"The most beautiful, wonderful bike city in the world!"

It didn't happen over night.  It took over 40 years.  In the 60s, Copenhagen and other European cities were car centric and congested like North American cities.  Per capita car numbers were similar.

Today Copenhagen has congested rush hours.  However, they are bike congested rush hours.

If you have the time, check out the video cycling in Copenhagen.  It's worth watching.  At the 8:29 mark, a typical pretty Danish girl passionately tells you she is living in the most beautiful, wonderful bike city in the world.

You'll never bike alone in Copenhagen.

There are 350km of cycle tracks in Copenhagen, 1 out of 3 people bike to work every day averaging 1.2 million kilometres daily.

Wouldn't it be great if we could boast Burlington is the most beautiful, wonderful bike city in the world!

Back to the Future - May 2000

Today's Globe & Mail announced that London's bike sharing program will use bikes made in Quebec.  Bike sharing programs are ALL the rage.  Toronto, Montreal, Paris, Barcelona and many other world class cities jumping aboard the bike sharing wagon as a means of relieving  traffic congestion.

Burlington's 2000 Bikeway Committee was eons ahead of the curve with its own Blue Bike program and it was free!

Its also a fabulous way to keep fit and you'll have fun and save money doing it!
 
According to 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.”

What did you do during the Bike Week of 2010, dad?

Fitted helmets.
Put on bells & reflectors.  Made a bike safer.
Rode in the rain with the MEC guys.
Rode the Brian Smith scholarship ride.
Rode the newly paved hydro corridor path with friends from city hall.
Learned about bike mechanics.
Made a NEW friend or 2 or 3!
Had a dessert at the Waterfront  Leisure Trail Company.
Gave out a new cycling map.
Had a great time.
Made a difference!
Took some pictures, but not enough.
Thanks to all who participated & made a difference.

Boldly getting us to where NO OTHER MP has taken us before!

In good company, getting it done!

Thanks to the efforts of MP Mike Wallace, the government department that owns the liftbridge (Public Works Government Services Canada - PWGSC) will study the cost of adding a lakeside multipurpose path on the bridge.  The  lakeside path will make it safer to cross at the liftbridge, eliminating the need to use the too narrow current path.

An accident waiting to happen!

PWGSC has stated that the required over haul of the bridge mechanics and electronics must be completed before the path.  As a taxpayer, it makes sense to complete the 2 projects at the same time.

The multipurpose path is an investment.  Based on statistics from the Niagara Region & health data, the investment will be paid back in as few as 2-3 years in tourism dollars, health benefits from active living, improved quality of life and a better environment.  All this and increased safety!

Thanks Mike!  Make it so!

PS:  If PWGSC receives funding & decides to do both projects at the same time, we  are talking 2013 at the earliest.

Cycling weekend kickoff!!!! The bell's on us.

A reminder of a few great events this weekend for cyclists & cycling families.

1. Lids for Kids  Burlington Mall  Sat. May 29  9am until noon.
The Burlington Mall has donated the bike helmets, the Halton Regional Police will fit them on the kids, adjusting the straps so the helmet is snug and protective!  There will also be a bike rodeo.  The Burlington Cycling Committee will be installing the mandatory bike bells.  A bike mechanic will also be available to check brakes, seat height & other small mechanical issues.  ITS FREE!  Hope to see you there.
 PS: you can be fined $85 if your bike doesn't have a working bell!

2. Brian Smith Scholarship Ride Sun. May 30  Beach Parking Lot A
A memorial ride to raise funds for a Nelson High School scholarship honoring the memory of Brian Smith, a former physics/math teacher and mentor at Nelson High School who passed away unexpectedly in August 2008. He was a positive influence on hundreds of students and friends.
41K to Grimsby, 75km to Prudhommes, 140km to Niagara on the Lake - provided you cycle back!  For details & sign up check out the site at Second Wind conditioning. 
3.  Weekly Group Bike Ride by Nancy Hastings have begun!
These weekly group rides are geared to novice riders who have an interest in triathlon and road riding. • Depart 6pm • Every Thursday from May 13 to August 26,2010- 16 weeks • Timing of ride from 1 ½ to 2 hrs • Average speed 24-30km per hour • Requirements: road bike, sunglasses, helmet ,water bottle, spare tube ,bike pump and cell phone.  Again at Second Wind for details.
4.  Waterfront Trail Leisure Company - your downtown Burlington bike haven.
Its OPEN FOR BUSINESS.  They even have tandems so you can go for that waterfront ride with your sweetie!!  Check it out!

