Take the Lane

A cyclist can make anyone say, "Thank you."

It's easy for a cyclist to make someone say, "Thank you."

All you have to do is, when overtaking someone on a trail or sidewalk, call out that you are about to pass them on the left. Invariably, for me at least, that person or persons will turn and say, "Thank you."

Why? I suspect it is because so few cyclists actually bother to warn anyone that they are coming. That lack of notice is the Number One, El Supremo, Numero Uno reason, as far as I have heard, for pedestrians to be so ticked off with cyclists. I get this in e-mail, letters and casual conversation. So many peds are so angry that they are overtaken by cyclists who startle them when they zip by without any warning.

If you are an unsteady walker, this is a problem. Even if you are totally steady, to have 200 pounds of flesh and metal breeze by you at 25 kilometres per hour can be pretty unsettling.

But you can bridge that divide, and make a trailful of walkers thankful for your presence. Just ring your bell or call out a warning, and see the thanks you get.

Big wheel on campus

The New York Times recently ran a nice piece on several American colleges that are experimenting with bicycle share programs on campus.

The intentions were many: to reduce auto use, to encouragement an active student lifestyle, to support the cycling culture. There have been problems, esp. when users don't take care of their bikes or abandon them in foul winter weather.

But I can't help but think that this is one that will catch on, and lay the foundation for a new generation of bicycle users. See the full story here.

Ride to Conquer Cancer goes national

After the success of the Ride to Conquer Cancer this year, the organizers are going national, launching rides in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal, according to a news release from the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

The Toronto to Niagara Falls iteration of the 200-kilometre, two-day ride was a huge success for Princess Margaret Hospital, and there are already brochures, posters and other promotional material littering the hospital for the 2009 ride, to be held June 13-14.

If you have friends with deep pockets and can afford the travel time and costs, you'll be able to ride all four rides next year. The B.C. ride begins in Vancouver and ends in Seattle on the weekend of June 20-21; the Alberta ride leaves Calgary and rides through the Rockies June 27-28 and the Quebec ride runs from Montreal to Quebec City July 11-12. The rides will benefit the B.C. Cancer Foundation, the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Sir Mortimer B. Davis Jewish General Hospital Foundation, respectively.

The organizers are trotting out some big names in support: B.C. Premier Gord Campbell is plumping for the B.C. ride, and cycling Olympian Lori-Ann Muenzer showed up at the Calgary launch event while the legendary Steve Bauer appeared at the Toronto event.

It doesn't surprise me that something like this might go national. What charity wouldn't like to repeat the success of the breast cancer fundraising brand, although it is hard to imagine how one would match the success of a brand that utlimately leads to sales of pink home appliances.

And I believe that there is a sense of accomplishment in completing a rigorous physical activity on behalf of a good cause. A marathon is a challenge, but lots of us aren't runners. A lot of us can't swim, so the ironman style of event is out. But almost anyone can ride a bike, and riding 200 kilometres may not be Mount Everest, but it is still a pretty decent mountain.

My guess is that thousands will turn out for this event, and it will become a fundraising staple.

If you want more info about the Ride to Conquer Cancer, check their website or call 1-877-699-BIKE.

Nothing like a good bicycle movie

There are a few bicycle movies that are worth seeing over and over.

My vote goes to The Bicycle Thief, which is airing Saturday on TVO at about 10:30 p.m., after the first feature and the usual round of post-feature interviews. Surely, you can't go wrong with a cool drink, some salty snacks and this flick.

Selling your bike can be a slow process

I knew from the outset that I wasn't going to sell my Mikado D'Iberville touring bike right away. The end of the summer touring season was in sight when I first posted the ads. But I thought someone would have fall in love with my bike as quickly as I had. Hasn't happened.

Initially, I was selling it because I was on the verge of convincing my life partner that a custom-build bike would be a bonding experience. Too expensive, she said. What if I sell the Mikado, I said. And your cruiser bike, since it is too big for you, I added. That would give us a $1,000 grubstake on the perfect bike for you, I said.

About a month after I began trying to sell the bike, and as you know from my recent post on my cycling future, I've had to retire all three of my bicycles. The plans for my partner's new custom bike went out the window when she said the only reason for it was to spend more time with me (ah, true luv!). But the plans to sell the Mikado still made sense. It had comfortably carried me across Ontario, to sandy beaches and down some terrifying hills. Someone should have the pleasure of riding it.

