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Issue # 103
March 2005 |
Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1) New Cycling Ambassador WebPages
Curious about you!
What do you get when you put a passionate cyclist and an energetic, skilled public speaker together? A Cycling Ambassador! If that sounds like you then now's the time to start thinking about a spring-through-summer job as a City of Toronto Cycling Ambassador. As part of the program you'll work with fellow Ambassadors and a top-notch promotions team to help implement the Toronto Bike Plan through community programs and events. You'll cycle hundreds, if not a thousand, kilometres on Toronto roads and trails spreading the good word to encourage more safe cycling and community support for new bike lanes, resources and plans for a more bicycle friendly Toronto. For your convenience, month-by-month details about how to get involved is available for the first time in 'about us' at www.toronto.ca/cycling/ratsa
2) Toronto Cycling Committee Meeting March 14
Here's what's on the agenda for this month's Cycling Committee Meeting. Visitors are welcome.
- election of new citizen co-chair
- 2005 budget update
- Cycle Right Campaign presentation by Police Traffic Services (June enforcement campaign)
- Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists response to civil court ruling
- TCC delegate report on Cycle Ontario AGM
- Subcommittee reports
Interested? Come out and join the discussion. See Ahead in the Bike Lane for time and place.
3) Bike Lane option for Royal York Road Reconstruction is still in question
Following a public meeting and open house on Wednesday February 16, about the reconstruction of Royal York Road from Mimico Creek to Ashley Road in 2005, the option for a bike lane is still in question. Watch for information on the next public meeting on March 29th in a future 'notice of meeting' from Cycling News.
4) BUG Commuter Challenge
As the weather gets warmer and the skies clear up, city dwellers start to focus on being outdoors and partaking in activities that boost the spirits. Cycling is one of the best ways to get around and have fun and because of that the Bicycle User Group Network (BUG) is constantly evolving and growing to bring you more and exciting new activities, programs and services to support your cycling needs.
Once again during Bike Week, BUGs across the City will participate in the third annual BUG Commuter Challenge during the city-wide commute to City Hall. Listen at the breakfast to find out which BUG is awarded for having the most cyclists join the commute. Round up your fellow BUGs and visit the BUG website for details!
If you're not part of a BUG there has never been a better time to join or start one of your own! Join dozens of other BUGs in improving conditions for cyclists at work or in your community. Visit the website to register your Bicycle User Group, you'll be glad you did. Check out www.toronto.ca/bug or email bugs@toronto.ca or call (416) 392-7592.
5) Discount Rates from the Ontario Cycling Association
While many of us think of cycling as a great means of transportation and of recreation - don't forget that bike racing is a challenging sport for those with a competitive spirit. The Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) is proud to announce a deep discount offer for all licenses to 18 and under cyclists in Ontario until March 31. The license fees will be discounted by 25% and is applicable to both new as well as returning members. Citizen Permit holders will be given $5.00 off. For new UCI or Citizen Permit members under 17 who have never raced in an Ontario Cup Road or Mountain Bike event there will be additional benefits. This offer can be combined with the early bird discount for OCA memberships leading to significant savings for our under 19 cyclists. The OCA, in partnership with SUGOI, will be offering a fee entry into any Ontario Cup in 2005! (S.U.P.E.R. program: Sugoi Under 17 Program Encouraging Racing). Along with the racing licenses, the OCA also offers a CAN-BIKE membership for instructors teaching the CAN-BIKE program in Ontario. For membership details please visit: www.ontariocycling.org.
6) It's Tune up Time
With spring on the way you're probably one of thousands of cyclists just itching to get your bike out of the basement and join the cabin-fevered throngs outside. So here is some advice: make sure that you and your bike are in good riding condition. Some things to look out for are loose parts such as bolts, wheels and the handlebar. Tires soften after a long idle winter, so make sure that the pressure is right. Brake pads might need to be replaced, gears and chain lubricated, cables tightened, bearings checked. (CAN-BIKE courses teach a neat A-B-C-D Quick Check to help you assess the road-worthiness of your bike.) Remember to get your bike in early to your local bike shop for a tune-up. As soon as spring seriously hits us, people will be lining up to have their bikes tuned and you might encounter considerable backlog. Last but not least - have fun and enjoy your ride!
7) Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) summarizes new developments in helmet design
The BHSI is a great resource for cyclists wanting to keep up to date on the latest in helmet information. Here's their introduction to the services they provide to consumers, teachers, the industry and media:
"Welcome! We are the helmet advocacy program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. We are a small, active, non-profit consumer-funded program acting as a clearinghouse and a technical resource for bicycle helmet information. We try to explain the technology of helmets to consumers, and promote better helmets through improved standards. Our volunteers serve on the ASTM helmet standard committee and are active in commenting on actions of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. We provide a Toolkit for helmet programs and an email helmet newsletter, both free. We are all volunteers, funded entirely by consumer donations. We maintain our independence by never accepting funds from the industry. As much as we believe in helmets we still consider them a secondary safety measure and urge that primary measures such as safer roads and education programs for riders and drivers not be neglected. Last year we served over a million and a half pages to 439,800 distinct users."
The BHSI recently posted a new article on Helmets for 2005, "covering everything on the market" Check it out at: www.helmets.org/helmet05.htm
8) Friends for Life Bike Rally
The Toronto People with Aids Foundation is gearing up for the 7th annual Friends for Life bike rally from Toronto to Montreal, July 24-29.
To sign up as a rider or a volunteer, visit www.bikerally.org.
Early registration is encouraged since riders are limited to 220.
The Toronto People with AIDS Foundation is one of Canada's largest direct support services organizations for people living with HIV/AIDS in the GTA. Since 1987, it has promoted the dignity and self-sufficiency of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Visit www.pwatoronto.org for more information.
9) Ahead in the Bike Lane
Toronto Cycling Committee
Monday, March 14, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 1, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Community Bicycle News - Speaker Series News
March 15, 6:30 p.m. at Lula Lounge: for speaker information, go to www.communitybicyclenetwork.org
Promotions Subcommittee
Wednesday, March 16, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Safety Subcommittee
Monday, March 21, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, March 23, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street 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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