This links to a three question poll on the number of cyclists and attitudes on the road. Working on expanding this poll with other bloggers to get a more extensive read on what is going on out there.
http://www.torontocranks.com/?p=191
 Hello All, Here's a pic of the new blue bike lane installed on Strachan Ave. today. (sbnd at Lake Shore Blvd) The blue is inended to highlight a conflict point where drivers merge across the bike lane to make a right turn. The City is currently testing the blue material for durability. cheers for now. cris
My first film. Shot in Super 8. A lonely blue ladies bike runs away from home.
Much of what I have ever wanted to say about biking, bicycles and enviro-politics
I tried to say with this short film.
When I started Bike Lane Diary almost 5 years ago I thought it would be a good idea to document bike conditions and bike culture in Toronto. Judging from the many good comments I have received from cyclists far and wide it seems I was right. It was a good idea. Even though some of you won't believe this: I think it's time to pass on the torch to other cyclists.
Over to you, Brandon, Bruce, Cris, Darren, Guido, Goshka, Hannah, Tammy & Wes.
No worries, I'll still be around but less so on BLD. Must be moving onto other projects. The old film camera beckons. Mez needs a commercial or two. My wonderful partner Wendy wants to do something cool and exciting. Think I'll join in on the fun.
Thank you all so much for reading & writing and being so supportive.
See ya all in the Bike Lane.
Ride on!
Your friend always,
Martino
Gira lives in Sao Paulo, Brasil and puts up with a lot of crap from 'those Americanos'.
Parks, Forestry and Recreation will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, Necember 1st to discuss the new Masterplan for Centennial Park. This is a multi-year plan dealing with the revitalization of the 525-acre site as a public community recreation facility. Unfortunately the plan does not currently seem to include much in the way of cycling-specific needs. In fact, there has been opposition from staff regarding the addition of new cycling infrastructure in the park. The Midweek Cycling Club (a great local cycling club that hosts weekly race series' including great learn-to-race programs for novices) hopes that enough cyclists will show up at the public meeting to show the Parks department there are enough people out there who support such facilities. They have released information detailing some of their ideas for how the Masterplan could better incorporate cyclist's needs. Some highlights include: "All areas identified by double yellow to be asphalt surfaced with photo-cell street lamps on a timer system to enable evening use of the facility."
"A 250m, 333m or 500m inside diameter 5m to 7m wide paved surface with slightly raised banks circle for both track-cycling training and interval training."
"Adding showers to the ski centre's chalet and exterior access public washrooms"
"No un-fenced leash-free dog areas within the course or adjacent to it"
"There is no safe pace for children to learn how to bike ride; this path system would give them such a place."
"This facility would enable a group like Midweek to host Friday night races under the lights from May until Labour Day like is done in major cities around the world."
"Midweek currently host International Ranked Cyclo-cross races within the facility each November; the goal is to move these up to World Cup status within 5 years."
"Other cycling disciplines (BMX, mountain and recreational) requires safe, traffic-free space, this would supply it"
"It is estimated this facility would be used daily by novices to internationally ranked cyclists to usage levels matching those of Centennial's soccer and baseball fields."
"BMX: A track to UCI standards to be built within the new paved area of the currently unutilized hydro corridor."
"Track: excluded at this time but may be added in the future after we have proven that these facilities get significant usage to warrant considering taking the financial and usage risk that a track would entail."
 As Darren over at Toronto Cranks reports 27km ain't going in this year. No Surprise! As far as I am concerned A. A. Heaps has no credibility whatsoever. You can defend him all you want. Too bad he just had to shoot his mouth off repeatedly and mislead people. Moreover, Ian Stuart points out that Bike Lanes are all crap anyway. Oh, well. Fuck it all. Let's ride!
