A new banner image: like it? We are likely going to be swapping banners now and then to keep things fresh.
2007 was a mixed year for cycling in Toronto. The Bells on Bloor event featured in our new banner image was one of the better things to happen. The photo was taken by Tanya Quinn during the ride from High Park to Yonge St. back in September. It was great weather, a great turnout and an awesome way to promote the idea of bike lanes on Bloor Street. Politicians showed up, bike cops helped us through the intersections.
It was one of the less cynical things to happen in a year punctuated by lots of promises by politicians, few new actual bike lanes, some dead cyclists, some ill-placed bollards (that just reek of the lack of consultation and lack of thinking from the point of view of cyclists that is going on), and cyclists being vilified in the media for the violent actions of one cyclist.
On the bright side, some other outstanding events were the announcement of the Toronto Cyclists Union, the Bike Train (which incidentally won the I Bike T.O. award), the guerrilla bike lane painting, blossoming of the Bike Pirates, and, of course, the launch of I Bike T.O. (thank you everyone for all the praise, criticism and help!). Lift a glass to grassroots activism and to people willing to get things done despite the powers that be!
A happy new bike year to all of you. May your bike get you to and from work, school, store as safely as possible and may at least one of your neighbours decide you are having too much fun and decides to dust off their old bike.
Happy Bike Year!
Comments
geoffrey (not verified)
after 23 weeks - over 5
Mon, 12/31/2007 - 16:33after 23 weeks - over 5 calendar months - since being hit on a bicycle:
bicyclists don't matter
those who do not use motorvehicles don't matter
wearing a helmet is an exercise in futility
it may be a defacto exoneration for autoholics who maim non motorists
but it means waking up to learn the police investigation is a farce
absurd conclusions will be made blaming the victim
injury lawyers will refuse your case if you've had any employment instability in
the last five years. your net worth will be interpreted in terms of number of dependants and last paycheque.
after 23 weeks - over 5 calendar months - since being hit on a bicycle:
bicyclists don't matter
those who do not use motorvehicles don't matter
wearing a helmet is an exercise in futility
it may be a defacto exoneration for autoholics who maim non motorists
but it means waking up to learn the police investigation is a farce
absurd conclusions will be made blaming the victim
injury lawyers will refuse your case if you've had any employment instability in
the last five years. your net worth will be interpreted in terms of number of dependants and last paycheque.
doctors will provide bullshit treatment and feel free to vent their frustrations
with bicyclists. "You shouldn't be riding there". "I warn all my patients that".
employers will look at your remains and suddenly understand that you aren't the person you once were. what had been impatience to get you back will become forgetfulness that you exist.
you will drop through the cracks of the supposed social safety nets. you don't matter. you are a bicyclist.
hamish (not verified)
2007
Thu, 01/03/2008 - 22:59Geoffrey's comments are completely understandable and his being so poorly treated and responded to is one of the low points of 2007- I'm sorry Geoffrey, I'm stretched to exist myself. It would be nice if we could somehow get ourselves more organized to help with a push back.
I'm glad that you celebrated the Bloor ride and have it on as your banner - it was a high point, and who knows what combination of influences made it so great beyond a lot of work by the Bells on Bloor/Albert et all... But thanks all of you including Geoffrey who wasn't there but helped in keeping TaketheTooker pushing in its own way.
$100 a barrel oil may be the best revenge Geoffrey. It doesn't help you particularly, but try to take some comfort from it, and I hope there aren't too many lasting effects from the rundown.
I remain worried about hte new TCAC - it has reformulated, there are some good people on it, but an awful lot of damage has been done and I think it may have been deliberate to minimize citizen criticism and involvement in the North York Cars Dept. One eg. - I don't think the sub-committees have been renewed so it's getting to a 1.4 year gap in information/feedback.
Luke (not verified)
I echo the sentiments of
Sun, 01/06/2008 - 05:46I echo the sentiments of Hamish: the sky-high cost of crude can only bode well for pedal pushers. Let's be realistic: cycling will only be widely considered a serious and viable form of transport when economics, pollution and congestion continue to put more tax paying, ballot casting derrieres on bicycle seats and less behind steering wheels. Until then it will continue to be viewed as an 'alternative form of transport', a child's or recreationist's pursuit or just an eccentricity.
But I'm optimistic that in our lifetimes North Americans will come to rightly regard cycling in the same light as hundreds of millions world wide do: cheap, practical -- not to mention, enjoyable! -- transportation. Then won't it be strange to hear of a car referred to as an 'alternative form of urban transport'?
So ring in '08 and a (belated) Happy New Year to all!