Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Tales of a Yellow Bike Film Screening


Friday Dec 19th
Promoting the idea of sharing bikes, this documentary film follows yellow bike sharing initiatives around the world.
Come join Bike Pirates with a night ride and film screening. Consultation after the film will talk of potential bike sharing opportunities for Toronto's cycling future.

Will be screened in the Bike Pirate work space.

Group Ride: 6:30pm sharp...
1292 Bloor St W

Film 7:30 pm sharp...
$5 or PWYC

Bike Pirate Walking Trail Tour

Bike Pirate Urban Exploration Walk

Meet at Bike Pirates and Ride out to trail
Dec 12th 6pm at 1292 Bloor St

Walk the new trail under construction, ride out to the trail. Bicycle Valet Parking will be avalible at West End rail trail. Meet on he bridge where Dundas and College collide.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Provincial Cyclocross Championships


Bicycles. Beer tent. Plenty of opportunity for carnage. Free coffee. I can't think of a better way to spend a crisp Fall Sunday afternoon!

Coming up this Sunday, November 23rd, is the 2008 Ontario Provincial Cyclocross Championship, right in the middle of the city at Riverdale Park East. Come on out and watch the provinces best including past and current road/mountain bike/cyclocross provincial and national champions duke it out, while sipping on a coffee, hot chocolate or cup of delicious Wellington beer... Or, even better, come on out and race! All you need is a bike with knobby tires. There's a race for everyone!

If you don't know what cyclocross is, perhaps this locally produced video might help explain things. There is other information available on the Veloo Media events page including start times/location/etc.

Come on out and ring a cowbell (available at the race) and scream some encouragement to local racers! If you thought the Toronto Criterium this past Summer was exciting, you owe it to yourself to come out to this event!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bike In Film Night




November 21st at 1292 Bloor St.

Please come out in the midst of November for a ride and take in a film or two.

6pm
Local Ride

7-7:30pm
Local Short Docs and Feature Film

Local Cyclists document their journey in Toronto on bicycle. Critical Mass 2008 Toronto Shots. Reclaim the Streets doc. Much More!

Come and enjoy, hot chocolate will be provided with a hotplate! Ride is free and filming will be $5 or PWYC.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Mayor has tantrum on reporter.

Toronto- Today at a news conference on the state of the City the Mayor commented on a recent finding by students at the University of Guelph. They found that if the paper used in studies, commissioned by the City, of cycling issues were laid out to make a bike lane it would be some 145 034 kms long at 2 metres wide. Their study looked at studies from years 2000 through to 2007.

While defending the studies and explaining their importance in job creation a reporter in the scrum quipped, "...and enough hot air to fill 27 Zeppelins." Overhearing this quip the Mayor demanded an apology for the inaccurate figure. The reporter replied that he was only expressing an opinion he has often heard from cyclists. This quickly degenerated with the Mayor repeatedly shouting at the reporter, "IT WOULD ONLY BE 23!!!" Eventually the reporter was handcuffed and led out of the room.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Cyclist Memorial

A cyclist memorial will be held this coming Wednesday September 17th for the cyclist killed on September 10th.

Ride together from Bloor and Spadina, leaving at 630pm to arrive on site around 730pm. Please bring flowers or candles.

More Info, Darren Stehr 416-707-4744 darrenstehr (at) gmail.com

www.respect.to

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

CM Video


Get the Flash Player to see this player.



Alternate link to Quicktime version.


Story here.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

New York Cyclists Take over Park Avenue

Linda Tomas from ARC, Advocacy for Respect for Cyclist posted this interesting video about how New York shut down Park Avenue and the pedestrians and Cyclists took full advantage.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/30/fashion/20080830-street/index.html

Police praise Igor

Toronto - The Toronto Police Service heaped praise on Igor today for his help in registering several thousand bicycles since his arrest. Police spokesperson Sgt.Arthur Crash said that because of Igor the TPS was able to assimilate many more cyclists into its database. Crash claimed, "this will save taxpayers many thousands of dollars when the province moves to license cyclists next year".

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Garage sale



I swear behind all of those cars in the bike lane there is a garage sale going on.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Pedal Power Wanted

All Pirates on deck, all know that our beloved space will be gone, it is time to raise sail and take to the open road.

People are welcome to help us pack this Saturday between 12-6pm

Our last day at 457 Bathust will be this Sunday, we will be moving and will need movers by Noon throughout the day.


Bike Pirates will be convening a meeting at 6pm this Saturday to talk about our Future in a new space.

Please come out and bring your desires and imagination.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Fundraiser

Toronto - A coalition of cycling advocacy groups in Toronto announced today that they will be holding fundraisers in the next few months. Their goal is to raise enough money to buy themselves a City Councillor. Spokesperson Martin Birkenshoe was asked if it was legal to for groups to buy city politicians. He answered somewhat cryptically, "if you cannot beat them, join them".

