Take the Lane

Cyclist-crushing cartoon misses the point

Apparently I wasn't the only one (based on the email) to be puzzled by the editorial cartoon in today's Record crafted by Cam Cardow.

It could well be that Cardow is a cyclist, but I don't think so. What we see in his cartoon is a cyclist who has been knocked off his bike by a truck representing the economic recession, about to be hit again by another truck coming the other way, representing higher gas prices.

But, but, but... The cyclist has actually done better in the recession than the average motoring person because he/she has made smart transportation choices, like cycling and walking and even using mass transit. And higher gas prices will have less of a direct impact on the cyclist because he/she doesn't need the gasoline! A cyclist is a totally inappropriate representation of the victim of this one-two punch. (Although I will credit the artist with thinking of a cyclist as the "average" North American.)

I think a better image might have been a motorist who has staggered away from the biggest drain on her/his bank account (except for a mortgage) and is about to be a victim again.

The cyclist would be riding along the edge of the road and ready to use his cellphone to call for help and then spring into action to provide first aid as needed.

Hey, Cardow. Try again.

For those with helmet lust

What is it that stands between us and the dream of having a different, expressive bicycle helmet for every day?

Our practical spouse (obviously)? Our limited budget (what's money for except to spend)? Our lack of suitable storage? (Hmmm, that is a big one...) Common sense probably factors in there, somewhere, but you get the drift. Those of us who wear helmets likely only have one. The people at Nutcase Helmets would really like you to rethink that.

Hence the regular dispatch of press releases about their latest offerings. I confess to having helmet lust. I would love to have the Danger Red, the Glo Brain or the Dazed and Amused. Most of the reasons mentioned earlier work against such acquisitions, but one might ask (my spouse might ask) why it is I find the cash, space and rationale to acquire yet another cycling jersey when I already have numerous jerseys stashed in closets around the house. After all, I only wear one of those at a time.

Why, indeed?

The most recent release from Nutcase reminds us that Mother's Day is on the horizon, and how better to say, "I love you, Mom" than to buy her this braincase protection unit.

And then the release goes on to say that the younger riders in the family can express their undying mom-affection with this particular Little Nutty unit.

Now, I'm not a marketing guy, but I'm thinking that the tattoo version should be offered in the adult-sized Nutcases, and let the kids in the family use the polka-dots, watermelon or spaceship designs. Just a thought.

I'm still holding out for the Canada flag version.

 

 

 

 

 

Bigger organizations; bigger voices

In a post last December, I speculated that we would see more active transportation groups and cycling advocacy groups linking up to have a stronger voice at the table in discussions for alternative transportation infrastructure.

Later that same month, I posted on how the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation announced that they were co-operating on a congruent Complete Streets Forum and Ontario Bike Summit for April 2012.

Now, Momentum mag is reporting that the Alliance for Biking and Walking, the League of American Bicyclists and Bikes Belong are unifying to create one voice for bicycle advocacy in the United States. The Momentum item suggests that there will be some spillover into Canada and Mexico, and since the LAB and Bikes Belong have made forays into joint ventures with Canadian advocacy groups, this wouldn't surprise me.

The new uber-agency, not yet named, will also work with the Safe Routes to School program. It would also not surprise me if the Canadian Active and Safe Routes to School program, which has a significant Walk and Wheel to School component, links up with the Share the Road Cycling Coalition and other active transportation groups.

Bigger organizations; bigger voices.

Brits show us what bicycle advocacy journalism is about

The Times (the London one) has set the bar for advocacy journalism about cycling and road safety.

The editorial staff have launched a "Cities fit for cycling" campaign, following the near-death encounter of one of their staff members with a truck. Mary Bowers was struck Nov. 9, 2011. As of the writing of this article on Feb. 2, 2012, she is still not conscious.

Here, Kaya Burgess writes that 58 British MPs from all parties are backing cycle safety improvements in British cities, prior to a parliamentary debate on the subject this week.

Today, the British Prime Minister David Cameron is meeting with international cycling advocates to talk about ways to make cities safer for cycling and cyclists.

If you click on the "Cities fit for cycling" link above, you will spend the rest of your day today reading about cycling safety, about the promise of cycling in major cities, about the hazards, about who can inspire and what can frustrate.

Great stuff.

East-side path just needs funding

The good news from this story in today's Record is that the Region of Waterloo is ready to invest $2.5 million in developing a multiuse trail that will run from downtown Kitchener to downtown Waterloo on the east side, roughly parallel to the Iron Horse Trailon the west side.

The bad news is that the Waterloo spur line trail will have to wait until there is infrastructure funding from either the province or Ottawa. With the visions of budget belt-tightening we have seen from the feds and Queen's Park, I don't see that this project is going to take off anytime soon.

Too bad for cyclists and pedestrians, although in truth, they are using the the space anyway. All they are missing out on is lights, paving, signage and the respect that could be accorded to non-motorized traffic.

For the daredevils among us

You know how you sometimes tell your friends that racing your bike down a steep incline is like flying?

No, this is like flying.

This week's inspirational cycling story

If you'd like to start your week with an inspirational cycling story, check out this one on the BBC website about Daryl Gittins, a man with brain tumours who has turned to cycling to make himself healthier, and spread the word about brain health.

Life on your bike

Check out this amazing video from Gillaume Blanchett of Montreal, which puts new meaning into the notion of being bicycle-obsessed.

And he can ride "no-hands" almost anywhere.

Is Ford's subway defeat a positive sign for cyclists?

Is the recent defeat of Mayor Rob Ford's transit plan a signal that Toronto councillors may become more open to plans to develop transportation alternatives in the country's largest city?

Gil Penalosa, head of 8-80 Cities and one of Canada's most prominent voices in walkable/ bikeable community building, doesn't think so.

Penalosa, who will be a major presence at Velo-city Global 2012 in Vancouver later this year, thinks this vote defeat is just an example of Mayor Ford's inflexibility: "He has lost two major votes. It just shows how stubborn he is. The first one was over $15 million in budget cuts. The City of Toronto has a budget of 9,000 million dollars. And they were fighting over $15 million. That's like if you have a household budget of $9,000 and you are fighting over $15. And he lost. This transit vote is an even bigger issue, and he couldn't come to a compromise."

Penalosa thinks that all parties involved, including the media, have done a poor job in framing the question. "It's not about LRT vs. subways, it's about how much can you get with a fixed amount of money. Do you want a subway on Eglinton and nothing on Finch, or LRT on Eglinton AND Finch?"

Penalosa says that from a municipal politics point of view, having the mayor lose two important votes is precedent-setting: "There has been nothing like this in the last 20 years."

But no precedents are being set for cyclists or pedestrians. "The mayor is not going to soften on the issues of cycling and walkers, and the majority of council is not interested in cycling and walking. Oh, there are few who are, but most are not.

"There won't be a focus on cycling when only two per cent of the population is cycling and 40 per cent are driving. We have to reframe the discussion, around issues of healthy lifestyle and environmental improvement . . . link cycling with transit."

But for the interim, he believes that cycling and walking remain on Toronto's back burner.

Is this bike-jacking a first?

The Record today is reporting a "bike-jacking" at the University of Waterloo. The police officer quoted says this is the first case of a bike-jacking he's ever seen. Is it a first?