School" Sale

ZoomerMag: Cycling in Toronto

Bicycle blitz slated for 54 Division (O'Connor and Danforth)

TCAT Looking for a Active Transportation Researcher

How Cyclists and Bikelanes benefit Businesses

Weekly News Wrap-Up: BMX Parks and Kenk Back in Court

2009-08-28T08:43:00.004-04:00

Here's all your bikey news, in one great post. :)

Troubled Neighbourhood Salvation on Two Wheels

It is an unlikely setting for a summer camp -- but in a cordoned-off section of a Toronto Community Housing parking lot at 75 Tandridge, a wonderful pilot project has been set up where kids are soaring up and down plywood ramps decorated in vibrant graffiti, learning bicycle motocross tricks from two 20-year-old instructors hired by the TCHC.

VEER documentary tonight at CineCycle

Tonight at CineCycle, the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation presents a screening of VEER, a critically approved documentary that examines Portland’s (at times) wacky bike culture and shows that for many, two wheels aren’t just a choice of transportation; they’re a way of life.

Bike-shop owner back in court on assault charges

Igor Kenk, the alleged thief whose massive stash of old bicycles shocked Toronto last summer, was back in court Wednesday to face his accusers in a related assault case.

Students invent way to mix cycling and beer pickup

"Anyone who has tried to carry a case of beer on their shoulder while biking knows," says Lindsey Kettel, a recent graduate from McMaster University's mechanical engineering and management program.

Hotels offer bikes as a green way to see the sights

"It's part of the desire now to step back from conspicuous consumption, and even things electronic," says Jeff Weinstein, editor of Hotels Magazine, an Oak Brook, Ill. -based trade magazine. "People want to be more authentic in their approach to travel and relaxation."

BMX park a labour of love for 60-year-old

If you're an adrenalin junkie with an eye for graffiti, it is beautiful at the BMX park at the Wallace Emerson Community Centre, a multicoloured 8,000-square-foot playground at Dufferin and Dupont Sts. packed with $40,000 to $50,000 worth of wood ramps for freestyle BMX, or bicycle motocross.

Art Starts is proud to celebrate the launch of a new 400 foot bike-themed mural at the intersection of Dupont and Dundas with a community gathering on Tuesday August 25th from 6pm – 8pm. The event will feature musical performances and snacks. The artists will be on hand to answer questions and provide insights into the mural.

Roncesvalles gets a remake

It is destined for new sidewalks and streetcar stops that Perks hopes will turn Roncesvalles into a "model village," a paradise for pedestrians, cyclists and shop owners alike.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Film Festivals and Sidewalk Cycling

2009-08-21T08:50:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone... the Weekly News Wrap-Up returns! :)

Tire Trouble: How is it that cyclists stalk our sidewalks?

It was a horrible accident, but an outlier. According to the statistics collected by the city's traffic safety unit, the number of pedestrian fatalities that occurred between 2003 and 2008 is 172, with a further 12,251 incidents resulting in some kind of injury.

Toronto cyclist shot multiple times, dies.

A 22-year-old man is dead following a shooting in the north end of the city Monday.

The man was riding a bicycle in a residential neighbourhood just before 11 p. m. when a dark-coloured vehicle approached him, according to Toronto police.

Then, someone in the car fired numerous shots at the cyclist.

Bicycle Film Festival - Toronto

The Bicycle Film Festival is coming to Toronto once again!

Dandyhorse #3 Launch Party!

Dandyhorse No. 3 is ready to pop!
Join us at the launch party on August 31.

Celebrate summertime with our full-colour 48-page homage to the most beautiful machine in the world: the bicycle!

BikeTrain now between Toronto and Montreal
We are excited to announce a new pilot project that introduces twice daily Bike Train service between Montreal and Toronto offering bike racks onboard. The pilot will run from August 24 to October 8 allowing cyclists to take the train with their bikes - no box or disassembly required!

Toronto Star: Do cyclists need to stop at a stop sign?

The rolling stop – or, in some cycling circles, the Idaho Stop – is as popular as it is illegal, and there are those who will tell you it's also perfectly safe. Bambrick, among other cycling supporters and bloggers, is advocating its legalization, citing common sense and a compelling precedent.

Toronto Sun: Inquest needed into bike death

Whatever the precise circumstances of Jiang's death, too many cyclists think they can pick and choose between riding and speeding on roads and sidewalks at will.
Or that they can obey the rules of the road until they come to a red light or stop sign, then ignore the law by riding right through them.