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Coal Burning Bicyles face more hurdles


TORONTO — While politicians and entrepreneurs complain that some governments have been too slow to act on allowing the use of nuclear powered assisted bicycles, others say it's just a case of growing pains.

The use of power-assisted bicycles, widely referred to as "e-bikes," has risen exponentially since Transport Canada amended its regulations in 2001 to allow Canadians to have battery-powered motors on their bicycles. While some provinces, such as B.C. and Quebec, were quick to allow the bikes on the roads, others have been slower to follow suit.

One of the laggers is Ontario, where e-bikes are currently legal for use - provided they meet a set of standards - during a pilot project ending in the fall of 2009.

A Toronto-based entrepreneur complained Friday that government rules are thwarting widespread use of e-bikes, and consequently, cutting into sales as well as people's options to use the nuclear powered or coal powered forms of travel.

Larry Dawidowitz said people are wary of purchasing the bikes he has for sale, which range in cost from about $1,500 to $2,200, because they're worried the provincial government could ban the use of them after the pilot project expires.

"The ministry really has to realize that the scooter style is working, the open frame is not," Dawidowitz said.

"What's preventing these from proliferating ... is that the marketing is hesitant because at the end of the day, who knows how the pilot project will end up?" Horwath said.

Brian Hazard, a retailer in Comox, B.C., said there were problems with police mistaking the e-bikes for motorized vehicles when they were first introduced.

But he said police eventually caught on, and he now hears few complaints from riders, who have been helped by manufacturers putting on plates identifying the vehicles as a power-assisted bicycle.

Juergen Weichert, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Ottawa, said he supports the pilot program in Ontario and is confident it will progress to full approval for the bicycles.

The problem, said Weichert, lies in communication. Neither police nor the public have been properly informed about the bikes and don't always recognize them, he said.

"These are police who at 300 paces can tell the difference between a crack head and a whino," Weichert said. "Why can't they tell the difference between a scooter and an electric bike? It's just one of interest and communication.

"That is why you've got people getting tickets."

Under Transport Canada's regulations, e-bikes must not go faster than 32 kilometres per hour or have a motor that exceeds a total output of 500 watts, and must be equipped with handlebars and pedals, even though the pedals are nothing more then decoration. They are legal in eight Canadian provinces.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Igor on Holiday

OCEAN CITY — Seventy-eight bicycles have been reported stolen from various areas of the resort between May and July, resort police say. Police said a majority of these thefts were reported from the southern end of the town. Other thefts were reported from Caine Woods area (5), 94th Street area (7) and 120th Street area (9), police said. The thefts were reported between May 15 and July 28 and in most incidents, the bicycles were not properly secured, police said.

Many were left in yards, on porches, automobile racks, or in unlocked bike racks.

Police are urging people to ensure their bicycles are properly locked. Ocean City residents can also register their bikes at no cost with the police department and details about this program are available online at www.ocpdmd.com

Police said their investigations are hampered by owners who do not know the serial numbers of their bikes making it difficult for officers to try and trace the bikes through the National Crime Information Center database.

Anyone with information on the bicycle thefts is asked to contact the OCPD Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604, or Police at 14 Division in Toronto, Canada

Monday, July 28, 2008

Japanese Fashion Sense

Bespoke spokes sparkle

Whether people are turning bicycles into fashion statements to stand out from the pedaling crowd, or whether more people are taking to two wheels because bicycles were fashionable in the first place is a chicken-and-egg conundrum for many young people in Osaka.

With 83 percent of Osakans owning bicycles--the highest ratio in any of the nation's prefectures, including Tokyo--bicycles have clearly become indispensible part of or modes of transport in the daily lives of the city's residents.

Against such a background, I've noticed many young people in the city riding bicycles, not only as a mode of transport, but also as fashion accessaries--just like the designer bags they carry.

A 22-year-old man in the Horie fashion district of the city wears a blue T-shirt that matches the color of the tires on his mountain bike.

The man, who says he likes wild fashion styles, also coordinates his cap and chain-style lock with an animal print design.

A 24-year-old woman modified her fixed-gear bicycle with parts in vivid pink and green.

"I can fit colorful parts onto my bicycle although it's difficult to use these colors for my clothes," she said.

A 31-year-old man's remodeled chopper bicycle is difficult to ride as it has problems with steep hills, and U-turns are hard to execute.

"I fell in love with this muscular design," he says. "I don't mind the inconvenience. It's not for convenience but fashion, really."

Cycle Shop 203 in Osaka deals with bicycles with neat designs and attracts fashion-conscious customers. The shop is painted with the French tricolor flag--in recognition of the world-famous Tour de France bicycle race--and looks just like a boutique.

The owner of the shop says his customers include women with an interest in fashion magazines.

Bicycles are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as the price of gasoline gets higher and higher and the values of a so-called low-carbon society continue to be promoted--not to mention the health benefits that go with regular exercise.

