Saturday, September 30, 2006
Great September Mass!
These photos are dedicated to Samantha a visting Critical Masser from New York.
Bike Friday Keeps Rolling
Friday, September 29, 2006
Things a non-cyclist might not understand
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Petrolius: The Oil Habit
Nuit Blanche Friday - Get on yer Bike!
Some very cool events: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.Bicycles in the Urban Environment
by Janet Attard
Plus CineCycle Free all night movies!
Sally McKay
Bedtime Tales: Fables and Fantasies
Nuit Blanche
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Crocodile Hunter: What madness.
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin always felt he would die early, but that he would be killed in a car wreck and not by an animal, his widow says
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Does anyone find this as whacked as I do?
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Does anyone find this as whacked as I do?
Critical Mass This Friday!
Bike Friday This Week
U of T Bike Thief Trap (680 News, Toronto Sun)
"High-tech traps set for would be bike-theives at U of T - September 27, 2006 -""To catch a thief, specifically a bicycle thief, University of Toronto officials have set up a high-tech trap. Hundreds of bicycles are locked up at any given time at the U of T campus downtown making it a sort of a one-stop shopping depot for bike thieves. But starting Wednesday, there are bait bicycles fitted with GPS beacons locked up at various locations on campus. These bikes send out homing signals so campus police can track their movement and catch unsuspecting bike thieves as they ride off.
Students hope this program works because for them, losing their bicycles means losing their mobility.
"I rely on my bike 100 per cent. A student's budget can't really include superfluous things like getting another $600 bike or something," said one student. Two or three bikes a week are stolen from the U of T campus, and campus police are hoping that this program will reduce those numbers by about 20 per cent." More in the Toronto Sun
Lessons from Europe
Cycling: The Way Ahead For Towns and Cities (.pdf) (European Union)Really terrific, intelligent reading.
Very inspiring.
I'd love to give a copy to every
City Councillor.
Should be required reading.
More: Check this out.
BBC Documentary (.mp3)
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Rush Hour in Amsterdam
Streets To Screens Thursday!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Poetry on the Street
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Car Free Day - The Imposters
These kidz don't really get
Car Free Day, do they?
City of Toronto
For selling out cyclists' safety day after day,
year after year.
Via Rail
(Just don't try getting your bike on VIA for free
nor anytime you like)
ClearChannel
(Dundas Square Carfree Event Sponsor) For anti-bike rants on their station in the past and more. It's the advertising dollar, baby.
Greyhound
(Dundas Square Carfree Event Sponsor) Love the ample bike parking/racks/bike storage at their terminals, too.)
"Bike will be shipped as freight. You will be charged the weight of the bike, plus 40 percent oversize charge and GST. The bike will travel on the same bus as the passenger only if space allows." (from the Greyhound.ca website)
Great article in the Globe Anti-car activists leave city's efforts in the dust
and in NOW
The Stencil Archives of Janet Attard
Saturday, September 23, 2006
No respect in the suburbs
"I'm really ticked that parks & rec still hasn't fixed the bike path that was washed out in the August 2005 storm. That's the one that caused Finch avenue to collapse. I notice Finch Avenue was fixed ASAP.
All we've gotten is a caution sign indicating there's a "bump"... and that took a year before they put that up....grrrrr.
Anyways, I took some photos last night. The path is basically a beach in one section now with cycling possible in only one narrow strip. Gets worse at this time of year when its raining alot or you have to traverse it in the dark. The alternative route would be Leslie, but then you're at the infamous Leslie /Eglinton intersection, in the rain and/or dark, where a cyclist was killed 10 days ago or so. I believe this section of bike path is in Jane Pittfield's ward? Unfortunately, I don't live in her ward, but I will be going to my ward's all candidate meeting and asking a few pointed questions." (photos and tip submited by Veronica P.)
BlaBlaBlaBla BlaBlaBlaBla - Oh, Whatever
Car Free Day Proclamation - September 22, 2005
Approximately half of individual greenhouse gas emissions come from personal transportation and individuals across Canada are taking the One-Tonne Challenge, doing their part to fight climate change by reducing their own personal greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, or one tonne.
Car Free Day is organized on September 22 each year and is an ideal time to facilitate the implementation of permanent measures in favour of sustainable mobility at the local level. Concerted action by all stakeholders is needed to raise awareness, to promote changes in harmful behaviour and to involve residents, businesses and administrations in the development of sustainable and efficient urban transport systems.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor David Miller, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim September 22, 2005 as "Car Free Day" and encourage individuals to use this day as a symbol of their efforts to reduce personal greenhouse gas emissions through transportation.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Car Free Day Parade 2006
Car Free Day Fun on Queen St. West
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Happy Car Free Day
Bike Polo - The Final Match
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Joy Ride!!
