A Ghost Bike On Bloor | December 22, 2009

Ride Different

Mass On Church Street

mass on Church, originalmente cargada por Commodore Gandalf Cunningham.

Great Shot ... CM ride today Bloor and Spadina  6PM

CM November video - see Tino blush!

Merry Christmas Cyclists

Cycling Infrastructure, Maintenance, & Stalled Implementation of 2008 & 2009 Approved Bike Lanes

4 December, 2009 - 15:40 — yvonne

Below is a letter that I sent to the General Manager of Transportation Services in mid November.

November 16, 2009
City of Toronto
Transportation Services
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen St. W Floor 23E Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Attn: Gary Welsh, General Manager - Transportation Services

RE: Cycling Infrastructure, Maintenance, & Stalled Implementation of 2008 & 2009 Approved Bike Lanes

Mr. Welsh,
I am writing to express my deep concern about the state of cycling infrastructure in Toronto, and in particular, about the very limited number of kms of on-street bike lanes that have been installed this year, despite the many kms of bike lanes & contraflow bike lanes that have been approved both this year, and last.

Of the 52.8kms of bike lane projects approved in 2008, only 34.9kms have actually been installed by November 16, 2009. And of the paltry 16.2kms of bike lane and contra-flow bike lane projects approved in 2009, a small fraction of only 0.7kms** has actually been installed. It also appears that none of the proposed 5.3kms of sharrow treatments have been implemented. (** numbers have changed modestly since this letter was written)

While I understand that the municipal strike and federal stimulus projects have been setbacks for staff, neither I nor the members I represent understand, given the very pressing needs of our city’s tax paying cyclists, why your department has not prioritized the implementation of this long overdue cycling infrastructure.

Considering that 2010 will be an election year, and we all know what that means…, what is your department’s plan for not only getting these approved treatments applied, but also, for moving forward with the approval of additional lanes next year? How do you intend to meet the 2012 deadline for completion of the Bike Plan / Bikeway Network? Can we expect to see the lanes mentioned above scuttled until 2011 due to the election?

I understand that the much anticipated arrival of our Public Bike Share program in Summer 2010 will force the cycling department to focus infrastructure enhancements in the downtown core where the program will be rolled out, and that at least initially, the focus will be on the upgrading of existing bike lanes. While I agree that these upgrades are important, I also believe it is essential to add far more on- street bike lanes than are currently envisioned in the Bike Plan. What additional infrastructure is being planned to accommodate the abundant number of existing cyclists in the core, as well as all the new cyclists that will use the public bike program?

While there is some Communication about cycling done by Transportation through Bike Month, and Bike Winter, I am also concerned that not enough thought has been given, or funds allocated, to much needed public education campaigns targeted to ALL road users about road sharing, and our shared responsibilities. We know the power of marketing and communication to affect behavioural change, and yet these seem to have been completely overlooked in the budgeting for the implementation of the Bike Plan. I strongly believe that infrastructure and public education must go hand in hand if we are to successfully incorporate bicycles into our transportation network.

Additionally, while it is heartening to see more bike lanes going in every year, it quite dangerous, and a source of endless frustration for cyclists across the city, to see these lanes serving all too frequently as road-side stopping/parking for cars, delivery trucks and city works vehicles, rather than as dedicated space intended for the safe passage of cyclists. I would like to ask for your support at the November 19th Toronto Police Services Board meeting, and beyond, where I will give a deputation asking that the fine for parking in a bike lane be doubled to $120, and that parking enforcement be instructed to prioritize enforcement/ticketing of vehicles stopped illegally in bike lanes.

Finally, given the yearly increase in the number of Torontonians cycling year-round, and the encouragement that seems to come from the cycling department to ride all winter through the ‘Bike Winter’ program and ‘Coldest Day of the Year’ ride, I would like to know if Transportation Services will be helping to keep cyclists safe on the road this winter by clearing snow out of bike lanes (rather than using them to store snow), and off of paths across the city? The winter snow clearing pilot done along a portion of the Martin Goodman Trail in 08/09 was well received by all the trail users, pedestrians and cyclists alike – will this maintenance be repeated and extended during the winter 09/10 season?

On behalf of all members & supporters of the Toronto Cyclists Union, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to review and consider the concerns and questions expressed above, and for the work you and your cycling team do on our behalf.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Yvonne Bambrick Executive Director, Toronto Cyclists Union

http://bikeunion.to
@ Centre for Social Innovation
215 Spadina Ave. Suite 400
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7

Charley in New Town (1948)

'New Town' is an entry in a Central Office of Information-sponsored animated series featuring the everyman character Charley, and promotes an escape from grimy, smoggy towns and arduous commutes to work. ...

September 1972

A New Brazilian Wedding

casorio_willian_priscila21, originalmente cargada por luddista.

Wedding Willian & Priscila, Sao Paulo | Brasil

Kris Kingle Mass December 25

Frohe Weihnachten II, originalmente cargada por photo-maker.
KrisKringleMass - Critical Mass December 25th. 
Bloor and Spadina Meet 6PM Ride 6:30PM. 
Bring something to share.

10-9 Bike Courier Radio Launched

This will be fun!
Just launched.
http://www.109radio.com/

Mayor Miller Bikes In Copenhagen

Oh, the irony.

Dearly Departed Ontario Cyclists - New Google Map

View Dearly Departed = Cyclists Killed in Ontario in a larger map
Map compiled by Wendy Lucas. With information from Take The Lane
We Remember.