Lower Simcoe Street Opens Up to Walkers, Cyclists and Drivers

The $44-million tunnel has created a new link between the core and the waterfront for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
It offers two lanes of vehicle traffic in each direction, plus bike lanes going both north and south...

Safe Cycling: Cyclists Cause Less Than 10% of Accidents

While there is a public perception that cyclists are usually the cause of accidents between cars and bikes, an analysis of Toronto police collision reports shows otherwise: The most common type of crash in this study involved a motorist entering an intersection and either failing to stop properly or proceeding before it was safe to do so. The second most common crash type involved a motorist overtaking unsafely. The third involved a motorist opening a door onto an oncoming cyclist. The study concluded that cyclists are the cause of less than 10 per cent of bike-car accidents in this study.

Brampton Cyclist, 20, injured in vehicle crash

Peel police say the victim was riding westbound along Mt. McKinley Lane, near Bovaird and Airport drives, when he entered the roadway and collided with a 2008 beige Chevrolet Uplander, which was also heading in the same direction.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Helmets, Bike Stores, and Bike Rentals

2009-07-31T11:55:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday everyone... the Weekly News Wrap-Up will be on hiatus for a couple of weeks as I'm visiting family in an internet-poor part of the east coast. Feel free to watch the news section of the Forum for newsy things until mid-August. :)

Bike store opens in First Canadian Place

It’s not every day that you find a bike store in one of North America’s largest bank buildings. In the concourse level of First Canadian Place — Canada’s tallest skyscraper — sits Savedbybikes.com, a 200-square-foot retail bike store.
(read more)

Plenty of excuses for not wearing bike helmets: Stouffville survey

For seven weeks in May and June, volunteers patrolled bike paths and city streets in search of helmet-wearing cyclists who were rewarded for donning the protective gear with gift certificates and draw tickets.
(read more)

Review of Jet Fuel Coffee Shop

Coffee is pretty rock n' roll, you know. Not folky or indie or garagey, but like, the good old-fashioned kind. The kind that drives a Harley. Like any good rock star, the presence felt upon our first meeting is larger than life. Though I had previously never heard of this place, it sinks in pretty soon that I probably should have. Or I should feel like I should have.
(read more)

Biting the Bike Snob: on Toronto Cyclists

Yesterday, the New York Times ran a piece about the Bike Snob, who has gained notoriety and made celebrity friends thanks to his funny rants about NYC cyclists. I thought I’d take this opportunity to first link you to his very clever blog, and then tell you my own personal pet peeves about the Toronto cyclists that I curse every day.
(read more)

National Post: Toronto eyes self-serve bike-rental operation

"Toronto is looking to spend $11-million to buy 3,000 bicycles, stands and software from the Public Bike System, aka “BIXI,” run by the City of Montreal’s parking authority, says a May 26 report from Toronto’s public works and infrastructure committee. The report recommends the city enter negotiations with Montreal and return with a draft agreement in the fall."
(read more)

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Summer in the Bike City

2009-07-24T09:38:00.005-04:00

Fridays are for Weekly News Wrap-Ups!

From BlogTO: The Best (or Worst!) Hills for Cyclists in Toronto

Awesome post from BlogTO: The Best (or Worst!) Hills for Cyclists in Toronto Toronto may be a relatively flat city, but that doesn't mean that there isn't quite the collection of tough hills for cyclists to climb. As an avid rider I often masochistically ascend these roads to test my… (read more)

Bamboo bicycles are hitting the road

From the "Science and Tech" section of CTV.ca: Bamboo bicycles are hitting the road A group of friends from Colorado are trying to convince the world that a bicycle made from bamboo can perform as well or better than a traditional steel frame bike -- and can help save the… (read more)

Igor Kenk's story to become graphic novel

via the CBC: Igor Kenk's story to become graphic novel and documentary The man police say is behind a major bicycle theft ring in Toronto will be the subject of a documentary and graphic novel written and produced by CBC contributor Richard Poplak. Kenk, owner of the shop Bicycle Clinic,… (read more)

Is the Toronto Civil Strike affecting your cycling?

