Next month Built is in Toronto during NXNE Interactive. Built is our series of talks by people who create. It’s a make and tell event with 5-minute presentations by diverse speakers covering a wide-range of topics. This attendee favorite has played in Austin for SXSW and Portland during WebVisions. We’re very pleased to bring the show to Toronto during NXNEi.

We’re on stage in the NXNE Lounge at 1:20 to 2 each day from June 13-15 and want to hear what you’ve got to say about your projects, the cool stuff you make or do. How you take the ordinary and create the extraordinary.

Tic Brown on stage during Built at SXSW 12

Submit your talk now. Built our flavor of Ignite with the bike as a backdrop or a Pecha Kucha. Each presentation is 5 minutes with 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds. The beauty of the format is, the presentations change like Seattle weather. If you’re not that interested in one talk, wait for another.

I’m also talking about being a maker and creator during NXNE. I’ll ride all over Toronto, mayor Rob Ford be damned!

Researchers at UBC and Simon Fraser University have come up with a way to rate how good major Canadian cities are for cycling.

Modelled on a site called Walk-Score, researchers tallied up three factors: topography, bike accessibility to shops and the number of bike lanes. The results are then colour-coded on a map posted on a website.

The Fixer: Cycling on Kew Gardens paths is no crime after all [The Star]

He did a computer search on the bylaw noted on the signs — 319-69 — which later became 1969-319, and “it turns out the bylaw was repealed 15 years ago and the city just hadn’t taken down the signs.”

Between the date of our column and Leroux’s investigation, all but one sign was removed, he said, noting that “the entire Fixer article is incorrect.”

June is Bike Month across Canada [Dandyhorse Magazine]

Toronto’s Bike Month has evolved from a single Bike to Work Day in 1998 to become one of the largest events of its kind in the country. Bike Month is organized by the City of Toronto and theCycle Toronto (formerly Toronto Cyclists Union). Below are a just a couple of events dandy will be at, but check out their calendar for full event listings.

Urban Planet: Why Kids Don’t Ride to School Anymore [Spacing Toronto]

Did you ride your bike to school as a kid? According to this piece on NPR, back in 1969 nearly half of children got to school on foot or by bike. Today, that figure is closer to 13%. Reporter David Darlington talks about what has changed – from concerns about liability to sprawling neighbourhood design to a changing understanding of bikes as recreation rather than transportation.

Behind the scenes at Cervelo Cycles in Toronto [BlogTO]

Cervélo might just be the most innovative bike company in the world — and its Toronto-based headquarters is the type of place to send a tingle up and down the average roadie’s spandex-clad back. One wall is entirely whiteboard — with sketches, equations, and complex diagrams offered as an inadvertent equivalent to decor. Men with rings on their pinky fingers spend their days tinkering with the latest and greatest in software applications, trying to find that optimal balance between strength, stiffness, and aerodynamics.

Cyclist hospitalized after downtown crash  [CityNews]

A cyclist was rushed to hospital after a crash in the city’s downtown overnight Saturday.

Police tell CityNews the victim was biking near Queen and Victoria Streets just after 1 a.m. when a driver slammed on the brakes, causing the cyclist to crash into the back of the car.

Councillor and TTC chair Karen Stintz bike infraction earns her a ‘scolding’ from police officer [National Post]

The Toronto police officer in the cruiser behind her pulled the councillor over and reminded her she had to come to a full stop, like other vehicles.

“I said I was sorry, and that I would be more mindful in the future,” said Ms. Stintz, who tweeted about her encounter as a public service announcement. “The way she was scolding me, I’m fairly certain she did not know who I was,” she laughed.

Waiting on Wellesley [NOW Magazine]

It’s becoming a not-so-proud tradition in Toronto: propose a bike lane, approve a bike lane, and then delay building the bike lane.

The city has consistently fallen short of targets set out in the official Bike Plan 10 years ago, and it appears the separated cycle track planned for Wellesley St. is the latest project to be pushed back. According to a report going before the public works committee next Wednesday, the separated lane from Queen’s Park Crescent to Sherbourne Ave. won’t be completed until 2013, a year later than originally planned.

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.

