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 Next
The next meeting of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee is scheduled for Monday, January 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. at City Hall, Committee Room 3.
2) Bridges E.A.'s: Request for Comments
Requests for submissions on Environmental Assessments being made for the existing Dufferin Bridges (over Gardiner Expressway and CN Rail corridor), and for a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge from Fort York to Wellington St W. (intended completion 2012), have these upcoming deadlines:
- Dufferin Street Bridges - by Monday, January 12, 2009. Please direct your comments to Mr. Scott Mitchell at the City of Toronto:
Office Information Coordinator
Transportation Infrastructure Mgmt
smitche@toronto.ca
- Fort York Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge - by Friday, January 16, 2009. Send comments or queries to:
City of Toronto
Waterfront Secretariat
Mr Stephen McKenna, Project Manager
City Hall, 12th floor, East Tower
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
3) Parkdale Trails for Active Transportation Workshop - January 15
On Thursday, January 15 citizens, community leaders, and municipal staff of the City of Toronto will come together in a community-led planning workshop which will be facilitated by international active transportation expert and urban strategist, Gil Penalosa. Through the workshop process, participants will learn about successful active transportation planning from around the world and lay out priorities for action around walking, bicycling, and active mobility in their community.
Anyone with an interest in walking, bicycling, and making Parkdale a great place is encouraged to come out to the workshop, which will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2009 and be held at High Park Public Library, 228 Roncesvalles Ave. More information.
4) Toronto Cyclists Union Seeks Executive Director
Position Description: The Executive Director, working under the direction of the Board of Directors, is responsible for growing the membership base of the Toronto Cyclists Union. The Executive Director will develop the identity of the organization among members by advancing the mission of the union and ensuring the overall success and operation of its programs.
The Toronto Cyclists Union is a member-driven community of cyclists from every geographic area in Toronto that represents a cross-section of Toronto's cyclists. We provide a vibrant and amplified voice to achieve the common goals of safety, legitimacy and accessibility of cycling in Toronto. We coordinate city-wide advocacy on behalf of our members and provide resources for cyclists to be effective local advocates themselves. We promote cycling in an inclusive, friendly and inviting manner.
Building a member-based cycling organization Toronto is an exciting opportunity for candidates.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing processes for and managing the day-to-day operations of the organization.
- Developing recruitment strategies for new members and a retention program for existing members.
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- Developing advocacy campaigns that raise the profile and advance the mission of the organization.
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- Acting as the external spokesperson for the Toronto Cyclists Union.
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Acting as a central point person and resource for each of the volunteer committees in the critical program areas:
- Advocacy (ward advocacy program, lobbying, campaigns)
- Membership (recruitment, retention, mail-outs, database, benefits)
- Communications (newsletter, website/Facebook content, other informational material, media)
- Outreach (fundraising and community building events, new Canadians programming)
- Fundraising (contracts, sponsorships, grants)
- Information Technology (website, email lists, intranet, social networking)
- Governance (strategic planning, organizational structure, board development)
- Finance (developing business plan, overall financial management)
- Working with government agencies, such as the City of Toronto and Metrolinx to develop improved bicycle policies and facilities
- Promoting cycling via public information, education, and advocacy
- Preparing agendas and reports for Board meetings
- Responding to media queries and developing media releases
- Administering grants and contracts
- Hiring and supervising staff when the viability arises
You excel and have demonstrated experience in:
- Managing and developing a non-profit organization
- Building and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of groups and stakeholders
- Advocacy or lobbying governments and other organized groups
- Public outreach and public speaking
- Managing multiple, competing demands
You possess:
- Passion for cycling
- In-depth knowledge of cycling
- Excellent organizational skills
- Demonstrated ability to build a membership base
- Demonstrated ability to raise funds from diverse sources
- Demonstrated ability to motivate and develop a network of volunteers devoted to carrying out organizational goals
- Strong writing and communication skills
- Independent, motivational, and inclusive spirit
- Skills and characteristics that reflect the values of the Toronto Cyclists Union
- A belief in the mission, vision and positions of the Toronto Cyclists Union
Terms of contract:
- Compensation - $25,000
- 26 week contract, beginning in February 2009, with possible extension subject to successful fundraising
- 37.5 hrs/week, distribution of hours to be negotiated
- Including some evening and weekend hours
To Apply: By January 15, 2009, please send by email in PDF or rtf format:
- A cover letter (two pages max) describing your background and interest in this position your resume, and a sample of your work (e.g. papers, articles, press releases, etc.).