With even luxury goods companies such as Chanel selling bicycles, it seems that riding a bicycle as a fashion statement is steadily on the increase in Osaka.

(Jul. 27, 2008)

Saturday, July 26, 2008

I blame Igor

Hug a hoodie? Or kill a bike thief??

By Sam Leith
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 26/07/2008

Some of our motoring section's more flinty-hearted readers may have felt differently. But me, I felt sorry for him. Standing there in his ridiculous little shorts, with his socks pulled up, his rucksack heaped sadly at his feet and his mobile phone clamped despondently to his ear. He looked stranded, wrecked, lost, at sea.

Lordy, I thought, as I contemplated yesterday's grainy shot of David Cameron on Portobello Road after having his bike stolen. Forget the Glasgow East by-election.

This is the real political pivot. I looked at him and I knew exactly how he felt. Twenty-thousand Londoners a year know exactly how he felt.
Having your bike nicked is no small thing. You are immobile. You are astonished. Embarrassment and shame surges to your face - and continues to surge as, flustered, you make an idiotic spectacle of yourself flagging down passers-by asking if they saw anything.

Your bicycle is among the possessions with which you form the most intimate relationship. You feel sick at heart.

And, if you have lost your bicycle in a particularly stupid way, you feel humiliated. Like the old friend of mine who - idiot! - locked her bike to a railing by its quick-release front wheel.

Like Mr Cameron, reported to have chained his bicycle to a two-foot bollard - a schoolboy error, as any cyclist knows: the hateful Portobello Road toe-rags who helped themselves to it needed only lift bike - lock and all - up and over and off.

First comes despair, and then comes black, black rage.

The man or woman whose bicycle is stolen is afflicted, in my experience, by a unique anger. Bicycle theft feels not just like an offence against property, but an offence in the first place against the person, and in the second against civilisation itself. Empty my pocket, and earn my anger. Steal my bicycle, and earn my hate.

The view attributed to H G Wells - "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race" - seems to me to go to the heart of it. A cyclist is an object instance of the human being at his noblest: vulnerable; somewhat absurd to look upon; modest in his consumption of energy and space and his output of noise; self-powered; independent.

This is, perversely, why so many cyclists act so obnoxiously. The feeling of righteousness, once established, is too little policed by the unruly ego and causes the prideful cyclist to fall into error - running red lights, terrorising pedestrians, or lecturing fellow citizens on the need to be green while all the while having your briefcase ferried behind you in a chauffeur-driven limo.

But it is also why cycle thieves fall into a special category of funt-stinking, fug-ugly, bunghole-chewing motherless fatherless fistula-featured all-enraging hatefulness.

Every one of the 20,000 cycles stolen annually in London - as anyone who has lost a bicycle themselves knows - was stolen by someone for whom Orwell's "boot stamping on a human face forever" would be insufficient requital.

We cyclists fantasise about anti-theft devices that will impale them, maim them, blow them up, afflict them with galloping impetigo and wobbly teeth, with impotence and halitosis, with decapitation and athlete's foot. We want them extirpated, hung from cranes.

Those who steal bicycles, you see, do not steal them out of economic need, or social deprivation, or any of that old cobblers. They steal them out of sheer malice. They are the brick through the window, the coin down the bodywork, the car aerial unthinkingly bent off for no better reason than it protrudes.

Bicycle thieves are not hard-up. They are evil. They steal our bicycles - be they rattling antiques carbuncled with home-applied gloss paint or carbon-fibre, Shimano-geared rockets - for the simple pleasure of imagining our impotent rage at their loss. They resell them only so they can have the fun of stealing them again, like a trout fisherman keeping his lake well stocked.

I once had the saddle stolen from a locked bike. What larks! On another occasion, someone took the trouble to remove and throw away the single nut that holds the front wheel on.

Worthless. But how they must have laughed as they imagined me climb aboard and push off confidently, only to fall flat on my face as my front wheel sailed off into the traffic by itself. Like Zippo's Circus, see?

Har-de-har!

And that is why those of this paper's readers who think the Conservative leader is still too liberal - some of whom may have been less than sympathetic to his plight - will come to look back on this, with gratitude, as a real turning point.

Unless I miss my mark, the sniggering booby of a passer-by who sneaked that mobile phone shot of Mr Cameron in his distress has captured something historic. That was the moment hug-a-hoodie became kill-a-bike-thief. The moment the liberal was mugged.

The moment at which, whether he knows it yet or not, the iron entered Mr Cameron's soul.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Cycling Groups demand investigation of Toronto for violating provincial law

(TORONTO) A coalition of cycling groups today filed a formal demand with Ontario’s Environment Commissioner for an investigation of the City of Toronto for violating the province’s Environmental Assessment Act. The groups allege that in approving a major road reconstruction project along the so-called Mink Mile on Bloor St. (between Avenue Rd. and Church St.) the City failed to comply with its legal obligations, including public consultation.

