Monday, November 30, 2009

Fox On Bike (by Sara Thielker)

Toronto Star Editorial

Published On Mon Nov 30 2009 - Of Bikes and the City

Amsterdam is known as "The Bike City," but Toronto remains a long way from earning any such designation. The evidence for that is painfully apparent, from city hall to the city's streets.

City hall recently spent $10,000 on an in-house program that involved buying 10 high-end Dutch bicycles for environmentally conscious municipal workers to use during the day instead of a car. The program was launched in June, but the bikes have been used by city employees just 28 times since then. This from a city workforce large enough to represent Canada's sixth largest government.

Perhaps there would be better uptake for the program if there were more safe places to ride. But Toronto has been disappointingly slow in following its own bike-lane plan. That strategy originally called for creating 500 kilometres of on-street bike lanes by 2011. With less than half that amount completed, the deadline has now been pushed back to 2012.

And even where bike lanes are already established, the cycling community doesn't appear to get much respect. A rival newspaper recently found a police cruiser illegally parked in an Annette St. bike lane. When even those obliged to enforce the law feel free to ignore a rule designed to accommodate cyclists, it becomes obvious that a cycling culture has yet to take root here.

Toronto's bike plan directs the municipality to "shift gears toward a more bicycle friendly city." Unfortunately, some key spokes appear to be missing. (Note: Meanwhile, Montreals' Bixi program appears to be a big success. Go figure.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

New Bike-Friendly Cafe Opening Next Week


SONIC will open on December 1st at onCecil Street just east of Spadina. Check it out.

Postcards by Tino

A selection of original 
Toronto Cycling Postcards 
are available exclusively 
at the fine Hoopdriver Bicycles on College 
(just east of Dufferin)  


More samples

Friday, November 27, 2009

kickin' cars - street art cluj napoca


HA!

Fossil Fuels


Thursday, November 26, 2009

Rafaele 'Drive'


"Mucho macho no vale mucho." (Lola Flores) Translation: Too much macho ain't worth much. 
BUT ... some of the wildest fixie tricks ever.

Making Cyclist Harrassment Illegal

More info on making Cyclist harrassment illegal;
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/cyclist-harassment-against-the-law.php

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Bike Birdy



., originalmente cargada por tocvo.
by Charles O'Hara

La Linea 215

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Bike Symbols added to Bike Lanes



Bike Symbols added to Bike Lanes, originalmente cargada por Times-Up.
New York (2008)

Cops Get Caught Parking In The Bike Lane

News Toronto & GTA
Bike lane backlash
Cop spotted by Sun parked illegally to get his lunch gets dressing down from superiors
By BRYN WEESE, SUN MEDIA

A police officer returns from a west-end cafe after leaving his cruiser in the bike lane on Annette St. for at least 20 minutes. (Bryn Weese, Sun Media)
A Toronto Police officer who parked his cruiser in a bike lane to get his lunch is getting no love from his superiors, who are coming down hard on his "stupid" and "unacceptable" actions.

On Sunday,the Sun witnessed a city cop sitting inside the Grillway Cafe, at Runnymede Rd. and Annette St., while his cruiser was blocking a bike lane on Annette.

The officer was parked there for at least 20 minutes before leaving the cafe with a can of pop and a paper lunch bag.

But instead of protecting their own, Toronto Police brass called the officer's parking actions "stupid" and "unacceptable."

EXAMINE ISSUE
Last week, cycling advocates brought the issue of blocking bike lanes for non-emergency reasons to the attention of the Toronto Police Services Board, which asked Chief Bill Blair to examine the issue.

"That's not kosher at all. It's right in our procedures that, outside of exigent circumstances, you do not park illegally, and that includes in bike lanes," said Sgt. Tim Burrows, of the force's traffic services department. He added higher-ups at the force were "incensed" when they heard about the Annette St. incident.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/11/24/11900526-sun.html

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Guardian Bike Blog


The Guardian Newspaper publishes a very good Bicycle blog. Hmm. 


How come Toronto's media including the CBC cannot get it act together on this? Graphic by Marriedtothesea

Rollin'.



Rollin'., originalmente cargada por somnambulant.
By Wes Hodgson, along the Elora Cataract Trailway

Sunday, November 22, 2009

CBN | 5TH ANNUAL TORONTOTHEBETTER MOVIE SERIES


Community Bicycle Network is pleased to announce, on behalf of Toronto the Better (www.torontothebetter.net), the upcoming bicycle film event:

2009/10  5TH ANNUAL TORONTOTHEBETTER MOVIE SERIES

[WWW.TORONTOTHEBETTER.NET]
We invite you to PWYC Movies, Discussion and Action about everyday economic choices for A BETTER TORONTO AND A BETTER WORLD

NOVEMBER, 2009  MOVIE, DISCUSSION, ACTION: Bicycling in Toronto:
- Where Are We, Where did we Come From?

- Where Are We Going?

PEDAL POWER 

(double bill with “The Bicycle fighting AIDS with Community Medicine”)
When? Tuesday Nov.24th @ 8.30 PM

Where? OISE Room 5-260,  252 Bloor St West


Plus TorontotheBetterPrizes, Shopping Cards and Photo Auction

Logo for Pedal Power Design by Warren Brown  

Saturday, November 21, 2009

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

Photo: Bloor and Yonge Street with  new sharrows.

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 ...

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!!

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.

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

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

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.