Other ways to get the News Cycle:

• All News Cycle links are shared first on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Every page of BikingToronto has a “The Feed” section on the right side.  Check there for the latest links.
• 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).

While the Toronto Cyclist’s Union Cycle Toronto’s effort to force the city to conduct a time-consuming environmental assessment before removing the Jarvis bike lanes continues, it’s published city collision data showing changes from the period before the bike lane was put in, and the one-year numbers since the bike lane went in. The results, as Cycle Toronto puts it, are pretty definitive.

Toronto News: Jarvis safer since bike lanes, report shows [The Star]

Cycle Toronto, Board Election Results and Annual General Meeting Recap [Toronto Cyclists Union / Cycle Toronto]

Bikes of Bamboo [Torontoist]

How did Bixi do in its first year in Toronto? [TorontoLife]

OpenRoad: How construction projects can occupy bike lanes—legally [OpenFile]

For about a month last year, Toronto cyclist Lizz Bryce avoided the stretch of St. George Street near the Rotman School of Management at all costs. The building was under construction and the project spilled out onto the sidewalks and beyond, often blocking the street’s heavily-used northbound bike lane.

The Grid guide to cycling etiquette [The Grid TO]

How should people behave in cities? The Grid’s Urban Etiquette video series gives you a few tips on how to be a polite city dweller.

This week, we ask Andrea Garcia, the Advocacy Director of the Toronto Cyclists Union, to advise us on why cyclists shouldn’t run red lights, how often to ring your bell, and whether bike flirting is an acceptable practice.

Bixi Toronto bike rental service turns 1 [CityNews]

Bike Collision Rates are Down on Jarvis Street [Toronto Cyclists Union / Cycle Toronto]

Toronto Cyclist Union changes name to “Cycle Toronto” [OpenFile]

 We’ve briefly mentioned this story before, but the decision was finally made last night: the Toronto Cyclist Union had to decide whether to keep the word “union” in its name, or go with a more generic term. The results were pretty overwhelming.

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.

Other ways to get the News Cycle:

• All News Cycle links are shared first on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Every page of BikingToronto has a “The Feed” section on the right side.  Check there for the latest links.
• 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).

Toronto Cyclists Union Releases New Mission, Vision, Guiding Principles & Goals [Toronto Cyclists Union]

Cycling Advocates Consider a Rebrand [Torontoist]

This week, members of the Toronto Cyclists Union will consider a proposal from their board of directors to change the organization’s name to Cycle Toronto. The rebrand, which members of the union will put to a vote at the TCU’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, is part of an ambitious strategic plan to build membership and advocacy programs beyond the city’s downtown core.

Ride the Ravines [Toronto Cyclists Union]

Spotted: Ghost Bike Posts | cityscape [Torontoist]

Back in November, we learned that Astral Media, which has a contract with the City of Toronto to provide street furniture (bus shelters, trash bins, et cetera) had been cutting down bike posts to make room for their new (and reviled-by-many, including us) information pillars—not just removing them but sawing them off, rendering the posts unusable and the bikes that were still locked to them an easy target for theft. 

The Unconventional Urban Citizen Bicyclist  [The Urban Country]

dandy at Dragon’s Den with Maya Cycle [Dandyhorse]

Marta Staniszewski, director of operations at Stamettech, invited me to ride a bike pulling one of her Maya Cycle single-wheel trailers on Dragon’s Den.

I’m a huge fan of the show and was really excited to “model” the Maya Cycle trailer for her. The trailer also converts into a wheelbarrow. I rode a BionX bike (but didn’t get to use the e-assist) and Troy Mitchell, proprietor of The Mobile Bike Shop Ltd. rode the other bike-and-trailer set on set. 

May 2012 Cupcake Ride Details[Cupcake Ride Blog]

Action Alert: Connect Chaplin Station to the Beltline Trail! [Toronto Cyclists Union]

 The preliminary design for Chaplin Station presented by Metrolinx last Wednesday does not include any direct connections with the Beltline trail.  The primary (accessible) entrance is on the north-east corner of Chaplin and Eglinton.  A secondary entrance is placed on the south-west corner of Chaplin and Eglinton, forcing LRT users to ascend a lengthy set of stairs to reach the street level, exit the station, and then descend another steep set of stairs to to reach the Beltline at path level.