Toronto Joy Ride
It's a joy to ride a bike in Toronto!
The Toronto Joy Ride is a 100 km (with shorter routes of 35, 67, 85 km) ride that brings you through some of the best areas of the city: through tree-lined ravines, along trails, lake shore and urban streets. You get to see a lot of new parts of Toronto, enjoy the company of other great cyclists, and get some exercise along the way - all the while supporting cycling advocacy in Toronto. (Bike Stencil above by Janet Attard)
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Gate
The New Standard
Photo by the TTC
Bike bus racks to be standard
Sept. 15/06. (Star)
TTC staff say bikes and buses don't mix.
The politicians who run the TTC disagree.
A TTC staff report to be discussed at next week's commissioners' meeting says there is "no clear justification" to expand the installation of bike racks on TTC buses after a one-year experiment.
But Adam Giambrone, the TTC's vice-chair, said he believes commissioners will vote to expand the program nonetheless.
"We're going to go forward and make this program permanent," said Giambrone, saying all new buses will have a bike rack.
While the TTC received positive comments from cyclists and non-cyclists during the pilot project, few people took advantage of the racks at the front of the bus. In all, 110 buses were outfitted with the racks at a cost of $202,000. But the highest observed usage was 20 customers on a single work day on the 29 Dufferin, a route that draws 43,300 customers on a typical weekday. A number of buses on the 7 Bathurst, 29 Dufferin, 47 Lansdowne, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers Rd. and the 310 Bathurst were outfitted with racks.
They were chosen because they were high-frequency routes that cross Highway 401 and provide service between the suburbs and the downtown. Giambrone said outfitting buses with bike racks fits with the city's policy of promoting bike use. Once commuters realize so many buses have bike racks, users will "quickly begin to multiply," he said.
Car-Free Day Parade - Friday 22/09/06
Bike Friday
Monday, September 18, 2006
Memorial Ride Photos - Leslie & Eglinton
Thank you to all cyclists who rode tonight (about 15).
Special thanks to Darren and Derek for organizing the ghost bike and banner.
Personal thanks to Darren J for lending me his camera for some of the photos.
More excellent images of the memorial on Toronto Cranks by Darren Stehr.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Memorial Ride - Monday Sept. 18th
All cyclists welcome:Meet for a group ride to the crash site at 6:15 pm, Bloor & Spadina, and at 7:00 pm, Danforth & Pape, to ride to Eglinton and Leslie for 7:30 pm, Monday, September 18, 2006.
A ghost bike will be installed on site by ARC members in memory of the fallen cyclist.
(ARC Press release added - read the comments)
The End of the City
The Holy Post (next to St. Paul's Anglican)
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Who will kill more?
It is almost a dead heat, pardon the pun. 48 homicides, 48 people killed by cars. To be techinically correct the score may be 48-47 as one of the traffic deaths listed by police was actually a sudden death, it was a corpse that was repeatedly run over.
So who will kill the most people by Dec. 31, 2006 11:59:59pm?
Anyone want to take bets?
Funny thing is that the politicians make a lot of noise about the homicides but are dead quiet about the traffic fatatlities.
I am going to peg my money on 63 homicides, 69 traffic fatalities.
So who will kill the most people by Dec. 31, 2006 11:59:59pm?
Anyone want to take bets?
Funny thing is that the politicians make a lot of noise about the homicides but are dead quiet about the traffic fatatlities.
I am going to peg my money on 63 homicides, 69 traffic fatalities.
Surrounded in Suburbia
Friday, September 15, 2006
TCAT Calls On City To Shape Up!
Meanwhile in Buenos Aires
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
How to steal a Bike (NYC)
More Rain
More Toronto Cycling Bloggers
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
60% of 2006 TdF riders used banned substances
The headline is not wrong. 60% of the riders in this year's Tour de France were using banned substances. They all got away with it because they had medical exemptions. GlobeMore shit hitting the fan. Several pro-cyclists homes including
Jan Ullrich's were raided in Europe today.
Drivers give helmeted Cyclists less room (UK)
Fifth Cyclist in a row killed by a truck!
Cyclist killed by collision with cement truck Sep. 12, 2006. (Star)A 47-year-old male cyclist is dead after being hit by a cement truck in the city’s north-end Monday afternoon. The man, whose identity is not being released, was riding his bicycle west in the curb lane of Eglinton Ave. E. near Leslie St. when he was hit by the cement truck going in the same direction around 4:30 p.m., Toronto police said. The man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died, police said. Toronto Traffic Services is investigating the scene and no other details have been released at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS
Police Press Release
That's the third Cyclist killed in Toronto this year. ARC will be organizing a memorial ride next week for the fallen Cyclist. I will post details here.