Construction on the project --- a partnership between the City and the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area --- began on July 14, 2008 in an area considered to be Canada’s premier shopping district. Bloor Street is also the city’s premier cycling route (in numbers) but has one of the highest cycling injury rates. The groups say that proper public consultation would have highlighted Ontario’s planning regime, put in place three years ago, which directs cities to ensure cyclists’ safety to reduce traffic pollution.

“In a time of high gas prices and increasing vehicle emissions we believe Torontonians should have the option not only to ride their bikes, but to do so safely,” said Kristen Courtney, a founding member of Bells on Bloor and a recent University of Toronto law graduate who has been hit by cars several times on Bloor St.

In road projects, the city is obliged to comply with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, which provides a streamlined process for city road and other projects. If the city does not comply with this process, including mandatory public consultation in certain cases, it can be charged under the province’s EA Act. The requirements apply even if one of the parties involved is private. A conviction under the Act carries a fine up to $10,000 for a first offence.

“We support the pedestrian improvements in this project,“ said Angela Bischoff of Take The Tooker, a cycling group that has been advocating for a Bloor St. bike lane since 2005. “Unfortunately, the city has again forgotten cyclists. Getting used to a bike lane might be tough for some people, but if you are a child with asthma, so is smog.”

According to City documents traffic flow may actually increase on the Mink Mile after construction is complete. A 2007 report by Toronto Public Health (TPH) concluded that each year in Toronto 440 premature deaths and 1,200 acute bronchitis episodes are caused by traffic pollution. TPH made various recommendations to the City including a call for better cycling conditions. Where bike lanes have been added in Toronto, cycling traffic has increased by up to 42%.

“City politicians are showing a rather cavalier attitude towards provincial laws that direct them to provide for cyclists’ safety,” said Albert Koehl, an environmental lawyer who filed the petition for the groups. “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident – that’s why we are taking a stand. The city rightly expects cyclists to obey the law; cyclists expect no less from the city.”


Contacts:
Albert Koehl, Barrister and Solicitor, 416-533-1231
Angela Bischoff, 647-342-1964
Kristen Courtney 416-823-6226

Friday, July 11, 2008

Bike Pirate Space?

Calling all Cyclists,

I have news for the cycling community of Toronto. Bike Pirates will be closing its doors in four weeks time.

The land lord has decided to sell the building. Please be advised that the Bike Pirate collective is actively looking for space, if a kind soul out there wishes to help us in our pursuit for a new space please contact info@bikepirates.com

Geoffrey B
www.bikepirates.com

Monday, June 23, 2008


Guaranteed Bike Lane, Or how we tried to save cyclists and learned to love illegally parked cars

The plan was simple, a little bit of fun for bike month, yes that thing is still going on and to make sure that cyclists get to work safely. The idea was to meet at the corner of Spadina and College and deploy parking cones around any motorist foolhardy enough to park in a bike lane. The cones would act as a buffer for cyclists and move traffic over as far as the parked car dictated. We were going to meet at the afore mentioned spot at 8am sharp. I was late.

When i arrived I saw a bright neon sign proclaiming “Guaranteed Bike Lane!” and three sad looking ARC members. Martin Reis, Rick “birthday boy” Conroy and Stephen Targett. “Why so glum chums?” I asked. It was already 8:15 and not one car had stopped in the bike lane.

I was shocked, not one car. But this was College and Spadina, this was one of the worst stretches of the city for cars parking in the bike lane and not one had stopped? Had I accidently woken in another city, perhaps Copenhagen or Cornwall? No, there was a Tim Horton's across the street and every once in awhile a TTC street car would trundle by, so this was definitely Toronto.

We waited hopefully for a car to stop we discussed what the possibilities could be. The first one was the most obvious. We were sharing a collective dream in which cars no longer stopped in the bike lane. But if this was a dream would we not have all dreamt that cars did not exist? So there had to be a CAA mole inside ARC, a mole that had warned all car drivers of our blitz.

As we discussed these permutations happy cyclists streamed by in ever increasing numbers, most smiling and waving. I am sure that most of them thought it was us that had saved them from the dangers of cars pared in the bike lane, but we could not take credit. Curse you CAA mole, I will find out who you are for destroying our direct action.

Then the miraculous happened. A cab stopped in the bike lane. We stared at it dumbfounded. What were we doing again. Oh yes, right, deploy the cones, deploy the cones, oh happy day! The cab drove off.

At 9am, Anne an ARC member rolled up and asked how things were progressing. We told her of our depressing action so far. She told us to go to Gerrard and Bay where the bike lane there was filled with drivers flaunting the law.

Hmmm.....Gerrard and Bay, that seemed like a long way to go on the chance that there might be cars parked in the bike lane. It was getting late and we had things to do and I was actually pretty hungry from all the inactivity that we had been doing all morning.

