Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1) Energy Conscious Cyclists
The City of Toronto wants to say thanks to all of those people who used their bikes today as an ecologically friendly way to commute through the city! With Thursday's power blackout and energy constraints it is important to realize that cycling through the city uses only muscle power. So grab your bike and enjoy the gorgeous sunshine on your way to work.
2) Railpath Land Purchased!
The City of Toronto recently completed the acquisition of an abandoned rail spur in the west downtown part of the City. This abandoned line, known as the CP PS Lead, runs from the Junction neighbourhood (Cariboo Avenue) to Dundas Street West, a distance of 2.6 km. Over the next few years, this former rail corridor will be developed as a multi-use trail for recreational use and to promote cycle commuting within the City.
Eventually, it is hoped that another abandoned rail line will be acquired to extend this trail corridor from Dundas Street all the way to Strachan Avenue, where connections can be made to the Waterfront Trail and other pathways and on-road cycling lanes in the downtown core.
Initial phases of the work to develop the CP PS Lead trail will focus on undertaking remediation of soils and on preparing a detailed design for the trail corridor. As well, the City has been approached by a community-based group, "Friends of the West Toronto Railpath" who are interested in supporting the future trail development through fundraising, community outreach and stewardship.
Further information on this project can be obtained from Alex Shevchuk, Parks and Recreation Planner with the City of Toronto, by phone at 416-392-0356, or by email at ashevch@toronto.ca.
3) 160kg (350lbs) of Boxes Moved by Bicycle
The City of Toronto’s Cycling Ambassadors will demonstrate human-powered cargo movement.
On Monday August 25th at 10:00 a.m. Cycling Ambassadors’ Brooke and Chala will transport approximately 160 kg (350lbs) of the City’s 2003 Bicycle Map by bicycle. This event will demonstrate the ease and many benefits of transporting larger cargo by bicycle.
The delivery will start at Nathan Philips Square where a convoy consisting of a large capacity flatbed bike trailer, provided by Community Bicycle Network, smaller bike trailers and cargo bikes will be loaded with the boxes of maps. The maps will be unloaded at the Bicycle Promotions office at 590 Jarvis St.
Bicycles are one of the most efficient and inexpensive methods of moving goods and performing services in an urban setting. With the number of smog days increasing in Toronto each summer it is important to promote the use of non-polluting forms of transportation. Bicycles take up less room, make less noise and cause far less damage to the roads themselves than the gasoline powered vehicles that they can replace for transporting goods and services around a city.
In cities throughout the world various forms of cargo, including passengers, are transported using pedal power. Cargo can be as small as a courier bag on one’s shoulder, or as large as a refrigerator carried on a high capacity trailer. Some trailers can carry as much as 450lbs. Cargo bikes, which are specially designed for large load capacities without requiring a separate trailer, are also a popular mode of pedal-powered transportation throughout America and Europe.
The City of Toronto is committed to the sustainable transportation and is proud to work with the Community Bicycle Network in promoting the human-powered transportation of goods and services.
The Cycling Ambassadors would like to thank Ontario Power Generation as lead sponsor and the in-kind sponsors: Bell Sports, CAMEL BAK, Giro helmets, McBride Cycle, Norco Bikes and OGC Canada.
4) Dundas East Bike Lanes Being Installed!
On July 23rd City Council voted against a motion to reopen debate on the Dundas Street East bike lanes. Currently being installed, the Dundas Street East bike lanes will travel from Broadview to Kingston Road. With strong community support and painting just begun we can expect to travel the new bikeways soon.
5) Bicycle Friendly Business Award Nomination Deadline
The Bicycle Friendly Business Award deadline is fast approaching and nominations are needed. You can help by nominating a business today! The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, September 5, 2003, at 5 p.m. Call 416-392-2577 for a nomination form.
6) Cycling Ambassador Truck Safety and CAN-BIKE Demo
Members of the public and media are invited to attend the bike/large truck safety demonstration at Metro Hall Square, 55 John Street (at King St. West) on Wednesday, August 20, 2003, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
7) CAN-BIKE Fall Schedule
The latest CAN-BIKE schedule is now available through Toronto Parks & Recreation. Two new CAN-BIKE 2 courses are available for the experienced cyclists that strives to know more, and Instructor Workshops are being planned. New courses also include Adult Learn to Ride, Kid's CAN-BIKE, CAN-BIKE Cycling Freedom for Women, and CAN-BIKE 1.
For a complete schedule of the upcoming courses please see Ahead in the Bike Lane at the bottom of this newsletter.
