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 - Monday, July 17, 2006
Here's what's on the agenda for this month's Cycling Committee Meeting. Visitors are welcome.
- Licensing of Bicycles - an update
- Toronto Cycling Committee membership
- Discussion of Parks Permit Fees for special cycling events
- Request for an annual bicycle race in High Park
- Reports from Subcommittees and Workgroups: Promotions Subcommitte; 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)
The City of Toronto Cycling Ambassadors thank Cervelo Cycles Inc.!
Oops! In our haste to thank all of the 2006 sponsors of the Cycling Ambassador Program we missed one very important one - Cervelo Cycles Inc. Thanks to Cervelo you won't miss the 2006 Cycling Ambassadors. They'll be out at various community events, riding around town and collecting data in their bright yellow jerseys sponsored by Cervelo. For a complete listing of all of the 2006 sponsors or to request the Ambassadors to your community event visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/ratsa/index.htm
3)
Cyclometer stats - how many of us are there?
As of June 30, there are 3,443 subscribers to Cycling News and, of those, 648 live outside of Toronto. In June we added 67 new subscribers. The top three wards with the most subscribers are Ward 20 (Trinity Spadina) with 156 subscribers; Ward 32 (Beaches-East York) with 152 subscribers and Ward Ward 19 (Trinity Spadina) with 149 Subscribers. The word is not getting out to cyclists in some areas of the City, where we'd really like to see an increase: Ward 9 (York Centre), Ward 1 (Etobicoke North) and Ward 7 (York West). We'll post these stats on the website soon and ask you to talk to your cycling neighbours so that they can get the latest information on cycling issues, meetings and events in the City. Let's get growing.
4)
Coordinated Street Furniture Program Open House - Tuesday, July 18th
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metro Hall - 55 John Street main floor rotunda
"The sidewalks are where people become Torontonians. The public realm allows us to come together as citizens, residents, and visitors to enjoy, discover and appreciate this wonderful city. The Coordinated Street Furniture program will not only improve, but elevate and celebrate Toronto's urban beauty." - Mayor David Miller
On June 27, 2006, Toronto City Council approved the Design & Policy Guidelines and Direction Report for a new Coordinated Street Furniture Program. The City is now proceeding with the preparation of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for new street furniture. The Design Guidelines document "Vibrant Streets" will be issued as part of the RFP. In conjunction with these Design Guidelines, Urban Design Section of City Planning has elaborated on the draft Placement Guidelines for street furniture to assist in the integration of new furniture into the public realm. The draft Placement Guidelines will ensure that street furniture is placed in a sensitive manner; accessible and safe to all, while maintaining a level of consistency across the City. The draft Placement Guidelines will ultimately be merged into the Vibrant Streets document. Both documents are available at www.toronto.ca/streetfurniture.
In the public consultation program that took place earlier this year, the public supported the position that the placement of street furniture is as important to the success of the Coordinated Street Furniture Program as the design of the furniture itself. The City is hosting an open house to provide the public with an opportunity to learn about the Street Furniture draft Placement Guidelines and provide feedback. Bike parking and bike lanes are part of the streetscape.
5)
Pedestrians speak out about sidewalk cycling
This spring, sidewalk cycling complaints top the list of cycling behaviours that concern the public. Here's a quote from one such incident that reflects the magnitude of the problem: "A senior walking in the Don Mills/Barber Green area was hit by one of three cyclists on mountain bikes who were using the narrow sidewalk. The cyclists were in their 20s and used the hill as a racing track. The senior was just leaving for xrays after visiting her doctor. There are a large number of seniors in the Don Mills area who rely on a sidewalk to keep them safe from vehicles (and bikes). According to this senior, her friends all have experienced the same at one time or another and now are too scared to even go out".
Here are some other areas that we've received complaints about:
- College Street, Bathurst to Spadina (especially around Brunswick/Major/Augusta)
- Church Street, especially around Wellesley
- St. Clair West, west of Bathurst
Sidewalk riding threatens pedestrians and causes particular concern with seniors, who can easily fall when a cyclists passes too closely. 30% of all car-bike collisions also involve sidewalk cycling, usually when the cyclist enters an intersection from a sidewalk. Use street smarts and ride on the road. If you are a child on a bike with 24" tires or less, you can legally ride on the sidewalk. If you are not a child, ride on the road. And remember that cycling safely and responsibly is good cycling advocacy.