Sky is the limit

art: cabelo / igual voce

Riding Dirty by Celeste Prevost

Time's Up! Bike Bedford Ave. Bike Lane Funeral Procession

Time's Up! Bike Bedford Ave. Bike Lane Funeral Procession
Cargado originalmente por bicyclesonly
More cop cars than bikes ... thank you for this video! So silly!

Ghost Bike For Al Sheppard Moved

Due to construction the Ghost Bike for Al Sheppard had to be moved to the nearest ring post.
Photo taken this morning. Big thanks to the Bike Pirates for the heads up work.

West Texas Bicycle Ride

Paint Your Own Bike Lane: Three How-To Videos

Bloor West Bike Lane

Photo: Michael D'Amico 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdintoronto/523277785/
Urban Repair Squad paints up a nice bike lane on Bloor West during Rush Hour.

The Mayor Afraid To REALLY Stand Up For Toronto Cyclists (Updated)

Profile: David Miller
Became mayor in Nov. 2003. He will pass on the torch of shame to the next mayor in late 2010. He inherited a 10-year Bike Plan (2001) which called for 495 km of bike lanes. Thus far 112km have been built ... never mind everything else 'the plan' called for. Here is a fine article in the paper today saying the same thing.

Quote:"I've always been a strong believer that bicycling is an essential part of Toronto's transportation strategy. 
That’s why we have developed the Toronto Bike Plan which is a comprehensive cycling promotion strategy encompassing: bicycle friendly streets, a bikeway network, safety and education, bike parking, and promotion of combining cycling and transit." (2007)

He is in Copenhagen today bragging about how much he has done to combat climate change. I rode my bike to work today choking on car exhaust and trying hard not get doored. Got the Message.

In the meantime, I have some advice for Mayor Miller: Come out for just one critical mass, one memorial ride for a fallen cyclist or even show some real appreciation for bike culture.  One bike photo-op per year during Bike Month ain't enough.

The Star Map - How We Commute

http://www3.thestar.com/static/googlemaps/starmaps_090610.html?xml=091021_commuting_cyclists.xml

Bike Pirates On Holiday

Yarrr!! The Pirates say:
"Please note that we will *most likely* be closed all of the shifts the week of Christmas - Starting Monday December 21 to Saturday December 26.
This is due to two of our prominent keyholders having to leave the city. We will post changes to our hours (due to illness, bad weather or apathy) on the front page of our website whenever possible so please watch that space." www.bikepirates.com

Dapper in the Bike Lane

DSCN0847, originalmente cargada por adl2k.

 Photo: Tweed Ride Chicago

 More Dapper in the Bike Lane Photos (NPR)

 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120470684

A Very Fast French Postman

The Future? by Paula Alvarado (Argentina)

Dude, where's my bike lane? SanFran

Bloor Cycle Redux (new photo)

Back alley southwest of Bloor and Dufferin.

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

A Better Ring?

http://www.cyclehoop.com/

Features

• Simple, elegant and robust.
• Clamps onto existing street furniture.
• Quick and easy to install around the city.
• Compact design saves space and reduces street clutter.
• Prevents bicycles falling over and blocking pedestrians.
• Secure design reduces the risk of bicycle theft.
• The perfect solution for increasing cycle parking in cities.

Anti-bike Mayor Miller in Copenhagen

  

Mayor Miller in Copenhagen: 
"Oh, that's what real bike-friendly city looks like."

Witnesses Sought Queen & Shaw - Nov. 25

Bike Art For Christmas

Toronto's own Janet BIke Girl will be at the super cool Holiday Popup Art Shop December 10th.

And also at the Holiday Market Place in 401 Richmond

Meanwhile, Portland has a whole Bike Craft Fair this time of yea!
http://bikeportland.org/bikecraft-v-vendor-directory-winter-2009/

Doored (Animation)

via Urbanvelo

A Brace o' Ha' Pennies... Hey!!

A Brace o' Ha' Pennies... Hey!!, originalmente cargada por whymcycles.

1997 By Schwinn.

The Cyclists 1895 by Vittorio Alinari

Albumen print.

Logan's Azuki (Bike Glam)

logan's azuki, originalmente cargada por ( kurtz ).

For The Birds

 

Street Art Richmond and Spadina

A Ghost Bike For Mississauga

Memorial ride and ghost bike for an unknown cyclist killed in Mississauga on November 25, 2009. Thank you to all who rode and the awesome Bike Pirates for providing the Ghost Bike.
Scott Ossington wrote about the ride with many photos here

Bike Pirates Rule

Whose streets? Our streets!
New website!  The Bike Pirates

Fox On Bike (by Sara Thielker)

Velorution - Drawing, fox on bike (sara thielker), originalmente cargada por velorution.

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.

How We Travel In Toronto (2008)

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

kickin' cars - street art cluj napoca

kickin' cars - street art cluj napoca, originalmente cargada por nofamenogame.

HA!

Fossil Fuels

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

Promoting Safe Cycling (opinions needed :) )
Cargado originalmente por canofjuice

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

Bike Birdy

., originalmente cargada por tocvo.

by Charles O'Hara

La Linea 215

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

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

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  

Revolution

Directed by Paco Abraham & Daniel Latorre

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."

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 ...

The 'Good' Cyclist

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.ca, Joanne.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!

1960 Bowden

1960 Bowden, originalmente cargada por hebegbeez.

The Future is now or, hey, never was. Thanks to Todd Tyrtle for the find.

Toronto's Specter Pastes Up Brooklyn

IMG_4435, originalmente cargada por jakedobkin.

Stylish!