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 - cancelled during election campaign
The Toronto Cycling Committee as a special committee of City Council suspends regular meetings for the duration of the election. Some subcommittees are still meeting. Please check Ahead in the Bike Lane for times and dates.
2)
Post and Ring update
In response to recent reports of bicycle thieves breaking the rings on City post-and-ring racks, Transportation Services has temporarily suspended new post-and-ring installations until a more secure ring can be produced. A temporary solution that was expected to be ready by mid-September has been found to be unsatisfactory.
An improved ring design is currently being developed, to fit the 16,000 posts that have been installed over the last two decades. Prototypes will be extensively tested. When we are confident that the new design is secure, a manufacturing contract will be tendered. Replacing damaged rings and retro-fitting the existing post-and-ring stands will be the first priority. Installation of new post-and-ring stands is expected to resume in the spring of 2007.
It is important to note that, of the thousands of bicycle thefts each year in Toronto, the vast majority involve breaking the locks. Cyclists are advised to use the best quality locks, and to lock both the frame and at least one wheel, preferably using two locks.
Despite the recent publicity around the issue of bicycle theft, bicycles are often seen locked improperly. If the lock is passed only through the bike's frame, it will not prevent a thief from riding away on the bicycle once the bike ring is broken. This presents a tempting target for thieves using the '2x4' method. For more tips on how to lock your bike securely, please visit the City's Bicycle User Group (BUG) web site: www.toronto.ca/bug/combat_theft.htm
If your bicycle was stolen and you believe a City bike ring was broken in the process, please report it to the Police and contact Transportation Services at 416-392-9253 or bikeplan@toronto.ca.
3)
New webpage - are you in the picture?
If you came out to the City of Toronto booth at the Bike Show this year we may have taken your picture! Find out at www.toronto.ca/cycling/safety/helmet/helmet_241.htm and refresh your memory about how to fit your helmet just right! Thanks to all the participants.
4)
CAN-BIKE Instructor Workshop - correction
The dates for the upcoming CAN-BIKE Instructor Workshop were misprinted in the August edition of Cyclometer. The confirmed dates are October 15,21,22,29. Each day runs from 9:30am-4:30pm. Please call 416-392-1311 for more information.
5)
Rack It And Rocket Report - more bikes in 2006!
On September 20th, 2006 at 1:00pm the Toronto Transit Commission released its report on the "Rack It And Rocket" pilot project. Visit www.ttc.ca/postings/gso-comrpt/ for the full report. This project put bike racks on the front of city buses on seven routes; 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, 47 Landsdowne, 98 Willowdale-senlac, 161 Rogers Road and the all-night routes 329 Dufferin and 310 Bathurst. Final numbers say more cyclists used the racks this year than last year! However the fate of the bike racks is still unknown. The TTC commissioners still have to decide whether to accept a recommendation to extend the project. Please add your support by contacting the Secretary of the committee with an e-mail supporting Rack it and Rocket at gso@ttc.ca. For more information about the racks and how to use them visit www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Bicycles.jsp. Try them today!
6)
Bicycle Friendly Business Awards - October 5, 2006
The City of Toronto would like to thank everyone who nominated a business or organisation for the 2006 Bicycle Friendly Business Awards. Please come out and support Toronto's bicycle friendly businesses at the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards ceremony that will be taking place in the Rotunda of Toronto City Hall on Thursday, October 5th, 2006 at 6:00PM. The ceremony also marks 10-9 Day, a day of appreciation for Toronto's bicycle messengers.
7)
Steve Fenton's School of Bad Driving Ad Campaign
The City of Toronto's Transportation Services Division is launching an advertising campaign aimed at encouraging everyone who uses roads and sidewalks to make safety their number one priority.
The advertising, which is on radio stations, outdoor media and various newspapers, features a fictitious driving school instructor named Steve Fenton who promotes a variety of unsafe driving practices to his students. The campaign will run from September 18 to early November.
"We are extremely concerned about the safety of everyone who uses our roads - pedestrians, cyclists and motorists," said Councillor Shelley Carroll, chair of the city's Works Committee. "The best way to keep our streets safe is for everyone to be cautious and courteous at all times. We all need to learn to share the road."
"The ads are designed to show, in a humourous 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.
In 2005, a total of 55,290 collisions occurred in Toronto which means a collision took place every 9.5 minutes. Of these collisions, 12,540 involved personal injury -- one person was hurt every 30.1 minutes.
More than half of all traffic fatalities in the City of Toronto involve pedestrians. A total of 29 pedestrians were killed in 2005 and 25 have been killed so far this year. More than 2,300 pedestrians are injured on Toronto's roads every year, an average of six people per day.
Go to www.toronto.ca/transportation/safety/index.htm for more information. Click on the audio file to hear the ads.
8)
Car Free Day - September 22, 2006
That's right! Friday is a Car-Free Day celebration put on by the Sierra Club of Canada's Ontario Chapter and the City of Toronto. It will be held on Yonge St. from Dundas Street south to Shuter Street 10:00am to 3:00pm. The street will be closed to cars and open to those interested in exploring alternative travel options available to Torontonians! This stretch of Canada's longest street, and Dundas Square will be THE place to be for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, walkers, strollers, and blade-rollers.
Join us for:
- Musicians and bands, dancers, bike stunt performers and other entertainment,
- Local celebrities, speakers and the reading of a Toronto Car Free Day proclamation
- Informative environmental displays, interactive programs, encouragement and tips on how to be more car free! Stick around for some Reclaim the Streets activities afterward.
9)
Toronto Joy Ride - September 24, 2006
It's a joy to ride a bike in Toronto!
The Toronto Joy Ride is a 100km (or shorter with shortcuts) ride that brings you through some of the best areas of the city: through tree-lined ravines, along trails, lake shore and urban streets. You get to see a lot of new parts of Toronto, enjoy the company of other great cyclists, and get some exercise along the way - all the while supporting the advocacy and cycling support work of the Cycling Cog and the Community Bicycle Network.
The Joy Ride is as challenging or relaxing as you'd like. The main route is 100km but for those who'd only like to do a portion of the route there will options of where people can take a shortcut with their bike, or by subway. The great thing about city riding is that you're never to far away from amenities and transit! To register (free) contact the Cycling Cog at cyclingcog@gmail.com A suggested donation of $30 to help cover the costs of producing the guide, providing refreshments, and to support cycling advocacy is appreciated. If you are willing to volunteer at the event or leading up to the event send an email.
On the day:
Meet at Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen Street West at Bay Street) in front of City Hall at 7:30am to pick up the route guides and refreshements. The ride starts at City Hall at 8 am and ends at 4pm. We will support cyclists along the route with food and water and to deal with any problems such as mechanical problems.
10)
New Bike Locker Location
The City of Toronto is pleased to announce a brand new location for the Bicycle Locker Pilot Project. In partnership with the University of Toronto, the City has installed lockers at 371 Bloor Street West (on the corner of Bloor and Spadina in the parking lot behind the building). These lockers are now available for $10 (+GST) a month for a minimum of 4 months. For more information, visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/locker.htm
11)
7th Annual Bicycle Fall Blowout Sale - Saturday October 21, 2006
Bicycle Retailers come together to offer a year-end clear out sale at the Direct Energy Centre(formerly the National Trade Centre) Hall F at Exhibition Place from 10 am - 5 pm.
12)
Ahead in the Bike Lane
Toronto Cycling Committee meetings:
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 4, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, September 25, 2005, 7:00 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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