From tragedy to disgust: Video of dead cyclist stolen [The Star]

Earlier this month, bicyclist Jenna Morrison was struck and killed by a truck while turning right from Sterling Rd. to Dundas St. W.  Now, the family has been rocked by the news that a video camera containing footage of the much-loved yoga instructor dancing with her son has been stolen.

Side guards get nod from city council [NOW Magazine]

In an overwhelming 39-3 vote, councillors approved a broadly worded motion to look into introducing several safety measures on trucks in Toronto, including side guards and other features like audible warning systems. The motion also voiced council’s support for a federal bill that would make side guards mandatory across the country, and asked staff to investigate the feasibility of fitting the guards on all city-operated trucks.

Canadians want more bike lanes and law-abiding cyclists: poll [National Post]

Following recent high-profile cycling deaths in Ontario, results of a poll suggest four in five Canadians think until more cyclists respect the rules of the road, they won’t be able to gain the respect of motorists. “What Canadians are saying is that there needs to be more understanding between motorists and cyclists,” Ipsos Reid associate vice-president Sean Simpson said.

Reminder: Toronto Cyclists Union Member Appreciation Night [Bike Union]

 The Bike Union’s Member Appreciation Night is tonight (Thursday) at Mountain Equipment Co-op.  Get 10% off MEC products, INCLUDING bikes!

Bixi gets bigger [Spacing Toronto]

Locating Bixi stations close to each other and creating a dense service area is crucial for a bike share system that is structured for relatively quick, under 30-minute trips. However, the realization that there are opportunities for stations outside the initial service area, while less densely located, is a welcome one.

[photo from National Post]

About the News Cycle

The News Cycle is a periodic post which brings together links to news, events and other things which may be of interest to Toronto’s cyclists.  If you have an item you would like to see in The News Cycle, please email it to me at joe[at]bikingtoronto.com

Subscribe to our RSS feed to get The News Cycle in your feed reader, or subscribe to our mailing list to get BikingToronto posts in your email (maximum 1 email per day).

Bike Union / MEC Member Appreciation Night [Toronto Cyclists Union]

Join us for our Member Appreciation Night at Mountain Equipment Co-op on Thursday December 1^st from 7:00 – 9:00.  Like last year, bike union members will receive 10% off everything in the store except boats.  New this year, MEC has extended their 10% discount to bikes as well!

TCAT Turns Five and Gets a New Name [Toronto Centre for Active Transportation]

Since becoming a project of Clean Air Partnership, a registered charitable organization, TCAT has evolved from a grassroots advocacy group into a research and education organization. As a result, we are celebrating our fifth birthday by changing our name to the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation.

BIXI Toronto expands coverage by 50% [Dandyhorse Magazine]

 BIXI Toronto has reached 3936 members after only 6 months of service and riders have made 372,417 trips. BIXI Toronto is also reporting that the average number of trips per day has seen little decrease even as outside temperatures continue to fall. Toronto’s bike-share system is up and running year around, the first system open all year in Canada.

[photo from Dandyhorse Magazine]

About the News Cycle

The News Cycle is a periodic post which brings together links to news, events and other things which may be of interest to Toronto’s cyclists.  If you have an item you would like to see in The News Cycle, please email it to me at joe[at]bikingtoronto.com

Subscribe to our RSS feed to get The News Cycle in your feed reader, or subscribe to our mailing list to get BikingToronto posts in your email (maximum 1 email per day).

Dead cyclist Jenna Morrison was a yoga teacher, dancer, mom

A heartbreaking profile of the cyclist tragically killed at Dundas West and Sterling Rd. on Monday.

Bike Union Launching Register/Report/Check Campaign [Bike Union]

“To combat bike theft, we’re launching the REGISTER/REPORT/CHECK campaign!  The solution to reducing bike theft is to collapse the market for stolen bikes, making it harder for thieves to re-sell stolen bikes, and easier for the police to return stolen bikes to their owners.”

Four bad ideas for bikes [Spacing]

Spacing looks at four bad ideas regarding bikes in Toronto: Create bike-free streets, Make cyclists pay for roads, Licensing cyclists, Make it illegal to park anywhere but official bike parking.

 [photo from the Star]

The News Cycle is a periodic post which brings together links to news, events and other things which may be of interest to Toronto’s cyclists.  If you have an item you would like to see in The News Cycle, please email it to me at joe[at]bikingtoronto.com

Subscribe to our RSS feed to get The News Cycle in your feed reader, or subscribe to our mailing list to get BikingToronto posts in your email (maximum 1 email per day).

Via the Bike Union, this dance party is also mentioned in our News Cycle from this morning.

You’re Invited to Derailed!

We’re kicking our drive to 2,500 members up a notch – join us for Derailed: A Dance Party at CSI Annex on Friday Nov 11! Doors at 9:00. Presentations until 10:00. Silent auction, raffles and dancing until 1:30. Members get in free. Non-members $5. Join or renew and get in free & get a free beer. Bring a non-member and let’s keep the drive alive!

RSVP on our Facebook event page! Not on Facebook? Check out our event page on our website for more info.

A special thanks to our event sponsors Mill Street Brewery, the Bicycle Commons and Hoopdriver Bicycles!

Cycling safely toward a better city [Toronto Star]

Mostly an article with Gil Penalosa of 8-80 Cities about what is needed to make Toronto a great cycling city (hint – it’s things other cities like NYC, London, Montreal and Vancouver are doing)

Bixi Toronto Newsletter – November 2011 [Bixi]

The November edition of Bixi Toronto’s newsletter is out and includes information about some Bixi Stations moving in preparation for winter, a VIA Rail discount to BIXI members, how to gives someone a BIXI for Christmas, and Bixi Statistics (including 300,000 trips taken so far)!