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.

Other ways to get the News Cycle:

• All News Cycle links are shared first on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Every page of BikingToronto has a “The Feed” section on the right side.  Check there for the latest links.
• 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).

I think the main thing is treating cycling as nothing special. If you have Option A and Option B, and Option A takes you 15 minutes, it’s comfortable, Option B takes you 25 minutes, it feels dangerous, most people will choose Option A. … The bottom line is just making it the most attractive choice.

Nurse gets new bike after previous one stolen outside hospital [Toronto Sun]

After finishing a 12-hour shift at the hospital on Apr. 16, the nurse came out and found her $1,000 road bike was missing. The only thing left behind was a U-Lock and cut cable lock.

But a day after her story appeared in the Toronto Sun, a man whose heart went out to the 33-year-old nurse, dropped off his Raleigh hybrid sport bike at the hospital.

Complete Streets Forum 2012 Highlights [TCAT]

What a great day! A record breaking number of delegates participated in TCAT’s fifth annual Complete Streets Forum on Monday April 23, 2012 at the Evergreen Brick Works. There were 230 delegates gathered in Toronto and another 20 joined in through webcasting for a total of 250 participants!

Awarding Toronto Silver Bicycle Friendly Community Award Irresponsible in Light of Statistics [Toronto Cyclists Union]

Yesterday, the City of Toronto received a Bicycle Friendly Community award, which recognizes long-term multi-faceted commitment to cycling. The Silver Award that is being presented to the City is proof that cycling is a major issue in Toronto and one that requires much more attention if we are to attain the Gold or Platinum standards shared by North America’s best cycling cities. 

Toronto’s biking problem: labels? Or that the argument isn’t over yet? [OpenFile]

“I like to say we have no cyclists in Copenhagen,” Mr. Rohl, manager of the City of Copenhagen’s bicycle program, told about 200 people at the Ontario Bike Summit at the Hyatt Regency on King Street West on Tuesday. “We have citizens who use bikes to get from A to B.”

Danish cyclist showing Toronto how to cope with sharing the road [National Post]

Denmark’s history of cycling, combined with Copenhagen’s dense and flat landscape, has contributed to its popularity. About 37% of trips to school and work are on a bike, compared with 31% in the car, 28% on transit and 4% on foot. “First of all it’s infrastructure, you can’t ask people to do something where they feel like they put their lives in danger.”

Motorist Convenience Trumps Safety [The Urban Country]

A poll on the left-leaning Toronto Star website shows that 68% of readers would not be willing to reduce speed limits to 30 km/h on residential streets and 40km/h on other city streets.

An article in the right-leaning Toronto Sun newspaper warned that Toronto would become “Canada’s worst speed trap” if speed limits in this city were reduced (because drivers would of course disobey the new speed limit just as they do the current speed limits).

TCAT releases new report: Complete Streets Gap Analysis [TCAT]

 On April 23, 2012 at the Complete Streets Forum, TCAT released a new report titled Complete Streets Gap Analysis: Opportunities and Barriers in Ontario. Produced, with funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the report provides an analysis of the potential for Complete Streets in 17 of Ontario’s largest municipalities.

Big boost planned for city bike trails [Toronto Sun]

Projects proposed this year include extending the Finch Hydro Corridor Trail east of Yonge St. to connect with the Don Trail, extending the Waterfront Trail further west in Etobicoke and further east into Pickering, and commencing an Environmental Assessment for the expansion of the East Don Trail.

The public works chairman said the bikeway trails network would have investments of around $6 million a year for the next decade.

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.  

Other ways to get the News Cycle:

• All News Cycle links are shared first on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Every page of BikingToronto has a “The Feed” section on the right side.  Check there for the latest links.
• 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).

Just over a week ago, the Toronto Cyclists Union let their members know that they were thinking of changing their name to “Cycle Toronto“, which is to be held to a  vote on May 2nd at their next Annual General Meeting.

I’ve included excerpts from that announcement below (click here for the full text), and then following that, some links to arguments for and against the change, as well as some questions that I’ve had as I’ve been mulling over the proposed change.

