Just 1 hour more ........

Fbk STR Ride comments. Click to enlarge.

Cyclists have contributed their share to making Ontario a better place to live.  They are healthier and will be less of a drain on Ontario's over burdened health system.  They are tuned into the environment and are a great example to their kids.  They support and participate in rides such as Share the Road and Tour de Mississauga.

At Sunday's Share the Road Ride in Memory of Greg, Eleanor asked cyclists for just 1 more hour.

1 hour more to promote cycling in your community.  "Have coffee with your Councillor; talk to your MPP -- better still join our Ontario CAN! (Cycling Advocacy Network) where we'll train you via webinars we will be holding this Fall/Winter; if you have children, talk to their teacher or principal about Active and Safe Routes to School and how cycling and walking to school creates healthy habits for life."

Eleanor's message is one that cyclists need to take to heart.  Change does not materialize by itself.  Change needs you to make it happen.  Let's find ways to give Eleanor that 1 hour more she is asking for.

Moon Light Ride

Cycling is an enjoyable activity any time of day.  It becomes a magical experience - at night by the lake.

Since we live in Canada's best city on the lake, we have the added joy of being able to cycle at night.  It really is a unique "sensory experience."

The ride is organized by Ryan Correy.  If there's anyone who loves cycling more than I do it's Ryan.  He spent July cycling from Calgary to Mexico, off-road along the Rockies.

Ryan might regale the group with stories from his journey by camp fire.
You can get details and sign up at Ryan's facebook link.
If you've never cycled along the lake at night, push the envelope.  Include the kids and make it a family night.  Its Sat. Sept. 29, meeting at 7:45pm & leaving from the Tamp coffee house in downtown Burlington.  Everyone is welcome.  Its an easy paced family ride.  Join the ride and feel the magic of cycling by the lake at night.

1,600+ occupy Mississauga!!!

...And the Mayor cheered us on!  She gave us a rousing send off.  Hazel's message (at least what I heard above the din): Cycling infrastructure is cheaper and results in healthier, happier people.  It's a good investment for Mississauga.

There were over 1,600 happy occupiers in the 2012 version of the Tour de Mississauga.  The ride was well organized, well laid-out, well marked, well attended.  Thank you Jeff Wachman and the great team at the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee for an excellent, fabulous, great event!

Who knew that Mississauga had so much/many:
 - paved multi-purpose pathways
 - nature trails for cyclists following creeks and rivers
 - beautiful secluded fishing spots
 - park land galore
 - 1,600+ engaged cyclists.

Our group of three discovered 60km of Mississauga today.  We were surprised, impressed and pleased.  We had a great time and if you haven't done the Tour de Mississauga yet, we encourage you to be among the 3,000+ cyclists that will do the 6th Tour de Mississauga in 2013.  You owe it to yourself to have a great time.

A special thanks to the great group of bike mechanics at Cyclepath/the Bike Store at Burhampthorpe and Creditview.  At the start of the ride, I had a flat.  Not only did Cyclepath replace my flat tube, they also replaced the tire which had a weak spot.  They refused payment and just wanted to help out!  What excellent service.  Saved my ride and day.  Thank you!!!

Plains Road won't be so plain any more.

Fantastic things are planned for Plains Road in Aldershot.

Currently, Plains Road has a very narrow strip running parallel with the curb.  It's narrow and includes sewer grates and other obstacles.  It's NOT a bike lane, just an edge line.  Check out the power point slide to the right.

The recommendation is for safer, wider bike lanes from the city border with Hamilton to the QEW.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.

In addition to the 1.2m wide bike lane and 0.3m gutter, an additional 0.5 buffer zone will be added.  Moveable planters will be placed in the buffer zone during the cycling months adding a further level of protection for cyclists.

More details can be found on the city's website dealing with the Plains Road redesign.

Hallelujah!

Bike lane ends

They're all over the city.  Everywhere!

Cyclists encounter them every time they ride their bikes.    It's the ubiquitous "Bike Lane Ends Ahead" sign.

Each time the bike lane ends, the cyclist must make a decision regarding where to go - hugh the curb, cycle in the middle of the lane or get on the side walk.  Drivers too, have to decide where is the cyclist going to go?  This uncertainty is unnerving for both the cyclist & driver.

Bike lane often disappear where the curb lane morphs into a right turn lane e.g. the new bike lanes south of New St. on Appleby & Walkers Lines,  Brant Street northbound just before the QEW. etc. etc

Hamilton uses sharrows through some of the major intersections directing cyclist where to go.

Sharrows are a great idea and hopefully will make motorists better aware that cyclists are using the road and encourage motorists to slow down.

Maybe its time to consider adding another sign to the streets of Burlington.

The Sharrows are coming, the Sharrows are coming

Introduced in 2011, as a pilot, sharrows will become a familiar sight on Burlington roads.  285 sharrows will be added to city streets as part of the city's Cycling Master Plan.


"The sharrow's main purpose is to give bicyclists freedom to move further to the left within travel lane, rather than brave the door zone, squeezed between moving and parked cars. Without such markings, bicyclists might seek refuge on the sidewalk or travel in the wrong direction. The overall goals are: to improve the position of bicyclists and motorists on roads without bike lanes, reduce aggressive motorist behavior, encourage correct bicycling behavior and increase the comfort of (and therefore the number of) bicyclists on shared roads [Streetswiki].
Roads with sharrows constitute Class III bike routes, a “step down” from Class II routes with designated bike lanes. These city streets can be part of a bicycle network, but may have higher motorist traffic than bicycle boulevards."

A list of streets can be found in this Burlington Post article.  A variety of people have noticed more cyclists on Burlington streets this summer.  The cycling revolution found in cities around the world is continuing in Burlington!