Take the Lane

Cycling master plan draws a crowd

Pretty impressive turnout at the Kitchener Farmer's Market for Part One of the two-part open house on the City of Kitchener Cycling Master Plan. There were young riders and older riders and plenty of people who had something to say.

There were multiple ways for the cyclists and non-cyclists to express themselves, including:

A map (pictured above) where you were encouraged to use one colour dot to show where you live and five dots of a different colour to show your top five cycling destinations.

A map where you could indicate areas that you think are unsafe for cyclists (choke points, heavy traffic, etc).

A poster with the criteria suggested by the League of American Bicyclists for municipalities to qualify for a Bicycle Friendly Community designation (I posted on this in September from the Ontario Bike Summit). You were given five dots to indicate which were your five top priorities for Kitchener. (I was especailly amused by the woman who didn't stop at five, but put a dot on almost every category)

And finally, a survey to fill out and deposit, or take home to send in later.

You can tell which way the wind is blowing on the master plan, by looking at Question 4 on the survey: Preferred cycling facility (check one only): On-road signed bike lanes; On-road wide shared lane (usually on roads with less motorized vehicle traffic); Separate boulevard level multi-use lanes; Trails, Sidewalks.

Conspicuous by its absence: the suggestion that bicycles use virtually any road surface, anytime. This master plan seems to be heading for defined infrastructure, rather than educational shifts in the road culture. Of course, it's easier to paint white lines and enforce behaviour than it is to encourage people to change behaviour. Easier, but costlier at the local level, where the politicos will ultimately weigh the cost of paint against tax increases.  I have concerns about where this is going.

If you couldn't get out to the open house at the Market, or the one later on Saturday at the Activa Sportsplex, you can always go to the city website. Every voice counts.

These cyclists really believe in bicycle lights

A cyclist with an artistic turn might be just the person to organize a bicycle lights parade, like this one held on Eugene, Ore.

I can see this being incorporated into the Car-Free events that are held toward the end of September. Bike lights parade leading into a concert or bicycle shorts film fest?

So this is what happiness is

I've been in a state of stunned happiness today, after digesting the news that I can ride my bicycle again.

I had posted about my iliac aneurysm back in September 2008, when it looked like I might never be able to ride a bike again. On subsequent meetings with my vascular specialist, we talked about intervention (surgery) versus non-surgical management (not riding, drugs, etc), and since August 2008, I've basically been off the bike. A CT scan this month showed that the aneurysm has essentially been stable for more than a year now, and the doc gave me the OK for some limited cycling: about 15K a day, which allows me to join the ranks of the noodlers, and to cycle commute again.

I felt, I don't know, powerful I guess, when I reclaimed the bike cage key that I had surrendered at work back in 2008 when it appeared I wouldn't be needing it any longer.

And my partner, who has always thought my winter beater bike was too heavy for any mortal to lug around (I don't carry it, dear, it carries me...) has been very firm that I get a new bike for my winter commuting. How can I refuse her request? I'm shopping for something lightweight, with disc brakes and a more upright, head's-up in traffic attitude.

Your advice on an urban warrior machine is welcome. I'll post a pic when I get it.

Riding for winter? Not for a long time yet.

You wouldn't think it was Nov. 20 today. Roads not full of icy crap. No salt or sand. Even warm enough to ride with a light jacket (well, during the sunny bits).

So, when a couple of items mentioning the "W" word (winter) came my way, the first thing I thought was: "No way, Jose. I'm not even THINKING about winter right now. For those who have 'em, it's not even time yet to tune up the beater bike. I refuse to participate in seasonal cycling advice."

OK, got that out of my system. Now, if you haven't tuned up the beater bike, do so. The "good" bike will have to be put away be the end of next week, for sure.

If you are thinking about what you should do this year to enhance your winter riding experience, you might check out a couple of blogs that address some of the needs of the winter cyclist. An entry by Biodiversivist and this page at IceBike address the use of "pogies," which can look incredibily comical, but which work pretty well. On my China trip in February 2004, I saw a lot of electric bike and motorcycle rides using pogies, which are heavy mittens that are attached to the handlebars and large enough to encompass the handlebar controls (brakes, gears), allowing the rider to simply insert his/her hands into the pogies and remove an unencumbered hand when necessary. (Thanks Mona for the tip about Biodiversivist!)