The Toronto Civil Workers Strike is entering month #2... and I'm wondering how it's affecting Toronto cyclists. Some examples I've come across online: - Monica wiped out on garbage cycling on Bay Street (she was okay, thank goodness) - Darren at TorontoCranks makes a good point about broken glass.… (read more)

Cyclists alert residents to townhouse fire

From the Toronto Star: A townhouse in Liberty Village was engulfed by a three-alarm blaze early today. Residents were woken up just before 6 a.m. when passersby on bicycles knocked on their doors after spotting flames coming up from the roof of a townhouse on Sudbury St., just north of... (read more)

Bike Union Survey: Licensing, Helmets, Insurance & updates to Driver's Handbook

In case you haven't seen it yet, the Toronto Cyclists Union has a short survey asking for your opinion on things like bike licensing and mandatory bicycle helmet by-laws in the City of Toronto. (read more)

National Post: One year after Kenk's Arrest, no sign of Trial for Bike Thief

A year after Igor Kenk’s notorious West Queen West bicycle repair shop was raided, there is no sign of a trial for the alleged bike thief, suggesting difficulties faced by the Crown in a case with substantial amounts of evidence to process. (read more)

The Star: Annette St. bike lane not a parking spot

Cyclists love the new bike lanes on Annette St., except for a spot where it's filled with parked vehicles. (read more)

Cyclist Hit at Front & Spadina

A woman in her 30s was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after she was hit by a car downtown, Monday. The victim was riding her bike at Front St. and Spadina Ave. when she was struck just after 7 p.m. (read more)

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Cyclist Hit and Councillor Walker wants Helmets

2009-07-17T08:25:00.002-04:00

A couple items of news from the past week:

Councillor Walker wants Helmets to be Mandatory

In addition to wanting bikes and/or cyclists to be licensed, Councillor Walker also wants to make wearing helmets mandatory.

His motion has been seconded by Councillor Suzan Hall.
Link to the Motion and Discussion in the BikingToronto Forum

Cyclist Hit at Front & Spadina

A woman in her 30s was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after she was hit by a car downtown, Monday.

The victim was riding her bike at Front St. and Spadina Ave. when she was struck just after 7 p.m.
Read More and Discuss in the BikingToronto Forum

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Bike News from Toronto

2009-07-10T10:24:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday! Time for all the news from the past week! :)

Councillor Michael Walker to propose a bicycle licensing scheme in Toronto

City Councillor Mickael Walker was on CBC's Metro Morning yesterday touting the idea of mandatory helmet laws and a bicycle license scheme... Read more...

Bikes+Transit.com

Calling all pioneers on two wheels - 'twitterflickrfest' runs to July 13 * Try, test, 'twitter' and photograph these 2009 sample transit and cycling routes... Read more...

Riding the Rails

Great post by Val Dodge in Torontoist: On-road bike lanes have been in the news quite a bit recently: the battle over Jarvis Street, the ongoing crawl toward lanes along Bloor Street and Danforth Aven... Read more...

Two Cyclists Hospitalized After Bricks Fall off Condo

Cinder bricks fall 32 stories off of condo under construction near Wellesley and Sherbourne. The Globe has the story: Two cyclists were taken to hospital Tuesday evening when the wall of a building in... Read more...

Queens Park key to getting a Fast Lane to Safer Cycling

The Globe has "web-exclusive" commentary from Albert Koel, environmental lawyer and a founding member of Bells on Bloor. If cyclists in Ontario have learned anything over the past decade, it's that ge... Read more...

Karen Stintz attacks Miller for 'bags, bottles, bicycles'

The National Post covers Karen Stintz, a right-wing city councillor who thinks that making roads just for cars is "leading in transportation management". In a campaign-style speech yesterday, Councill... Read more...

Toronto Star: Field guide to Toronto cyclists

Last week the Star did up a series of 11 cyclists... involving a little bit of stereotyping of different types of cyclists in our city. Where do you fit in these broad and not terribly repr... Read more...

Cops on Two Wheels more responsive, claims bike patroller

Cool article in The Bulletin about Toronto Bike Cops: Cops on two wheels more responsive, claims bike patroller Toronto Police serve and protect. And essential to their role of making Downtown a safe ... Read more...

Replacing Road Rage with Respect

From the Toronto Sun: Heating up the summer doesn't have to mean heating up the battle between cars and bicycles on our roads, a cycling advocate maintains. "Respect for those around us goes a long w... Read more...

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Planning A Bike-Friendly City

2009-07-03T10:39:00.006-04:00

Happy Friday! Here's the news from the past week:

Globe and Mail: A city made for cyclists (Hint: it's not Toronto)

There's a big, disturbing gap between what's normal for cyclists in Toronto and what's normal for cyclists in Copenhagen. Normal in Toronto means biking as an edgy urban sport. Normal means risking life and limb to dodge cars, pedestrians and, during the winter, ice and snow on roads and dicey bike paths. Normal in Copenhagen means bike paths receive the same kind of snow removal as the city's main arteries. In Copenhagen, half the city's population uses some of its 350 kilometres of devoted lanes, which is normal. (more at the Globe and Mail)

Spacing Toronto: The role of local government in promoting cycling

With Bike Month all wrapped up for another year, it seems only appropriate to tackle to question of how our local government can take the reigns from cycling advocates and bike month organizers by promoting cycling through policy. (more at Spacing Toronto)

Toronto Star: Where the streets have no cars

Great article about Vancouver joining the ranks of New York, San Francisco, Portland, Bogota, etc in embracing the car-free streets movement. They'll be closing off 4 neighbourhoods to cars on Sundays in July and August, creating 20 car-free routes just for pedestrians and cyclists.

