Issue # 123 November 2006

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 Education & Safety Subcommittee meeting - Monday, November 27 featuring 'Steve Fenton's School of Bad Driving' Ad Campaign

Have you seen the City of Toronto Transportation Services road safety campaign: Steve Fenton's School of Bad Driving? The advertising, which is on radio stations, outdoor media and in various newspapers, features a fictitious driving school instructor named Steve Fenton who promotes a variety of unsafe driving practices to his students. The campaign runs from September 18 to early November. "The ads are designed to show, in a humorous way, that we all need to improve certain behaviours, such as stopping for red lights, avoiding distractions like cell phones, and always being cautious when we cross streets," said Gary Welsh, General Manager, Transportation Services, City of Toronto.

Steve Johnston, Senior Communications Co-ordinator will be on hand to review the campaign and to answer questions. To take a look at the ad campaign, go to www.toronto.ca/transportation/safety/index.htm.

Interested? Come out and join the discussion. See Ahead in the Bike Lane for time and place or visit www.toronto.ca/cycling.

2) Toronto's Bikeway Network - New and Improved!

The following facilities have been installed or upgraded in the last six months:

New Bike Lanes:

• Sentinel Road between Finch Avenue and Pond Road
• Harbord Street between Grace Street and Ossington Avenue
• Strachan Avenue between King Street and Lake Shore Boulevard

Upgraded Off-Road Paths:

• Eglinton West Path between Islington Avenue and Royal York Road?
• High Park/Queensway Path between Ellis Avenue and Parkside Drive

3) New bike locker locations

The City of Toronto is pleased to announce 2 new bicycle locker locations!

There are now lockers available at Toronto Transit Commission subway stations

• Finch Station (12 Lockers)
• Downsview Station (6 Lockers)

In addition to these new locations, 2 new lockers have been installed at 371 Bloor West (University of Toronto). These new lockers are now available.

To reserve a locker at one of these or another bicycle locker location please visit the Bicycle Locker website at www.toronto.ca/cycling/locker.htm or call 416-392-7592.

4) SickKids and Safe Kids Canada invitation to lecture and discussion on helmet use - Wednesday November 15

SickKids and Safe Kids Canada will be holding a lively discussion on helmet use in this country on Wednesday November 15th and we hope that you will be able to attend.

This year, the annual Lydia Catherine McCutcheon Lectureship on Childhood Injury Prevention will be followed by a debate on helmet legislation: warranted or not? Please plan to attend on the morning of Wednesday November 15th, 2006.

The Lecture will be held in the Main Auditorium of SickKids, 555 University Avenue, 1st Floor, Elm Wing as part of Paediatric Grand Rounds from 9-10 a.m. A post lecture discussion and debate will follow 10:30-12 noon - in the 12th floor Conference Room (1218) of Child Health Evaluative Sciences (CHES), 123 Edward Street, Toronto.

SickKids and Safe Kids Canada are excited Dr. Brent Hagel, a leading authority on sports and recreation injury prevention and research, has kindly accepted to speak at this year's event. Dr. Hagel is an epidemiologist with the Departments of Paediatrics and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary and holds the Professorship in Child Health and Wellness funded by Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. His presentation topic is:

The Reasons For and Against Helmet Use in Recreational Activities: What to Tell Your Patients and Their Parents

The post lecture debate will provide the opportunity for attendees to be involved in an informative and stimulating event. Dr. Hagel will be joined by Dr. Pat Parkin (Staff Paediatrician, Paediatric Medicine, SickKids), Jim McIntosh (Libertarian Party of Canada), and Dr. Mary L. Chipman (Public Health Sciences Department, University of Toronto) and we are honoured that John Milloy, MPP has agreed to be the moderator.

5) Job Opportunity: Development Coordinator, Ontario Cycling Association

The Ontario Cycling Association is looking for a full time Development Coordinator for its provincial bicycle racing programs, including road, mountain cross-country, downhill, cyclo-cross and track. This is a full time position and requires extensive weekend work throughout the summer. The Development Coordinator is primarily responsible for the racing activities that fall under the control of the OCA. For more information contact the Ontario Cycling Association. Applications should include salary expectations. Please send in Word format no later than November 17, 2006 to: Steve Merker, Ontario Cycling Association, smerker@ontariocycling.org.

6) Public consultation on Crothers' Woods

The City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation is developing a Management Master Plan for the Crothers' Woods Area. If you participate in hiking, mountain biking, dog walking, dirt jumping, bird-watching, or other activities in Crothers' Woods, we want to hear from you!

Public Meeting:
Monday, November 20, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., at Todmorden Mills, in the art gallery.
Location: Pottery Road, west of Broadview, east of Bayview
Directions: From the Don Valley Parkway, take the Bayview/Bloor Street exit, then follow Bayview Avenue north to Pottery Road. By TTC, from the Broadview subway station, take any northbound bus to Pottery Road. It is just a short walk down Pottery Road, in the Don Valley. For more information please contact Trisha at: tkaplan@toronto.ca or 416-338-5053

7) Night riding - see and be seen

If you're commuting regularly by bike this fall and winter, be prepared to spend some of your riding time in the dark when visibility for all road users is reduced. Make sure other road users see you by wearing bright and/or reflective clothing and check that your front white light(s) and back red light(s) have fresh batteries. Communicate clearly with drivers and other cyclists by signaling all of your turns and stops. Check over your shoulder regularly to stay aware of all other road users around you. Riding through the fall and winter can be great fun. For more tips and ideas to travel safely through darker, cooler and wetter weather please visit www.toronto.ca/bug/cold_weather.htm.

8) Ahead in the Bike Lane

Toronto Cycling Committee - meetings cancelled until after the elections

Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, November 27, 2006, 7 p.m.,
Committee Room 3, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West

Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 7 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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