(if you don’t already get this in your email, but would like to – you can sign up here)

In The News:

• The Share The Road Coalition says Ontario needs to inject at least $20 million into cycling infrastructure to catch up to other provinces and states.

• The Toronto Cyclists Union has won the 2010 Innovation of the Year Award from the Alliance for Biking and Walking (formerly Thunderhead Alliance) for their new immigrant outreach program they co-ordinated with CultureLink.

• Google launches a “biking” feature on their Google Maps service, showing bikelanes and trails.  It’s only in the U.S. so far.    Hopefully the city can give mapping data to Google to expand it to Toronto.

• The Urban Repair Squad has made Harbord Street action-packed by pointing out pavement hazards.

• Mayoral Candidate George Smitherman (generally assumed to be the frontrunner for the mayor’s job) says he’d “pause” bikelane network implementation.

• The brand new Simcoe Street Bikelanes are unusable, because cabs are using it as a taxi stand.

New on the Main Blog:

• Our First 100 Members!
• Ward 30 Bike Survey
• Cycling Events This Week: Mar. 8 – 14

New on Duncan’s City Ride:

• “If I ride…” People for Bikes.org asks; Why Do You Ride?
• Lower Simcoe Taxi Stand… Wait, That’s A Bike Lane!
• Cruisers, Cargo bikes, Handmades and More – The Toronto International Bicycle Show
• Biomega Commercial By Cycle Chic’s Mikael Colville-Andersen
• Things You Can Do By Bike – Go To IKEA!

New on Joe Bikes:

• My Cyclist Count for Thursday March 11, 2010
• My Cyclist Count for Wednesday March 10, 2010
• Looking Forward to the Commute

New on Fletcher Five (NEW!):

• Is that Karma?
• Repairs and Modifications
• That did not go as planned.
• Highlights from the Bike Show: Pt1
• Day One: 800m

New on Michael Holloway’s Blog (NEW!):

• “Ride the City” Mapper Looks Useful, Easy to use
• Paul said, I need a non-arterial cycling route from Dufferin and Bloor into the Core
• Toronto: Dufferin and Bloor to the Core
• Toronto Bicycle Route Mapping Wiki Project
• RSS Feeds – Stay up to date with the Wiki & this Blog

New on The Hub (Public Members Blog):

• Duncan, Wow, that’s great – good work….
• Hey everyone, I’ve been working on a wa…

New on the Photo of the Day:

• Around A Cab
• Cross-Legged?
• Walk, Bike, Drive, TTC
• Holt Renfrew Bike Race
• Wave Deck Tail Whip
• Bay Bus Terminal

New/Hot on the Forums:

• Anger as cars clog new Simcoe St. bike lane
• Choosing bike components
• So, this is a cycling city?
• Fixer: When is a bike lane not a bike lane?
• Smitherman would pause Toronto’s bike plan
• Trinity Bellwoods Multi-Use Path Plans
• The Action Hazards of Harbord Street
• GoogleMaps likes Bikes!
• Bike lanes an election winner for Rossi
• PST exemption for new gear
• T.O. cyclists ride away U.S. award
• Bike Union getting U.S. Award!
• Millions sought for Ontario cycling
• Bike locks
• Bicycle thief Kenk’s assault charges stayed
• Bryant-cyclist case put over to March 5
• fun/pretty rides in and around Toronto
• holycr@p, they let him out!
• Folks, a rusty steed is a friend indeed – even in winter
• Can this bike lane get more fans than Rocco Rossi?!!
• Ward 29 Bikes 2009 Year (and a bit!) in review

Want to get the Weekly News Wrap-Up in your email every friday?  Easy-Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.  Is that how you spell “Squeezy”?

I just wanted to post quickly to let you know that since re-launching BikingToronto in early January we’ve had 100 people register on the site as members!!!

Pretty good for just 2 months, I have to say.  Those were winter months too.

If you are one of those 100 people, then thank you and welcome to the site.  You are posting and discussing and biking and making the site better.

The new “sociable”, interactive and just plain better BikingToronto was planned to take the collection of Toronto Cycling info to the next level – and that level is YOU.   Whether “you” are a commuting, racing, touring or recreational cyclist, or whether you are involved in a bike organization or a bike store or supplier – what you think and how you interact with others is important.

If you’re not a BikingToronto member yet, you can register here (don’t worry, it’s free, quick and easy!).

You can also check out our Site Guide if you’re curious about the features BikingToronto has brought to Toronto cyclists to connect.

At any time, feel free to shoot me an email at joe@bikingtoronto.com if you have any questions (or just want to chat).

A new Ward-Based Cycling Advocacy Group has formed in the East End! We are currently polling residents and visitors of Ward 30 (Ward Info (PDF)) to find out how we can best represent cyclists in the area.

