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Issue # 146
September 2008 |
Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1) Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee meeting, September 22, 7:30 p.m.
The next TCAC meeting is on Monday, September 22 at City Hall in Committee Room 3. The agenda will be posted online.
2) Annette Bike Lane - Public meeting
Date: Monday, September 15, 2008
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: James Culnan Catholic School, 605 Willard Avenue(Southeast of Dundas St. W and Jane St.)
Councillor Saundercook (Ward 13) is hosting a public meeting on the portion of the Annette bike lane from Runnymede Rd. to Jane St.
In June 2008 Council approved bike lanes on Annette from Runnymede Rd. to Dundas St. West. The meeting will present and solicit feedback on the options for providing bike facilities between Runnymede Road and Jane Street.
Cyclists are invited to attend the meeting to share their comments on the bike lane project.
If you are unable to attend the meeting you can submit comments to:
David Dunn
Pedestrian & Cycling Infrastructure Unit
City of Toronto
22nd Floor, City Hall
100 Queen St. W
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
E-mail: bikeplan@toronto.ca
Fax: 416-392-4808
and/or
Councillor Bill Saundercook
Tel: 416-392-4072
Fax: 416-696-3667
E-mail: councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca
3) New Bike Lanes update!
In recent weeks new bikes lanes have been installed in the following locations:
- The Pond Road (Sentinel Road to Shoreham Drive, 0.9km);
- Finch Avenue East (Neilson Dr. to Morningside Ave., 1.2km);
- Vaughan Road (St. Clair Ave East to Winona Drive, 1.6 km); and
- Logan Avenue (Gerrard St East to Dundas Street East, 0.4km)
Installation of bike lanes has also commenced on:
- Stephen Drive (The Queensway to Berry Road, 0.8); and
- Birchmount Road (Kingston Road to St. Clair Avenue East, 2.5km)
Total distance of bike lanes (completed installations) in the city has increased to 85.1km.
This painting season has seen more kilometres put in than ever before in one summer, with more to come by October.
4) Bicycle Friendly Business Awards nominations open!
Nominations are now open for the annual Bicycle Friendly Business Awards. Please nominate a bicycle friendly business for any of the following categories:
- Best Large Business
- Best Small Business
- Best Skills Development
- Best Bike Parking
- Best Overall
Deadline for nominations is 1 December. Online nomination form.
5) Trailbuilding School with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew & the City of Toronto
September 13 and 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Todmorden Mills and Crothers Woods (Don Valley)
This is a rare chance to work with the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew and improve your trailbuilding skills and knowledge. IMBA is also offering a Club Care Session Friday, September 12 at 7 p.m at Todmorden Mills. Learn how to build, improve and sustain your bike club. For more information and to register for the IMBA Trailbuilding School, contact trails@toronto.ca or call 416-392-DIRT (3478).
Trailbuilding Event (I)
September 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crothers Woods
Join the City of Toronto's Sustainable Trails Initiative and IMBA for a day of giving back to the trails! Activities may include re-routing trails, rock armoring over exposed tree roots, water crossings, installing trail components and planting native trees and shrubs. Please bring a lunch (which can be purchased at the Loblaws on Redway Rd) and come prepared for outdoor work (boots, long pants, sunscreen, etc). Call 416-338-DIRT for more details.
Trailbuilding Event (II)
October 18 and 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crothers Woods
Help the City of Toronto's Sustainable Trails Initiative continue to build great trails. Activities may include re-routing trails, rock armoring over exposed tree roots, water crossings, installing trail components and planting native trees and shrubs. Please bring a lunch and come prepared for outdoor work (boots, long pants, sunscreen, etc). Call 416-338-DIRT for more details.
Toronto Sustainable Trails Initiative - trails@toronto.ca
416-338-DIRT (3478)
6) CAN-BIKE Kids Camp wrap-up
The Kids CAN-BIKE Camp has wrapped up another successful summer, with 75 Toronto kids participating in the eight week-long bike camps, run out of Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre.
Through the generous contribution and efforts of the Bicycle Safety Partnership, which includes local agencies and sponsors, the camp provides campers deemed in financial need with bikes, helmets, locks, waterbottles, backpacks and safety sashes. At the end of their week, each camper takes home his or her bike and
equipment for further enjoyment. The Kids CAN-BIKE Camp has provided 234 campers with this experience since 2006.
One parent from Eastview Boys and Girls club says, "[The camp was] very fun and challenging and good for kids to learn bike rules."
"It was cool, exciting, fun, but most of all, the coolest part is when you BIKE!" reported a Community Resource Connection camper.
We look forward to expanding the Kids CAN-BIKE Camp to three locations in 2009; Jimmie Simpson R.C. in central Toronto, Elmbank C.C. in Etobicoke and Gordonridge C.C. in Scarborough.
Learn more about the camp.
Thank you to our sponsors:
- Ministry of Health Promotion (CIAF)
- Ontario Cycling Association
- Canadian Tire Foundation for Families - Jump Start Program
- Canadian Tire Yonge and Davenport Store
- Toronto Children's Aid Society
- Mountain Equipment Co-op
- Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Safety Fund
- Norco Performance Bikes
- Butterfield and Robinson
- Toronto Emergency Medical Services
- Black's IS Photography
- Velotique
7) Public Bikes in Toronto: A Forum, September 18, 7:30 p.m
(This is not a City of Toronto event)
The Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT), The Clean Air Partnership & The Community Bicycle Network present "Bikes as a public good: What is the future of public bikes in Toronto?" Come Learn about public bike (i.e., mass rental) programs from cycling experts and policy makers. TCAT wants you to tell it what a public bike program in Toronto should look like at its forum next week.
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue at St. George Street
Speakers:
- Michel Philibert, Stationnement de Montreal
- David Boyce, OYBike Systems Ltd
- Herb van den Dool, BikeShare/Community Bicycle Network
Moderated by Dave Meslin with the short film: 'Bike Share in Paris' by Streetfilms.org
8) Tour of University Heights: Ontario Youth Cup Races, September 27
On Saturday, September 27 bike races will be held on Driftwood Drive in the Jane/Sheppard neighbourhood, for the second annual Tour of University Heights.
These will be the final sanctioned road races in Ontario this year. Races will be held in the minime, junior, and adult categories. Registration & details at www.ontariocycling.org
9) ZM Octoberfest Cross Race, October 5
Cyclocross races will go all day from about 9 a.m at Earl Bales Park in North York in all categories; this will be the first cyclocross race of the season in Toronto. Expect a serious hillclimb and plenty of action for spectators. For registration and details: www.ontariocycling.org.
10) Dandyhorse Magazine launched
Dandyhorse, a new 48 page colour magazine for Toronto cyclists, has been launched and is available for free in bike shops and some other stores around the city. There are all sorts of articles on infrastructure, style, maintenance, bike culture in the city and more.
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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