But we relented because we felt bad for Martin because of the pounding that Germany was going to get from Portugal in the Euro cup. So off we went down College street scanning the bike lanes for prey and it wasn't long before we found it.

Perched half way on the sidewalk was a Canada Post truck. This one's for you Darren, we cried out and descended on the vehicle with an almost religious zeal. We deployed our cones and waited happily on the sidewalk for the first cyclist to ride safely by.

It wasn't long for a cyclist to ride by and it wasn't long after that that we realized that we had to put our sign up to tell cyclists why we were there. Cyclist after cyclist rode by and smiled, some waved as they felt the safety of the situation. How ritcheous we felt because we could finally stand proud with our pylons and know that at least for a few minutes we had made the city safe for cyclists.

We marveled at the power of the pylon and how it averted traffic around them. Even a giant dump truck frantically changed lanes as to not feel the wrath of our little cones. We waited for the driver of the postal truck to come out, bikes rode by us on the sidewalk. This action prompted some of us to comment that perhaps next time we should do a guaranteed sidewalk.

The Postal worker came out and looked at his truck surrounded by safety cones. "Where the hell do you want me to park!"

Not in the bike lane, my friend, not in the bike lane.

With our work now done and our tummies growling in displeasure, we rode off west, knowing that we, for at least a small moment in time had made the bike lanes safe for cyclists.



Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Ford seeks new emergency spare tire

Dearborn, MI (AP)- The Ford Motor Company announced this morning that it is seeking proposals for a new spare tire for its 2009 line of vehicles. The design specifications sought proposals that incorporated two spoked wheels, seat and chain. Confused reporters asked how the requested design would replace the traditional spare tire normally carried in the trunk of the vehicle. They said it appeared that Ford was essentially asking for a bicycle design. Late in the day Ford issued a terse statement stating that, "Ford wants all of its vehicles to remain relevant to its customers even in the event of a prolonged gas shortage". They declined to answer any further questions.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

City encourages drivers to ride their bike on the DVP




A spy camera got this one. The sign reads, "TORONTO BIKE MONTH, JOIN IN AND COMMUTE BY BICYCLE". I guess the City is taking it's cue from CM's ride last month on the Gardiner. No word if bike lanes are planned for the DVP.

Friday, June 06, 2008

O.U.R.S. - Italian style




Here is the Italian version of O.U.R.S. at work during a CM. They have mechanized the process using a bicycle. To read the whole story please visit Chris Carlsson's superb blog.

Monday, June 02, 2008

Help finish Alan’s ride.




On the morning of June 8th, 2007 Alan Tamane left for work. His family was expecting to see him again that evening. They never did. He was killed by a City of Toronto truck while riding his bicycle to work.

Alan’s loss was devastating to his wife Amanda and four children along with being a huge loss to the community. Alan was the epiphany of devotion to family, friends, co-workers and the community.

Alan devoted more time to his family than there was time in a day. When his daughter was diagnosed with Kabuki Syndrome he became an advocate for her and the disabled. He became a soccer team coach when he found out his son wanted to play soccer. During each of his wife’s four pregnancies he gained weight in sympathy. Alan supported his wife in her demanding career as a police officer, together they offered a free Judo program to community children at the Police College. He devoted some of the same energy for his co-workers, becoming a vocal union steward in his workplace. His devotion to anything that he was involved in was apparent to anyone that met him and it made him many friends. When Alan thought about the future for his children he knew he had to work at helping the environment. That is when he decided to ride his bicycle to work year round.

On June 8th, 2008, family, friends and cyclists will ride together to symbolically complete Alan’s final ride. This is both to commemorate Alan’s life and in his spirit bring attention to the risks faced by cyclists on Bayview Ave.

The ride will leave the Bayview Arena (Finch and Bayview) southern most parking lot at 11am and follow what is believed to be Alan’s intended route that day to Sunny Brook. Alan’s employer has arranged for an area for cyclists to gather after the ride where a few words will be said by friends and family. Alan’s 10-year-old daughter Michiko will conclude the ride with a song for her father.

RIDE DETAILS

June 8th, 2008. Main ride leaves Bayview Arena (north west corner of Finch and Bayview) southern most parking lot at 11am expecting to arrive at Sunnybrook at approximately 12 noon.

From the Finch Subway station the start location is about a 10 minute ride.

For cyclists riding from the Downtown area we will meet at Spadina and Bloor St for a 915 am departure.

For more info on the ride - Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists - Darren 416-707-4744

For info on Sunnybrook ICES Bicycle Users Group Brandon - 647-887-0633
brandon.zagorski@gmail.com

The ICES BUG is advocating for a Bayview Avenue bikelane from Sheppard to
Eglinton and is actively engaged with Councillor Jenkins as part of the of
the Ward 25 Cycling Advisory Committee.

ARC (Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists) www.respect.to is a group which formalizes the principle of cyclists standing up for each other.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Bells on the Gardiner



Critical Mass took the Gardiner...