Please take a few short minutes to fill out the survey and let us know what we can do to make biking better in your neighbourhood!

Obviously, if you live in Ward 30, your opinions are important… but even if you live outside the ward, you opinions are still important, so be sure and take the survey.

The Ward 30 Bike Advocacy Group is also meeting tomorrow night at Athens Pastries near Danforth.  View the event listing for more details.

BikingToronto has a section of the website devoted to Ward 30 to help organize cycling info and discussions about the ward.  You can find sections like this for all city wards by clicking here.

Here are the bike events going on this week, to help you plan your next 7 days.

You can always find this info or events far into the future on the always updating Events page, or follow our special @BikeTOevents account on twitter!

Mon, March 8th

Rathburn Road Bike Lanes Open House

• 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, Meeting Rooms 1 & 2
• We invite you to attend a Public Open House to learn more about this project, which runs from Kipling Ave.- to Mimico Creek on Rathburn Rd.  Drop by anytime to view information displays, provide your comments and speak one on one with project staff
• more details

Mon, March 8th

Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting

• 7 – 9 pm, Committee room 3, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
• The Toronto Cycling Committee is designed to advise City Council and its departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, on the design, development and delivery of bicycle policies, programs and facilities to promote and enhance cycling within the City of Toronto.
• more details

Wed, March 10th

Lawrence Bike Lanes Public Open House

• 7 – 9 pm, Blythwood Junior Public School, 2 Strathgowan Crescent
• The public is invited to attend an open house to learn more about planned bike on Lawrence Avenue East from Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue. This bike lane will be part of Toronto’s Bikeway Network.
• more details

Thurs, March 11th

North York Cycling and Pedestrian Committee Meeting

• 7 – 9 pm, North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street
• We will be discussing our plans for Bike Month, as well as current cycling issues. and updating people on recent meetings we have attended.
• more details

Know of other events going on this week?  Share them with BikingToronto readers in the Comments below.

Click here to punch in your email and get event goodness in your email every week!

Here’s your BikingToronto Wrap-Up for this week:

(if you don’t already get this in your email, but would like to – you can sign up here)

New on the Main Blog:

Are Toronto Police Ticketing Cyclists More?

Bad behaviour by some cyclists make us as a whole look bad. I’d rather take a bit longer to get to work by stopping at red lights and not thinking I’m the most important thing on the road, and really don’t understand any cyclist who thinks differently. (read more)

New on the Toronto BikeShop Map

We have three new additions to the BikeShop Map for you! (read more)

Plan Your BikeMonth Events Now!

The great staff at the City of Toronto recently sent out information about submitting events to be included in the official BikeMonth calendar, so I’m sharing it with all you fine people because you may be thinking about planning an event for BikeMonth this year.  The deadline for event submission is Thursday, March 25th. (read more)

New on Duncan’s City Ride:

• Share the Road Coalition Green Paper
• Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel
• Do Pedestrian Crossings Make for Safer City Cycling?
• 416cyclestyle Toronto Cycle Chic Search – Spring Moments
• Marcus Gee is a Winter Cyclist and Darn Proud of it!
• The Least Expensive Winter Cycling Accessory You Need
• Toronto Spring Bicycle Show – No Commuter Cyclist Options?

New on Joe Bikes:

• March Mornings on the Bloor Viaduct

New on the Hub:

• Here’s an example of Wiki Maps
• User Generated Bicycle Route Maps 2
• User Generated Bicycle Route Maps
• Boston’s Future Lies In Moving Away From The Car

New on the Photo of the Day:

• Summer is Coming
• Blue Skies on Spadina
• Red Ball on King Street
• Massey Hall
• Silver Velomobile
• Red Dress
• Winter on the Toronto Islands

New on the Forums:

• Can this bike lane get more fans than Rocco Rossi?!!
• Choosing bike components
• Ward 29 Bikes 2009 Year (and a bit!) in review
• fun/pretty rides in and around Toronto
• Leslie to the Lake corridor
• Complete Streets Forum 2010
• Folks, a rusty steed is a friend indeed – even in winter
• Non-Arterial Bike Lanes – Where would yours go?
• Rebuilding Dukes Is there a ‘culture war’ looming in this mayoral race?
• Bike lanes an election winner for Rossi
  

Want to get the Weekly News Wrap-Up in your email every friday?  It’s Easy like a Sunday Morning !

From the Forums:

(top photo by Darren Stehr via Mez Dispenser)

1. Red Arrow Bikes (facebook page) now has a permanent address at 19 Kensington Avenue.
2. Dan’s Mountain Bike Repair (group page) is now open to the public at 1501 Woodbine.  It services all bikes, not just mountain bikes.
3. Riders Cycle & Board is now open – it’s at 80 Geary St, just north of Dupont on Dovercourt
   

I made the BikeShop Map 4 years ago because whenever I was in a part of the city I wasn’t very familiar with, I never knew if I was near a bikeshop. It’s easy enough to google “Toronto Bikeshops” and see what pops up… but a comprehensive online map did not exist.