Toronto has 7 car-free Sundays in Kensington Market this year... and really, a lot more downtown areas should embrace the concept too. The Church and Wellesley area would be fantastic with no cars on Sundays in the Summer. My personal favourite though, would have to be the Yonge-Dundas Square area... Yonge from Gerrard to Queen and Dundas from Victoria to Bay (excepting streetcar passage, of course). Some may put up a fuss, but businesses would do well, and tourists would love it!

Where would you like to see car-free Sundays? Discuss it in the Forum.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Police Bike Blitz and More!

2009-06-26T09:41:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday! Time for all the news from the past week! :)

Bike Union Releases First Annual Report
The Toronto Cyclists Union has released their first Annual Report! The PDF is available here. Highlights from the past year: - Hired an Executive Director to work full time for cycling issues - Partnered with the City to offer a standing-room only, exceptionally well received 1st annual Toronto Bike… (read the blog post / discuss in forum)

Headlines: Bamboo Bike Craze
Toronto Star: Riding a bike made of grass It's light, it sucks carbon out of the air and you could compost it. What more would you want from your bike? Move over Prius, the bamboo bike is the next hot thing for environmentalists... (read the blog post)

BikeTax Rally at Queens Park Tomorrow
From Rowena Santos, who you may remember ran for City Council in 2006 in Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park Fellow Cyclists, As many of you know, the proposed 8% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will directly impact you and future cyclists. By the end of 2010, the HST will apply to all… (read the blog post)

Report from the Ward 29 Bikes Public Meeting
Cycling advocate and BikingToronto reader Todd Tyrtle attended the Ward 29 Bikes Public Meeting last Wednesday, and brings us this report of things Dan Egan (Manager of Cycling Infrastructure for the city) talked about at the meeting: (originally posted in the Ward 29 section of the BikingToronto Forum) You'll… (read the blog post / discuss in forum)

Toronto Police Bike Blitz: Helpful or Harmful?
Spacing Toronto has a great post from Dave "Mez" Meslin (who has also posted it on his new blog - Mez Dispenser) on the Toronto Police Services' "Safe Cycling Campaign" (forum discussion here)... about if the campaign is helpful (making cyclists aware that they should be stopping when traffic lights… (read the blog post / discuss in forum)

June 23: TCAT News Bulletin
BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT: 1. CBC Radio One Morning Shows Across the Country Feature Bike Helmet Legislation Alternatives: Jun 22 On June 22nd between 6 and 9 a.m. TCAT's Program Director, Nancy Smith Lea teamed up with Chris A. Cavacuiti, MD, to be interviewed… (read the blog post)

Headlines: Helmet Saftey Runs in the Family
National Post: A lifetime of bike safety starts with mom and dad Parents don't need a lecture on the wisdom of wearing a bicycle helmet. It's the kids who put up a fight. How are parents supposed to get rambunctious youngsters into the habit of donning a helmet when… (read the blog post / discuss in forum)

Headlines: Spacing Toronto talks Bike Parking
Spacing Toronto: Reaching the Summit - Bicycle parking How modal shifts occur is a big question here on the Spacing blog. If you build it, will they come? Although bike lanes have been the central focus of this debate, not much time has been given to the importance of… (read the blog post )

Toronto Police "Safe Cycling" Campaign Starts Today
The Toronto Police Service is starting their annual "Safe Cycling" campaign today http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/pdfs/16648.pdf (PDF file) The campaign begins Monday, June 22, 2009, and concludes on Sunday, June 28, 2009. This one−week Traffic Services initiative is designed to promote awareness and education by reducing the potential for cycling−related injuries. Traffic Services… (read the blog post / discuss in forum)

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Naked Cycling, Danforth Bikelanes, Minnan-Wong Tries Biking

2009-06-19T08:49:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday! Time for all the news from the past week! :)

Headlines: Naked Cyclists Wage War on Cars?

