Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1)
Toronto Cycling Committee Meeting - Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Here's what's on the agenda for this month's Cycling Committee Meeting. Visitors are welcome.
- Bikeway Network Projects, Bikeway Network Information System Sign Installation and Bikeway Network Trails including information on Trail Audits for the North, South, East and West districts.
- A verbal update will be provided by Members of the Budget Working Group on the progress of the 2006 Budget process.
- Planning and Transportation Committee requests the TCC to develop Alternative Standards for the Width of a Bike Lane that reflects the need to make adjustments to accommodate speed limits, narrower roads and competing uses in order to be able to extend the bike lane plan of the City on a more comprehensive basis.
- Update on the Transportation Association of Canada Pavement Marking Guidelines
- Reports from Subcommittees and Workgroups: Promotions Subcommittee; Education and Safety Subcommittee; Bikeway Network Subcommittee and the Transit and Cycling Working Group.
Interested? Come out and join the discussion. See Ahead in the Bike Lane for time and place or visit www.toronto.ca/cycling.
2)
New members appointed to the Toronto Cycling Committee
The following citizens are appointed to the Toronto Cycling Committee until November 30, 2006, or until their successors are appointed:
- Joe Hendry
- Paulette Blais
- Hamish Wilson
- Charles O'Hara
- Colin J. Biggin
The Toronto Cycling Committee advises City Council, and its divisions, agencies, boards, and commissions, on the design, development and delivery of bicycle policies, programs and facilities to promote and enhance cycling within the City of Toronto. Members are appointed for the three year term of Council. If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer member of the Toronto Cycling Committee, we'll be sending out information early in 2007.
3)
Bike Week 2006
Bike Week is set to kick off this year with the Annual Group Commute and Pancake Breakfast at Nathan Phillip's Square on Monday, May 29th. Join hundreds of other cyclists for a ride into work and a free pancake breakfast, on us!
Last year Bike Week featured over 120 events put on by more than 60 individuals and community groups throughout the City. This year will prove to be bigger and better. Organize your own Bike Week event by filling out a Bike Week Event Registration Form. Looking for some tips on how to make your event a success? Take a look at our online Bike Week Planning Guide.
More questions? Contact the Bike Week hotline at 416-338-5076.
4)
New BUGs in the City
The BUG Network is proud to ring in the New Year with the announcement of two new BUGs! At the end of 2005 we added Messengers International and UTSC Bike Movement to our ever-expanding network of recreational and commuter cyclists. Join us in welcoming these new BUGs whose membership has raised the number of existing Bicycle User Groups in the City to 90.
This number continues to grow as word of the various BUG projects and initiatives spreads. Some current projects include: free cold weather cycling seminars, improving bike parking for BUG commuter groups across the City, distributing the BUG Commuter Tips video to all BUGs and posting it on the Web site, Toronto Cycling Ambassador personal escorts to work for BUG members, and plans for the development of another informative BUG video.
Stay tuned to www.toronto.ca/bug for more up-and-coming BUG Network events.
5)
Get Lit!
Consider wearing a reflective vest to optimize your visibility to drivers and other cyclists. There's good reason why they're standard issue for anyone who works in traffic where maximum visibility is a concern during the day and the evening; nothing else illuminates or reflects as much light as a vest does. Brilliant neon yellow, orange and/or green mesh with reflective stripes efficiently reflect more light than standard bike reflectors. Bike lights are a must for seeing and being seen but vests will identify you sooner to an upcoming motorist, which means you're highly visible at a greater distance and not just a mysterious blinking light in the dark.
Most vests are made of lightweight, open mesh fabric and fit easily over clothing and jackets. They don't trap heat so they can be worn all year round. They vary in design though, so it is important to get one that fits comfortably. Lots of stores carry them in the $15-$35 range including Mountain Equipment Co-op, Rona, Home Depot and Mark's Work Wearhouse.
6)
Fight the winter chill with these clothing tips
- You will conserve the most amount of heat by covering your head. A toque or balaclava will do the trick. Remember to cover your ears and adjust your helmet to fit properly!
- A helmet cover reduces wind chill & protects from rain/snow.
- Waterproof, warm hiking boots are good for the winter, cycling "overbooties" or plastic bags over your socks can help with waterproofing in the rain, but be careful in the cold. Plastic bags can make you sweat and wet feet are cold feet!
- Make sure you have a good, warm base layer against your skin. Never wear cotton because it absorbs moisture and will stay wet when you sweat. Wear synthetic fibres like polyester or polypropylene or if you prefer natural fibres try silk or wool.
- A thin waterproof shell that will block wind and rain works very well. Add more layers underneath for colder days.
7)
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute Update Vol. 24, #1
The Biycle Helmet Safety Institute has just posted their review of helmets for 2006.
Here's their summary of trends:
"There are new helmets in 2006 that are worth a look if you are inclined to replace yours. There are some new models appearing with the rounder, smoother profile that we think is best for crashing. Other than that there is no major technological advance that compels you to replace your current helmet.
- At the high end, you will still find big vents and high prices, but no verifiable improvement in safety performance. The least expensive $7.14 helmet is designed to the same impact standard.
- Rounder, smoother "commuter" models are growing in number.
- Ring fit systems, the "one size fits all" solution, are even more widespread this year.
- A slow-release buckle to prevent children from "hanging" themselves on playground equipment or trees may become available in Europe later in 2006, developed by Etto of Norway.
- Foams are slowly evolving.
- Carbon fiber, titanium and kevlar use is spreading but offer no revolutionary performance improvement.
- Strap adjustment fittings need improvement to prevent "strap creep".
We recommend steering away from models with obvious disadvantages like snag points on the outer surface. And it will not surprise you that for the softest landing it helps to have lots of thicker, less dense foam in a helmet, leading to our recommendation that you find one with no more vents than you need."
8)
Louis Garneau Sports Inc. recalls winter snow sport helmet
Louis Garneau Sports Inc. of St-Augustin de Desmaures, Quebec, is voluntarily recalling about 1600 non-motorized recreational snow sport helmets used for activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and other alpine sports. A defect with the helmet's strap rivets can result in the helmet coming off the rider's head in the event of a fall or crash.
No such incident has been reported at this time, but Louis Garneau Sports prefers to do a preventive recall.
The helmet was sold under the model name SUMMIT, the color is matt black and the style number is 1406601, in sizes junior, small, medium and large. The recalled helmets have a date of manufacture sticker which reads JULY 2004, and only the helmets with this manufacturing date are recalled.
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, and ask for a replacement or refund. For more information, consumers should call Louis Garneau Sports at 1-800-463-8356, between 8 am and 5 pm Eastern time. For a free replacement helmet, including shipping costs, consumers should mail their helmets to Louis Garneau Sports, 30, rue des Grands-Lacs, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec, Canada G3A 2E6.
9)
Ahead in the Bike Lane
Toronto Cycling Committee
Tuesday, January 17, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, January 23, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
(Date may be changed due to election. Check subcommittee Web page for changes.)
Promotions Subcommittee
Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 7:30 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Cycling and Transit Working Group
Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 6:30 p.m., Committee Room 3, 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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