Monday, November 30, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
New Bike-Friendly Cafe Opening Next Week
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
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
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/cyclist-harassment-against-the-law.php
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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
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
How come Toronto's media including the CBC cannot get it act together on this? Graphic by Marriedtothesea
Sunday, November 22, 2009
CBN | 5TH ANNUAL TORONTOTHEBETTER MOVIE SERIES
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
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
"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!
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)
Bad Cyclists? Nah, Mostly Just Bad Drivers
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Action Alert
Action Alert: Fine Increase & Added Enforcemen
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.
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!
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.
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
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Cars: Out Of The Way
Low-tech Magazine has a fine article on bike power!
Illustration by Marriedtothesea
Monday, November 09, 2009
Dundas West & Dupont
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
A New Reward For Drivers (Coming July 2010)
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
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
11 Impossibly Loaded Bicycles
This is the 12th bicycle that could have been included ...
(Photo) Mary Mattingly’s precarious bipedal vehicles from her Nomadographies
Monday, November 02, 2009
Thank You
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.
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