Bike lane humour!

Not always riding in the bike lane?  You will get ticketed in NYC.

Be inspired. Wed. June 15, 2011. Guaranteed!

If you didn't make it to Seville, Spain in March  to hear Gil Penalosa you have another opportunity.  


Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring has invited visionary speaker, Gil Penalosa to outline an ambitious plan to transform Burlington into a vibrant, healthy, happy community.  
  
Its not about cycling!  Its about vibrant cities, healthy communities, great places and happy people.  
 Gil has walked the talk, he is a "doer."  Gil is a man who makes change happen and gets difficult things done.   He has spread his dynamic brand of gospel around the world from South America to Europe, from Melbourne to New York.  People are listening and taking action.  Here's what others have said about Gil.  Please don't miss this opportunity to hear Gil.  Change won't happen without you.


Discover what an 8-80 city means.  Be there.  It's Free!  Register here. You'll leave inspired!

June 15, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Auditorium, DeGroote School of Business, Ron Joyce Centre Admission is Free and Open to All


You can see some of Gil's great videos at www.8-80cities.org 

Heard last night: 10++ reasons why bike lanes shouldn't be on Walkers & Appleby Line south of New St.

City staff is recommending road diets on Walkers & Appleby Lines south of New St. to Lakeshore.  The 4 vehicle lanes would be reduced to 2 vehicle lanes, a centre turn lane and  bike lanes - a mirror image of Guelph Line south of New St.

Important slides from the presentation last night:

Send your comments to Dan at City Hall.  OzimkovicD@burlington.ca

Want bike lanes on Appleby & Walkers south of New St?

The City of Burlington is carrying out a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to review lane configurations for Walker’s Line and Appleby Line (areas South of New Street).  The project is following the approved planning process for “Schedule B” projects under the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. The primary option being considered is a reduction from four travel lanes to three lanes (north/south and turning) with on-road bike lanes in these roadway sections, same as Guelph Line south of New Street.

A good idea

Date:   Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Time: 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

Location: St. Raphael’s School,  4056 New Street

Format: Formal presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Anyone with an interest in the study is invited to attend and participate. If you cannot attend and would like to provide comments, please email Dan at ozimkovicd@burlington.ca by June 17, 2011.

Dan is looking for your input, please come out and be heard.  Thank you.

Turn Off the Dark - it's happening in new New York City

Invigorated by another long weekend with friends in the city that never sleeps, I've come to love NY - the new, New York!  Each time we experience NYC, there are more cyclists and definitely more people walking and enjoying the streets.  It's becoming an urban cyclists' & pedestrians' haven. It's changing and it's changing for the better, fast - faster than the timid pace here in Burlington.

Below is a "Steetsfilm" video showing the growth of cycle tracks and bike lanes in NYC.  The video is a great one to watch with fabulous shots of green bike lanes, cycle tracks and people enjoying their city.  It's 11 minutes.  If you don't have the time, I'd recommend 3 very short segments:
1. 30 second mark shows the transformation of Times Square from a roadway dedicated to cars and its current state.  It's remarkable!
2. 50 second mark - Gridiron Sam states that a city planners and managers are thinking differently about road use bringing back more life to the city.  (We need that thinking in Burlington!)
3. 2:40 second mark - a 73 year cyclists enjoying the new & improved Columbus.

Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.
Cycle tracks in Burlington?  At this point in time, in the Cycling Master Plan, no where else.

As for the new & improved $65 million & counting Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, its better suited for Atlantic City rather than Broadway.  See Wicked instead - and don't forget to experience Burlington's 1st summer streets event, coming this September.  

Old questions, need new answers!

A reader posted a comment suggesting we check out Halton Region's 2011 - 2014 Draft Action Plan.  Active Transportation is mentioned twice in the document.  (excerpt below, click to enlarge)

Bike lanes and pedestrian walkways for new and reconstruction projects are "Key Actions."  A good first step, but is it enough?

Despite letters to MTO from Burlington Council and the Chief Medical Officer requesting safer ways for cyclists and pedestrians to get over the QEW, there is no mention of safer passage in the draft document.
Another Key Action is to "Complete a plan for Dundas Street and Trafalgar Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects in cooperation with Oakville, Burlington and Metrolinx."  Burlington's Cycling Master Plan also touted innovative cycle tracks along the entirety of Dundas Street.  Is Halton aware of this?  Both of these items should be specifically mentioned in the plan as Key Actions: 2012 - 2014.

