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
The Cycling Committee is an advisory body to Council. Each new term, Toronto City Council decides what advisory committees to establish. At its March 5, 6, 7, and 8 meetings, Council re-established 19 advisory committees including the Cycling Committee for the current term of Council running to November 30, 2010.
To appoint Members of Council to these committees, Council also asked the Clerk to poll all Members of Council for their interest and report to the Striking Committee. The Striking Committee will recommend which Members should sit on each committee and Council will appoint the members - including a Councillor to co-chair the Cycling Committee - at its April 24 meeting.
2)
Come Learn About the new Railpath Park!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Date: Monday, March 19, 2007
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Perth Randolph Centre 21 Randolph Avenue (one block north of Bloor, west of Perth)
This new park and bike trail will begin construction later this year and will stretch along the east side of the rail corridor west of Perth Avenue, from Dundas Street in the south to Cariboo Avenue in the north. If you can not attend but would like more information please email councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca or call 416-392-7012.
3)
Bike Week 2007 Event Registration Deadline
5 p.m., Friday, March 23, 2007
Attention all enthusiastic cyclists! This is it folks. Toronto's annual celebration of bike culture is rapidly approaching. It's time to make your voice heard. It's time to throw a party or organize a themed group ride. Give a talk on what cycling means to you and share your visions of an ideal, bike-friendly Toronto. It's time to meet other cyclists who share your visions, and it's time to join in the fun! Event registration deadline for Bike Week 2007 is Friday, March 23, 5 p.m.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to celebrate cycling in Toronto. Register online or call 416-338-5076 to find out more.
4)
What?! Another Bike Locker Location?
Yes it's true! There are Bike Lockers at Metro Hall (King St Entrance). They'll be opening any day now so visit www.toronto.ca/cycling/locker.htm and send in an application form. The sooner the better because they're going fast! Visit the Bike Locker website for a full list of locations and stay tuned as more lockers open across Toronto.
5)
The Lines are Open
Registration for CAN-BIKE courses started this month and courses are filling up. The Kids and Teens courses have some spots left so if this is the year a child or teen you know who wants to bike to school or work - do your part and get them trained to ride cooperatively and safely on the street. If your child is still young enough with small enough tires to ride on the sidewalk - there's lots to learn about that too. The Kids CAN-BIKE course will open their eyes, and yours!, to lots of skills and fun techniques to make cycling a great, safe, adventure.
The full schedule is available at www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike. Call 416-392-1311 if you have any questions about the program or to decide which level is right for you.
You can register by telephone at 416-338-0000 or on-line at www.toronto.ca/parks/torontofun/index.htm
6)
Toronto-Niagara Bike Train Survey
Please visit www.biketrain.ca and complete the online Bike Train Survey - your feedback is important!
This survey will help us to determine the tourism demand and opportunity for improved transportation access for cyclists between Toronto and the Niagara Region. The Toronto-Niagara Bike Train is a new sustainable tourism and transportation initiative that will introduce bike racks onboard VIA Rail Canada service between Toronto and the Niagara Region.
The Pilot Year of the Bike Train service will be launching in June 2007, running on a limited schedule until September 2007. Pending a successful Pilot Year, it is anticipated that the service will be expanded in subsequent years. Stay tuned for more Bike Train updates and information. Thank you!
7)
NEW! Online Forms on City's Cycling website!
It just became a whole lot easier to participate in more City Cycling Programs.
Now you can:
What else can you do online? (these aren't new but they're exciting!)
Register an event for Bike Week 2007 - Deadline March 23, 2007
Request the Cycling Ambassadors to attend your summer events
Visit www.toronto.ca/cycling where you'll find all of these programs and more!
8)
Pass it on
Do you ride often and want to share your enthusiasm and cycling skills with kids and adults? Become a CAN-BIKE Instructor! The City of Toronto needs cycling enthusiasts to deliver its Cycling Safety and Education Program to communities across Toronto. The first step is CAN-BIKE 2 training and the earliest course this spring starts on May 5, the follow up Instructor Workshop begins on May 26. You'll be doing a job you love with great pay by July if you register now. Need more info? www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike or call 416-392-1311.
9)
Three Million for Traffic Calming Measures and Bicycle Lanes
On February 8, 2007 the recommended City of Toronto 2007 Capital Budget was presented to the Budget Committee with highlights of some programs and projects. Funding for cycling infrastructure is on page 28 with an announcement for three million dollars to "Introduce traffic calming measures and bicycle lanes on various streets throughout the City." Check it out at www.toronto.ca/budget2007/pdf/capbudget_feb8.pdf (PDF).
10)
Bike Friendly Design Takes the Cake
The Competition Jury for the Nathan Phillips Square Design Competition announced the selection of Plant Architect Inc. " Shore Tilbe Irwin, Toronto as the winning team in the international design competition to revitalize the City's most important public space. Nathan Phillips Square is getting a great green makeover and cyclists and pedestrians have lots to celebrate as a wide variety of sustainable design achievements are part of the plan such as: facilities for cyclists and promotion of cycling; improved pedestrian environment; a soil regeneration strategy; improved tree planting conditions and increased biomass and number of trees; controlling light pollution; energy efficient design; renewable energy features; opportunities for public education; attention to the on-site microclimate; and local sourcing of materials. Check out the design at www.toronto.ca/npsquarecompetition/plant.htm.
11)
Government of Ontario Hansard, December 14, 2006 Re: Wearing of helmets
Mr. John Milloy (MPP, Kitchener Centre): "I move that, in the opinion of this House, the government of Ontario: Recognize the safety benefits of wearing an approved helmet...[and]...Make helmet use mandatory for all cyclists in Ontario by repealing the regulation which exempts cyclists over the age of 18 from these legislative changes."
A Motion is different than a Bill. While a Bill proposes new Legislation, a Motion seeks the agreement of the Members of the Ontario Legislature on a certain issue in order to encourage the government to introduce legislation or a specific policy in response. Read the emotion-filled Hansard report 'Wearing of Helmets' - www.toronto.ca/cycling/safety/helmet/pdf/report-wearing-helmets-121406.pdf (PDF)
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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