Send to: hiring@bikeunion.to
All applications received will be confirmed through a reply e-mail. We expect to conduct interviews during the last two weeks of January and are seeking a mid-February start date.
The Toronto Cyclists Union operates out of the Centre for Social Innovation on Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto.
5) Winter Snow Removal Policy
As we find ourselves once again in snowy conditions, we take the opportunity to lay out the City's snow removal policy on bike lanes, and the brand new developments vis a vis the Martin Goodman Trail's winter maintenance.
A. On-Street Bike Lanes
Designated on-street bike lanes receive a priority level of winter service. During a storm, ploughing of main roads, where most of the bike lanes are located, is commenced at accumulations of 5 cm and continues until the snowfall stops. In accordance with the Council policy, ploughing of these routes is completed within 8 to 10 hours of the end of a storm.
For a period of 48 to 72 hours after a storm, ploughs are again sent out to 'clean up' curb lanes, where the majority of bike lanes are located, with instructions to the Operators to move the snow as close as possible to the curb without blocking the public sidewalk. Our goal upon completion of this activity is to have at least 1 m of the bike lane open for use. It is not possible to completely eliminate snow from the curb lanes, however, the 'clean up' is done more frequently on streets with bike lanes in order to keep them open.
In the Toronto & East York District, bike lanes are located on streets where the sidewalk is against the curb and on street parking is adjacent to one side of the bike lane. Therefore, there is often no alternative but to leave the ploughed windrow partially on the sidewalk.
With large snowfalls, the windrows (ploughed snow banks) are significant, easily approaching or exceeding 2 m in width. Compounding the problem is on-street parking and service vehicles. After a road and sidewalk has been ploughed, parking vehicles, service/delivery trucks and even general traffic driving in the already narrowed curb lanes tend to drive on the ploughed windrows and push the snow onto the sidewalk and/or the curb/bike lane.
Additionally, as drivers clear their cars after a storm and residents or abutting business owner's shovel out, large piles of snow end up being deposited on the street within the bike lanes. These large piles harden after freeze/thaw events and ice is formed. In locations where on street parking occurs, the presence of these hardened windrows commonly results in vehicles parking several feet from the curb often obstructing the bike lane.
Once a snow removal operation is initiated, bike lanes receive priority removal, generally being completed in the first week of the operation. We find, nonetheless, that despite snow removal operations, the bike lanes continue to be plagued by intermittent blockages.
B. Martin Goodman Trail Maintenance Pilot Project
It is noted that neither Transportation Services nor any other division in the City of Toronto, have been resourced or budgeted to provide winter services to off-street bike trails in the past. However, this winter season, the Division is proposing to initiate a pilot that will create two bike routes into the downtown core, using sections of off-street trails.
A recent staff report (November 21, 2008) submitted to Council recommends that a route be established from the east, encompassing approximately 5.6 kilometres following the multi-use trail on the north side of Lakeshore Boulevard from Northern Dancer Boulevard west to Lower Sherbourne Street.
From the west, the route will involve a 6.3 km long section of the Martin Goodman Trail between Windermere Avenue and Stadium Road (just west of Bathurst). These sections of bike trail would be ploughed and de-iced, typically in conjunction with the sidewalk ploughing operation. The staff report notes a number of concerns including high potential for ponding and icing, lighting, various obstructions, etc, which will likely render the trail conditions less than ideal. The pilot will be closely monitored by Transportation division staff and an in-depth audit is proposed to be carried out for the purpose of identifying capital improvements that may make the operation more effective in the future.
Ultimately, the goal will be to plough all 20 km of the Martin Goodman, with a plan in place to temporarily remove the more than four dozen bollards that block the trail to snowploughs.
A summary of the City's Salt Management Plan.
6) Reminder: Bike Winter Art Show Opening - January 15 @ Metro Hall
Starting Monday, January 12 until Monday, January 19, 2009 check out the 2nd Annual Bike Winter Art show in the Metro Hall Rotunda (55 John St).
Submissions for this show will be judged and finalists will be eligible to be printed as Bike Month posters and publications for the spring.
Opening reception will be Thursday, January 15, 2009, 4 - 8 p.m. Contact cyclingevents@toronto.ca for more information.
7) Reminder: The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards - January 20
Toronto Cyclists Union will present the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards and its own awards, the Golden Spokes.
Don't miss this unveiling of BFBA winners and a good party to boot! This is a fundraiser for the Toronto Cyclists Union.