They're spending your tax dollars!  Shouldn't you be providing your input into how your tax dollars will be spent by Halton Region?   Halton is asking for your answers.

The sound of one hand clapping

Northshore Boulevard is going to be resurfaced with paved shoulders added where possible.  From Eagle Drive to Bellhaven, the road will be widened and the road resurfaced.  For the section through LaSalle Park, the road will be resurfaced but without paved shoulders or a bike lane.  Cyclists are expected to veer off the road and use the path through the park.

This creates a weak link in the cycling network.  Another missed opportunity to fix a problem!  It wouldn't happen in Apeldoorn or Portland, Oregon or in a city that puts the highest priority on cycling safety for its citizens.  The road is also a landmark tourist attraction, part of the oldest road race in North America and often used by runners.  I've cycled this narrow road & felt the pressure of cars anxious to pass me many times.  The trees are not the obstacle and do not need to be cut.  Simply shift the roadway as the city has previously done on Northshore west of King.  With a bit of effort, the city should add paved shoulders to Northshore Boulevard as it winds through LaSalle Park.
Although the posted speed limit is 40kph, many drivers speed through this open stretch of roadway.

The Burlington Cycling Committee applauds this project - its the sound of one hand clapping.

How's a "B" working for yah?

An April 23rd. report to council detailed the city's progress in meeting the targets in the CMP.  It details both the good and bad but hesitates to give an overall grade, letting the reader draw his/her own conclusions.
Below is the report listing proposed cycling infrastructure by type of project in each of the 3 phases.

     

Our cycling master plan has 3 phases with projected completion rates for each.  As with countless things governmental, the most distant target (phase III) is the largest component, i.e it's back-end loaded and may never be completed.

Focusing only on the period 2009 - 2015 yields better results for the city - as high as 74%.  According to the grading system used in Ontario schools, it's a B grade - provided we do the projects planned for  2011 - 2115.

Where are the blowing trumpets, ringing church bells?  According to our CMP, phase I, as of 2010, we are ahead of the game.  We've got the lead!  In 2010 we blew past our targets with a completion rate of 166%.

Inexplicably, in 2011 & 2012 Burlington is planning for the lead to evaporate, slip between the spokes, by adding only 1km of new bike lanes each year!  Why????  If you're ahead at half time, you never plan on giving up going into the second half.
NOT, if you're the 3rd best city in Canada to live in &and getting more to cycle is the best way to move up or stay on top.

Playing catch up - its virtually impossible

Whether it's sports, business or your RRSP, playing catch-up is always the hardest way to win or meet your targets.  In sports, breaking, then recovering from a losing streak is a gargantuan task.  As the Maple Leafs have shown, time and time again, meaningful recovery from a losing streak is insurmountable.

Burlington's 20 year Cycling Master Plan is already behind the eight ball and we are only 2+ years into a plan that averages ~15km of bike lanes annually.  By the end of 2011, Burlington should have ~37km of new bike lanes.  If the City of Burlington meets its 2011 target we will have 16km.

Unfortunately, according to the chart below, which adds the bike lane & path projects from the 2010 - 2019 Road Capital Budget and Forecast, it doesn't get any better by year 2012 & 2013.

Target = total new CMP bike lanes/years.
* No its not a mistake, only 1km of new bike lanes expected in 2012

Recently, the city has called for public input into it's strategic plan and asked for feedback from its citizens.  Here's my 2 cents:  get the $80,000 cycling master plan back on track.  Its good for residents and Burlington.  The sooner its done, the sooner we reap the benefits!

Are you ready? Up for the challenge? Looking for some cycling FUN!

The eighth annual Brian Smith Charity Ride, in support of the Halton Trauma Centre, YMCA Strong Kids and the Brian Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund (which helps students at Nelson High School) will be held on 

Sunday May 29th, 2011.

A great start to the cycling season.  A fabulous cause, lots of fun with like minded cyclists and Nancy will even help you train to get in shape.

More details & registration at:  8th Annual Brian Smith Ride.