E E E E E - the 5 Es.

Safe cycling is about more than just bike lanes.  Its more than a complete bike network across the city.

 It also includes:

• Education - teaching our children and adults how to ride their bikes safely.  Traffic 101
• Encouragement - giving people the comfort, confidence and inspiration to get on their bikes and go to where they've never gone before by bike, even if that trip is to the library or corner store.  Bike maps, community bike rides and Safe Routes to School program.
• Enforcement - its a two way street.  Cyclists as well as motorists have to obey the laws.  Enforcement means keeping bike lanes free from parked vehicles and cyclists from cruising through red lights.
• Evaluation & Planning - you've got to continually evaluate cycling levels in the community as well as the collision statistics, the bike network and where its going.

Which will it be?

You can learn more about the Canadian Bicycle Friendly Community program at the Ontario Bike Summit.  Its FREE to participate and our self-assessment program guides your community towards reaching the goal.

Does our community have what it takes to achieve Platinum status???  Burlington will have complete the comprehensive questionnaire to find out if they can be Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or honourable mention.

Fat and money

Officially, bicycles are vehicles under the Highway Traffic Act.

Except we all know they are not!

Cyclists are supposed to leave the real lane for cars, squeezing down into a bike lane, expect when there is no room for the bike lane.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carltonreid

What are we expected to do then?

–Environment Canada, “each Canadian makes an average of 2,000 car trips of less than 3 km each year. …For distances up to 5 km, cycling is recognized as the fastest of all modes from door to door.”


The sooner the bike network is completed, the sooner we start saving money, losing pounds, feeling better and helping the environment.

Think Different!

“Here’s to the crazy ones.

The rebels. The troublemakers.

The ones who see things differently.

While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.  Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Apple Computer's 1997 voice over on their ad.

Cycling is part of the solution   ..... not a problem.

"Its easier to do nothing - no one complains." - Gil Penalosa

Gil Penalosa is a visionary with a message of change.  He is  a strong proponent of safe streets as a means of improving the quality of life spreading his message across Canada & around the world.


Summer Streets NY 2010 is the third year that they've experienced the wonders of closing the street to traffic.  If you don't know what Summer Streets is, or if you want to be inspired, check out the fabulous, inspirational, video from NYC first Summer Streets in 2008.   Gil is in the video (2 minute mark) and well acquainted with the NYC commissioner of transportation who promoted Summer Streets.

Summer streets or Ciclovias are held around the world.  From Bogota to Ottawa, from Winnipeg to San Francisco.  What could you do at a Ciclovia?  Play Scrabble on the street, maybe.  Check the slide show below.

In 2010 the event has gotten bigger, better & wilder.  Now they have dumpsters filled with water for people to swim in.  Don't worry, the dumpsters are lined and the water filtered and purified.

Are they nuts?  Those crazy city of New York politicians  keep closing down the streets, blocking traffic.  The retailers must all be going bankrupt and citizens must be furious!

My son & his wife live in NYC.  They love the new people friendly, NYC.  That's 2 less high paying tech jobs for Halton.

Burlington wants to do something!  We're hoping to bring some of the craziness to Burlington in Summer Streets 2011.