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/434482

Friday, May 23, 2008

Cyclist Death May 22nd at 1pm

A 57-year-old Toronto cyclist died Thursday after he fell in front of a cube van.

Toronto police said the chain of events started just after 1 p.m.

The cyclist was eastbound on Eglinton Avenue West, just west of Avenue Road, when the occupant of a parked car opened the driver's side door.

The cyclist hit the door, lost control of his bike and fell on the road, where he was hit by the van.

The cyclist died four hours later in hospital.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

A BIKE CAN CHANGE A LIFE...YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFE!



The Toronto chapter of Bicycles-for-Humanity is hosting its 3rd fundraising event. Join us for a night of "Passion in Argentina" at Lula Lounge, on Wednesday, June 4th, doors open at 7pm. Featuring Tango performers with live music and a sampling of wines from Argentina. Bring your dancing shoes for Tango lessons after the performance. Lula Lounge is located at 1585 Dundas St. W., west of Dufferin. To purchase tickets contact Lula Lounge at 416-588-0307 or info@lula.ca. Tickets $40 in advance include show, wine tasting and canapes, or $50 at the door. If you want to come out just for the dance $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Ride of Silence

Who:
cyclists especially, but also runners, and others who legally share
the road

What:
The Ride Of Silence™

When:
May 21, 2008, 7pm Bloor and Spadina

Why:
• to mourn those cyclists already killed by motorists
• to raise awareness (among motorists, police, and city officials) of
cyclists on the road
• to have motorists know we only want to share the road we ride on
• to show that cyclists are not going away

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET
On the third Wednesday of May, at 7 PM local around the world, cyclists
will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place
on the streets.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas in 2003 after
endurance cyclists Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on
an empty road.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no
faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride.

The ride hopes to raise cycling awareness during bike safety month to
motorists, police, and city officials. The ride is also a chance to
mourn, in funeral procession style, those who have already been killed.
The ride also requests black arm bands be worn, red if you have had a
bike/motor vehicle accident.

Phelan is looking for as many cyclists as possible to join him in one
of many locations in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, South and Central
America and the rest of the world.

He can be reached at chris.phelan@rideofsilence.org

The web site is

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Pages Books, Art Window, Toronto Bike Month, June 2008, Canada



Pages Bookstore , Art window, will have a display of my bicycle stencils to celebrate the release of the book Stencil Nation, by Russell Howze.
www.stencilnation.org

Stencil Nation, will also be available for purchase at Pages Books. www.pagesbooks.ca

There will also be a table featuring other stencil and graffiti books, in Pages Bookstore.

The display, is part of Bike Month Toronto. The event takes place June 1 to June 20 2008.
www.toronto.ca/cycling/events

Pages Books and Magazines
256 Queen St. West
Toronto, Canada

Janet Bike Girl
janetbikegirl@yahoo.ca

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

CAA supports Bike Month with call for bike lanes

NEWSFLASH- The Canadian Automobile Association Toronto Division today announced that it would be putting funds behind a major campaign calling for more bike lanes. The timing of the surprising announcement was set to coincide with Toronto's Bike Month. When CAA spokesperson Jim Hodia was asked about the sudden reversal in supporting bike lanes he stated that the "CAA strongly supports the creation of convenient free parking".

Monday, May 05, 2008

Ride of Silence

The Sixth annual ride of silence will commence May 21st 2008. The starting point will be the south east corner of Spadina and Bloor. The ride is to commemorate the deaths of cyclists around the world. The ride will leave at 7:00 pm and proceed at a yet to be determined route throughout the city in silence. For more information contact Derek Chadbourne at goomann@gmail.com

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Jane's Walk May 3rd and 4th

In honour of urban thinker and dreamer Jane Jacobs, the Centre for City Ecology is celebrating the good things about this city (including cycling) and putting on 2 days of free, guided tours to explore cool places all over Toronto.  These are not your typical tours. Everything from seeing the Jane + Finch neighbourhood through the eyes of high school students who live there to exploring Cycling as a part of Toronto's History (the walk about cycling begins at 11am, Saturday May 3, corner of Yonge and Temperance).  Check it out!

More information on Jane's Walk is available here: www.janeswalk.net 

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Have you participated in critical mass Toronto?

A graduate student at York University is conducting some research on the experience of critical mass in Toronto. He is conducting a survey and is hoping for your input. The survey is part of a case study and is completely anonymous and confidential. If you can spare three to five minutes, just go to:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bd637nc23HQRvIBtWxQ8nw_3d_3d

If you would like more information about the research, please contact Andrew Bieler at bielerandrew@yahoo.com.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

To the Vet, by bike.




