Since I'm re-working the main site, I thought I'd post news from the City's Cyclometer here for anyone who isn't a subscriber:
IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF Cyclometer (Issue #160 December 2009):
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1. Bicycle Friendly Business Awards Night 19 January, 2010
Come out and join us for the second annual Toronto Bike Awards! An evening of awards, performances, contests and more, this will surely be a night to remember. Jointly held between the Toronto Cyclists Union and the City of Toronto, the Toronto Bike Awards celebrates cycling in our city, and acknowledges the efforts of a few key players.
Many awards will be presented and range from the Golden Spoke to the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards. This year we will be celebrating at the Gladstone Hotel on January 19th 2010; doors will open at 7pm. Be sure to mark this date down on your calendars as this event is not to be missed.
2. New Bike Lanes Installed in 2009
The following is a list of bike lane projects installed this year:
Conlins Rd, from Ellesmere Rd to Sheppard Ave E, 1.9 km
Brimorton Dr, from Brimley Rd to Scarborough Golf Club Rd, 4.1
Annette St, from Dundas St W to Jane St, 2.5 km
Dupont St, from Dundas St W to Lansdowne Ave, 1.0 km
Simcoe St, from Queen's Quay to Front St, 0.6 km
Yonge St, from Queen's Quay to Front St, 0.6 km
The Queensway, from east of High St to Windermere Ave, 1.7 km
Crescent Town Rd, from Dawes Rd to Victoria Park Ave, 0.7 km
West Toronto Railpath, from Caribou Ave to Dundas St W, 2.1 km
In total, 15.2km of on-street and Railpath trails were installed in 2009.
In addition, Toronto City Council has this year approved for installation a further 15.5 km of bicycle lanes. For a comprehensive project list please see the following link: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/network/network-project-status.htm#a2009
A preliminary list of the 2010 bikeway projects will be available at the January meeting of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee, scheduled for 18 January 2010.
3. Post-and-Ring Program Update
About 800 new post-and-rings were installed in wards across Toronto between May and October 2009 using double rings and bigger bolts for added security. At this point, there are approximately 17000 post-and-rings installed city-wide. 2010 installations will resume in May. To request an installation print this form: http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/postandring.htm.
4. Bike Lane Audit by Transportation Staff
Cycling Infrastructure and Programs staff visited all the City roads with existing bike lanes for the purpose of state-of-good-repair and gathered data in terms of pavement condition, pavement marking, traffic by-law and bike route signage and missing bike lanes at the intersections. We are preparing a work plan for 2010 to address all the above.
The objective is to complete all the repair works by spring/summer 2010.
5. New Bike Events Calendar Now Online
Several volunteer organizations have banded together to list all cycling events in Toronto on one website calendar, BikeEvents.TO . Watch for this calendar in the new year and submit events to it as well.
This online resource is not affiliated with the City of Toronto.
[also, BikingToronto will have a brand new events system up early in the new year! Yay!]
6. Winter City and Bike Winter Preview
Coldest Day of the Year Ride
Saturday January 30th start time is 12 noon.
The City of Toronto has expanded its winter maintenance program to include snow ploughing for cyclists on the Martin Goodman Trail. Come learn more about this pilot program, by meeting at the Grenadier Café in High Park for a family friendly ride. This ride along the Waterfront will include hot chocolate, snow ploughing equipment, and free turtle lights thanks to our sponsor Mountain Equipment Co-Op.
Ride Your Bike to Winter City!
For the first time this year Winter City will feature Valet Bike Parking. Ride your bike to Nathan Philips Square for exciting fire installations, spectacular displays of acrobatics, and don’t forget to bring you skates! Valet bike parking will be available for the evening programming on the weekends of January 29th and February 5th. Stop by and check it out on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night between 4:00 and 9:00 pm.
Cycling Legends
Toronto Artist Janet Attard presents various stencil prints, including a series of portraits, inspired by riders whose cycling exploits have become the stuff of legends. Come check them out at City Hall from Monday January 4th – Friday January 15th.
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Ahead in the Bike Lane:
1. 31 December New Year’s Eve Cyclocross Races: Midweek Cycling Club presents its third edition of its annual ‘fun’ year-end race next to Lake Ontario.
The races will be at East Humber Bay Park on from 11:45am - 4pm. Register at the race: $10 - $25 cash. Other details: http://www.ontariocycling.org/web_doc/calendar/2009_new_years_eve_cross_ad.pdf
2. 18 January Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee Meeting
The next TCAC meeting is 18 January, 2010 at City Hall, 7pm. Location TBA.
3. 19 January, Bicycle Friendly Business Awards Night, Gladstone Hotel, 7pm
4. 30 January, Coldest Day of the Year Ride, High Park Grenadier Café, noon.