CAN-BIKE is also looking for instructors for the 2004 season. Potential instructors must have completed the CAN-BIKE 2 program and be assessed as an Instructor Candidate. Toronto Parks & Recreation hires CAN-BIKE Instructors to teach their cycling courses at a wage rate of $16.88 or higher. Please call 416-392-1311 for more information.
8) Bikeway Network Route Signs
The City of Toronto is rolling out a new project of the Bike Plan: Bikeway Network Route Signs. The Bike Plan proposes a 1000km Bikeway Network that will ultimately link cyclists with neighbourhoods and destinations across the city. The goal of the Bikeway Network Route Signs is to have a common set of signs to identify all bikeways, including bicycle lanes and bicycle routes on the road and off-street paths. The signage program is designed to help cyclists navigate the city of Toronto.
As a pilot project over 150 signs are being placed in a test area in July. Gerrard St., Lake Ontario, Sherbourne St. and the Don River border the test area. Evaluation of the Bikeway signs will be ongoing throughout the summer by staff, the Cycling Committee and volunteer cyclists. The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if the design and location of the signs help cyclists navigate. For a map and volunteer information please visit the Bikeway Network Information System website.
9) BUG Network Commuter Challenge Update
We are pleased to announce that on Monday July 21st staff presented a plaque from Mayor Lastman to the winner of the Bicycle User Group (BUG) Network Commuter Challenge during Bike Week 2003. Members of the Allstream (formerly AT&T) BUG came to Metro Hall to receive their plaque and be photographed for the web site. We would like to thank everyone who took part in the Commuter Challenge and congratulate Allstream for their excellent showing.
In the past few weeks we have added five new BUGs to the Network. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following groups to the network:
On-Site
Davenport Perth Neighbourhood and Community Centre
State Street Financial
Energy Probe
BMO - Clerica
T.I.P.S. Eco-Cab
The BUG Network has several exciting projects in the works for the coming months. We are drawing closer to registering our 50th BUG, at which time staff will organize a media event to mark this important milestone. Be sure to watch this space for details in the weeks to come or visit the BUG Network web site.
10) Census Canada Releases Cycling Commuting Data
Data recently released from the 2001 Canadian Census included some interesting facts about Walking and Cycling to work. Overall cycling to work rose from 1.1% in 1996 to 1.2% in 2001. Walking to work fell slightly from 7.0% in 1996 to 6.6% in 2001. In 2001:
7.9% of employed females walked to work.
5.4% of employed males walked to work.
1.6% of employed men cycled to work.
0.7% of employed women cycled to work.
The report also points out that men and women in the youngest age groups were more likely to walk or bike to work than older individuals. Nearly 3% of employed workers aged 15 to 19 cycled to work in 2001, while less than 1% of those aged 65 and over did the same. On the other hand, the likelihood of men and women walking to work drops until age 44, then increases steadily with increasing age. Employed seniors aged 65 and over were just as likely to walk to work as a worker aged 20 to 24.
For more cycling and walking data, go to:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/pow/ftorbike.cfm
To read the full report, go to:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/pow/contents.cfm
11) Ahead in the Bike Lane
No Toronto Cycling Committee meetings will be held this month. Meetings will resume in September.
- Kid's CAN-BIKE
Aug 25 - Aug 28, 9AM - Noon, Flemingdon RC
Aug 25 - Aug 28, 1PM - 4PM, Flemingdon RC
Aug 25 - Aug 28, 9AM - Noon, Oriole CC
Aug 25 - Aug 28, 1PM - 4PM, Oriole CC
- CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
Aug 10, 9AM - Noon, Centennial RC East
Aug 10, 1PM - 4PM, Centennial RC East
Aug 17, 9AM - Noon, Birchmount CC
Aug 17, 1PM - 4PM, Birchmount CC
Aug 24, 1PM - 4PM, Earl Bales CC
Sept 6, 9AM - Noon, Centennial RC East
Sept 11, 9AM - Noon, Cummer Park CC
- CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
Sept 6, 1PM - 4PM, Centennial RC East
Sept 7, 1PM - 4PM, Birchmount CC
- CAN-BIKE 1
Sept 14,21,28, 1PM - 5PM, Birchmount CC
- CAN-BIKE Cycling Freedom for Women
Sept 6,13, 10AM - 4PM, Etobicoke Olympium
- CAN-BIKE 2
Sept 6,7,13, 9AM - 4PM, Mary McCormick RC
Sept 13,14,20, 9AM - 4PM, Allan Lamport Stadium
For CAN-BIKE registration information please call Parks & Recreation at 416-338-0000 or see our website at http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/canbike/canbike_registration.htm
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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