The Blessing

P1060445, originally uploaded by Martinho.

My fav photo from last Sunday's Blessing of Bicycles ... with Ainsley of the Bike Pirates top left corner doing bike repairs.

Toronto Bike Month Launch 2011

Video by Wayne Scott. Thanks  Wayne!

Bike Month Gets Rolling

Photo by Hamish Wilson

2011 Blessing of Bicycles

2011 Blessing of Bicycles, a set on Flickr.

Trinity-St.Paul’s United Church and the Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts hosted their second annual Bike Blessing. Ministers blessed bikes and riders and asking for protection for all who ride. They gave thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle and the mobility it gives us to explore our city. What an excellent way to begin Bicycle Month in Toronto and to get ready for Bike to Work Day on Monday, May 30th. Ministers: Ted Reeve and Alex Horsky.

A 2011 Bike Month Event.

Bicycle Art by Janet Bike Girl.
Photography by Martin Reis.
Special thanks to Hamish Wilson and Lyn Gaetz.

(snip) The Star "One by one, they wheeled their bicycles down the red-carpeted centre aisle to the front of Trinity St. Paul’s United Church. One by one, Reverend Ted Reeve sprinkled holy water on their heads, handlebars, and baskets.

“May the road rise to meet you; may the wind be ever at your back; may all your journeying be joyous; may you and your bicycle be held in God’s hand,” he said.

The second annual blessing of the bicycles drew about 50 riders to the church, located near Bloor St. and Spadina Ave., on Sunday afternoon. Scooters and motorcycles were blessed outside.

“It is an opportunity for us to celebrate the technology of a simple, efficient machine that also brings us closer to nature and God’s abundance,” Reeve said in an interview. “It’s a way to slow down and appreciate life.”

Reeve administered blessings along with Alexandra Horsky, a board member at Trinity St. Paul’s and a chaplain at a Toronto hospital."

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/999191--bicycle-blessing-brings-riders-closer-to-god-s-abundance

Second Annual Blessing of Bicycles & Cyclists - May 29

Photo from the first 2010 Event. 
Art by Janet Bike Girl. 
Thank you Bike Pirates, Hamish Wilson. 


2011 Blessing of Bicycles And Cyclists-  May 29  12:30 - 2PM

Trinity-St.Paul’s United Church and the Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts invite you to our second annual Bike Blessing. Ministers will be blessing bikes and riders and asking for protection for all who ride. We will give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle and the mobility it gives us to explore our city. What an excellent way to begin Bicycle Month in Toronto and to get ready for Bike to Work Day on Monday, May 30th. Ministers: Ted Reeve and Alex Horsky. 427 Bloor Street West (One Block West of Spadina at Robert) Non-denominational. All welcome. A 2011 Bike Month Event. Bicycle Art by Janet Bike Girl. Photography by Martin Reis. For more information contact: Phone: 416-922-8435 Ext: 21

Matthew

Matthew, originally uploaded by Martinho.

He rode the Ride of Silence with last week. This week he was injured by a hit and run driver and left with a broken arm and several stitches in his face. Thank you Toronto.

"Deconstructing Vehicular Cycling (VC)

"Vehicular cyclists are disciples of John Forester whose book they often cite to support their arguments. Forester has been an advocate for mixed-traffic cycling since the 1970’s when he began promoting a philosophy known as Vehicular Cycling or VC for short. He was credited with helping protect the right of cyclists to use the public right of way.

However Forester’s VC view left no room, ideological or physical, for cycling lanes. An article in a recent issue of the cycling magazine, Momentum, says that Forester contributed in no small way to slowing the progress toward better cycling infrastructure in North America. In fact, he never saw cycling as a transportation option. He always saw cycling as “a minority activity” and “I didn’t expect it to be any more than that,” he told the author. (“Trailblazers,” by Jeff Mapes, Momentum Magazine, No. 44, March-April 2010, www.momentumplanet.com)."
http://www.cycling-vision.ca/resources/research/deconstructing-vc.html

Dangerous Commute On College

Photo by Hamish Wilson

After The Storm

The Push Bike Song

Doggie Pedal Parade

dpp 1, originally uploaded by Time's Up! Environmental Organization.

New York

Ride of Silence Toronto 2011

Ride of Silence Toronto 2011, a set on Flickr.

30 of us rode to remember friends and loved ones. You never ride alone. www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

Ride of Silence

I ask all to come out to the corner of Bloor and Spadina at 7pm - 8pm on May 18th to honor the fallen cyclist, to raise awareness that cyclist are traffic and everyone needs to share the road.

WHY DOES THIS ORGANIZATION EXIST?

* To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
* To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
* To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 18 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North
America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in
a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured
while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right
to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't
aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists
themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas
after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a
passing bus and was killed. (Read the full history here...)

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists remain silent during the ride There is no brochure, no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is
held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of
motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right
to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for
those who have been killed or injured.