The big problem is that I am no negotiator. I figure out what the optimum price should be and then stick there. This must be frustrating to hagglers, who seem to be just about the only would-be buyers I have attracted so far. Just as an example of what I mean, I had upgraded the crankset, but one interested party's offer was only slightly better than the value of the crankset alone. Heck, I could strip the bike for parts and make more money on it. And that, of course, is not the point.

My supportive partner has told me to keep the Mikado. "Maybe you'll have a tall grandchild someday," she said.

Perhaps, but as cycling technology continues to advance, some future gen of touring bikes could come equipped with anti-gravity units. Better to find a willing user now. I'm getting ready to store the Mikado for the winter, and we'll see what luck I have next spring.

Two in court over cyclist's death

The two men charged in the death of cyclist Barry Grosse last month appeared in a Saskatoon court today, but not much happened, according to a Canadian Press report.

Mitchell Rebryna, 20, and Kyle Bradley, 22, who are alleged to have been street racing, are facing charges of criminal negligence causing death. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, plus a lifetime driving ban (although one wonders how much driving you do behind bars, anyway). Pretty unlikely that the two will get the max sentence, even though one could argue that their actions gave the 64-year-old Grosse a maximum sentence last Sept. 24.

The two haven't entered pleas yet, but will likely do so when they show up again on Dec. 2.

How long does it take to steal a bicycle?

Thanks to Geoffrey for pointing out the Reuters news agency story about an unusual documentary film experiment in Buenos Aires.

A filmmaker decided to monitor bicycle theft in various neighbourhoods in the capital city. The crew planted decent looking bikes and filmed them, keeping track of the various people who stopped, looked at the bike and eventually, took them. The experiment in each case lasted an hour, or until the filmmaker got tired or his batteries gave out. Surprisingly, perhaps, some high-crime neighbourhoods recorded the longest times, while one bike in a chic shopping area was gone in moments.

Go to the website to view some of the project (some were speeded up to music . . . rather effective) and to learn more about the project and what people had to say about bicycle theft, and what it says about the people who steal bicycles.

Great Thanksgiving riding weather

For those of us living in southern Ontario, this is one of the best Thanksgiving weekends in memory for a ride.

The weather gods are predicting highs today and tomorrow of 27C down around Windsor, and 22C to 25C around here. If you have the opportunity to get out for a ride, take it! I envy those near Lake Erie, who can finish their ride with a dip. Who would have thought it could be this warm this late in the season?

For our household, the actual feasting is today. Whichever day you are gathering with family or friends, hope you have a great holiday.

Toronto sidewalks are dangerous places

It must be the fine fall weather that is bringing out the cyclists, and the complaints about cyclists.

Jack Lakey of the Toronto Star, who writes The Fixer column, has a lengthy piece on the conflict between pedestrians and cyclists on T.O.'s sidewalks.

Apparently, Lakey has never talked to the police representatives I have talked to. His Toronto contacts seem to suggest the adult riding of bikes on sidewalks is discouraged, while the people I've talked to suggest that enforcement is largely complaint-based, and police would rather see cyclists on sidewalks than on a dangerous or unsafe road.

I can't help but wonder if Lakey should have focused more on courtesy than the legality. If a nanny with a jog stroller had forced a pedestrian to leave the sidewalk, would there be this discussion? Admittedly, being hit by a cart full of kids and groceries might not be as damaging as being hit by a speeding bicycle, but it could be if you were a senior.

Isn't courteous sidewalk behaviour the answer?

Senator-cyclist conflict leads to meeting

The author of the New York blog No Impact Man, Colin Beavan, has a perspective that extends well beyond the two-wheeled world, but has lately been exploring the friction between cyclists and motorists in a very personal way.

Beavan was riding his folding bike on the curb lane when he had an unpleasant encounter with a black Mercedes that belonged to New York State Senator Jeff Klein. No injuries, but some nasty words were spoken.

Beavan blogged about it, asked his community to help him get a meeting with the senator, and the senator's office was inundated with calls. The two will meet on Tuesday, where Beavan will make the case for the senator to rethink some of his positions on issues that affect transportation policy in New York.

I offer this for your attention largely because, especially as we go into a federal vote on Tuesday, it appears that politicians do listen to the voices of the public, and your expressions of concern, your desires for change, do matter.