 |
Issue # 93
May 2004 |
Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
|
1) What's on for Bike Week
The mercury is rising, the skies are opening, well mostly, and it is time to get in gear. That is right, the City's annual celebration of cycling culture is only a week away. Bike Week is almost here and the staff are spinning their wheels in anticipation. This year is shaping up to be the most exciting event yet. Be sure to watch Citytv and CP 24 for a special message from Mayor David Miller encouraging everyone to take part.
Here is a small sample of what to expect:
Monday, May 24 to Friday, May 28
Bike Art Showcase at City Hall
The City Hall Rotunda will be transformed into an art gallery featuring photography, painting, sculpture and video installations with a cycling theme.
Tuesday, May 25
15th Annual Group Commute & Free Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Toronto Cycling Committee
7:30 a.m. @ Bloor & High Park / Yonge & Lawrence / Danforth & Woodbine
8 a.m. @ Bloor & Yonge
Pick up a free T-shirt and participate in the City of Toronto's marquee Bike Week event by meeting at one of three points around the city. Converge at Yonge and Bloor for a ride down to Nathan Phillips Square for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. This year's nutritious and delicious breakfast will once again be provided by Whole Foods Market. There will also be give-aways and a few surprise guests. An event not to be missed.
Lunch Time Cycling Festival and Fair
11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. @ Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square
Come and find out what Toronto's thriving bicycle culture has to offer at this interactive celebration of the city's cycling community. Bring your lunch and enjoy the entertainment as you get your bike tuned up. See the latest cycling gear and accessories for 2004 during the Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) Fashion Show. Learn about the City's numerous cycling groups and clubs.
Sunday, May 30
1st Annual High Park Classic Bicycle Road Race
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. @ High Park
Come out to Toronto's classic bicycle race reborn, as High Park becomes a one-stop destination for cycling action and accessories. Watch top racers ride a challenging course through the park, and browse the interactive display area. We are still looking for volunteers to help marshal the race. Phone or email the Bike Week staff if you'd like to take part.
Monday May 31st to Friday June 4th
The Bike Art Showcase moves venues to Metro Hall for the last week of Bike Week.
Wednesday, June 2
Walking/Wheeling Wednesday
8:30 a.m. @ Dufferin Subway Station.
Get out of your car, stop polluting, and help make Toronto a better place by joining the Toronto Cycling Committee Chair, Councillor Adam Giambrone, on his morning bicycle commute to City Hall. The Cycling Ambassadors will be on hand to provide Bike Maps and tips on bicycle commuting. Follow the City's lead and commute sustainably today.
Sunday June 5
Community Bicycle Festival
1 to 4 p.m. @ Dufferin Grove Park
Everyone is welcome to join City staff and Cycling Committee members for refreshments and an update on the rollout of the City's Bike Plan. Also, an opportunity to offer your opinions on the City's cycling infrastructure.
For more information pick up a Bike Week calendar at your local Bike Shop or Community Centre or visit our web site at:
www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikemonth/
bikeweek@toronto.ca
416-392-7592
2) Cosburn Avenue Bicycle Lanes Open House
- Wednesday May 26th, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
- The Foyer of the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue
Toronto Transportation Services invites you to a Public Open House to review and provide comments on a proposal to install bicycle lanes on Cosburn Avenue from Broadview Avenue to Oak Park Avenue. Plans of the bike lane design and impacts on traffic and parking will be available at the meeting. Councillors Case Ootes and Janet Davis have been invited to participate in the open house.
3) Proactive, positive and fun - invest in your safety.
Get off to a good start to this year's cycling season. To learn how to ride from scratch, get over cycling jitters, give your kids an advanced start on traffic theory and to empower yourself through knowledge about your rights as cyclists under the Highway Traffic Act, take CAN-BIKE.
If you are a commuter or recreational cyclist, here's a special invitation to encourage you to enrol in one of the next CAN-BIKE 2 courses being taught at Lamport Stadium 1155 King St. West starting on May 29th and on June 6th. Sign up for either course as a proactive and positive step in increasing your safety.
To find out more about this unique fun and interactive cycling skills, safety and education course for the urban cyclist from 9 to 99, visit our website at www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike/index.htm
Discover the pleasures of riding and learning. Take control! Take CAN-BIKE!
4) Bikes for sale at City of Toronto 2004 Public Auction - Sat. May 15
It's "Sold to the highest bidder!" at the City of Toronto Public Auction on Saturday, May 15, 2004, at the Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall, Exhibition Place at 9:30 a.m.
Bidding starts at 9:30 a.m., however interested buyers can have a preview of the articles up-for-grabs beginning at 8:00 a.m. This giant, semi-annual auction offers the public a great opportunity to purchase hundreds of goods no longer needed by the City of Toronto.
Bid on:
- Approximately 300 Bicycles
- Office Equipment
- Desks
- Filing Cabinets
- Construction Equipment
- Garage Equipment
- Shop Equipment
- over 250 vehicles
- and Lawn Equipment
2004 Public Auction
Saturday May 15th, 2004
Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall
Exhibition Place, Toronto
For more information please contact:
Public Auction Hotline 416-392-1991
McKenzie's Associated Auctioneers 1-800-265-1906 or
www.mckenzieauction.com
City of Toronto, Finance Department,
Purchasing and Materials Management Division 416-392-7486
5) May's road safety awareness bulletin
The City of Toronto's Fleet Services is broadcasting monthly messages to City employees that provide road safety tips and information about safe driving practices in support of the World Health Organization's year-long theme of road safety.
