Bike Love

Bike Love by Janet Bike Girl
Field guide to Toronto cyclists

Get ready Toronto! More Cyclists on the way!!

In this photo: Mari, nine month pregnant, attending June Critical Mass.

Best wishes to Mari and Rick!

GAS PRICES WENT UP AGAIN TODAY

GAS PRICES WENT UP AGAIN TODAY, originalmente cargada por -Dons.

Seen in Austin, Texas

Not A Bicycle City | Bicycle City

Bloor St.

Article in the Globe about Copenhagen

Touring Bike 1935

Legal Info for Cyclists fighting traffic tickets

Legal Info for fighting tickets

Jane Jacobs on Bike

Bike Flashmob Roundabout (GerMANY)

Will You Be My Bicycle?

June 19 - July 3 |
"Will You Be My Bicycle"
Hotshot Gallery
Photographs from a 'Public
History of Cycling in Toronto'
by Martin Reis
(includes photos of Ghost
Bikes and ARC memorials
and more)
PLUS! Artwork by Paul Johnson
from his popular 'Cycling in
Toronto' comic series ...
HotShot Gallery | 181 Augusta
(in Kensington Market)

Riding Along

Ridin' Along, originalmente cargada por drburtoni.

How To Fight Traffic Tickets

TICKETS UNDER THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

Tickets may be issued for moving violations (such as failing to stop), or for inadequate bike equipment (lights, for example). You can't receive demerit points on your driver's licence for tickets received while on a bicycle. This circular is meant to provide a general explanation of the legal process, but is not meant to be definitive. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CALL ARC at (416) 604-5171 or email ARC.

DEALING WITH THE POLICE

Don't escalate the situation by yelling, etc. Stay calm, it's just a ticket. You will be able to fight it. Don't assume that as a "law-abiding citizen" you can't be criminally charged just for being annoying. It has happened and it sucks. If necessary, there is a police complaints process.

GOT A TICKET? DO THIS IMMEDIATELY:

1. Write down what happened as soon as possible after receiving the ticket. Include the location, direction of travel, the incident, witnesses, etc. Obtain as much information as possible at the scene. Sign and date it.
2. Call for witnesses: It is very hard to get them later. Get their phone number or contact information. Ask them to make a signed and dated statement of events as soon as possible. All of the information you need about your charge and the officer (such as badge number and division) should be on your ticket.

WHAT NEXT? FIGHTING THE TICKET

Once you have been ticketed, you have three possible courses to follow:

• Plead guilty. This is the easiest thing to do - pay the money, and forget about it.

(Note that ignoring the ticket is the same as "accepting guilt.")

• Plead guilty with an explanation. This is an attempt to get the fine reduced. It may be as simple as, for example, "Yes, I ran a red light, but there was no traffic, I was slow and careful and on a bicycle, I won't do it again, and I'm poor."
• Plead not guilty. To contest your ticket (enter a not-guilty plea), you must do so in person at the place indicated on your ticket (usually Old City Hall). Bring your ticket with you. Entering the plea itself takes only a few minutes, but depending on the time of day, there may be a long line up. There may be a deadline to contest the ticket -- check your ticket to be sure.

If you decide to enter a plea of not guilty, you'll receive a notice in the mail of your trial date. It could be a year or more away.

Once you get a trial date, you have the option of sending in a request for disclosure, which you should fax in and keep the fax receipt as evidence of your request. By requesting disclosure, you are requesting information from the Provincial Prosecutor's office relevant to your case (i.e. the police officer's notebook). If this is not disclosed to you within a reasonable amount of time before your trial, you can request that the case be thrown out, although more likely it will just be delayed to a future date. Before your trial date, you should call Old City Hall to see if your disclosure is ready for pick-up: if it was ready but you don't come pick it up, it won't help you in court.

If the officer does not show up, the ticket will be thrown out. If you receive disclosure, and the officer shows up for court, you'll want to have some sort of case ready. Visit the ARC library to look over info on legal issues, rolling stops, etc. Note that witnesses must be present, they cannot send a written statement. You will have a chance to question the officer. In this situation it is not easy to win the case unless you have compelling evidence that you did not do whatever you are charged with. You can change your plea to guilty with an explanation and ask for a lesser fine on the basis of not having the money, however you may also have to pay some minor court costs.

See some first-hand accounts of dealing with the police and courts.

---

Disclaimer: To the best of our knowledge this information is accurate as of May 2008. ARC cannot be held liable for the outcome of acting on this information, and recommends that you seek professional legal advice.

Riding On Water

Design ...

Source

Indigestion

Now that the so-called "War On Cars' has been won and bikes rule, we can all have a fine summer everyone, eh?

Things are tough all over

Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
“Transport is the basket case of climate change policy. It is the second largest sector for emissions after heat, and it is the sector where things are still going in the wrong direction."

Know that story.

Legal Info for Cyclists fighting traffic tickets

Legal Info for fighting tickets

Let's Bike Out To The Country

Let's Bike Out To The Country, originalmente cargada por Dan Moynihan.

S.O.S.

Seven-year-old expected to live
Jun 20, 2009 | 03:13 PM | Adrian Morrow | Staff Reporter | The Star

A 7-year-old boy hit by a car in Cabbagetown yesterday remains in a coma but is expected to live.

The boy was riding a bicycle across Parliament St. at Oak St., north of Dundas St. E. around 6:40 p.m. at a crosswalk.

He made it more than halfway across the street, with vehicles in the southbound passing lane stopped for him.

