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 Meetings
Please see Ahead in the Bike Lane for meeting dates and times for the Bikeway Network Subcommittee and the Cycling and Transit Working Group.
2)
Toronto's Bicycle Friendly Businesses Recognised
The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday October 5th at 6 p.m. in City Hall Rotunda. It was a very successful event with live music, refreshments, a slide show and a special guest: Gil Penalosa, President of Walk and Bike for Life. Mr. Penalosa gave a presentation on "Business, Bicycles and Competitiveness". It was an excellent reminder of the importance of bicycle friendly initiatives in Toronto and cities around the world. Gil demonstrated how stronger and healthier communities can and have been built by creating a transportation system that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly. For more information on Walk and Bike for Life visit http://8-80cities.org.
The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards were presented by Mayor David Miller and members of the judging panel: Councillor Jane Pitfield; Dave Meslin, Founder of Toronto Public Space Committee; and Dr Alan Walks, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Program in Planning, University of Toronto.
And the winners of the 2006 Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are...
Best Bike Parking Award: Intelliware Development Inc.
Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business Award: CH2M Hill
Bicycle Commute Award: Mountain Equipment Co-operative
Best Small Business Award: Grassroots Environmental Products
Best Large Business Award: Canadian Tire Store (Yonge St. & Church St.) (in partnership with the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families / Jump Start Program)
Best Skills Development Award: Bike Roots
Best Overall Award: Community Bicycle Network
The Ceremony also recognised Messenger Appreciation Day (10-9 Day) with a proclamation that was presented to Hoof and Cycle Active Transport Workers Guild by Mayor David Miller.
For more information on the City of Toronto's Bicycle Friendly Business Awards visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/bfba.
3)
Bike Racks are Permanent Fixtures!
At a meeting on September 20, 2006, the Toronto Transit Commission approved the addition of bike racks to all its future bus orders.
Currently, bike racks are available on the following six bus routes: 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin; 47 Lansdowne; 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers and 310 Bathurst. Eventually cyclists will be able to Rack it and Rocket along the entire bus route network! 81% of the TTC Bike Racks on Buses survey participants voted in favour of the bike racks. Add your support and 'rack' your bike today!
More information.
4)
Province Approves pilot test of E-Bikes
The McGuinty government is testing a clean, healthy transportation alternative with the launch of a pilot allowing the use of e-bikes on Ontario roads. The Ministry is conducting a pilot test to ensure that e-bikes can safely share the road with other traffic and pedestrians. For the next three years, e-bikes will be permitted on all roads where conventional bicycles are currently allowed. Riders must be at least 16 years of age and they must wear a bicycle helmet while riding.
An e-bike can be pedaled like a bicycle or can be powered with an electric motor to a maximum speed of 32 kilometres an hour. Until now e-bikes were not permitted on Ontario roads.
5)
Exhibition Martin Goodman Trail Now Under Construction
By Martin Koob
The next phase of building the Martin Goodman Trail bypass trail is underway. This phase will see the trail continued from the eastern edge of Marilyn Bell Park to the Western edge of Ontario Place. The old fence has already been removed and an orange construction fence is up demarcating the construction zone. The new trail will be built between this fence and Lakeshore Boulevard. While this construction is underway the sidewalk on Lake Shore Blvd. will be closed and cyclists are being asked to detour around this area. It is anticipated the bulk of the construction will be finished by the end of October. The following is a description of the detour:
Effectively, the Lakeshore Boulevard 'sidewalk' is closed. The existing Martin Goodman Trail, at the water's edge, is open and signage directs trail users to that trail. At the east end, west-bound trail users on Remembrance Drive are asked to turn south through Ontario Place parking lot #1 (just east of the pedestrian bridge at the west entrance) and join the Martin Goodman Trail at the water's edge there. All trail users using this detour should use caution, as they will be passing through a parking lot and near pedestrians accessing the Ontario Place west entrance.
At the west end, signage and fencing is posted directing trail users south to the existing trail through the work area. When passing the work area in either direction, all trail users should remain on the Martin Goodman Trail, obey all construction signage, and proceed with caution.
6)
Award Winning Bicycle Lending Program in Financial Need
By Maogosha Pyjor/Community Bicycle Network
BikeShare, a multiple award-winning bike lending program run by the Community Bicycle Network, must find a new source of funding or the popular program will shut down. BikeShare is Canada's longest-running and largest community bike lending initiative.
Last week, the program received a Bicycle Friendly Business award in Best Overall from the City of Toronto. BikeShare has also been recognized locally, nationally and internationally by numerous organizations including Transport Canada, the Green Toronto Award, and the Stockholm Awards for Sustainable Development. "We've won awards year after year from the city of Toronto, and have supporters across Canada and the world, but sadly this has not translated into a reliable source of funding," said Maogosha Pyjor, BikeShare's Project Manager.
In the last five years the program has put 243 bikes on the road, with 16 hubs across the city and over 2000 members. The program also has a mandate to reach out and serve Toronto's underprivileged community. Despite this tremendous success, 2006 has been particularly challenging for BikeShare. Over the spring a number of yellow bikes were systemically vandalized which added to operating costs.
If you'd like to donate to BikeShare please call 416-504-2918.
7)
The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route
The history of this remarkable period comes alive as you pedal along the corridor that traces the Underground Railroad route from the Deep South to Canada. This bicycle route memorializes the Underground Railroad, a network of clandestine routes by which African freedom seekers attempted to escape for many years before and during the Civil War. In its entirety, the route travels some 2-3,000 kilometres from Mobile, AL to Owen Sound, Ontario on Lake Huron Bay.
Cyclists can ride the entire route or choose sections of particular interest. Businesses along the Underground Railroad can participate by being "safe haven" for traveling cyclists. Visit www.adventurecycling.org for more information.
8)
Maya Pedal - Pedal Powered Machines and Cycle Touring in Central America
Steven Gray, engineer and Cycling Ambassador, presents a free lecture on his experiences volunteering with Maya Pedal in Guatemala and cycle touring in Central America. Maya Pedal is an NGO that specializes in providing rural communities with affordable bicycles and pedal-powered labour-saving devices such as grain mills, water pumps, blenders, etc.
Time: 6-7 p.m., October 24, 2006
Place: Victoria Building Room 200, 285 Victoria Street (Ryerson University Campus, near Yonge and Dundas)
Questions? steven.gray@utoronto.ca
9)
Fall Bike-Swap at MEC - October 22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
The fall bike-swap is your opportunity to sell a pre-loved bike or bike-goods, or pick up a pre-loved bike or bike-goods!
When and where?
Sunday October 22, 2006
Mountain Equipment Co-op
400 King Street West (next to parking garage)B
Toronto
Buyers and sellers...please visit www.cyclingcog.net for the day's itinerary.
10)
Ahead in the Bike Lane
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 7 p.m.
Committee Room 2, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
Cycling and Transit Working Group
Thursday, October 26, 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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