This month's bulletin focuses on sharing the road with bicycles. With the warm weather upon us and the end of the school year approaching, many more cyclists will be using city roadways. On a typical week, there are three million bike trips on City of Toronto roads.
The Toronto Cycling Committee and CAN-BIKE recommend that a cyclist ride in a straight line, one metre from the curb or from parked cars; however, there are occasions when a cyclist must manoeuvre away from the curb to avoid open car doors, drain grates, manhole covers, broken glass and other obstacles. Cyclists can use any part of their lane to guarantee their safety.
When driving a vehicle and sharing the road with cyclists:
- Do not pass too closely.
- Before opening your car door, check for bikes.
- Remember that bikes are silent and many vehicles produce high noise levels. As a driver, you may not hear a bike bell or a shout over a diesel engine, tire noise or noisy cargo.
- Remember to check your blind spots when turning.
Above all, concentrate on driving, look out for cyclists and pedestrians, communicate with other road users, use your signals, make eye contact, and indicate your intentions while sharing the road.
A longer version of this bulletin will be available on the City's website shortly. We'll post the link on the cycling home page when it is available at www.toronto.ca/cycling/
6) Cycling Ambassadors begin training
The 2004 Cycling Ambassador Program gets underway as ten ambassadors begin their CAN-BIKE training sessions and begin orientation. Throughout the spring and summer, Ambassadors will be in your community enthusiastically encouraging safe cycling. Be sure to say hello at the 2004 Group Commute during Bike Week.
7) Toronto EMS paramedics response to cycling/pedestrian 911 calls on bike paths
Mr. Bruce Farr, Chief and General Manager, Toronto Emergency Medical Services, will make a presentation to the Toronto Cycling Committee regarding the routing of emergency vehicles, as a result of a 911 call, to injured cyclists/pedestrians within City Parks. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday May 17, 2004 in Committee Room No. 2 at City Hall.
8) CBN Speaker Series May 18: Paul Bedford
CBN Speaker Series - Paul Bedford
Tuesday May 18, 2004
6 p.m.
C'est What Café
67 Front St. West, Toronto
Presentation & Discussion
Free event, open to the public
Former City of Toronto Chief Planner brings his insight and his passion to the first of a series of lectures hosted by the Community Bicycle Network (CBN). Mr. Bedford's 30-minute presentation at the CBN Speaker Series will be
followed by a question, answer and discussion period with the audience.
For more information contact Jessica Hazen at CBN: 416-504-2918
9) Smog season - already!
"May 13, 2004. A smog alert has been issued for Toronto effective immediately". And so the smog season is upon us already. Ride slowly. And proudly.
10) 5th Anniversary Doors Open Toronto - Saturday & Sunday, May 29th & 30th, 2004
The City of Toronto Culture Division is gearing up for the 5th Annual Doors Open Toronto event. Over 150 buildings will be part of this year's Doors Open Toronto weekend taking place Saturday, May 29th and Sunday, May 30th, 2004. Contemporary spaces, architectural gems, historic landmarks, places of faith and worship and many more sites will open their doors offering visitors a rare chance to step inside. Admission is FREE! Many of the participating buildings are not normally open to the public, so this is the opportunity to see Toronto like never before.
Plan to cycle to each building by logging on to www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/index.htm for event information including a complete list of buildings, descriptions, photos and maps. NOTE: BUILDING HOURS VARY. Most buildings are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on one or both days. Confirm times for each site when planning your cycling route. No pre-registration or tickets required. Public event information: 416-338-3888. The official Program Guide will be published in the Toronto Star on Thursday, May 20, 2004.
11) Ahead in the Bike Lane
May 24-June 4 is Bike Week!
2004 Public Auction - including bicycles
Saturday May 15th, 2004
Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall, Exhibition Place, Toronto
Toronto Cycling Committee
Monday, May 17, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 2, 7 p.m.
Community Bicycle Network Speaker Series - Paul Bedford
Tuesday May 18, 2004, 6 p.m.
C'est What Café, 67 Front St. West, Toronto
15th Annual Group Commute & Free Pancake breakfast
Tuesday, May 25, 7:30 a.m. @ Bloor & High Park / Yonge & Lawrence / Danforth & Woodbine AND 8 a.m. @ Bloor & Yonge. Breakfast is at Nathan Phillips Square in front of City Hall.
Cosburn Avenue Bicycle Lanes Open House
Wednesday May 26th, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Foyer of the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue
Communications and Promotions Subcommittee
Thursday, May 27, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 2, 7 p.m.
5th Anniversary Doors Open Toronto
Saturday & Sunday, May 29th & 30th, 2004
Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, May 31, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 3, 7 p.m.
Road and Trails Subcommittee
Wednesday, June 2, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 4, 7 p.m.
The City has a vision for cycling in Toronto and wants you involved in making it happen. Cyclometer is a subscription service of the City of Toronto.
The first issue of Cyclometer went out on November 24, 1989. Now, as then, we hope that, like its namesake, Cyclometer will show you how far we've come, how fast we're going, and maybe how much pedalling we have yet to do. So get on board and get involved. Your support is important.
Please take the time to forward this issue of Cycling News! to a fellow cyclist who may be interested.
Do not reply to this e-mail.
To subscribe, visit http://www.toronto.ca/e-updates/index.htm
To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.toronto.ca/e-updates/unsubscribe.htm
To change your email address or edit your subscription, please unsubscribe and subscribe again with the new information.
You can also access Cycling News! On-line by going directly to our website at:
www.toronto.ca/cycling