 01. You know what a fixie is 02. You have gotten more than 2 or 3 flats in an 8 hour work day. 03. You know that just because your dispatcher yells at you on the radio, it's nothing personal. 04. You have a code name [i.e. 8-ball, Fire Leader, Squid] 05. You have gone the wrong way down a one-way street just to deliver a package. 06. You know how to ride a bike with one gear and no brakes, somewhat safely. 07. You know the people in the local bike shop bike first name. 08. You know that downtown on a bike is SO much faster than a car. (Read on in the comments)
 | TCAC | Oct 16, '07 5:57 PM
for everyone |
A few notes from the first meeting of the long absent Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee.
While nothing too major was tackled at the introductory meeting #1, there was a progress report on bike lane implementation. Most of you will know much of this already, as portions were published long ago, but there are a few updates worth noting.
Knox contra flow connector (Queen-Eastern):
Installed Sept 07
Logan connector (Eastern to Point 200m south):
Installed Sept 07, still have to install a modular island as a separator.
Christie (Dupont-St.Clair):
Installed Oct 07 (see Martin's photos below)
Greenwood (Danforth to Queen):
Installation started Oct 9th and is currently underway.
Queensway (Claude to Windermere):
Installation in Oct 2007
Lappin-Hallam (Ossington and Lansdowne):
Installation in Oct 2007
Chester Hill Broadview and 100m West:
Installation in Oct 07
Rogers (Old Westonand Oakwood):
Installation Oct-Nov 2007
Sentinel (Finch and Dovehouse):
Installation Oct/Nov 2007
Carlaw-Logan (Gerrard to Dundas):
Installation still to be determined, but implementation has been approved by council Sept 2007
Eastern Ave (Logan and Leslie):
Installation still to be determined. The timing of installation is subject to Councillor's direction.
Yonge (Queens Quay and Front):
Approved March 2007, installation is scheduled to co-ordinate with road alteration/boulevard improvement 2007.
Royal York (Delroy and Mimico Creek):
Should be put in next spring, is co-ordinating with resurfacing/reconstruction 2007
Stephen (Queensway to Berry):
Approved by council 2007, will co-ordinate with resurfacing/reconstruction 2007/2008 and should happen in the spring.
Pond (Sentinel and Shoreham):
Approved by council, must co-ordinate with resurfacing/reconstruction 2007/2008
Lansdown (College-Bloor):
As I understand it, this is sharrows, happening now.
A bit of a mouthful, but there you have it.
Also good to know is that Clay McFayden is working as the cycling rep for the Queens Quay West Environmental Assessment Stakeholder Committee.
Gotta run for now.
 Cyclist killed after crash with dump truck in PeelA 31-year-old woman was killed Saturday morning when she was struck by a dump truck in Peel. The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. as the woman was riding her bike southbound on Mavis Road, near Central Parkway West. Investigators say they are still looking into how she collided with the truck, that was also travelling south on Mavis. The woman was critically injured in the crash and was promptly airlifted to an area hospital. Nonetheless, she succumbed to her injuries. Police are not revealing the identity of the woman yet as they are still trying to contact her family. Update: A few of us will ride to the location on Sunday Oct. 21 to lay flowers. We ride rom Ossinton and Queen at 10:30 am Sunday.
View Larger Map
 " ... Like Parker, Councillor Mark Grimes argued that the initiatives, which include exploring the possibilities of regularly shutting down streets to cars, creating a continuous bikeway along Bloor Street and funding a Bike Share program, are going to require “ baby baby steps.” Committee chair Glenn De Baeremaeker saw it a different way: “This is a revolution of baby steps,” he countered. “It's urging us to think smarter, to take our roads department that focused on asphalt and make sure it's truly a transportation department that focuses on people and moving people.” Via Dale Duncan in Eye Weekly. Illustration by Singer
      Curitiba. Brazil (Left & Centre Photos) Toronto (Right) Photos from Curitiba via Luddista Then again, you can just repaint the Bike Lane as they did in Curitiba. Photo by Elisando Dalcin Nice work!!
| |
