Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.

CONTENTS:

1) Group Commute & Free Pancake Breakfast
2) Are you up for the Commuter Challenge?
3) Safe Kids Week 2005 partners with Kids CAN-BIKE

1) Group Commute & Free Pancake Breakfast

May 30, 2005
Group Commute & Free Pancake Breakfast
Toronto Bike Plan Event
16th Annual Group Commute & Free Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Toronto Cycling Committee Pick up a free T-shirt and participate in the City of Toronto's marquee Bike Week event by meeting at one of five points around the city. Converge at Yonge and Bloor for a ride down to Nathan Phillips Square for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast provided by Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com). Sample hemp pancakes, multigrain pancakes, a variety of fruit smoothies, protein drinks, cereals, crunchy organic apples - and don't forget the java! This fantastic breakfast, like the foods featured at Whole Foods Market, is free of artificial ingredients. bikeweek@toronto.ca, 416-392-7592

City of Toronto Start Points
There are four traditional City of Toronto Start Points that depart from various areas of the City (each listed below) to converge at Yonge and Bloor for 8 a.m. These rides are staffed with Cycling Ambassadors, Emergency Medical Services, and Police. Pick up your free Bike Week T-shirt at one of the City start points, or when you get to City Hall!

A. Bloor Street West & High Park Avenue @ 7:30 a.m.
B. Yonge Street & Lawrence Avenue @ 7:30 a.m.
C. Danforth Avenue & Woodbine Avenue @ 7:30 a.m.
D. Dundas Street East & Kingston Road @ 7:30 a.m.
E. Bloor Street & Yonge Street @ 8 a.m.

Community Start Points
Individuals and community groups have organized autonomous community group rides that will highlight cycling infrastructure in their respective neighbourhoods and demonstrate support for cycling all over the city. These groups have co-ordinated the start time and location of their ride so that it can converge with one of the four City's start points.

Grassroots' Riverdale Start Point - 372 Danforth Ave. @ 7:30 a.m.
Don't want to ride all the way to Woodbine Avenue? Sleep in and meet up with the group at Grassroots (Danforth Avenue and Chester Avenue)! Contact Jackie: 416-466-2841.

North York Feeder Route - NW corner of Lawrence Avenue E. and Leslie, across from Edward's Gardens @ 7 a.m.
Contact Clay: 416-494-6737.

Alternative Grounds' Sip 'N Cycle - 333 Roncesvalles Ave. @ 7:15 a.m.
Get your caffeine fix with a free morning espresso at Alternative Grounds before the big ride to the Pancake Breakfast at City Hall! Stupendous! Contact Alnis: 416-534-6335.

St. Clair West BUG Ride - Wychwood Barns (St. Clair Avenue West and Christie Street) @ 7:30 a.m.
Contact Margaret: 416-727-4927.

Toronto Public Space Committee - St. Clair Avenue West and Christie Street @ 7:30 a.m.
Contact Marlena: www.publicspace.ca.

Wards Island Feeder Route - Wards Island Ferry Dock on Ward's Island @ 7:15 a.m.
Contact Kris: kris@melon.org.

Windburn Riders - Coxwell Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East @ 7:30 a.m.
Contact Rodney: 416-466-5707.

A map showing all of the start points is available in the Bike Week Calendar . You can view it on this site or pick one up from your local bike shop, civic or recreation centre, or library. www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikemonth/

2) Are you up for the Commuter Challenge?

Are you up for the Commuter Challenge? Challenge how you and your employees get to work this June 5-11.

Do you drive to work? Have you tried the alternatives - carpooling, teleworking, taking transit, cycling or walking? Now?s your chance! The Commuter Challenge offers you, your friends, your coworkers and your community the chance to choose your way, and have fun doing it. Join in this national competition to keep your workplace and your city on top! Even if you normally bike to work, you can still participate. For more information visit www.smartcommute.ca.

3) Safe Kids Week 2005 partners with Kids CAN-BIKE

Safe Kids Canada and the City of Toronto are promoting safe cycling through the City's Kids CAN-BIKE courses offered during Safe Kids Week.

Kids CAN-BIKE teaches bicycle basics and the proper use of safety equipment to 9 to 13 year-olds. Twelve hours of in-class and on-bike instruction teaches signaling, steering, right and left turns, changing gears, braking and avoiding road hazards. Young cyclists are taught to ride safely to school or to the local swimming pool on residential streets. On the last day, kids put all their skills to good use on the popular Bike Hike.

This year the Kids CAN-BIKE courses during Safe Kids Week 2005 have full enrolment at the following locations:

• Birchmount Civic Centre
• Palmerston Library
• Etobicoke Olympium

CAN-BIKE is a national progam of the Canadian Cycling Association and offers cycling courses for children and adults of all skill levels.

Check www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike/canbike_kcb.htm for future courses.

Safe Kids Canada is the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Each year, sponsor Johnson & Johnson and Safe Kids Canada join forces to run a major national campaign called Safe Kids Week.

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.

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