The Golden Spokes are awards handed out by the Toronto Cyclists Union recognizing individual or group efforts to improve cycling in Toronto. They are a celebration of cycling and serve to illustrate how many people across Toronto are committed to bicycling and want to work together to make Toronto a more bike-friendly city.
January 20, 2009
Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. W.)
Doors at 7 p.m.; Show at 8 p.m.
$10 or PWYC
8) Reminder - Ontario Bicycle Tourism Summit - January 23
Mark your calendars! The Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum, is taking place on January 23, 2009 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The Trust is partnering on this innovative event and we encourage our partners to attend.
The Ontario Cycle Tourism Forum will bring together leading cycle tourism stakeholders to discuss business development opportunities and challenges of this growing tourism market segment in Ontario.
Confirmed special guest speakers include:
- The Honourable Monique Smith, Ontario Minister of Tourism
- Jean-François Pronovost, Executive Director, Velo Québec Association
- Lukas Stadtherr, Co-director, SwitzerlandMobility
- Eric Nijland, Director, Dutch National Cycling Platform
- Richard Bonds, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Tourism Office
Interactive panel discussions will include:
- Bill Allen, President, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
- Councillor Brian Baty, Chair, Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
- Leslie Bruce, Chief Marketing Officer, Butterfield and Robinson Inc.
- Jean Charbonneau, Manager, Lands, National Capital Commission
- Daniel Egan, Manager, Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure, City of Toronto
- Anne Marie Forcier, Executive Director, Rideau Heritage Route
- Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director, Waterfront Regeneration Trust
- Michael Lawley, Executive Director, Muskoka Tourism
- Pat Macdonald, General Manager and CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission
- Burkhard Mausberg, President, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
- Janice Thomson, Executive Director, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau
See the full agenda.
9) Coldest Day of the Year Ride - January 30
It's coming back after a successful launch last year!
Come out to City Hall at noon for a group ride to the Fairmont Royal York on what is statistically the coldest day of the year in Toronto. Warm up at the Fairmont Royal York with free hot drink and snacks. Riders will also receive free turtle lights thank to our sponsor Mountain Equipment
Co-Op, and the FIRST 50 riders will receive a limited edition Bike Winter 25 oz thermos. If you would like a table or to be a part of this event, please e-mail: cyclingevents@toronto.ca.
Meet at the back doors of City Hall (100 Queen Street West) near Elizabeth St. The ride will go across Armoury Street, south/left on University Avenue, east/left on Front Street to the Fairmont Royal York.
All cyclists are welcome.
10) Once Upon a Commute! Photo Journal Contest
Smart Commute Toronto Central and Spacing magazine are pleased to announce Once Upon a Commute! - a photo journal contest. Tell your active transit commuting story and enter for a chance to be published in Toronto?s award-winning Spacing magazine. Winning photos and runners-up will be posted online. The winning submission will be published in a 2009 edition of Spacing Magazine! The Contest closes 30 April 2009. Winning photos will be announced in May 2009. More information.
11) Bicycle Assembly & Maintenance Course for Youth (February 16)
Please pass this notice on to any and all prospective bike mechanics in Toronto between the ages of 15 and 25:
A six week Bicycle Assembly and Maintenance Course will be offered beginning on February 16. This course is co-sponsored by the Learning Enrichment Foundation, the City of Toronto and the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada.
There will be a one week pre-course evaluation to determine aptitude and suitability, followed by four weeks of course work. A two week placement at a bicycle shop will follow. The course will be completed by two more weeks of classroom study.
For the first week and last two weeks students will be learning on used bicycles. During the four-week block students will learn to assemble new bicycles.
Classes will be held at the Learning Enrichment Foundation at 116 Industry St, near Eglinton Avenue West and Weston Road. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. (sharp!) and end at 5 p.m. There will be reading assignments and some written questions for most classes.
Course enrolment will be limited to ten students per session. If there are more than ten people are selected, the next class could start soon after Easter.
For more information: 416 244 8982
12) Ahead in the Bike Lane
- Dufferin Bridges E.A. comments deadline: January 12
- Bike Winter Art Show Opening: January 15, 4 - 8 p.m.
- Parkdale Trails Workshop: January 15, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. High Park Library
- Fort York Bridge Proposal comments deadline: January 16
- TCAC Meeting: January 19, 7 p.m. at City Hall, Committee Room 3
- Bicycle Friendly Business Awards: January 20, Gladstone Hotel 7-9 p.m.
- Ontario Cycle Tourism Conference: January 23, all day
- Coldest Day of the Year Ride: January 30, 12 p.m. at City Hall
- Bike Assembly & Mechanics Course: February 16 at 116 Industry St
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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