Spacing Toronto: How to fan the flames of the fake War on the Car in Toronto I suggested that car culture has always been at war with itself: city driving has never been pleasant, not in the good-old-days in the 1960s with fat arterial roads, expanding suburbs and less…

Support Bikelanes on the Danforth!

The Danforth BIA seems to be starting a campaign against bikelanes on the Danforth... setting up a petition for their members to say they do not support bikelanes because they don't want to lose parking. This seems rather short-sighted, so I wonder if they've thought of who shops in their…

Headlines: Promoting Cycling to Newcomers, The Bike Train, and Cycling Advocacy

Spacing Toronto: Reaching the Summit - Cycling Advocacy and Community Engagement Just three days into this year's Bike Month, a damp May 28th was host to Bike Summit 2009, a day-long conference on cycling policy co-hosted by the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT) and the Clean Air Partnership.…

TCAT News Bulletin: June 16

BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT: The Toronto Coalition for Active Transport just released their latest e-bulletin: 1. Jun 20: Big on Bloor Festival The Bloor Improvement Group's second annual Big on Bloor Festival will take place this Saturday, June 20th between 1 and 9 p.m.…

Councillor Denzil Minnan Wong Learns how to Bike

Give some props to City Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong... after years of defending auto-centric planning and transportation initiatives, he is learning how to ride a bike after missing out on it in his youth: Denzil Minnan-Wong looks kind of sheepish. He has a confession to make.The 45-year-old Toronto councillor, and perhaps…

Events:

Just a reminder that you can find out what's happening on every day of BikeMonth with BikingToronto's BikeMonth section!

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Bloor Bikelane Delays, BikeSummit Review, and More!

2009-06-12T10:19:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday!

BikeMonth is entering week #4 on Monday... and bikes are continuing to stay in the news. Here's all the news that has appeared on BikingToronto in the past week, plus all the stories in the media we've come across.

Headlines: Get on the BikeTrain!
Toronto Sun: Hop on board the Bike Train Many cyclists have already hopped aboard the Bike Train for easy access to cycling routes in the Niagara Region. This year, new "pilot" routes will bring riders to more areas across Southwestern and Northern Ontario. The Bike Train -- developed by…

Headlines: Planning for non-Auto Transportation
National Post: The war on the car, as seen from the bicycle seat Recently, Mayor David Miller unveiled the city's first bike parking lot at Union Station, city council added bike lanes to Jarvis despite an uproar, and the TTC committed to increasing the number of bus routes with…

Headlines: BikeSummit Review from Torontoist
Torontoist: Cycling to the BikeSummit Ever wonder what distinguishes a good bicycle rack from a bad one? Or what the optimal buffer is between a bike lane and a parked car? If so, then last week's Bike Summit was the place for you, as active transportation activists, transportation planners,…

Headlines: Bloor-Danforth Bikelane Delays
Globe and Mail: City puts brakes on Bloor-Danforth bike lane Controversial plans for a crosstown bike lane along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue appear to have hit a speed bump, as the city now plans to hire an external consultant to study the idea. Just last week, the councillor…

Headlines: 24km of New Bikelanes
National Post: More bike lanes, but not on Bloor – yet... As the public works committee today approved the installation of some 24 kilometres of new bike lanes in Toronto, defenders of the driver railed about the cost, while cyclists complained the city is neglecting the most obvious east-west…

Events:

Just a reminder that you can find out what's happening on every day of BikeMonth with BikingToronto's BikeMonth section!

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Approving Bikelanes and Pursuing BikeSharing

2009-06-05T09:31:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday!

BikeMonth is two weeks old now... and bikes are continuing to stay in the news. Here's all the news that has appeared on BikingToronto in the past week, plus all the stories in the media we've come across.

News:

Public Works Committee Approves 24 km of Bikelanes
As BikingToronto let you know on Monday... The Public Works Committee discussed 24 km of new bikelanes at their meeting yesterday... and improved them all. Here are a couple excerpts from news articles about it: Toronto Sun: New bike lanes approved by city City councillors swear they're not "anti-car," but…

TCAT News Bulletin: June 2
BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT: The Toronto Coalition for Active Transport just released their latest e-bulletin. It's now on their website, so here's what it covers - you can decide for yourself if you want to read more...

A Reason To Love Toronto: Everyone Bikes!
Toronto Life recently released "50 Reasons to Love Toronto Right Now". Number 43 on the list? EVERYONE BIKES Hard to argue with that! ...

