Cycling in Toronto - Cyclometer newsletter, October 2004

1) Votes are in!

Congratulations to the following companies for their bicycle friendliness: Quadrangle Architects Limited, Best Bike Parking Award; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Bicycle Commute Award; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business Award; Jet Fuel Coffee Shop, Best Small Business Award; The University Health Network, Best Large Business Award; Ticketmaster, Best Skills Development Award; and International Financial Data Services, Best Overall Award.

City of Toronto Councillors Olivia Chow, Adam Giambrone (Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee), Pam McConnell, Joe Pantalone, Jane Pitfield, and Sylvia Watson, handed over the accolades at the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards ceremony on Thursday October 7, 2004.

The judging panel also included Councillors Raymond Cho, Olivia Chow, Adam Giambrone, Joe Pantalone, Jane Pitfield, Kyle Rae, Bill Saundercook and Sylvia Watson. Rod McPhail, Director of Transportation Planning for the City of Toronto, Dave Robinson, Environmental Co-ordinator with Mountain Equipment Co-op and Dufflet Rosenberg rounded out the judging panel.

The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards would like to thank funding sponsor Mountain Equipment Co-op and in-kind sponsors Dufflet Pastries and Live Metal Works.

For more information about the BFBA's.

2) Cosburn Bike lanes

Toronto City Council approved the Cosburn Avenue bike lanes on September 28, 2004. The bike lane will extend from Broadview Avenue to Oak Park Avenue along Cosburn Avenue. The lane is a component of the Bike Plan adopted by Council in 2001 and will be installed before the end of the 2004 construction season. A project review, including an opportunity for public feedback and to measure the impact on traffic will be conducted one year from the installation of the lanes.

3) 150 Bikes Sold to the highest bidder!

The City of Toronto's Fall Public Auction is taking place on Saturday, October 23, 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, including approximately 150 bikes, 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. Payment can be made on the spot with Visa, MasterCard, and debit card, certified cheque or cash. Purchases can be picked up after the auction on Saturday, October 23, Sunday, October 24, or on Monday, October 25, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Check out the one-day only year-end clear out sale:
Saturday, October 16, 2004, 10am - 5pm
National Trade Centre - East Annex (Hall F)
New North entrance next to new Ricoh Coliseum (New Hockey Arena)
Exhibition Place, Toronto
Admission: $5.00
For more information call (416) 363-1292

On October 16, 2004, beginning at 10am, Teams of six ($120) will compete in a triathlon (running, bicycling, and canoeing) up the Humber River starting at the ?tienne Br?l? Park at the Old Mill. The event is organized by the City of Toronto's Inner City Outtripping Centre (ICOC) which works to provide outdoor experiences for inner city youth. To register your team or to find out more information, call Allan Crawford, City of Toronto, at (416) 392-6928.

See the fall colours during Mayor David Miller's 1st annual October Trails Festival Month, Toronto's largest public walking and hiking program. Everyone is invited to explore the world-class network of trails and parks throughout the City of Toronto on guided walks, known as the 'Fall Classics,' scheduled at various parks and trails on October 17,24,31. The highlight of the festival is on Sunday October 17, with 24 hikes scheduled in neighbourhoods across the City. On this day only, each walk is hosted by a City Councillor and features great prizes and spectacular views. To find a Fall Classic in your community visit http://torontotrailsfestival.ca or call 416-598-3138.

7) Council Overwhelmingly Approves of St. Clair Avenue West Streetcar Lanes

On September 28, 2004, City Council voted 36-7 in favour of the recommendations made in the staff report on the St. Clair Avenue West Streetcar Study.

The transit improvements recommended in the report offer reserved lanes for streetcars and emergency vehicles between Yonge and Keele streets. The transit improvements aim to reduce
congestion on St. Clair, enhance pedestrian and driver safety and eliminate delays to transit service.

The total project will cost approximately $55 - $65 million, including urban design and streetscape enhancements. Construction is set to begin in summer 2005.

Getting ready to pack up your bike for the winter? Think again! With the right gear and awareness of a few additional challenges on the roads, you can keep your bike out of the basement for a lot longer than you think. To hone your fall/winter cycling skills, sign up for the last 3-day CAN-BIKE 2 of 2004. Join other cyclists on October 30, Nov. 7 and 13 from 9:30am-4:30pm at Allan Lamport Stadium (see Ahead in the Bike Lane for more details). You'll learn all the necessary skills you need to ride safely - with a special emphasis on the types of challenges facing cyclists in the fall/winter.

Many cyclists continue to ride through most autumn and winter days on the streets and trails of Toronto. Their secret? It's all about the gear and a few extra steps to ensure safety and weather-appropriate bike maintenance. It's also a great way to check out the wonderful colours of the season! You'll want to stay warm, dry and safe. Most importantly, reduce your speed, increase your visibility, dress in layers and be aware of potholes lurking beneath leaves. When you see a pile of leaves in the bike lane it's probably best to do a shoulder check for cars, signal, and move around the leaves. Wet leaves are slippery and can hide potholes and debris. If you're riding in the dark, your mandatory bright white light can also help you spot potholes waiting to surprise you.

For a full list of cold weather cycling tips, visit the BUG Network at http://www.toronto.ca/bug/cold_weather.htm

To report damaged roadways/potholes call 416-599-9090.

By now you've likely heard that some tubular cylinder locks (U-locks) can be opened with a plastic tube, i.e. a common pen. In response to this, on September 22, 2004, Kryptonite announced that consumers would be invited to exchange their tubular cylinder lock for a non-tubular cylinder lock at no cost by mid October, which is now. If you're a Kryptonite consumer and want to take advantage of the program you should send an e-mail to kryptonite@irco.com which will return an auto response with information on how to register for the exchange. Locks can only be exchanged through Kryptonite directly and not from the bike shop where you made the original purchase. If you require information before signing up, call 1-800-240-0802 for complete program details. If you have a non-Kryptonite U-lock you can help protect your bike by using a second lock with a different locking mechanism than the tubular cylinder locks. Also, it's always a good idea to register your bike with the police. Registration forms are available at www.torontopolice.on.ca/bike/

10) Ahead in the Bike Lane

Toronto Cycling Committee
Monday, October 18, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 1, 7 p.m.

Communications and Promotions Subcommittee
Thursday, October 21, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 3, 7 p.m.

Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, October 25, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 3, 7 p.m.

Road and Trails Subcommittee
Wednesday, October 27, 2004, City Hall Cttee Rm # 3, 7 p.m.

Call 416-338-0000 to register for CAN-BIKE courses.

CAN-BIKE 1 (14yrs+) $75/3 days:
October 16, 17, 23 10am-4pm (#1004976) James S. Bell CS, 90 Thirty-First St.

CAN-BIKE 2 (14yrs+) $100/3 days:
October 30, Nov. 7, 13, 9:30am-4:30pm (#963855) Allan A. Lamport Stadium, 1155 King St. West

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.

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