2011 was an amazing year for our organization. Through our shared efforts, we were able to double our membership from 1,018 to over 2,100 since our last AGM. In the meantime we’ve worked as a group to refer new members, both through word of mouth and our Refer-A-Rider Campaign. We’ve found amazing local business partners who now reward our membership through the Member Discount Program, giving us new inroads to the business community. We’ve continued to advocate for the changes Toronto must make to ensure that cyclists are treated as equals on the road, leading the charge to Save Jarvis while continuing to push for expanded Complete Streets infrastructure across the city. We helped keep cyclists safe through our Get Lit campaign and, along with our volunteers, spoke with thousands of Torontonians about our mission and cause. Truly we have many reasons to celebrate.

…

Over the past years, we have run into unexpected pockets of resistance when applying for grants as well as in recruiting business members and individual donors. There is a large group of cyclists in Toronto that don’t feel connected to our organization, and they have often expressed that our current name is largely responsible for that disconnect. Considering all of the positive impacts that we want to have as an organization, the Board of Directors does not want our name to prevent a single cyclist from joining our organization. Our strategy and trajectory demands that we be accessible and essential for everyone who rides in Toronto, and we feel that now – as we are poised for record growth – is the time to address this issue.

In the next few weeks, you’ll be receiving the agenda for our AGM, scheduled for May 2, 2012. The board requests your support in changing our name, not as a change of direction, but as a step towards better alignment with our current strategy and in an effort to ensure we are able to reach as many of our fellow riders, and other street users, as possible. We feel that the future of this organization is much brighter, and the possibilities greater, with a new moniker: Cycle Toronto.

At the AGM, we would like your support when we a vote to accept the new name. According to our bylaws, a two-thirds majority of member voters at the AGM will carry the name change.

Dave Meslin (you may know him as “Mez”) who was the driving force behind the initial founding of the Union posted a blog post that laid out why the name should NOT be changed.  I recommend you read the full post yourself, but his main points break down as follows:

1. Toronto Cyclists Union Branding: there are tons of existing t-shirts, buttons, tents, booklets, flyers, and stickers. Changing the name essentially makes all of this stuff useless for branding
2. Search Engine Optimization: will people be able to find (formerly) Union work if it’s under a new name?
3. Administrative Effort: Changing the name on forms, bank accounts, receipts, invoices, templates, etc. etc.

You should also read the comments on Mez’s post.  People make a lot of good points (some of which I’ll include below in my questions).

Nick Cluley, who is on the Board of Directors of the Union, has also written a post FOR the name change (again, I encourage you to read the full post), which can be summarized as follows:

1. Marketing Plan: There will be a plan for the name transition.  There will be some overlap in the names for a certain time.
2. Little Control of Name: Lots of names are currently used for the organization – Toronto Cyclists Union, Bike Union, TCU, BU… so let’s change it to assert more control.
3. Less Politicization of Cycling: The word “Union” (even though it’s not a labour union) alienates cyclists on the right of the political spectrum as well as some companies and organizations.  Let’s make cycling apolitical, and the organization more powerful in terms of finances and representation of Toronto’s cyclists.

Finally, here are my questions about the name change.  I’m only one member of the Union, and I think a good job will be done by Jared, Andie, and all the many many volunteers no matter what the name is… but I also realize that BikingToronto is widely read, so instead of coming down on one side of the debate, I’ll simply ask some questions which should be addressed or thought about by the Union’s Board of Directors and Union members when they consider their vote.