Toronto Moving Forward on BikeSharing
Great news... after issuing an REOI (Request for Expressions of Interest) for a Public Bicycles Project in April, Toronto is moving ahead... with one item on the agenda (page 27) of the June 3rd Public Works and Infrastructure Meeting (PDF file) being to negotiate with the Public Bicycle System…

New Bikelanes being Discussed at June 3rd Public Works Meeting
The Public Works Committee is discussing (pages 25-27 - PDF file) a bunch of new bikelanes on June 3rd. They come to 24.1 km in total. Here is the list: The General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that: 1 City Council approve the installation of bicycle lanes on the following roadways:…

City Amending By-Laws To Ban E-Bikes and Folding Bikes from Sidewalks
E-bikes, or "power assisted bicycles" are relatively new additions to the streetscape. So much so, that the City of Toronto by-laws do not specifically ban them from riding on sidewalks (as regular bikes are). The City is looking into changing this... and will be discussing it at the June 3…

Cyclist Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in Crash
The Toronto Star is reporting on a cyclist-car collision from last night: The 53-year-old man was heading west on Rogers Rd. in the bike lane shortly after 7 p.m. At Silverthorn Ave., the van turned right and he hit the side. The force of the crash threw him to the…

Headlines:

National Post: More bike lanes, but not on Bloor – yet...

Toronto Sun: New bike lanes approved by city

CBC: Toronto asked to keep e-bikes off sidewalks and out of bike lanes

Toronto Sun: Bike lanes needed on Jarvis, Bloor and beyond

Toronto Star: Bike thefts fall 17% after sting operation

Toronto Star: Testdrive - Bike locks

BlogTO: Toronto's New Bicycle Parking Initiatives

Toronto Star: Fear and cycling on Jarvis

Toronto Star: Drain cramp - Pair of sunken grates menacing Dupont cyclists

Toronto Star: Cyclists seeking a cultural gear shift

Globe and Mail: Idaho Stop one way to fuel 'war on the car'

Toronto Star: Racing toward 2012 games - on a trike

Toronto Star: Cyclist suffers life-threatening injuries in crash

NOW Magazine: Amicable separation - The case for separated bike lanes

NOW Magazine: For the love of Jarvis

Globe and Mail: City puts brakes on Bloor-Danforth bike lane

National Post: Big step for cycling, small step for cycling kind

Toronto Star: Bike riding is bliss in Copenhagen

Toronto Star: Bike death spurred lawyer to take action

National Post: No ‘war on the car,’ Toronto’s mayor insists

National Post: Politics of transportation run rampant at City Hall

Toronto Star: Cycling activists look beyond Jarvis victory

National Post: Plan of Attack - Toronto Bike Month

BlogTO: Sustainable Commuting - the Bicycle

Events:

Just a reminder that you can find out what's happening on every day of BikeMonth with BikingToronto's BikeMonth section!

Weekly News Wrap-Up: BikeMonth and Jarvis Bikelanes, and More!

2009-05-29T09:09:00.004-04:00

Happy Friday!

I hope the first 5 days of BikeMonth has treated you well. Here's all the news from the past week (and there's been a ton of it!) :)

News Posts

The 2009 BikeSummit is Tomorrow
(crossposted to I Bike T.O.) Tomorrow is the 2009 BikeSummit, hosted by the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation and the Clean Air Partnership.

I'll be there, and there will be some new I Bike T.O. shirts there as well. They'll be available for purchase (for just $20), and all profits go to cycling-related charities in Toronto via the brand new BikingToronto Fund. :)

Metrolinx Changes Plans for Strachan Avenue
Wow. After just a few weeks, Metrolinx has bowed to public pressure and changed its plans for Strachan Avenue. It had originally planned a "Super-Bridge" on Strachan to span the rail corridor, but is now opting to lower the rail corridor and build...

City Council Votes in Bikelanes for Jarvis
City Council has voted in favour of installing bikelanes on Jarvis when the reversible 5th lane is removed! What do you think of the decision? Were you at City Council yesterday to show your support? BikingToronto was... and we'll have photos up soon. :) Does Jarvis need bikelanes?

Headlines:

Between the start of BikeMonth and the Jarvis Bikelane Debate, bikes have been in the news a ton! :)

Bicycle Trade Association of Canada applauds Toronto's bold new bike move
CTV: Council votes in favour of bike lanes on Jarvis
Inside Toronto: Bike for Africa aims to bring bikes to community health workers

Torontoist: This Bicycle is Leaving the Station

CTV : New bicycle station opens at Union Station

Toronto Sun: Bike racers set to hit the Market

Toronto Star: Planning how to share the road

Globe and Mail: Peddling for Votes

Globe and Mail: A place to park your bike, and lose your excuses

Toronto Star: Transit moving to help cyclists

Toronto Star: Bike Polo - Carnage and poetry

CBC: Building bike lanes good for business: report

Toronto Sun: Bike lanes benefit city

Toronto Star: Cycling Campaign woos newcomers

Toronto Star: Mandatory bicycle licensing seen as fair

Toronto Star Video: Safe Cycling in the City

Toronto Star: MD on the case for safe cycling

Toronto Star: Can cyclists and motorists get along?