Derailed: A Bike Union Dance Party [Toronto Cyclists Union]

Get your groove on with the Toronto Cyclists Union.  This Friday night is Derailed, a dance party at CSI Annex on Friday Nov 11! Doors at 9:00. Presentations until 10:00. Silent Auction, raffles and dancing all night long.  Bike Union members get in free. Non-members = $5.

Cyclist killed in west Toronto collision [CBC]

Toronto’s second cyclist has died in traffic this year after a truck hit a woman at Dundas West and Sterling Rd, which is where the West Toronto Railpath ends.

 Bikelanes on Leslie? Let’s Make It Happen! Nov 9, 6pm

Let’s make Leslie St better for walking and cycling (to food stores, parks and the Spit)!!! The TTC is considering re-designs of Leslie Street between Queen St E and Lakeshore Blvd as you read this. Have your say: TTC designers will be presenting at a public meeting.

Wednesday, November 9
Open house: 6pm
Presentation + Q&A: 6:30-8:30
Toronto Fire Academy/EMS 895 Eastern Ave

[image from the Star]

The News Cycle is a periodic post which brings together links to news, events and other things which may be of interest to Toronto’s cyclists.  If you have an item you would like to see in The News Cycle, please email it to me at joe[at]bikingtoronto.com

Subscribe to our RSS feed to get The News Cycle in your feed reader, or subscribe to our mailing list to get BikingToronto posts in your email (maximum 1 email per day).

Via the Bike Union:

A quick reminder:

The Toronto Cyclists Union – Ward 21 Chapter will be having a group check in and social on Wednesday, September 14. It will take place at Dave’s (730 St. Clair Ave. W, 1 block west of Christie) from 7:00pm~9:00pm. This will be a perfect opportunity to meet fellow cyclists in the neighbourhood, find out about key cycling related issues happening in Toronto and provide input on challenges or opportunities.

If you have any questions please feel free to send us an e-mail.

Toronto Cyclists Union – Ward 21 Chapter
Co-Captains: Hanna Caplan & Benedict San Juan

View Larger Map

It took a full 7 minutes for the ride to completely pass me, so I’ve sped it up a little, and added some lively music.

I’m quite happy with how this turned out, considering it’s really the first iPhone video (which is why the video is a touch shaky) I’ve tried to edit and put music with (all using an App too). First video ever, really.

Here are some photos and a few words about the event:

People start gathering at Allan Gardens.  Lots of news media.

It’s like a two-wheeled bike party.

There were LOTS of bikes! [photo by Hyedie Hashimoto]

Dave Meslin addressed the crowd. He sounded like a politician with a lot of soundbites. A bike-friendly politician.  He also said he’d lay down on Jarvis in front of any trucks that would remove bikelanes.  I doubt he’d do it and that it would do anything for the cyclist cause, other than maybe get him arrested.

Jared Kolb, director of Membership for the Bike Union speaks… offering any non-members a break on membership – only $20 instead of $30.

Met Chris after seeing his Left Wing Pinko t-shirt.

Then everyone hit Jarvis Street! [photo by Hyedie Hashimoto]

Even some dogs! [photo by Hyedie Hashimoto]

Woo! [photo by Hyedie Hashimoto]

Then everyone gathered at City Hall [photo by Hyedie Hashimoto]

I’m working on a video of the whole ride passing Carlton. Stay tuned.

The Toronto Cyclists Union is organizing a “Ride for Jarvis” tonight and plans to have hundreds of cyclists riding on Jarvis Street to show/protest/unify against City Hall decisions that are removing bikelanes and implying that a Torontonian who drives is more important than a Torontonian who bikes.

This ride will attract 3 types of cyclist:

• Cyclists who feel there must be a public show of support for bikelanes
• Cyclists who are militant and want to take over city streets as a symbolic “F— You!” to drivers and City Hall
• Cyclists who just want streets to be safer and are disappointed that City Hall is trying to make streets more dangerous

The cyclists it will not attract are those who believe that jamming up car traffic and pissing off other Torontonians is the exact opposite of what cycling advocates should be doing.    It will not attract Torontonians who believe that bridges should be built (and not burnt) between cycling and driving and pedestrian groups.  It will not attract cyclists who believe that the Bike Union is an important voice for cyclists, but do not agree with the Union’s methods of “advocating” or the fact that some central people who run the Union are anti-car.

It remains to be seen what kind of media attention this will get, but I am willing to bet that it’s the militant cyclists that the mainstream media will focus on for soundbites and video clips.

Because of this, I doubt this ride will do *anything* other than be a community-building event for the type of cyclists who go to an event like this and an item in a Toronto Cyclists Union Annual Report.

This is essentially because 1) those that hold the balance of power at City Hall do not care what cyclists think, and 2) everyone already knows that cyclists support bikelanes.

However, it should be a fun and interesting event, and I hope that a good percentage of the 1000+ people who have marked themselves as “attending” on the Facebook Event Page actually show up.  Facebook Event RSVPs and notorious for not being accurate.

[top photo from the Toronto Sun]

• Children ages 8-13 can take part in fun stations to learn cycling safety skills
• Bike-part mobile making and bike decorating for siblings and participants will also be offered
• The event is free and will take place rain or shine
• Volunteer assistance is still needed to run the event (and help set up and clean up).  If you can volunteer, please contact Beth at Concillor Mihevc’s community office: 416-392-7460.

• Everyone is welcome to attend
• The ride will start and finish at the north-west corner of the Wychwood Barns (Christie & Benson). Route map and additional information can be emailed upon request.
• We will end our ride at a local ice-cream shop!
• Please RSVP to ward21@bikeunion.to to confirm your attendance. The first person to RSVP will get a free ice cream!