1. Branding: Branding is extremely important.  Your name and logo is how people know you.  If the Union is considering changing their name to Cycle Toronto, they need to consider how the name will impact branding.  Is the phrase “Cycle Toronto” available on Twitter? Facebook Page addresses? Website URLs? Flickr? Pinterest? Instagram? etc. etc.  Currently the Toronto Cyclists Union has a “bikeunion.to” URL for their website, which has people calling it the Bike Union (myself included – it’s far easier to say and write)… are we looking at the possibility of Cycle Toronto having a CycleTO.ca  or Cycle.to or some other website URL or facebook page?  Whatever the name, branding has to be consistent.  The simpler the name, the more likelihood it will be “taken” in the digital sphere.  A unique name is much easier to establish consistent brand identity for.
2. Why Cycle Toronto?  I’ve seen quite a few comments about the blandness of the name Cycle Toronto.  It is a rather generic name (I know, I know… “Biking Toronto” isn’t super-exciting – it was chosen because I wanted the site name to reflect what the site was about) and frankly, kind of forgettable.  It has no “personality” (yet)  and could be confused with any Toronto cycling organization, club, website, or even bikestore.  The other thing that I think Union members should know or think about is HOW “Cycle Toronto” was chosen.  Was it one of many names considered?  Why that one?  Why wasn’t there a vote on what the name should be changed to?
3. Is it Inclusive or Exclusive?  The one reason for the proposed name change which seems to have most people talking is the fact that the word “Union” is repugnant to those individuals and organizations and companies on the right of the political spectrum.  So, Cycle Toronto is more inclusive, politically…. but it will probably alienate the initial, core left-wing cyclists and activists which started the Toronto Cyclists Union.  As well, and this is just semantics and optics… does changing the name to Cycle Toronto take the emphasis off “cyclists” and the concept of “strength in numbers” and put the emphasis on chasing and securing financial contributions and grants from companies and organizations.  It could be perceived as such, even if that is not the case.
4. “Union” isn’t the Problem: There is nothing wrong with using the word “Union” to describe a coming together of cyclists in a common purpose.  That is the definition of the word.  Just because the political right equates any use of the word “union” with labour rights and strikes and the “left” does not mean it is wrong to use. Perhaps an education campaign is what is called for?
5. Alternate Names: Can alternate names be considered that get away from using “Union” but still keeps the spirit of the organization and the reputation it has built over the past few years?  Is there a name that is distinctive, appeals to all political philosophies, and represents the coming together of all cyclists and organizations interested in making cycling better in Toronto?  Toronto Cycling Alliance? Toronto Cycling Coalition? Toronto Bike League?  Toronto Bike Alliance?  Toronto Bikes?  Toronto Bike ____?

There we go.  Read the full announcement from the Toronto Cyclists Union.  Read Mez’s post.  Read Nick’s Post.  Consider the questions raised in those posts and the comments on those posts.  Consider the questions I’ve posed, and come up with questions of your own.

Finally, if you’re a member of the Bike Union, go to the Annual General Meeting on May 2nd and vote.  It would be a shame if a minority of members actually voted on this change.  A two-thirds majority of voting members is what is needed to change the name.

The Bike Union has also set up a “Name Change Conversation” website to help facilitate discussion.

I hope this post is useful to you.  Writing it helped solidify and organize questions I had about the name change.

Rush hour parking hogs to face $150 fine [The Star]

Motorists should be dinged $150 for parking on busy streets in rush hour, or blocking a bicycle lane any time, city council decided. The city must now seek court approval before it can increase the fine from the current $60 for parking during rush hour — 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Commuter cyclists can help keep recreational Trail Plan on track [Dandyhorse Magazine]

Included as part the Mayor’s Bike Plan , the Trails Plan  aims to improve existing multi-use trails across the city as well as add 100 km of new off-road trails. About 30 km of new off-road multi-use trails are close to completion. These trails were approved in 2009, prior to the current mayor’s election, and are funded as part of the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program in Ontario (RInC). These trails include the Finch Hydro Corridor and CN Leaside trails (for a full list of RInC projects in Toronto see here ).

Betty & Dash: New bike share at Vic College [Dandyhorse Magazine]

“Betty & Dash” sounds more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a bike club, but maybe that’s appropriate. Founders Stephanie Fox and Esther MacKenzie envisioned a non-intimidating group that wouldn’t take itself too seriously, and naming it after their own bikes was just the start.  The club now lends bikes and tools to students, free of charge. 

Why cycling can make you a happier person [Globe & Mail]

I wasn’t riding a bike just to ride a bike. I was doing it to enter the Church of the Wheel, where supplicants are a happy lot, if you believe the catechists.  The happiest cities all have a high number of cyclists, John Helliwell, a renowned happiness expert and economist at University of British Columbia, explained to me.