Toronto Star: Toronto's mean streets

Toronto Star: Bikes win in Jarvis overhaul

Torontoist Debates the Imaginary "War on Cars"

Globe and Mail: Showdown over Jarvis lane change

Eye Weekly: On The Dandyhorse

Globe and Mail: Danforth businesses divided over bike lane

Toronto Star: Shoppers on bikes good for business

Events:

Just a reminder that you can find out what's happening on every day of BikeMonth with BikingToronto's BikeMonth section!

Weekly News Wrap-Up: BikeMonth and BikeStations

2009-05-22T08:21:00.008-04:00

Monday is the start of BikeMonth, and with the warmer weather making awesome cycling to work weather... I'm sure you've noticed more bikes on the roads. There's been more bikes in the news too.

Headlines: Concerns about a Bloor-Danforth Bikelane

War of the wheels looms with cross-city bike lane plan Globe and Mail: In a move certain to be seized on by critics who claim the city is waging a war on cars, a study of an Etobicoke-to-Scarborough bike lane right across Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue will soon… (click for more)

BikeMonth on BikingToronto

I'm pleased to announce the launch of BikingToronto's new BikeMonth section. The BikeMonth Section lists all the bike events (that we know of, as of May 15) happening between May 25 - June 25th in the City of Toronto and surrounding area. Most (but not all) of these events…(click for more)

Headlines: Fixing Worn Out BikeLane Paint

Cyclists feel the pinch as drivers cross the line Toronto Star: Cyclists on Beverley St. are being squeezed into traffic by drivers who aren't sure about the location of bicycle lanes and parking spots. The lanes are marked with white paint to provide a buffer between vehicles and cyclists…(click for more)

TCAT News Bulletin: May 19

BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT: The Toronto Coalition for Active Transport just released their latest e-bulletin. It's now on their website, so here's what it covers - you can decide for yourself if you want to read more: - Bike Summit 2009...Last Chance to Register…(click for more)

Toronto's First BikeStation Getting Ready to Open

The City of Toronto has been working a while on preparing the city's first BikeStation at Union Station - a secure bike parking facility aimed at the hundreds of thousands of people who come in to downtown Toronto via train to work each day. Most of these people hop on…(click for more)

Headlines: Spacing Toronto explores Copenhagen's Cycling Infrastructure

SpacingToronto: Copenhagen - A city of two wheels I've decided to publish postcard-like entries of examples of infrastructure, planning and urban design elements that caught my attention. Today I'll start with cycling, because everything Copenhagen seems to do all comes back to the soft traffic of two…(click for more)

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Toronto Cycling on TV and Podcast Radio

2009-05-15T08:22:00.005-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! Time for all your weekly update on all the bikey stuff happening in Toronto. :)

BikeMonth is coming up too... launching on Mon, May 25 with the City's Group Commute (facebook event page link) and running until June 25. You can expect a very handy link in next week's Wrap-Up that'll help you keep track and take part in BikeMonth events. That's all I'll say for now. :)

News on BikingToronto over the past week:

Video: Sharing the Road on the Agenda
For those of you who missed it on Thursday (or those of you who want to see it again), below I've embedded the video from TVO's the Agenda when they discussed transportation planning and sharing the road amongst different users... (click here for more)

Headlines: Rough Ride Towards A Green Toronto

Bumpy road to a greener urban core Toronto Star: The best streets – for business, pleasure and everyday living – are ones that mesh traffic by foot, bicycle and auto, the ones that achieve balance so that each corner is a destination, not a drive-through... (click here for more)

Spacing Radio talks Bikes
The most recent episode of Spacing Radio is about bikes! Hosted by CBC's David Michael Lamb (of CBC National Radio News) We sit down with compelling and provocative civic leaders from Toronto, Montreal, and cities around the world to discuss the latest issues affecting the urban landscape... (click here for more)

TCAT News Bulletin: May 12

BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT: The Toronto Coalition for Active Transport just released their latest e-bulletin. It's now on their website, so here's what it covers - you can decide for yourself if you want to read more: Register soon for Bike Summit 2009… (click here for more)

Headlines: Streets for Cars or People?

