Simon, proud supporter of the Toronto Cyclists Union.
Photo: Steve Brearton
It's a busy time for Toronto's first member-funded, city-wide bicycle advocacy group.
The Toronto Cyclists Union has been doing everything it can to make sure that all councillors know that cyclists deserve their place on the road. This has involved, most recently, pushing hard in the case of the proposed Annette Street bike lanes.
We phoned and emailed councillors, made deputations in
front of city committees, had our voice/opinion reported by local
print, radio and television media, handed out flyers about the issue,
and worked together with strong and active community groups along the
way. The result, decided in council last week, was an Annette Street bike lane victory.
The Toronto Cyclists Union is dedicated to getting more new bike routes approved and to making Toronto a better city to bike in. If you haven't done so already, please support the Toronto Cyclists Union's work by becoming a member. The more members we have, the stronger our voice becomes.
In this issue of the Ring and Post newsletter, see what the Toronto Cyclists Union is all about: we introduce our executive, share a message from the Board, announce our upcoming Toronto Cycling Handbook and provide an update on our Ward Advocacy initiative. And of course, we also highlight one of our most dedicated volunteers and keep you abreast of the latest cycling events.
Would you like more frequent updates on what the Toronto Cyclists Union is working on? Follow it all using Twitter.
Table Of Contents
Strategic planning facilitator Lawrence Stevenson with Board Member Chair Karey Iron and Member Nancy Smith Lea.
Photo: Karey Iron
Message from the Board
Karey Iron, the Chair of our Board of Directors, submits this message:
The Toronto Cyclists Union is only 5 months old and already has attracted over 400 members representing a cross section of Toronto cyclists from every geographic area in the city. Our mission is to achieve the common goals of safety, legitimacy and accessibility of cycling in Toronto.
How will we, as a union, do this? How will we know if we are doing a good job? What role does the Board play and what steps has it taken to ensure accountability to our members? To answer questions such as these, it may be helpful to look at where we have been.
A boost towards The Toronto Cycling Handbook
Rick Conroy, our Coordinator, shares some great news about a special project:
The Toronto Cyclists Union is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Toronto Community Foundation to produce a cycling handbook for all Torontonians. The Toronto Cycling Handbook is a one-year project in partnership with CultureLink to research, write and edit a resource to encourage and support cycling among newcomers in Toronto. We look forward to working with CultureLink to improve the availability of Toronto-specific cycling information, which will be available in several languages in addition to English.
What's happening in our wards?
Steve Brearton, our Ward Coordinator, provides this update on ward activities:
The Toronto Cyclists Union's Ward Advocacy initiative is one way in which our vision of building a vibrant and powerful cycling community meets our mission of creating a member-driven community. It's part of how we listen to members and use their insights, ideas and talents to create campaigns and support one another as cyclists.
Survey results are in
Heather McDonald, one of our Assistant Coordinators, is working on our Survey of Toronto Cyclists:
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete this survey. We are very happy to announce that over 1000 people provided their views on cycling in Toronto and how the Toronto Cyclists Union can move forward. We are currently compiling the survey results and look forward to providing you with a summary in future Ring and Posts.
Herb van den Dool, featured volunteer.
Photo: Ben Smith Lea
Featured Volunteer: Herb van den Dool
Ben Smith Lea, our Information Technology Coordinator, writes about this month's Featured Volunteer:
Herb van den Dool first heard of the Toronto Cyclists Union when David Meslin came calling last year looking for input on the proposed new cycling organization. Herb has long been involved with the Community Bicycle Network (CBN) and so had lots to say about cycling in Toronto and about the need for a group like the bike union. "I had always felt that we needed a group in Toronto similar to what New York City has in Transportation Alternatives (T.A.)." T.A. is a large city-wide organization which is accountable to its membership. Herb feels that without such accountability a group cannot have the credibility it needs to influence public policy and priorities.
Heather McDonald, Assistant Coordinator, and Rick Conroy, Coordinator.
Photo: Yvonne Bambrick
Get to know the Exec
The Toronto Cyclists Union executive team is composed of four passionate Toronto cyclists who are dedicated to making Toronto a better city to bike in. Learn more about Coordinator Rick Conroy, and Assistant Coordinators Yvonne Bambrick (also Spokesperson), Heather McDonald, and Craig Barnes.
Events
Alison Palmer, our Newsletter Coordinator, and Yvonne Bambrick, Spokesperson and one of our Assistant Coordinators, share the details on important cycling events:
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Bike share demo comes to Toronto
Montreal's new public bike share system visits Toronto.
Photo:Yvonne BambrickLarge scale public bikesharing has rapidly grown in many cities, from Paris to Washington D.C. Paris' Velib system, for example, has over 25,000 bikes and thousands of users!
Montreal will be the first Canadian city with a large system of over 2000 bikes and 300 stations throughout downtown. Users will be able to take a bike from one of the convenient stations 24/7 with the use of a smart card. A yearly membership fee of $78 allows users to take a bike out at any time with the first half hour of travel free. Since most trips will be short, within a half hour, most users will enjoy a new, efficient and cheap individualized public transit system.
- Getting VeloSocial
The next VeloSocial is coming up on November 3rd.
Photo: Miss EGRToronto cycling gets seriously social with a new event for cyclists called the VeloSocial.
On November 3rd and December 1st, cyclists are invited to the Velosocial, an evening gathering to enjoy DJs and dancing, free games at the pool table, great food, bike videos, open mic and mad fun. The merchandise booth includes t-shirts, stickers, cellphone cases, key holders, lamination for personalized spoke cards, and CDs (all from local artists and businesses). The information booth provides details about local and international cycling organizations, events, and programs including mechanic workshops, bike polo pickup games and advocacy groups.
These VeloSocials will take place at the Augusta House in Kensington Market (152a Augusta Ave).
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Collecting ideas on bikeway projects
Overcoming west-end bike challenges.
Photo: Gabi SarlayDo you live in the downtown west-end in the area bounded by Bloor and the Gardiner, from Keele to Bathurst? Do your ride a bicycle? If you answered yes, the City wants to hear from you. The Toronto Cyclists Union is partnering with the City of Toronto to seek your ideas on quick-fix bikeway projects specifically for west-end Toronto. Ward 13 captain Tammy Thorne is the driving force behind this initiative.
- Call to the creative: Bike murals
Bikes brighten public spaces. Credit: Lisa Santonato
Bicycles are a great source of exercise, contributing to overall health and wellness. They're also a fun, cheap and efficient way to get around town. With over a million occasional cyclists in the GTA, cycling also represents a valuable component of Toronto's overall transportation mix. Cycling alleviates traffic congestion, and does not contribute to climate change or ground-level smog and air pollution.
The City of Toronto's Cycling Outreach and Events Programs are offering grants to individuals who would like to paint a community mural with a bicycle theme. Bike mural proposals are encouraged for the following zones: Etobicoke High Park, Parkdale High Park, and the Keele and Lawrence.