Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1) Passing of Eurgene Yao
Toronto's cycling community mourns the passing of Eurgene Yao, a co-founder of the Urbane Cyclist bike shop, at the age of 61.
Yao started the worker-owned bike shop for the commuting cyclist ten years ago after a long career as an engineer and activist in Toronto's Chinese community. He died on 12 February of liver and heart problems.
Eugene was known for his warmth and hospitality at the shop, where he had a bright smile for anyone who needed his help or just wanted to say hello. The City of Toronto extends condolences to the family of Eugene Yao.
A bicycle design award has been named in his honour at the Ontario College of Art & Design.
Donations may be made to the school for the prize.
2) Burnt down, Duke's Cycle rises again
Duke's Cycle on Queen Street West is no more. A huge fire razed the store and a number of other old Queen Street West buildings on February 20, but the Duke family, who have been in the retail bike business continuously since 1914, will re-open in a new downtown location, after having re-appeared with their usual booth at the Bike Show (with a new flaming logo).
3) Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee: Next meeting agenda
The next TCAC meeting will be held March 17, 2008, 7 p.m. in Committee Room 2 at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.
Agenda:
A. Update- Centennial Park Masterplan
(7 - 7:10 p.m.)
B. Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
(Presentation - 7:10 - 7:25 p.m.)
C. Toronto Cyclists Union
(Presentation - 7:25 - 7:45 p.m.)
D. TTC - Transit City Light Rail Projects - A presentation by Committee member Fred Stabinski on a proposal for future light rail and cycling integration.
(7:45 - 8 p.m.)
E. Winter Snow Removal on Bike Lanes
(8 - 8:15 p.m.)
F. Bike Racks on TTC Buses & Streetcars
(8:15 - 8:20 p.m.)
G. Request for Funding - Full Time Trails & Pathways Planner
(8:20 - 8:25 p.m.)
H. Traffic Data Centre and Safety Bureau 2006 - Cyclists Involved in Collisions Statistics
(8:25 - 8:30 p.m.)
I. Toronto Bike Plan Update
(8:30 - 8:35 p.m.)
J. 2008 Bike Month - Presentation on the Various Plans & Events
(Presentation - 8:35 to 9 p.m.)
4) Friends For Life Bike Rally: Toronto-Montreal
Ride your bike to Montreal and help the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation!
Now honouring its 10th anniversary, the Friends for Life Bike Rally is the second-largest fundraiser benefiting an HIV/AIDS organization in Canada. As long as there's a reason...there's a ride.
This year, riders and crew aim to raise over $1 million to benefit the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA) while embarking on one of two cycling adventures between Toronto and Montreal.
The traditional ride is six days and spans 600 km. Our new, shorter ride is three days and about half that distance. Both rides take place between July 27th and August 1st, 2008.
This year, the Bike Rally is growing and with its expanded capacity, it still has room for more cyclists and volunteer crew members willing to take part in this memorable experience.
Calling all cyclists! The Bike Rally is not a race - you don't need to have an expensive bike or be a professional cyclist to participate. You just need the commitment to train, to fundraise and to learn how to ride safely.
During the Rally, riders are supported by a road safety crew and medical support teams. Campsite costs, meals, return bike transportation and areturn VIA ticket from Montreal are also included. Six-day riders are required to raise a minimum of $2,200 in pledges to PWA, while three-day riders must raise $2,000.
The Bike Rally supports the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, which provides on-the-ground, practical support to children, women and men living with HIV/AIDS in and around Toronto. Through its food and income support programs, health promotion and treatment resources, the foundation helps people with HIV/AIDS retain their independence and their dignity while meeting their basic needs.
Register, donate or learn more.
5) Streamlined Bike Lane approval process
A simplified process for approving bike lane projects has been adopted by Council, to facilitate accelerated implementation of the Bikeway Network. Instead of reporting first to Community Council, reports on proposed bike lanes will now go directly to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. Transportation Services will be able to report on several bike lane projects at once, rather than reporting separately on each bike lane proposal. For projects that span more than one community council area, this would have been impossible under the former process.
The new approval process recognises that the Bikeway Network is an important component of the city-wide transportation system. Council will still have the final decision-making authority for all projects, giving councillors the opportunity to speak on matters affecting their wards. The new bike lane reporting and approval process along with increased staff and funding for Cycling Infrastructure, is an important part of the City's strategy to accelerate bike lane installations, including this year's target of 50 kilometres.
6) BIKE MONTH 2008 - Register your event!
It may be snowy out, but the hour is at hand to register your cycling event to be included in the Bike Month Calendar. The deadline is THURSDAY MARCH 27 4 p.m. Don't be shy, if you are working to make cycling more accessible in Toronto, give us a shout and we can discuss ways in which we may be able to support your project. Bike Month info, updates and the registration form.
With Bike Week becoming Bike Month for the first time this year, things are beginning to fall into place for the first ever Bike Month launch event Monday May 26th on Nathan Philips Square. There will be hot breakfast as usual, served up with biodegradable plates and cutlery, as well as an open air fair, displays and performances.
Get your friends out to the Square as part of the 19th Annual Group Commute. Map and info.
On the Square this year for the Bike Month Launch:
Get your new copies of the 2008 City of Toronto Cycling Map, hot off the presses! And check out displays discussing the Bikeway Network, Bicycle Parking programs and other Cycling related programs in Toronto.
Try out the TTC Bus Bike Rack away from traffic.
The bus on the square is one of 100 new buses with bike racks available that will be added to the TTC fleet this year. The new Toronto Chapter of Bicycles For Humanity will be accepting donations of new and used Bike Parts which will be sent to Africa.
Tour d'Afrique will bring an Art Sale of photographs taken on their cycle tours around the world. All the money generated from these sales will go to buy bicycles for medical workers in Africa.
You can also pick up Dandy Horse, the new Toronto Cyclists Union magazine, Momentum Magazine, the Bicycle Film Festival program, the Cycle Messenger World.
Championships Program, the schedule for the Toronto-Niagara Bike Train, and the Bike Month Calendar of Events. Come check out these booths and many more!
If you would like a booth to showcase your cycling business, group, product, program or initiative, please contact us as soon as possible at 416-392-7592 as space is limited.
7) Pedestrian Sundays in Kensington Market - First meeting March 18, 7 p.m.
P.S. Kensington will hold its first planning meeting Tuesday, March 18, 2007.
Bring your ideas and plans for the monthly pedestrian event in the Market. The meeting will explore the possibility of an expanded road closure to include Nassau, Augusta, and or Baldwin streets. The meeting takes place at the Kensington Lofts, 21 Nassau St, in the Meeting Room.
Pedestrian Sundays will run from 12 p.m. till 7 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month from May to October:
May 25 - Grand Opening
June 29 - Fire - Summer Solstice Sunday
July 27 - Water - Streams of Consciousness
Aug 31 - Air - Kensington Community AIR Show
Sept 28 - Earth - Global Harvest Traditions
Oct 26 - Hallowe'en
8) Bike Train coming back again!
The Toronto-Niagara Bike Train launched in summer 2007 and introduced bike racks onboard select VIA Rail Canada departures between Toronto and Niagara Falls.
The pilot year was a resounding success! In 2008, Bike Train service will be expanded. The new schedule includes select weekends and weekdays from June to September. For more information.
9) Ahead in the Bike Lane:
- Cycling Committee meets March 17, 7 p.m. at City Hall, Committee room 2
- P.S. Kensington Public Meeting March 18, 7 p.m., 21 Nassau St, Meeting room
- Bike Month events calendar deadline March 27, 4 p.m.
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.
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