Auto-Centric or People-Centric: Which way works for city streets? Toronto Star: In another part of town, a similar, but different, controversy is brewing over a proposal to close the reversible middle lane of Jarvis St. That would mean widening sidewalks and adding bicycle lanes. Well-heeled north-enders have proclaimed their… (click here for more)

Headlines: Cyclist Hit on Coxwell

Toronto Star: Cyclist in east-end crash was listening to iPod The man was riding in the curb lane on Coxwell a few blocks south of the Danforth around 11 p.m. when he made a left turn into the path of a van that was coming up behind him... (click here for more)

Some of the Event Posts on BikingToronto over the past week:

City of Toronto Group Commute: Mon, May 25th
The City of Toronto Group Commute is coming up fast. It's my favourite part of BikeMonth every year, because it's the only time thousands of cyclists come together to commute to work as one.

BikeSummit 2009: Audio Introduction to the Summit
If you've been on the fence about attending BikeSummit 2009, you may enjoy these audio clips from Nancy Smith Lea, Program Director for the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation.

Weekly News Wrap-Up: Making Streets Safer, BikeSharing with Style

2009-05-08T09:04:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday everyone! Time for all your weekly news in one handy-dandy spot. Here!

With the warm weather, the bike stories in Toronto's media are popping up everywhere (as are cyclists - my commute to work this morning found me in a group of about 20 cyclists heading across the Bloor Viaduct at about 7:45 this morning. It was cool!), so here's a run down of what is being written about.

NOW Magazine: It's a bike-friendly world

On Wednesday, April 22 Sadik-Khan came to Toronto for the Walk and Bike for Life conference to give Mayor David Miller some tips. NYC trumps Toronto with over 476 km of bike lanes. Commuter cyclers in the Big Apple grew by 35 per cent last year, and traffic fatalities are the lowest they've been since 1912. (read more at NOW Magazine)

Globe and Mail: Pedal power to the people - ride on!

The lesson here is simple: The more stylish cycling becomes, the safer and more practical it will be.

Luckily, cycling culture is in the midst of a much-needed makeover. The days of middle-aged sportos spinning to work in spandex crotch pads and clip-in shoes are all but over, replaced by a new generation of smartly dressed Audrey Hepburns, trundling along with terriers tucked into their baskets. (read more at the Globe and Mail)

Toronto Star: Montreal pedals past Toronto with Bixi BikeSharing

Through a combination of recent efforts, Montreal is dramatically prioritizing bicycles. Not only has it embarked on a huge expansion of its bike paths – it already has more than Toronto – but on May 12 it will officially launch the first full-fledged public bike rental service in North America, called Bixi, a combination of bike and taxi. "Bixi for me is not just a bicycle," said André Lavallée, a member of the mayor's cabinet and responsible for the city's transport plan. "It's like an ambassador for our vision of transport in Montreal, of our values and willingness to change the city." (read more at the Toronto Star)

BikingToronto Posts:
http://www.bikingtoronto.com/2009/04/toronto-starts-looking-at-bikesharing.html
http://www.bikingtoronto.com/2008/12/toronto-bikesharing-report-released.html

Torontoist: On Jarvis, Four Wheels Good, Two Wheels Bad

Score one for the cycling community. After an intense and late-breaking campaign, and with a crucial assist from Councillor Kyle Rae, bicycle advocates have successfully introduced bike lanes into a major redevelopment plan for Jarvis Street. Yesterday afternoon the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) voted to remove the centre, reversible-direction lane of traffic, and use the freed-up space to install bicycle lanes in both directions from Bloor to Queen. (read more at Torontoist)

BlogTO: Bump Outs Coming to Roncesvalles

What really got people confused was the introduction of bump outs and transit platforms. The latter are meant to facilitate smooth boarding on the new streetcars, which will hit streets in 2011 (and in full force in the years after that). The bump outs are meant to make things safer for pedestrians. But where the cyclists will fit and how all this will actually look and work is still somewhat of a mystery. (read more at BlogTO)

National Post: Driving downtown could get uglier

Mr. Giambrone and Councillor Gordon Perks (Parkdale High Park) both pointed out yesterday that there is a hierarchy at City Hall ranking the priority placed on transit modes: pedestrians are at the top of the food chain, followed by cyclists, public transit riders and then cars. "The automobile deserves -- on a per capita basis, on a per taxpayer basis -- the least amount of space," Mr. Giambrone said. (read more at the National Post)

Have a great weekend everyone! It's going to be a nice one! :)