5. MEC Bike Fest Sun. June 6, Spenser Smith Park - all day
Along with fun and festivities, MEC Bikefest is a hub of knowledge where cyclists new and old can make connections and get the information they need to pursue their passion. Come and check out cycling vendors and advocacy groups onsite, join a group ride, or hunt for treasure across downtown Burlington.  Details MEC.

Scariest places to cycle in Burlington - there's no way to avoid them.

Liftbridge & experienced cyclists

Cycling is good for you and your health but it is risky.  The city is building its cycling infrastructure but too often bike lanes are put where it's easy, NOT where they should be!!!

Burlington and other communities have many scary areas you must cycle through.  From the liftbridge to the overpasses where you face a risk 33 times greater than normal of being involved in a collision.

What's your scariest area to cycle in Burlington?

Check out my pictures of scary, scary cycling areas in Burlington. 

These are the areas that need to be addressed in the cycling master plan!  The sooner, the better!

Slo-pitch player sues field owner after being struck by ball

Justice James R.H. Turnbull of the Ontario Superior Court has allowed a lawsuit against Dofasco to proceed.  “There is a genuine issue of whether Dofasco did take such care in all the circumstances of the case as was reasonable to see that persons playing on the diamond in positions where they may be blinded by the sun from line drives could do so in reasonable safety,” the judge ruled. 

What's this got to do with safe cycling in Burlington?

We have made Public Works Government Services Canada aware of the dangers of cyclists and pedestrians crossing Eastport Drive at the liftbridge.  Its an accident waiting to happen - again!  In 2003 a 58 year old cyclist was killed walking his bike across Eastport to use the narrow bayside crossing. –Several cyclists have been injured (including 1 broken arm), cycling over the slippery bridge grating. 
 
MTO personnel have observed that vehicle traffic on Eastport routinely travels 15-20kph over the posted speed limits.


Does PWGSC need a lawsuit to get them to do the right thing?  Its not a question of whether the lawsuit is justified or frivolous.  Dofasco will probably spend over several hundred thousand dollars to defend it. 



In the long run, a lakeside multipurpose path benefits everyone by promoting active lifestyles, reduces health costs, increases tourism and the quality of life in the area.  Let's get it done!

As the old FRAM commercial said, "Paid me now, or pay me a lot more later!!!"

A million wasted on legals fees or a million invested in a new lakeside multipurpose path.  Its a no-brainer!

Earth Day, schools, active living & cycling

Do as I say, not as I do!

The pictures were taken at a Burlington elementary school.  You can click on the pictures for a larger image.  The school did have some bike racks located on the other side of the school but they were full.

Childhood obesity rates are increasing.  We constantly tell our kids they should be more active.  I believe schools are telling them the same message.

We need our kids to live more active lives.


Let's start practicing what we preach.  Safe bike lanes are a great start but kids need to have secure, visible bike racks at school, too!

Its great to see so many bikes at schools!!

Raising the bar - 30km of new bike path per year for 20 years

Mississauga raises the bar & proposes an ambitious target of adding 30km of bike paths per year over 20 years!


They already have 350km of bike lanes in Mississauga but they are largely in parks and not connected.


With input from 1,000 residents, the ultimate goal is to put 95% of residents within 1km of a major cycling route connected to the network!!!


For comparison purposes, Burlington has 81km of bike lanes and paths & added 4.5km in 2009.


Click on the article to read it.

Weekly Group Bike Rides geared to novice riders - improve skills & comfort levels!

As your ride captain, Coach Nancy Hastings will introduce you to local ride routes, help you improve your cycling skills and comfort level for group riding.

These weekly group rides are geared to novice riders who have an interest in triathlon and road riding.

• Depart 6pm
• Every Thursday from May 13 to August 26,2010- 16 weeks
• Timing of ride from 1 ½ to 2 hrs
• Average speed 24-30km per hour
• Requirements: road bike, sunglasses, helmet ,water bottle, spare tube ,bike pump and cell phone
• Meet location: Longos plaza parking lot at Walkers Line &Hwy #5
• Cost $40 for season( covers insurance)
• Signed wavier is required in advance
• Nobody will get” dropped “from the group ride
• http://secondwindconditioning.ca/  for details & contact info.