Friday, November 20, 2009

Women & Bikephobia


The Toronto Star had a very good article about women and cycling in Toronto a subject which Nancy Smith Lea has done some great reserach on.

In particular, the city should take note of Nancy Smith Lea findings but are they listening? Tragically, no.

Read Nancy's fine article here:
http://nancy.smithlea.ca/?page_id=3

College and Manning 9:20 AM


Where the Bike Lane begins and ends. Meanwhile the rhetoric at City Hall goes on. Quote from Mayor Miller at a transit symposium on Thursday:

"The City of Toronto is not building any new roads," he said. "Our goal is to accommodate all future transportation use by a combination of cycling, walking and public transit."

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Park In The Bike Lane? Welcome to Toronto!


Photo: ARC and it's Guaranteed Bike Lane Action

Star Article The Star reporter, without hardly even trying, catches driver parked in the bike lane for 15 minutes doing paperwork and playing with Blackberry.

You could call and report it: 416-808-6600 (but please don't hold your breath)

The New Scooter Lane



Photo: Gabi Sarlay.
Toronto, earlier this week.

Bad Cyclists? Nah, Mostly Just Bad Drivers


Another fine article in the Guardian The myth of the evils of cycling bad behaviour ...

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The 'Good' Cyclist



Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Action Alert


Action Alert: Fine Increase & Added Enforcement for Bike Lane Parking infractions!





 
Reply
 

Toronto Cyclists Union

 to Tino
show details 4:00 PM (20 hours ago)
ACTION ALERT:  lend your voice in support of added enforcement for parking/stopping in bike lane infractions, and to double this fine from $60 to $120.

RE: Toronto Police Services Board meeting, Nov 19, 2009

The Toronto Cyclists Union will be making a written and in-person deputation asking that the fine for parking / stopping in a bike lane be doubled to $120, and that Toronto Police - Parking Enforcement be compelled to have it's officers begin prioritizing the ticketing of all manner of vehicles stopped or parked illegally in bike lanes throughout the city.

**Please take 5 minutes before 10am on Thursday November 19th to email your support for both of these requests being made on your behalf by the Toronto Cyclists Union.

TO: alok.mukherjee@tpsb.caJoanne.Campbell@tpsb.ca
CC: <Hugh.Smith@torontopolice.on.ca>, <lpawlow@toronto.ca> , <fbalda@toronto.ca>, <info@bikeunion.to>

Subject: Bike Lane Parking Enforcement & Fine Increase

*Here is some text you can use - or compose your own:

As a cyclist (and occasional driver - if this is the case) in Toronto, I would like to express my support for an increase in the set fine amount for parking / stopping in a bike lane to $120.

Additionally, I believe that Parking Enforcement Officers should prioritize more rigorous enforcement of the no-stopping in bike lanes bylaw.

Cars, delivery trucks and buses parked in bike lanes are a serious threat to the safety of cyclists in Toronto.  Cyclists are most vulnerable when they are forced to swerve out of a bike lane to go around motor vehicles stopped in the lane dedicated to the safe passage of cyclists.

Sincerely,
Your name
Toronto Cyclists Union member / supporter.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to help us improve cycling conditions in Toronto!  Thi s is a first, but very important step towards getting motor vehicles out of bike lanes.

Cheers,
Yvonne

-::- -::- -::- -::-Please forward this to your friends!

Monday, November 16, 2009

1960 Bowden



1960 Bowden, originalmente cargada por hebegbeez.
The Future is now or, hey, never was. Thanks to Todd Tyrtle for the find.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Toronto's Specter Pastes Up Brooklyn



IMG_4435, originalmente cargada por jakedobkin.
Stylish!

Spin



Fine snacks from Japan!!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Bike Design Perfected



Friday, November 13, 2009



Via the awesome Fixed Gear Blog

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Pedal Streetcar



Only in Europe!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Freedom



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

House of Pistard Skidder Cartoon



House of Pistard Skidder Cartoon, originalmente cargada por amphalon.
Love it!

Cars: Out Of The Way


"We don't need any new infrastructure, what we need is to clear the existing infrastructure of inefficient vehicles and replace them with efficient ones."


Low-tech Magazine has a fine article on bike power!


Illustration by Marriedtothesea

Monday, November 09, 2009

Dundas West & Dupont


The City of Toronto has finished installing the tightly spaced sharrows for cyclists crossing this bus and dangerous intersection. I like.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

A Bike Thief Writes Back



Via Soup.io

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Bicycle Symbol Designs I like



Friday, November 06, 2009

Can't Ride This One



Can´t ride this one, originalmente cargada por The 157.
Fine stencil work!

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Rive Yourself A Raise ...Bike To Work



A New Reward For Drivers (Coming July 2010)


The Toronto Star had an article with another version of the plate available for drivers who bought all-electric vehicles.

Slight problem. Cars are not green, ever. Bicycles sure are but I suspect we won't get much of an acknowledgement from the Province anytime soon. We just get lip service (6mb .pdf), don't we? Notice the lack of funding commitment and lack of a firm timetable, etc.
Hint: Search for the word 'Funding' in the .pdf.
Photo Source: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977738852

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Transparency


via GOOD

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

11 Impossibly Loaded Bicycles



This is the 12th bicycle that could have been included ...
(Photo) Mary Mattingly’s precarious bipedal vehicles from her Nomadographies

Monday, November 02, 2009

Bad Bike Karma


Found on the web by Todd Tyrtle. Merci.

Thank You

The Toronto Bike Union has started a thank you campaign aimed at drivers. Anything new and positive is a good idea. There was a fascinating article by Catherine Porter in the Star about it last week.
OK. I used to give out free sticks of Juicy Fruit gum to drivers parked in the bike lane with the comment: 'Hey, here's a free stick of gum with your free parking spot." Oh, well to each his won.
(Note: Original 'Juicy Fruit' action by Ben Smith Lea)

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Ghost Bike Update




This is one of the first ghost bikes installed in Ontario outside of Toronto. It was placed at the collision scene where Shane Vandermeer, 20 died near Cambridge.

Photo source









Meanwhile, the Ghost Bike installed by ARC for Harold Donald Bilodeau at Spdina and Nassau has been removed by persons unknown.