Here's a posting of near daily cycling news from across the country, and sometimes interesting things from around the world. If I missed a worthy piece, please pass it on to me. As always, comments welcome.
Local
- Police Turn Up Heat In Hunt For Hit And Run Driver Who Killed Cyclist (citynews.ca, Sep 10)
- Officers recreate fatal collision (Canoe.ca, Sep 11)
- A Toronto take on cycling issues (Take The Lane, Sep 10)
- New sticker program will help prevent bicycle theft (News@UofT, Sep 11)
If you don't have this blog in your RSS reader yet then you should add it now! There's more worth reading
Regional
- Two wheels enough for Green Leader (Globe and Mail, Sep 11)
- Ontario Veterinarians Cycle 261 km for Seniors, Disabled Individuals & Women at Risk of Abuse (Press Release, Milton, Sep 10)
Canada
- Workers play waiting game as commute times swell (Canada.com, Sep 11)
Wasn't this the same study that said cyclists are the happiest of all cummuters? - Paths pose no threat to business (The Gazette, Montreal, Sep 11)
Good news for everyone! - "Cyco-paths" drive me nuts (Edmonton Sun, Sep 11)
- New bike shelter stems from cost-sharing partnership (Press Release, Victoria, BC, Sep 10)
Away
- Bikes Are Good for the City (New York Times, NY, Sep 10)
- Prospect Height Bikers: Learn How to Ride (dailyheights, Brooklyn, NY, Sep 5)
Even former bike messengers have a "get outa my way!" attitude towards cyclists. Who knew? - Riders say abrupt end to bike path on busy road is dangerous (NY Daily News, Brooklyn, NY, Sep 11)
- Room for the Bicyclists (New York Times, Sep 11)
- Bicycle Classic again lives up to name: CLICK FOR VIDEO! (Olney Daily Mail, IL, Sep 11)
- Bicycle Classic has new leader (Redlands Daily Facts, CA, Sep 11)
- The curious case of a cyclist's life destroyed (The Age, Australia, Sep 12)
- It’s a jungle out there for cyclists (York Press, UK, Sep 11)
- Cyclists point out their attacker (iol.co.za, South Africa, Sep 11)
- Drive against cyclists and motorbike riders (Gulf News, Dubai, Sep 11)
Because us cyclists are now pickpockets, too! - How 'bout a round of bicycle polo on the roof? (Duke Chronicle, NC, Sep 10)
To play in Toronto from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Tuesday night in the Trinity-Bellwoods bowl, but only until the end of September! - Boy hangs self for losing bicycle (Times of India, Sep 12)
It's bad enough to get a bike stolen, but I think it should be the thief...
Cyclists support tougher age restrictions (Press release, Sep 11)
Gadgets & Gizmos
- U.K. Consultancy’s Wireless Lights Designed in SolidWorks Help Cyclists Keep Rolling Safely at Night (Press Release, Sept 10)
This article is talking about this. Very cool
Comments
Ben
Ignorant Motorist
Wed, 09/12/2007 - 11:45It is always funny / scary to read an editorial like Kerry Diote's in the Edmonton Sun. The author always displays their lack of knowledge of the rules of the road. Complaints against legal behaviour include:
The author continues to show their ignorance throughout the piece, claiming that cyclists should dismount while crossing streets (wtf??).
The whole thing, of course, is leading up to a proposal to ban cycling on busy streets. What an asshole.
anthony
Yeah! Ignorant indeed!
Wed, 09/12/2007 - 12:35This is yet another fine example of the "get outta my way!" attitude exhibited by too many motorists who wrongly think that the road is theirs alone. While I am not familliar with Alberta or Edmonton laws, I do believe that they are similar to Ontario, at least in so far as bicycles, equestrians, farm vehicles (slow tracktors and combines, etc) are allowed to use the road, and may either use the most righthand lane leaving the other lane(s) free for passing, OR stay as far to the right of the roadway as "practicable". If so many drivers are so ignorant, I'd like to know what did they learn when they earned their licence?
I'd love to see a variation of Critical Mass where dozens of cyclists riding in row (as required by Toronto By Law) ride on lots of different busy roads, daily if practicle, taking that righhand narrow lane. I'd suggest that we'd get more bike lanes faster that way just because the motorists would want to give us our lane so that we'd be out of their way!
vic
I'd love to see a variation
Wed, 09/12/2007 - 14:51That's my theory too. Just imagine Bloor Street with even the usual amount of cyclists, but nobody riding in the door zones. Cyclists taking their correct place in traffic, safely out of the gutters and away from swinging door.
Motorists would be clamouring to get a bike lane built.
Or maybe that's too idealistic...I bet they would just ask for a bicycling ban.
do (not verified)
buy the parking lane
Thu, 09/13/2007 - 10:08What if a bunch of cyclist bought out a parking lane to make cycling safer, as a publicity stunt: tape the tags onto a bunch of pylons? Identify a horrendous spot (College in Little Italy?) and do it!
anthony
Yeah! Do it!
Thu, 09/13/2007 - 10:44The parking tag must be affixed to a vehicle, so if you're using bicycles as "pylons", sure! Do it! I'd ride, and contribute a fare and maybe even a spare bike!
These ideas are great. Let's act on some 'em!
tanya
clarify by-laws re: parking
Thu, 09/13/2007 - 13:23Are you sure that its the parking tag must be affixed to a vehicle (any) or is it the tag must be affixed to a motor vehicle? I ask because one of PEOs hassled ARC during the bike week Parking Meter Party claiming that we had to move our bikes (that we bought tickets for). We didn't (he threatened to send someone by which he never did) He was trying to claim they weren't vehicles but it would be nice to know the exact bylaw wording.
herb
bikes allowed in on-road parking
Fri, 09/14/2007 - 12:36My reading is that bikes are explicitly allowed in on-road parking that requires a parking machine receipt. Chapter 910 of the Toronto Municipal Code (pdf) defines a vehicle as:
And everywhere else it only speaks of vehicles in regards to parking machines. It is clear though that the assumption is that every vehicle has a windshield:
So to me it appears as if you don't need a motor to use the space but you will need a windshield of some sort to display the receipt.
vic
Windshields
Fri, 09/14/2007 - 15:23No problem for me when I'm riding the nerdmobile!
I also wish my Swing Bike still had its fairing.
anthony
More comments on this news - but external
Fri, 09/14/2007 - 01:51You might also want to read the comments here and the follow-up entry.
Geoffrey, Jeff, Alan, your comments are more than welcome here, too!