Toronto falling behind pack in averting bicycle collisions, data reveals [Globe & Mail]

While traffic fatalities overall have declined, according to Toronto Police, data acquired by The Globe and Mail show cycling collisions have remained stubbornly consistent for the past decade. The number of reported collisions in 2010 was nearly identical in 2000. Since 1986, only one year has passed without a bicyclist fatality.

[Map from the City of Toronto, via 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).

–
[photo by draughtsmon]

Toronto News:

2011 Hero: Bixi Toronto [Torontoist]

When Bixi Toronto launched in May, we were surprised at how quickly we fell for the sturdy, practical rides that popped up at solar-powered stations across the downtown core—turns out that the bike-share system appeals to even habitual TTC users and bike owners. Stormy when you leave home? Take the TTC or a taxi, and when the sun’s shining later, you can hop on Bixi and pedal home. Planning to paint the town red? Bixi out, dock it and forget it; you won’t have to return for your wheels the next day. 

Bikers brave bitter cold, snow for year-round freedom [CTV News]

Urban cycling advocate Yvonne Bambrick, also a year-round biker, said that cyclists should go with their comfort level.

“For folks afraid of cycling for the stated reason that it’s icy and snowy you can rest assure that those conditions are not everyday,” she said. “It is actually quite feasible to ride comfortably if you dress appropriately and keep some things in mind.”

Support Councillor Matlow’s Motion to Fine Illegally Parked Cars! [Toronto Cyclists Union]

The text of the motion has been revised somewhat from the original - read the General Manager’s report here.  The fine has dropped from $500 to $150, but the rush hour period is now from 6-10AM and 3-7PM on weekdays.  Even better, illegally parked cars in bike lanes are always subject to the $150 ticket with no time restrictions.

Call for Submissions: 365 Days of Cycling Photo Exhibit [Toronto Cyclists Union]

The Toronto Cyclists Union invites amateur and professional photographers to submit their works to 365 Days of Cycling: An Evening of Art and Cycling.  The show is intended to highlight cycling in Toronto throughout the 4 seasons. 

2011 Year End Wrap Up [The Urban Country]

As we approach another new year, I have been reflecting on the events of 2011 and how they have shaped both myself and this website. In many ways, 2011 has been a coming of age for The Urban Country. We have reached record levels of readership and have been told by many people that we are one of their favourite bike blogs.

Winter Biking:

How to choose a winter bike [Dandyhorse Magazine]

While just about any bike can be pressed into service [for winter riding], I generally recommend something other than a strict sport road bike. For a winter specific set up, I really like fixed gear and internally geared bikes. The reduction in cables and external shifting components simplifies maintenance and helps keep snow and slush buildup to a minimum.

Winter biking basics [Green Living Online]

 Winter cycling is no longer the domain of daring bicycle couriers or mountain biking aficionados. With rising gas prices, environmental footprint concerns, and improved infrastructure for city riding, commuting by bicycle year-round is a growing trend. 

Other:

Sleek Bike Charges Its Own Headlights And Your iPhone [Fast Company Design]

The math on your bike doesn’t seem to add up. The sweat from all those thigh-burning, hill-climbing miles evaporates into thin air, as you change batteries in your bike light and drag your GPS inside to charge it. Now a German bike company says it can transfer all those pedal revolutions into energy you can actually use.

10 bicycling myths debunked [Grist]

When it comes to bicycling, the pastime that can solve all of America’s most pressing problems, we’re like heat-seeking missiles in search of myths and misinformation. Our goal is simple: to get you to trade in your four-wheeled gas guzzler for a lean, clean, calorie-burning machine. Here are the top 10 myths that we debunked this year, all linked up and annotated for your enjoyment. 

Bikestravaganza: Grist’s top bike stories of 2011 [Grist]

I spent the day yesterday digging through 18 — count ‘em, 18 — pages of search results in a quest to find Grist’s Overarching Narrative of the Bike in 2011. I laughed. I cried. I almost blew tea on my laptop. Then I biked home on streets that were blissfully bereft of automobiles. Without further ado, I give you the good, the bad, and the pee-your-pants funny from the past year in bicycling.

[top illustration from the Torontoist]

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).

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).