Reminder! The Toronto Bike Awards are on Monday!

bfba_logo_2007

The Toronto Bike Awards are this coming Monday (Sept. 26) at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen West) The Toronto Bike Awards consist of the City of Toronto giving out Bicycle Friendly Business Awards (BFBA) and some bike groups will give out their own awards. Also, please note that the Toronto Cyclists Union is providing their Bike Valet service, so you don't have to worry about finding a place to park or about your two-wheeled steed getting stolen. :) More about the BFBAs: The Bicycle … [Read more...]

Crackdown on Sidewalk Cycling ignores Cause of Problem

sidewalk

This is another case of treating the symptoms rather than the cause of a problem. According to the Star, there are plans to "crack down" on cyclists riding on sidewalks: Cycling on the sidewalk has become “a huge issue” in cities across the province within the last five years. But the laws governing it are inconsistent and moves to update them have been slow. “There isn’t enough teeth in the law,” said Sgt. Angelo Costa, the traffic sergeant in 31 Division where the incident … [Read more...]

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel spotted biking Toronto

110829b_timberlake

via OMG/Yahoo: They might be used to fancy rides in stretch limos, but Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel couldn't resist enjoying the summer air in Toronto over the weekend. The A-list pair was photographed enjoying a romantic bicycle ride on Queen Street West on Aug. 28. ... This photo (obtained by eTalk) shows Mr. "SexyBack" himself cycling with Biel through the streets of the Big Smoke on the weekend. You can even see one of the city's trademark streetcars in the background. Biel is … [Read more...]

Jack Layton, 1950-2011

Jack & Olivia & Pride

My most vivid memory from my many years of riding in the Ride for Heart is riding along and having a tandem bike come up along beside me.  I thought nothing of it other than "cool! a tandem!" until I looked at the people riding it and saw Jack  and Olivia. I nearly fell off my bike. Thanks for your inspiration Jack.  I feel lucky to have lived in your riding of Toronto-Danforth for 6 years and actually getting to vote for you federally.   … [Read more...]

Music Video of the Ride for Jarvis!

jh-view

During the Jarvis Ride last night, I found a little raised platform near the Tim Hortons at Jarvis and Carlton, and filmed the ride going by. 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. … [Read more...]

Re-Cap and Photos from the “Ride for Jarvis”

jarvis-gathering

The Ride for Jarvis happened last night, and thankfully had a good turnout.  I've seen estimates of between 900 -1200 cyclists. 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 … [Read more...]

“Ride for Jarvis” goes Tonight

jarvisride

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 … [Read more...]

The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are back!

Bicycle Friendly Business Awards

After a short hiatus (usually these awards would've been given out last winter), the City of Toronto's Bicycle Friendly Business Awards (BFBA) are back, and they're accepting nominations for the next 2 months: Nominations are now being accepted for the BFBAs. The last day for BFBA submissions is September 12, 2011. This year awards will be handed out at the Toronto Bike Awards taking place at the Gladstone Hotel on September 26th, 2011. Please take the time to  nominate and encourage … [Read more...]

New Plan calls for Cyclist and Pedestrian Friendly Yonge Street

Yonge & Gerrard, looking south

Great news being reported by the Star this morning.  There is a "bold new plan" that calls for Yonge street sidewalks to be widened, narrowing car traffic to one lane in each direction (along with sharrows for bike traffic). The report, to be released Wednesday, proposes dramatic changes in the section between Dundas and Gerrard Sts., including widening sidewalks, reducing car traffic to two lanes, and making it pedestrian only for special festivals. The Yonge Street Planning Framework, … [Read more...]

Presenting the Essentials of Rob Ford’s BikePlan

Rob Ford's Separated Bikelanes

Here is information straight from the latest issue of Cyclometer that runs down the essentials of the Rob Ford Bike Plan. There's already hubbub about it because although it plans for separated bikelanes downtown, it also takes OUT bikelanes in Scarborough (on Pharmacy and Birchmount) - arguably an area that needs safe biking infrastructure way more than downtown does.  The plan also calls for a halt to the Environmental Assessment for a Bloor-Danforth Bikeway. This plan is up before the … [Read more...]

Rob Ford’s BikePlan Revealed

bixibikeroo

The "new" Toronto BikePlan has been revealed (PDF link) and it is what is expected. There is a good write-up about it on the CBC website, but here are the highlights (and lowlights): Downtown Focus Physically Separate Bikelanes on Bloor between Sherbourne & Broadview (2011) Possible Physically Separate Bikelanes on Sherbourne & Wellesley (2012) Studying feasibility of Physically Separate Bikelanes on Richmond or Adelaide Streets and in the north-south corridor from Peter … [Read more...]

Despite Campaign, Fort York Bridge proclaimed Dead

bridge

The Fort York Pedestrian and Cyclist Bridge is, for all intents and purposes, dead. Some background, in case you haven't been following along: You may remember our post from a couple weeks ago when the Public Works Committee decided that a beautiful pedestrian and cyclist bridge that would link historic Fort York (and waterfront neighbourhoods) to the park system and neighbourhoods north of the railway tracks along the waterfront) cost too much money and it would be better to scrap it, … [Read more...]

Two Things you can do to Support the Fort York Bridge

bridge

This information is from Save the Fort York Bridge , who is publicizing the following to help drum up support for overturning the decision to scrap the beautiful pedestrian and cyclist bridge planned for Fort York: 1. 1000 Letters to Mayor. The Battle Is On To Save The Fort York Bridge https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144787658927784 Thu May 12 between 4pm to 7pm at 15 Stafford Street Call To Action: Torontonians We plan to deliver 1000 letters to Mayor Ford and Cc to … [Read more...]

Join the Email Campaign to save the Fort York Bridge

bridge

You may remember our post from a couple weeks ago when the Public Works Committee decided that a beautiful pedestrian and cyclist bridge that would link historic Fort York (and waterfront neighbourhoods) to the park system and neighbourhoods north of the railway tracks along the waterfront) cost too much money and it would be better to scrap it, ignoring the attractions of such a bridge to area residents (north and south of the tracks), condominium developers, and Toronto in general. The … [Read more...]

Bixi Toronto Launches at 11 AM at Ryerson

Photo of Bixi Bikes at Mutual & Dundas by SeanPhotos on Twitter

It looks like the weather is not co-operating for Bixi Toronto Launch Day, but as far as I know, the "Launch Event" planned for this morning at 11 on Gould just east of Yonge on the Ryerson Campus is still a "go": The launch event will see over 40 GTA cyclists cross Yonge Street and arrive at our event headquarters on Gould Street at 11:00 a.m., to help celebrate the launch of BIXI in Toronto. In attendance will be cycling fans and VIPs from the cycling community, City of Toronto officials … [Read more...]