Bixi Toronto and University bike lanes: tomorrow is decision day at City Hall

Tomorrow is do or die. Either council approves the loan guarantee and contract with Bixi, or it will be a long, long time before Toronto gets its own bikesharing program. Please go to City Hall at 10 am with your bike helmet on to show your support. The Mayor is making a special push for it!

The 2010 Bikeway Network will be coming up at a later time, possibly on May 12th. That's when the University bike lane pilot will up for vote. This item will be likely even more contentious than Bixi. Follow the bike union's Twitter feed @bikeunion to see when the item is coming up, then rush down to City Hall with your helmets!

I've got a lot of hope riding on Bixi. Way back in 2000, my roommate Todd Parsons first brought back the idea of yellow bikesharing back from his trip to Austin, Texas. This brought forth Bikeshare, which populated Toronto with lots of yellow bikes for 6 great years. Now I'm hoping that Bixi will more than fill the hole that Bikeshare left. I hope that all cyclists and other folks can jump to show the politicians that this is a great idea! We can't let Montreal have all the fun.

From Yvonne at the bike union:

As per my email last week about the City Council meeting taking place May 11th & 12th in Council Chambers - you are invited to attend whenever you are able.

Although I don't have specific details around timing, I now know that Item PW 32.8 – The Public Bike (Bixi-Toronto) Program (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-28853.pdf) will be one of the Mayor's items! Good news indeed.

I believe this means that it will come up in the late morning on Tuesday May 11th - I therefore ask that you please attend from 10am tomorrow if you are able. Please wear your helmet if you have one.

We do not have information about the timing of Item PW 32.9 – The 2010 Bicycle Network Program (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-28856.pdf) - I think however that it will still be effective to have cyclists stop in to observe the Council meeting, with hel mets on, at any part of the day as a sign of support for this item.

I will update our website's main page if/when timing details become available. I will also update our Facebook group (Toronto Cyclists Union) and will send tweets about decisions, and timing. If you are on Twitter, you can follow us via @bikeunion. Also, feel free to text my cell phone for information - 416 826 2964.

If you are able to attend the City Council meeting, an interesting experience you should try at least once, please wear your helmet if you have one, and remember to maintain a respectful silence while Council is in session.

Thank you for taking the time to help make Toronto a more bike-friendly city!!

Sincerely,
Yvonne Bambrick & the bike union team