Take the Lane

Yes, the bicycle can save Ontario

I'd like to see commentary like this, entitled Can The Bicycle Save Ontario?, from the Hamilton blog Raise the Hammer, everywhere. 

You want to reduce pollution, fight obesity, trim health-care spending and make Ontarians stronger andl iving longer? Ride a bicycle. How simple is that?

Riding in Phoenix? Take water

I've been off the grid for a week, visiting my bro in Phoenix. Some interesting bicycle infrastructure, including these very artistic interpretations of the standard post and ring bike rack, outside the Chase Bank in the Arcadia Crossing Shopping Centre.

The streets are not super-bicycle-friendly -- I'm pressed to remember more than a couple of signs indicating bike lanes, but there seemed to be plenty of bike lanes, most of them barely a metre wide if that, but separated by a distinct white paint strip, and the motoring public seemed to "get" the idea that you take care when passing a cyclist.

My brother, who has a couple of bikes for trails and roads, is a big fan of the rather rough and gritty paths along the irrigation canals that run through the city. You can read one rider's opinion here at the Crazy Guy on a Bike blog.

Clearly, the canal paths are not for skinny tires. But there were plenty of Lycra-clad riders on the main roads -- especially in Scottsdale and Tempe, and with the "dry heat," it takes a fair amount of work to appear sweaty. Remember to take lots of water.

Interested in the region's cycling future?

One of the upsides of working my hours is that I can sleep in any day I want. The downside is that I am at work for evening events such as this presentation of the Region of Waterloo Active Transportation Master Plan.

Innovations in Bikeway Designs is a presentation by walking/cycling engineering expert Michael Moule, Wednesday, April 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the regional headquarters, Room 110, 150 Frederick St., Kitchener.

Moule is a former road and mountain bike competitor, and a longtime civic engineer with walkable/cyclable urban interests. He was the president of Liveable Streets Inc., a Florida-based consultancy until last year, and is now with Nelson Nygaard, a California-based transportation planning company.

Wednesday, he'll be talking about bicycle-friendly streetscapes, with bike boxes, separate bike lanes and other innovations, followed by a Q and A. if you are interested in our regional cycling future, you should drop in.

 

Cyclist killed in Whitby

I don't know anything about police forensics (despite watching all those episodes of CSI), but based on the photos on DurhamRegion.com today, I would guess that the 50-something cyclist killed earlier this morning in Whitby was riding on the shoulder when he was hit.

All the investigation markers at the scene seem to be off the road, which curves back and forth at the point of the 6 a.m. impact. No ID on the dead man yet. No word on charges, either.

Fixed gear bikes and pole dancers?

It is no surprise that bicycle shops have to co-market, especially in Canada. Bikes in the summer; skis in the winter. Snowboards, inline skates, hockey gear, whatever.

The most unusual bicycle co-marketing effort in this area was the Gears and Grills bicycles-and-barbecues store in Cambridge. Both products you'd prefer to use without the addition of three feet of snow, but why not?

Yesterday, I learned a bit about Ichigear, of Industry, Calif, which specializes in single speed and track bikes. Its website mentions it also handles mountain bikes, off-road and road bikes, but omits this from its Facebook fixie description: "We are located right behind Paradise Showgirls in Industry CA. Visit your favorite pole dancer while getting your fixie fix!"

OK. Top this for most uncommon co-marketing scheme.

OPP officer cleared in cyclist's death

I missed this press release from last week (if you want something to be ignored, issue it on a Friday or the day before a holiday) about the March 13 cycling death of Dave Nesbitt in Orillia.

Nesbitt had just bought some groceries and was riding across a road in broad daylight when he was T-boned by an unmarked OPP cruiser doing 10 km/h over the posted 50 km/h speed limit.

According to the Special Investigations Unit, which reviews incidents in which people die at the hands of police, Nesbitt was not crossing at a marked crossing, and the officer was not travelling at an excessive speed. The officer involved declined to be interviewed by the SIU or to provide his notes. His legal right, the SIU said.

The officer was found not to be criminally responsible for the death. With that finding, it is unlikely any charges will be laid.

 

Question about a bicycle visibility product

Anyone have any experience with the Bikeglow Safety Light?

I noticed this product on the Only Sports website. BikeGlow is a 10-foot glowing tube, powered by a two-cell AA battery pack. You can wrap it around your frame, handlebars or racks, and set it to glow or flash.

Regular readers will know I'm a "night visibility" nut. I just wondered how much viz you experienced with this product. Seems like it would be most visible from the side. if you've tried it, let me know.

Want to ditch your old bike?

Yeah, it's spring, and you're thinking about a new bicycle.

Problem is, there's an old bicycle.

Only Sports in Listowel wants to help you with that. The bike shop is hosting a "The Great Spring Bike Swap" on Saturday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their store, 241 Main St. E., Listowel.

There are some details at a Facebook event site.

Store co-owner Joan Cota says this first-time event is more of a bike and bike gear consignment sale than an actual bike swap, but she couldn't think of what else to call it.

Price your items and drop them off at the store by April 30. The store staff will handle the sales. Sellers get 100 per cent of their proceeds as a store credit (to buy that new bike from Only Sports) or 80 per cent of their sale price in cash (20 per cent goes to the store for selling the bike or bike gear).

What bicycle colour would you not ride?

There's a discussion current in my family about bicycles and colour, specifically about pink bicycles and female riders.

I like to think that I'm blind to bicycle colours, but in truth, there are some colours that do not inspire. Are there, however, any colours that I would absolutely not ride?

What about you? Is there a bicycle colour you just would not be caught dead riding?

Surely, sustainable happiness is about riding a bicycle

Thanks to the people at the Region of Waterloo Public Health for reminding me that there is more to life than money (although it did cost me nearly $400 to replace the rad on my Elantra).

The reminder comes in an invitation to two Sustainable Happiness workshops, featuring London, Ont. native and Cape Breton University prof Dr. Catherine O'Brien, a happiness expert, and through her work with childhood obesity and Active and Safe Routes to School, a friend of those who think that walking and cycling should be a part of our urban environment.

O'Brien is the keynote speaker at the free workshops, to be held Monday, April 30 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Kitchener City hall and Tuesday, May 1 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Cambridge City Hall.

O'Brien is going to talk about the essentials of an active and healthy Waterloo Region, and how sustainable happiness is linked to our environment and overall health.

O'Brien has been featured at environmental studies conferences, TEDx events and the like. The events here in Waterloo Region are free. Call 519-883-2004, ext. 5332 for details.