Suzy writes,

Yes, it's happened, I've turned into the neighbourhood crazy cat lady. I had
to take Mister in for some more blood tests. So I took him on the back of my
bike. I bungee-corded the little fat boy on (in his cage) and off we went!
He was way calmer at the vet than normal, and when we got home he played in
the yard and rubbed his face all over my bike. Maybe it was more the sheer
joy of coming out of this experience alive than the joy of biking.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Stealth boat to attack BMW?



Spotted this riding home along the Don trail. A scaled model of an cruise ship named 'Never 2'. About 6 metres long. All black, perfect camouflage for a night time attack against the BMW dealership it was anchored across from. I spied it for awhile to see if I could spot any tree hugging gnomes working inside. No luck, they must have been sleeping last night's party off.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Hello Concerned Cyclists,
Just a reminder that you can get your bike advocacy events & activities published in the Bike Month Cycling Events Calendar. The deadline to Submit is NEXT THURSDAY, March 27th, by 4:00 pm.
The calendar will be available at 800 locations City-Wide, and will be a centerfold insert in NOW magazine Thursday May 15th.
The Bike Month Calendar will publish events going on between May 26th and June 21st, 2008.
Browse www.toronto.ca/cycling/events for more info, & the online registration form.
Table registration for the May 26th launch on Nathan Philips is also online.

Keep up the good work everyone.
-Cris Bouchard
the Bike Month Girl
416-392-7592

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Map Your Route

I was inspired to do this project when I read about a similar one from Boston. It is very basic and simple, but at the same time a powerful tool. Follow the instructions and map your route. Tell all your cycling friends as well and hopefully with the information we generate we can give some proper ideas to the city about where we want our bike lanes to be.

It should just take you a minute or two to map your routes. You have my word. Please note, if you rode twice in a day (for example morning commute to work; afternoon commute home) please map each leg as a separate ride.

1. Go to: http://maps.google.com/

2. Click Sign in located in the upper right corner

3. Login with the following information

* Username: Torontobikemap
* Password: bikemaps

If you are already signed in with a personal gmail account, please logout and re-sign in using the above information.

4. Click the My Maps tab located under "Google".

5. Click the Create New Map button located under the My Maps tab.

6. An input box will appear.

* In the Title box, please write your full name, date of ride, and start time of the first one-way leg of your ride.

* Example: John Doe, 8/14, 5:45 AM.

* In the Description box, please write a current email address and the purpose of the ride, i.e. commute to job, errands, social, fun/exercise, work (messenger, courier)

* Example: johndoe@AOL.com ,commute to work.

7. You are now ready to trace your route.

* To Zoom in, click "+"
* To Start, single click the draw a line tool the upper left corner of the map. Single click on the map location corresponding to your ride origin.
* To Change directions, single click along the intersections.
* To Finish double click on the map location corresponding to destination.
* To Edit after saving, hover the "hand" symbol over the route. When the route appears click and click once where you want to make edits.

8. After double clicking, an input box will appear. Please enter the reason you chose this route (i.e. most direct, most scenic, fewest cars, safest.) and/or anything else you want to share with us.

9. Click the Save button.

10. If you rode twice in the day, please go to #5 above and repeat to trace the second or return ride.

Hopefully this will help the city help cyclists better. Please map your route and spread the word. Thanks

Derek

Strong volunteer support for Cyclists Union



See story and more photos here.
http://www.torontocranks.com/?p=281

Monday, March 03, 2008

New hockey inspired fender keeps cars at bay.



I caught the above scene out of the corner of my eye. The drivers were giving a cyclist some healthy breathing space, they were not screaming at him to get off the road.



After getting a closer look at the bike's fender I understood why. Everyone knows that slashing hurts.

BIKE PIRATE party report back


Thanks to everyone who weathered the storm and came out to the party tonight. It was good times, and we barely had any leftovers! Here are some pictures on the flickr Toronto Bike Pirate Pool.

If you or anyone you know has taken photos at Bike Pirates please add them to the pool, or send them along to us via email. We would love to see them all!

Ring and post fix.

Exclusive photos of a fix for the ring and posts is running here,
http://www.torontocranks.com/?p=265

Thursday, February 28, 2008

O.U.R.S. in the current NOW Issue (Feb. 28)


NOW mentioned the Urban Repair Squad today. Like the cool photo of the woman painting a bike lane they ran with it.

Please visit O.U.R.S. at the upcoming Creative Activism Exhibition at the Toronto Free Gallery
New location on Bloor east of Lansdowne.
Opening will be March 20th. More info

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Bull City Bicycles -- a Durham (NC) art show

a note from your Southern correspondent

---

March 7 - 28, 2008, Bull City Bicycles gathers historic and contemporary photography of bicycles in Durham, NC. A celebration of the aesthetic simplicity, utility, and joy of bicycles, this show documents Durham’s sense of place from two wheels.



Sources of photography include The Herald Sun, The Durham County Library, The Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library at Duke University, The Smithsonian Institution, the North Carolina State Archives, as well as curator Phillip Barron's own photographs.