To my knowledge, it is still the only map with plots this info, for you, the Toronto cyclist.

If you see any mistakes or omissions, let me know in the comments below, and we’ll get those fixed up!

Here’s some events going on this week.

You can always find this info or events far into the future on the always updating Events page.

Mon, March 1st

Dan’s Mountain Bike Repair Public Opening

• 1501 Woodbine Ave
• For the past seven years Dan’s Mountain Bike Repair has been a private repair shop. This season Dan is opening the doors to the public. Dan and his crew have seven years experience customizing building and repairing bikes. If you think like we do, shops these days are charging to much, that is what DMR was made for.  (more details)

Tues, March 2nd

CBN Workshop – Bike Repair: Bearings and Wheels

• 7 – 10 PM
• 761 Queen Street West
• CBN is now offering classes in bike repair that build on our introductory (‘Flat-fix and Tune-up’) class. Registrants should be familiar and comfortable with the subject of that class before taking the intermediate class(es). (more details)

Wed, March 3rd

CBN Workshop – Flat Fix/Intro to Bike Repair

• 7 – 10 PM
• 761 Queen Street West
• Participants will remove their own rear wheel and tire and go through a tube repair and installation. (more details)

Wed, March 3rd

BikeSauce Volunteer Meeting

• 7 – 9 PM
• Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen St. E.
• Bike Sauce – Toronto’s newest bike org – is having a volunteer meeting. We’re going to be opening a DIY space + social space in the Spring and need more hands getting started. If you’re into bikes, bicycle advocacy or community building, this is a great opportunity to work to launch a new organization. (more details)

Thurs, March 4th

Complete Streets Working Group Meeting

• 7 – 9 PM
• Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue
• Complete Streets policies, adopted by over 100 jurisdictions in the United States, require that the needs of the most vulnerable road users be considered at every stage of road development, construction and reconstruction. In doing so, the goal is that our streets will be safer for everyone. (more details)

Fri, March 5th – Sun, March 7th

Toronto International Bike Show

• Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
• The Toronto International Bicycle Show is the best place to shop for bicycles and accessories, preview the newest trends in cycling from the top manufacturers and distributors plus enjoy thrilling action-packed events. The show is celebrating its 24th year in production and is one of the largest exclusive bicycle consumer shows in North America. (more details)

Know of other events going on this week?  Share them with BikingToronto readers in the Comments below.

Click here to punch in your email and get event goodness in your email every week!

The great staff at the City of Toronto recently sent out information about submitting events to be included in the official BikeMonth calendar, so I’m sharing it with all you fine people because you may be thinking about planning an event for BikeMonth this year.  The deadline for event submission is Thursday, March 25th.

Online Submission Form at http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/uds/cyclingcal.nsf/CECReg?OpenForm

Letter to Event Holders

If you are organizing a cycling event, program or activity that will be taking place from May 31- June 30, 2010 you may want to consider advertising it in the Bike Month Guide.  There is no fee for applying to be in the guide, simply register what you are doing with the online form at toronto.ca/cycling/bikemonth or fill out and return the enclosed paper form.  The deadline to apply is Thursday March 25th, 2010.

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to bombing around my neighbourhood streets in all this fresh powder.

Here is your weekly wrap-up, run-down and scoop on all the new stuff on BikingToronto.

New on the Main Blog

Toronto’s New Bike Sauce Looking for Bike Donations

BikeSauce is a new DIY bike shop in the east end of Toronto (read more)

New on Duncan’s City Ride

Chicago Winter Cyclists Profiled on PBS

I’m about to head out and ride in some fresh Toronto snow. This video is a great inspiration. (watch video)

New on Thumbshift

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

Before I introduce myself properly to the Biking Toronto crowd, I just thought I’d toss something together here, based on something that I wrote previously… (read more)

New on Joe Bikes

Rocco Rossi, Obama-Style

I though I’d do up a quick little Obama-style graphic of what a lot of people will be thinking this fall at municipal election time when they think of Rocco… (read more)

New on the Photo of the Day

Tip Top Riding

Never Too Old, Never Too Cold

Batavus and a Wooden Carrier

Sleek Black on Red Retro

Itty Bitty Bike

Patiently Waiting

College Street Snow

Popular on the Forums this week

Bike lanes an election winner for Rossi

Where are the WORST Bikelanes/Paths

Where are the Best Bike Lanes/Paths ?

Non-Arterial Bike Lanes – Where would yours go?

Want to get the Weekly News Wrap-Up in your email every friday?  Boom Shaka-Laka Boom!