All cyclists welcome.
Memorial Ride for Bianca Gogel Doc
Some video footage I took then which I finally managed to edit. April 27/06.
Music by J. Field. (Best viewed 320x240)
Monday, September 11, 2006
Toronto cyclists shocked by commitment of local cycling activist.
Toronto - September 11th, 2006Jake aka Allderblog, was committed over the weekend after his friends attempted an intervention. Concerned that Jake's aversion to the automobile was depriving him of experiencing the world several of his friends got together and did an intervention. Initially they were quite successful with their approach and managed to hog tie him and get him into a minivan. After undoing his restraints he agreed to start the minivan. He continued to do quite well and started the vehicle. After a few seconds the minivan filled with exhaust at which point Jake went bug eyed. After more than a minute of being exposed to the exhaust Jake completely lost control and went berserk. While he did have control of the van he could not go far as he was on Toronto Island. In short order Toronto paramedics attended the scene and were able to restrain Jake inside an ambulance. He was then transported to Holiday House where friends claim he is getting the best psychiatric care available under OHIP. There are unconfirmed reports that General Motors Canada offered to pay for first rate treatment for Jake at a facility at Gitmo Bay, Cuba. Jake reportedly refused the offer, apparently shouting the odds about GM using Americans in their Canadian advertisements.
There are unconfirmed reports that Jake was on Toronto Island for his wedding. No word yet if the intervention occurred before or after the wedding. Though there were still more unconfirmed reports that a raging bride was spotted driving a GMC minivan erractically on Toronto Island in pursuit of Jake's friends.
Photo exclusive to BLD.
Only those who pee know.
This warning figures prominently in the men's washroom in an office building. So unless you had to pee you would never be alerted to the security problem. Someone scribbled a note asking the building to provide a security guard at the racks to capture the thief(ves).
Bicycle For Sale
College and Manning
Silver Surfer
9/11
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Cycles for Heroes
Saturday, September 09, 2006
And They're Off!
Here's the start of the Global Gutz Race, which happened at precisely 5 p.m. today. It was run by Keith of Cavern Cycles at 179 Queen East (foreground), and funds raised via the race, after-party and raffle go towards sending a Toronto courier to compete in the Cycle Messenger World Championships in Australia. You can still buy raffle tix here or in person at Keith's shop. There are tons of great prizes and they're not drawing until September 15.--from Sarah H.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Pope chastises Toronto on slow progress on Bike Plan
POSTED: 1946 GMT (0346 HKT), September 8, 2006
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI hit out Friday at Toronto's slow progress on Bike Plan, saying it results from Catholic politicians ignoring the values of their religion.
"In the name of `tolerance' your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of the driver, and in the name of `motor vehicles' it is confronted with the daily destruction of children," the Pope told a group of bishops from Ontario.
Such laws, he said, are the result of "the exclusion of God from the public sphere."
He lamented that Catholic politicians yielded to "car dominating social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls."
Benedict has made the defense of traditional family values a major goal of his papacy, speaking out often on the issue.
During a trip to Spain in July, he challenged that country's Socialist government for instituting liberal reforms such as allowing cars to park on the sidewalk.
Toronto's Bike Plan is in disrepair.
New Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to hold a vote in the House of Commons later this year to determine whether the Catholics should be allowed to drive.
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI hit out Friday at Toronto's slow progress on Bike Plan, saying it results from Catholic politicians ignoring the values of their religion.
"In the name of `tolerance' your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of the driver, and in the name of `motor vehicles' it is confronted with the daily destruction of children," the Pope told a group of bishops from Ontario.
Such laws, he said, are the result of "the exclusion of God from the public sphere."
He lamented that Catholic politicians yielded to "car dominating social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls."
Benedict has made the defense of traditional family values a major goal of his papacy, speaking out often on the issue.
During a trip to Spain in July, he challenged that country's Socialist government for instituting liberal reforms such as allowing cars to park on the sidewalk.
Toronto's Bike Plan is in disrepair.
New Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to hold a vote in the House of Commons later this year to determine whether the Catholics should be allowed to drive.
Ride like the wind, Maogosha!
CBNs BikeShare guru Maogosha
is competing this weekend at the
National Cycling Championships
in Moncton.
Best of luck, Mao!
Photographer unknown.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Bike Lanes Wanted? Yes, please!
Bike Toronto Article (May)
2006 Bike Lane Projects
(.pdf Martin Koob)
City Staff Report (May)
New Article
about Bike Lanes (Bricoleurbanism Blog)
A Vision for a better way to cross town.
