active transportation

This video shows the wide variety of conditions for cyclists in the West End of Toronto, everything from major streets (Keele) with no bicycle lanes to really major high-speed roads (Queensway) with bicycle lanes.

In honour of these June follies it has come to my attention contractors working on the TTC track rehab on King St from Roncesvalles east to the vicinity of Beaty Ave will post this section "CYCLISTS DISMOUNT". There are no plans to request the same of motorists.

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College and Manning 8:30 a.m. April 23, 2010. 'Mr. Green' sends his message.

Bike lanes get broad support from merchants and customers in the Bloor West and Annex neighbourhoods along Bloor Street. According to the recent study by the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation and Clean Air Partnership, 62% of Annex visitors prefer a bike lane, and 58% of Bloor West visitors prefer either a wider sidewalk or bike lane.

The Ontario government should create a $20 million Ontario Bicycling Investment Fund with the extra money that will be collected through the new HST. This is one of the recommendations found in the Green Paper (pdf) released by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition last Friday.

Currently bicycles and bike safety equipment are PST exempt, but this will change with the new HST when the province starts collecting it in July.

A fellow fllmaker Clarence Eckerson, Jr. from NYC send this film with this note:

The West Toronto Railpath will have its official launch on June 20, 2009, 2pm with a Party Parade! It starts on Wallace Ave., west of Perth (at the pedestrian rail overpass). Bring your bike, blades, strollers and kids to a party for the railpath.

Brought to you by: Friends of the West Toronto Railpath, Bike Pirates, Cyclops, Yasi's Place, Big on Bloor, and by the Letter D.

Thank you Vic Gedris for this fine video.

"Yeah", I laughed, "fenders are proven technology, they've been around for over a century. And unless you favour pedal powered enemas, I highly recommend them."

So went the conversation with Chris, a colleague at work. Chris is an ideal candidate for two wheels: he has a young family and, with a mortgage, on a budget; he's located at Landsdowne and College, well within pedalling range of much of what Toronto has to offer; he doesn't drive and, at 15 K, a work commute is certainly viable (seasonally at least); and lastly, he's looking to lose some lard.