This would be the time of year, as well, to think about a seasonal gift for that special someone (that would be yourself, of course) of cycle shoe covers, lobster mitts, face mask or heated insoles. See your local cycle gear pusher.

Join me at the Kitchener cycling master plan session Saturday

Just in case you forgot in the clutter of your life, the Kitchener cycling master plan is up for discussion this Saturday at two locations. As per my earlier post, you can attend sessions this Saturday at the Kitchener market building (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m) or the Activa Sportsplex from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

I'll be at the market session. . . come over and say hello.

Moron of the Week, #30

OK, this is really four morons, in the space of 10 minutes!

Four different cyclists on King Street in downtown Kitchener, around 7:30 p.m. Dark as pitch. One on the road and three on the sidewalks. Not a light among the lot.

I mentioned this to one in passing, but he declined to stop and discuss the matter. I cringed as the one on the road was nearly run down by an overtaking motorist who noticed him and put on the brakes too close for my comfort.

Will Darwinism weed out the dumb cyclists? I think the cycling community needs every cycling voice it can muster, so I would just as soon have these morons alive, with lights.

If you know a cyclist who is dumb enough to ride at night without lights, I have a suggestion for a necessary Christmas gift: get them a light!

If you value your life, come to this meeting

Cambridge and area cyclists and pedestrians who value their lives will want to attend a meeting this week.

The meeting is Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Centennial Public School gym, 100 Weaver St., Cambridge. Topic: A pedestrian and cycling bridge over Highway 401 between Hespeler Road and Franklin Boulevard.

This is a joint undertaking by the City of Cambridge and the Region of Waterloo. The need for the crossing was made clear in the Cambridge Bikeway Network Master Plan in 2008. This study began in June of this year, looking for a likely crossing spot, and to consider the timing and cost of the project.

The first meeting with stakeholders and other interested parties was in June. This session on Thursday is to invite the general public to comment on three proposed locations, including the preferred crossing point.

The meeting is an open house, from 5:30 p.m., with the formal presentation at 6 p.m., closing at 7:30 p.m.

If you can't make it to the meeting, the guts of the presentation will be posted on the Cambridge website after the session, and you'll be able to respond there. If you want to be on the mailing list, contact Shannon Noonan, manager of transportation engineering, City of Cambridge, 519-740-4682, ext. 4607 or noonans@cambridge.ca, or contact Daniel Nalliah, with the consultants, MMM Group Ltd. in Thornhill, at 905-882-4211, ext 6296 or nalliahd@mmm.ca.

You'll recall that a cyclist died this year in this location. Infrastructure friendly to cyclists and pedestrians is needed at this location, so citizen input is needed to make it happen. Politicians don't make bandwagons, but they know when to climb on one. Make the bandwagon by raising your voices.

Cyclists needed for music video

Here's an opportunity for cyclists who have always wanted to be in a music video. Jazz vocalist Coco Love Alcorn is filming a video for her song Revolution, from her new album Joyful, on Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m. at a central location in Toronto (TBA).

If you want to be in the crowd of cyclists, marching band members, protesters and concert-goers, email her partner, Simon Farla at simonfarla@gmail.com for more details.

You can hear Revolution, and some of her other work, here. You can also hear I got a bicycle, which would make a great bicycle video, also.

Yanking bike lanes stirs a storm

The Share the Road Cycling Coalition has responded with a detailed, two-page letter to St. Catharines council after council voted to remove recently-installed bicycle lanes so that there won't be traffic jams of shoppers turning into the local Canadian Tire.

This decision by council to yank these lanes (a decision which will cost them $65,000 -- see latest story) has really stirred up a storm, and I give full points for Eleanor McMahon for giving the council both barrels . . . diplomatically, of course.

Here are some excerpts:

"While our work is provincial in scope, we have undertaken international research, particularly in the United States in Europe, where we have visited and studied a number of bicycle friendly jurisdictions including, to name a few, Madison, Wisc.; Chicago, Ill. and Apeldoorn, Holland.

