BRONZED!!

Still basking in the sweet glow of our athletes' performances at the Olympics, Burlingtonians get to add another bronze medal!

This bronze was awarded by Share the Road Cycling Coalition, a cycling advocacy group founded by Eleanor McMahon.  She has taken the Bicycle Friendly Community platform used by the League of American Bicyclists, adapted it for Canada and spread the word.

The award is recognition for Burlington's effort to provide and promote safer cycling for transportation and recreation.  Each city is examined on its efforts in the following categories: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation and Planning.  You can get more details here. 
Its a fantastic accomplishment and tribute to the efforts of many at city hall and the dedication of many members, past and present, of the Burlington Cycling Committee.

Thank you to all who have made our city a better, safer, enjoyable place to live.

As a result of Burlington's application process for BFC recognition, we have a road map of improvements that need to be made to attain Silver or even Platinum.  We can do it!

Tour de Mississauga - come & join us!

Our cycling friends in the bronze awarded City of Mississauga are having a bike Tour de Mississauga.  Its free and it sounds like a lot of fun.  Several cyclists from Burlington will be joining them for the ride and festivities to see how its done.  If you can make it, there's still time to register.

Over 1,000 cyclists participated in 2011 in this engaged community!

The 2012 Tour POSTER has just been released.  Click image and print if you wish to post at your place of business.  Registration is fast and one-stop this year, with PIN numbers for new registrants being assigned immediately.  What if you don’t remember your PIN# from last year?  Just call the Customer Service Centre at (905) 615-4100, and they will be able to assist you.  Note the August 20 date (below) for pre-ordering T-shirts (with Online Registration) and Jerseys (through the e-Store) to guarantee sizing. 

 

Tour Jerseys -- You can now reserve a Tour jersey ($60 all-in) by pre-ordering online through the City’s e-store.  Our primary sponsors’ logos are on the back pockets.  TO ENSURE WE HAVE YOUR SIZE IN TIME FOR THE TOUR, PLEASE ORDER BY AUGUST 20.  Please consult the Jersey size chart before ordering.

 

The Tour T-shirt design has been finalized (it’s green!) and ALL our our 2012 Tour Sponsors are printed on the back, along with a ‘Share the Road’ graphic.  Our sponsors are helping us to grow and improve the Tour event and we are so proud to have this wonderful collection of ‘backers’ on the T-shirt and the new POSTER (shown above).  Order your Tour T-shirts ($12 all-in) when you register online.  TO ENSURE WE HAVE YOUR SIZE IN TIME FOR THE TOUR, PLEASE ORDER BY AUGUST 20.  Please consult theT-shirt size chart before ordering.

 

 

Good Enough is NOT Good Enough!

I don't use an Apple, iPhone or iPad but I, and legions of Apple users recognize, appreciate, and will pay for great design.  It's reflected in the company's valuation as one of the world's most valued companies!

The same principal holds true for cycling on roads.

Old York Road is a hilly, fun stretch of road that is a gateway from Hamilton & Burlington to iconic, winding Snake Road.  During the past several weeks, my cycling has been interrupted by road repairs as the road was patched.
This week, to my dismay the entire road has been given a gravel surface.

Tar and Chip road.

According to mavens at city hall, Old York Road is undergoing surface treatment also know as Tar & Chip.  Surprisingly, they assure me that Old York Road was never an asphalt road but I've cycled this road for years but it felt like and looked like an asphalt road.  They've assured me that after a year or two, surface treated roads are "similar" to asphalt roads.

Old York Road with patching.

This weekend, I cycled several combined asphalt / tar & chip roads of various ages.  Cyclists and motorists easily know when they are on a tar & chip road!  It's the difference between night & day.  These roads are not meant for cycling.  They are rough, bumpy and strewn with loose gravel from the edges of the road which have not been compacted by the weight of cars.

Caution loose gravel on Old York Road.

Tar & chip replacing asphalt is another case where good enough is NOT good enough.  The legions of cyclists from Hamilton and other areas will find alternatives to Snake Road, probably outside of Burlington.

If you feel asphalt roads shouldn't be downgraded to tar & chip surfaces, let your councillor know.