A 29-year-old woman driving in the curb lane, however, hit him.

He was taken to hospital with head injuries and placed in a medically induced coma.

(Note: The driver in the two tone metal box is reported as unhurt and has since snapped out of the gasoline induced coma ...)

Will You Be My Bicycle? - Hotshot Gallery

June 19 - July 3 | Opening 20 | 7-9 PM
"Will You Be My Bicycle"

HotShot Gallery
Photographs from a 'Public History of Cycling in Toronto' by Martin Reis
(includes photos of Ghost Bikes and ARC memorials and more)
PLUS! Artwork by Paul Johnson from his popular 'Cycling in Toronto' comic
series ... If you miss this, you suck!

HotShot Gallery | 181 Augusta Avenue (in Kensington Market)

Urban Repair Squad Goes To Nueva York

The URS film 'Le Depart - The Beginning' will be

screened at the Bicycle Film Festival in New York

on Sunday June 21 (Program 12,5PM)

Cars vs. Bikes

Posted again in case drivers don't get it.

News from the front.

BLD News -EXCLUSIVE- (Mississauga)- BLD staffers were deep into hostile territory to see how the 'War on Cars' is affecting areas surrounding Toronto. While waiting at a rail crossing we were witness to a school bus advance on a railway crossing that had its warning lights and chimes activated with its barrier beginning to come down. So worried was one staffer that the bus, thinking it was filled with children, would get hit he begged the driver to stop. The driver kept going, thankfully the barrier was able to stop the bus moments before a train came through.

We were shocked, why would the driver risk so many little people lives. On closer inspection we saw the real reason. Seated behind the driver were three aging silver haired soldiers from a local car fanciers club, there were no kids. Their attempt to ram a guerrilla train, GO Train carrying commuters to the downtown core, was thwarted on this day.

bike love orange

bike love orange, by williamdohman.

The Forecast For Toronto: HOT!

No comment. Except that the older woman in the car is getting a bike instead ...

Bike Pirates Third Friday Event

This bike month join Bike Pirates with a mass ride to the local community gardens in the west end area.

After the ride we will all site down to a group vegetarian meal provided at Bike Pirates new location 1292 Bloor St. W.

Friday June 19th
Ride starts at 1292 Bloor St @ 7:30pm

Biker Bob Memorial Day June 16th

Dundas Street, January 5, 2005.
Wear something pink in his honour, we'd be tickled pink. ;-)

Music vs. Traffic

I prefer music.

Reading & Biking on Dundas West

Railpath Parade!

Click to enlarge ...

News from the front.

BLD News (Toronto)- The City of Toronto War Office reported that for the week ending June 12, 2009, that there were 1643 casualties. The tally included 341 Fords with car on car bumper damage, 27 Hondas with paint scratches from shopping buggies and Lexus reported the loss of 49 doors from T-Bones. Contrary to General Ootes assertions, no forces reported any casualties from engagements with pedestrians or cyclists. On the other hand, the Pedestrian Union reported that its soldiers suffered 3 very serious casualties when GMC fired a 'Tahoe' cruise missile at a crowded bus stop.

Sources tell BLD News that the United Nations is expected to dispatch Rush Limbaugh as its chief peace envoy to Toronto's 'War on the Car'.

Bike Wash! - Saturday June 13

Another magical night at Cine Cycle

Taken during Benny Zengas Bicycle Film Festival preview party.

Vintage film projection by Martin Heath. Sweet.

Driving to work drunk

I think with all this talk about a war on cars someone I think forgot to start one ...

Let Me Out!!

Darren Stehr Meets His Nemesis

Despite many years of advocating for cycling and cyclists' rights a recent photo found on Flickr tells another story. Darren Stehr has a mortal fear of other Cyclists! As the photo clearly shows the photographer runs for cover at the mere sight other cyclists. Local news media have been hounding Mr. Stehr and family for comment but thus far he has stayed in complete seclusion in his East Scarborough home saying just that it is a personal matter which he prefers to keep private and that he is seeking out professional help.

A kinder gentler bullet.

BLDNews (Texas)- Armory Munitions of Dallas, Texas announced the start of sales today of what they describe as a "...kinder, gentler bullet..." to arm cyclists with. An armour piercing bullet that is designed to hone in on concentrated masses of metal. When fired at a car, it travels directly to the engine block and cracks it. Effectively stopping the car. They claim a 99.3% success rate.

Critics denounced the bullet as a "...very cynical, dangerous, and stupid way..." to deal with the very real problem of aggressive driving.

Armory Munitions is petitioning the Canadian government to make the use of the bullet legal in Canada. No word on price if it makes it to Canada.

Stencil Art Bike Tour Sat. June 13

Join 'Stencil Nation' author RUSSELL HOWZE, local bike stencil artist JANET BIKE GIRL and photographer MARTIN REIS on an expert guided bike tour of Toronto's vibrant street art scene. The tour will feature many hidden street art locations and thought-provoking insights into this worldwide art subculture. A rare chance to see Toronto in a new way. Empty walls say nothing.

This event is being organized in conjunction with the Canadian release of the book 'Stencil Nation' at the 'This Ain't The Rosedale Library' after the tour.

Tour starts at Bloor and Spadina at 6PM and ends in Kensington Market around 8:30PM.

Toronto 2009 Criterium Photos

Check out my full set here: Toronto 2099 Criterium (flickr)

A Taxi Drivers Brain

Tino's Back! Cull the herd!