"You might ask, what do these cities have in common? They share an approach which features cycling as a mainstream mode of transportation where cycling is encouraged as a part of daily life. And they are but a few of a growing number of cities worldwide which have realized that creating bikeable, walkable communities is central to creating active and healthy communities and contributing to an enhanced quality of life for their citizens.

"Indeed, research demonstrates that cycling is actually a net benefit, and contributes to tackling some of the most pernicious problems facing our society – climate change, obesity, traffic congestion . . .

"More recently the Share the Road Cycling Coalition has been asked to partner with Green Communities Canada to deliver a cycling component as part of the Active and Safe Routes to School program currently planned for a number of Niagara Region municipalities including St. Catharines. This is, no doubt, part of a longer term laudable strategy to reduce obesity rates. As you may know, according to the Statistics Canada Health Report (Vol. 17, No. 3, August 2006), St. Catharines has one of the highest obesity rates in Canada amongst adults aged 18 or over at 69.3% -- and much higher than the Canadian average of 59%.

"Reducing the ability of your citizens to choose to walk or ride their bike stands in contrast to your participation in initiatives like Active and Safe Routes to School. Indeed it is puzzling, given these other policy and program initiatives and could indeed, contribute to worsening health outcomes. Cycling infrastructure is a key component to a healthy transportation strategy and while we applaud the City’s efforts to encourage cycling in children, we are concerned at the possible negative impacts of removing bike lines and cancelling the provision of sidewalks . . .

"Further with the recent announcement that Toronto has been awarded the Pan American games, we would also ask that you consider how making your community less walkable and bikeable stands in contrast to the values of this global sporting event. In short, what kind of community do you want St. Catharines to be? One where the health and well being of your citizens flourishes in the context of a choice of transportation mode and where healthy choices are encouraged or one where the only choices do not involve enhanced physical activity and indeed increase car dependency . . .

"Your Worship, Members of City Council, the time is now to be ambitious, to show political courage, to create a vision for a healthy, active community. By your actions you can and must make a difference."

Now, will the St. Catharines council have the smarts to rethink their flip-flop? They could set an example for municipal councils everywhere.

Who took the bikeable out of walkable/bikeable living?

Somehow, the City of Kitchener has lost sight of the "bikeable" part of the walkable/bikeable community model, at least as far as the redevelopment of the city's downtown goes.

I vaguely recall, when the first stories came out back in 2007, that King Street was going to become "people-friendly" with "narrow roads and increased bike paths." I'm quoting a Record writer's story, so may not reflect accurately the intention of the planners, but I do recall the architects' drawings that emphasized pedestrians, cyclists, bike racks and streetside patios. The intention appeared to be to dethrone the car as king of King Street.

As I was walking along the new, improved King Street the other day, I noticed how many bicycles were chained to the railings around trees or to the protruding natural gas pipes outside of office buildings and wondered, "Where are the bike racks?"

So I walked the "new" stretch from Frederick to Gaukel. Over the three blocks, there are three (3, count 'em, 3) new bicycle racks, each capable of accommodating four bikes placed there by friends who knew what they were doing. There were also two older bike racks, that may belong to the city or may belong to the property owners, that could between them accommodate 21 bikes if you really jammed them in.

And how many parking spots were there in the same stretch? Forty. (40. Four-oh.)

Oh yeah, the car has been dethroned. Long live people-powered transportation. Anyone who rides a bike knows that the pleasure of using a bicycle to shop is that you can pedal, stop, lock, shop, unlock, continue. A bicycle is just walking with wheels, and key to that is safe places for your bike while you're inside. Three new bike racks? Two of them on the east side of the street and one on the west side. This is supposed to encourage people to come downtown?

Here's my tip to urban planners everywhere: spend a week doing what you think your clients will do. Walk or bike around your walkable/bikeable/liveable city. See if it really is liveable. What will make it liveable?

For cyclists who hope to meander through the downtown, spending money so they can fill their wicker baskets with provender and fill cash registers with moolah, what will make it liveable is bike racks.