Cycling is in the air. And it's Christmas too!!!

Was the week before Christmas and many have hung up their bikes with care but there's lots of positive cycling news in the air.

1.  In Oakville, council has endorsed a proposal by Share the Road Cycling Coalition asking the government to allocate 1% of the Ontario Transportation budget to be spent on municipal cycling projects.  Through twitter Minister of Transportation, Glen Murray has supported this!  Maybe Burlington Council will consider a similar endorsement.

2.  Still at Queen's Park, Norm Miller, MP for Muskoka-Parry Sound tabled a Private Member's Bill that requires "a minimum one-metre paved shoulder on designated provincial highways that are to be rebuilt or resurfaced."  The bill passed second reading on Dec. 12th and next stop is committee.  It has ALL party support as well as endorsement from the CAA, yes that's the Cdn Automobile Association.  The CAA is a big supporter of safer cycling in Ontario and Share the Road Cycling Coalition!

3.   Back at home, the New Street public information meeting was decidedly in favour of segregated bike lanes!

The street is going to be repaved. It's an ideal opportunity to add segregated bike lanes making it safer for cyclists going into and leaving the downtown as well as accessing Central Park, the library, arena, community centre and gardens.

Economically, there is a case for spending additional funds to segregate the bike lanes.  The Burlington Economic Development Corporation released data indicating 44% of the Burlington labour force work in Burlington.  Another 14% in Hamilton and 12% in Oakville.

Studies show the quickest way to get anywhere under 5km is by cycling.  Add the commuters who drive to Hamilton, Oakville and the GO Trains the short distance commute figure easily exceeds 50%.  Get some of these short distance commuters off the roads and onto safer bikes lanes and the resultant benefit is less congestion on existing roads.

Merry Christmas to all and a healthy, Happy New Year.   2014 is shaping up to be a great year for cycling in Burlington & area.

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.

You own a car, NOT the road! - or A Metre Matters, eh!

Spectacular day to cycle to Port Dalhousie.  Good company, weather was perfect, roads were quiet and the wind was at our back.  All the elements for a good karma day.

We did however encounter some karma disrupting moments as some motorists felt we were encroaching upon their turf, their lane, traveling at a speed too slow for their liking.  After some yelling, finger pointing, huffing and puffing, we got back to our happy place.

A Metre Matters!  Often its all that separates a cyclists between 2 tons of SUV bumper and tragedy.   The bigger SUV are over 8,000 pounds!  In a collision, no matter what the speed, the cyclist always loses.

Share the Road Cycling Coalition has given its support to a private member's bill introduced by MPP Cheri DiNovo to amend the Highway Traffic Act, requiring motor vehicle drivers to give at least 3-feet (or 1 metre for metric users) of clearance when passing bicycles.  Although the bill did not pass, many private member's bill find their way onto the law books in subsequent sessions.  Let's hope this one makes it sooner rather than later.

Cycling friendly initiatives, like the 3 foot law - or A Meter Matters, gather momentum at events like the Ontario Bike Summit.  Make a change, make a difference.  Come to the Ontario Bike Summit, in Burlington, Sept. 20-21.