Visit http://nicomachus.net/bcac/ or http://www.bullcityarts.org/ for more details, or download the press release.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Bike Pirates Bike Social and FILM NIGHT

Come one come all, bring an appetite and mind for talk. This week Bike Pirates, the collective of bicycle enthusiasts is putting on two social events and one film night... all are invited.

LEAP YEAR CRITICAL BASH AND FILM NIGHT: FEB 29 after Critical Mass, 7-8pm

Hot Chocolate and food for thought are rewarded to anyone that bikes in the heart of the urban jungle. And if you miss the bike ride, come and partake in a screening of Beijing Bicycle!

TUESDAY NIGHT DINNERS: Every Tuesday at Bike Pirates (457 Bathurst)

Come around seven or eight on any Tuesday nights and prepare to be feed. Bike Pirates wants to break bread with all cyclist in the city. We want to get to know you and you us. Food and talk over bike mechanics and community building.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Snow in the Bike Lane


On Feb. 1, snow began to fall in earnest in Toronto.
After recent promises made by AA Heaps to treat bike lanes as thoroughfares I set out to document the state of several bike lanes in Toronto daily.

You can see photos on my Flickr page here.
This corner, College and Spadina has not been properly cleared
ever since. And then there is the perpetual parking in the bike
lane issue.

Heaps promised again to get the job done on CBC radio on Feb 7th

Will keep taking photos especially at College and Spadina until
the job gets done ... tino

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Snow and radio in the bike lane.

A little bird tells us that Martino will be talking bike lanes and snow on the radio Thursday morning. CBC Radio 99.1 sometime after 6am.

Friday, February 01, 2008

I love cycling

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Icycle 2008



The always enjoyable icycle studded tire race is on again this year. Location is Dufferin Grove Park on February 16th @ 6pm. Studded racing and the always hilarious rubber match. Thrills, spills and hopefully chills. For more information call 416-532-6392. This event brought to you by The Bike Joint.

Meanwhile

As promised, I wanna keep people up to date on what I have been up to since deciding to do less work on Bike Lane Diary. If you like, you can always catch up with me on tino.ca

Curated by R.J.G. Nelson, I will be showing several new colour photographs as part of a group show about the History of Modern Art as re-interpreted by visual artists.

"Wow! Has it been 100 years already? Boy, time flies when you’re not paying attention. So, what the hell happened? Well, we’ll try to connect the dots,
and don’t worry we’ll make it brief."
-R.J.G. Nelson-

VMAC Gallery - 401 Richmond St. W. #440, Toronto. February 2- 29, 2008
A Brief History of Modern Art
Opening: Saturday, February 2nd / Time: 13:00 - 16:00

A heartfelt thank you to all my friends who have kept BLD going ...
Ride on,
Martino

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Name Toronto's New Bike Magazine

Help participate in the naming of Toronto's cycling magazine.

The magazine will be about cycling in Toronto and a official newsletter from the un and coming Toronto Cyclist Union

http://www.spacing.ca/wire/?p=2698

Friday, January 25, 2008

Benny & Christian Zenga tour Africa


Via this site

These two Zengas are touring Africa as part of the Tour d'Afrique. And filming it along the way.
11,900 km from Cairo to Capetown.

Awesome.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Snow cycling in Kashmir



January 2008 Snowcycling event at Gulmarg Srinagar Kashmir India
Special thanks to Riyaz Wani for the submission.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Size does matter!


An accessory that is all the rage now in the USA. Truck Nuts.

Of course they are already working on putting you jail for it.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Bicicletada, by Mona Caron



The original CM "logo". Unknown author.



Cibol, Be and Jerusa version, 2007.



Mona Caron's version, 2008.

[Mona Caron in Sao Paulo]
[her website]

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

2008 Predictions

Last year I scored 35% for my predictions.

Here are my predictions for 2008. Feel free to add yours to the comments.

1. There will be less than 15kms of bike lanes installed.
2. The Mayor will praise cycling during "Bike Month" but will ignore it for the rest of the year.
3. There will be an aberration in the average of number cyclists killed in Toronto. The crystal ball is not clear but let us hope that it means zero.
4. The new Bicycle Union will have a rough start but an event/incident will thrust it into the forefront sometime before the end of September. At which time it will prove it is a force to be reckoned with.
5. David Miller will cease being Mayor of Toronto.
6. Toronto, along with several other North American cities, will face a transportation crisis. There will not be enough mass transit available in face of a gas shortage.
7. An American will win the Tour de France. No one will really care much for the winner or the Tour.
8. A significant increase in the number of cyclists will be seen on Toronto roads. It will be hard to measure this one but a good indicator will be cyclists complaining about traffic jams. Not of cars but cyclists.
9. Toronto will face some of its worst ever smog days although the total number of smog days will be fewer.
10. The crystal ball still sees the demise of the Gardiner, especially the elevated section. The view is much clearer than last year.