6)
Bike and Bus Picnic - Sunday, July 23rd
Join us on Sunday, July 23rd to celebrate the splendid union of bicycles and transit! We are all gathering on Sunday, July 23rd to celebrate the marriage of two special modes of transportation - bikes and buses. Bike racks on buses, bike parking at subway stations, taking your bike on the subway - show your support by picking up a free cycling and transit t-shirt (while supplies last). Go further in the snow, sleet and rain with bicycles and transit.
When: Sunday, July 23rd from 10am to 2pm
Where: Outside Bathurst Station (Bloor/Bathurst)
7)
Work Bike/Cargo Trailer Event - Saturday, August 12th 2006, 11am-4pm
Scadding Court Community Centre, south/east corner of Dundas and Bathurst
Do you have a cargo bike or have you always wanted one? We?re hosting an event celebrating people moving stuff with bikes. No more bags on handle bars or borrowing someone?s car to haul home heavy items- let your bike do the work for you! The event will be held on Saturday, August 12th from 11am-4pm at Scadding Court Community Centre in downtown Toronto. It will be a fun filled day with events for all ages highlighting the wonders of the work bike/cargo trailer. Check out fellow cyclists? home-built inventions and get tips on how to make your own, check out displays from retailers and manufacturers, learn how to start a bike based business, or just decorate your bike and enjoy the sunshine. Whatever toots your horn (or rings your bell)!
Email ratsa@toronto.ca or check out next month's Cyclometer for more information...
8)
A Welcome to the New BUGs in the Bicycle User Group Network
Welcome to the CH2M Hill, Cycling Cog, Humphreys Family, Merchants of Green Coffee, Ministry of the Environment, OPSEU, Women's Future Fund, and ZM Cycle and Fitness BUGs to the City of Toronto Bicycle User Group Network.
It is encouraging to see a range of BUGs from recreational and advocacy to commuter and cycling shops. The network continues to expand as more and more people become involved in the cycling community. There are now over 100 BUGs spread throughout 31 wards in the City of Toronto and our Cycling Ambassadors are continuously reaching out to new cycling communities in order to help the BUG Network reach its full potential.
9)
Bicycle Friendly Business Awards
Just a reminder that the City of Toronto showcases and promotes cycling-friendly businesses through the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards and we are inviting you to nominate any business(es), including your own, that you believe are taking positive steps to promoting cycling in the City of Toronto. The nomination forms are available online and businesses can be nominated in more than one category. As an example, the Sight On Bikes BUG offers guided group tours of Toronto for $25; $20 to BUG Network members (and only $15 if you bring your own bike)!
10)
Upcoming CAN-BIKE courses
For details visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike/index.htm or call 416-392-1311
Thursday July 20
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
6-9pm, Trinity Bellwoods
Saturday July 22
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
9-12pm, Trinity Bellwoods
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
1-4pm, Trinity Bellwoods
Sunday July 23
CAN-BIKE Cycling Freedom for Women
10-4pm, High Park
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
10-1pm, Birchmount
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
2-5pm, Birchmount
Sunday July 30
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
10-1pm, Centennial
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
2-5pm, Centennial
Saturday August 5
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
9-12pm, Centennial
9-12pm or 1-4pm, Trinity Bellwoods
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
1-4pm, Centennial
Kids CAN-BIKE
12-4pm, Centennial
Saturday August 9
CAN-BIKE 2
9:30 am-4:30 pm, Lamport
Saturday August 12
Kids CAN-BIKE
9:30-1:30pm, High Park
Sunday August 13
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
1-4pm, Oriole
Wednesday August 16
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
6-9pm, Trinity Bellwoods
Saturday August 19
CAN-BIKE Cycling Freedom for Women
10-4pm, Palmerston
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
9-12pm, Centennial
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
1-4pm, Centennial
11)
Ahead in the Bike Lane
Toronto Cycling Committee
Monday, July 17, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, July 24, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Promotions Subcommittee
Wednesday, July 19, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 1, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Cycling and Transit Working Group
Wednesday, July 11, 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.
Please take the time to forward this issue of Cycling News! to a fellow cyclist who may be interested.
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