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Register and contact us, telling us you'd like to blog. We'll ask for a writing sample and some idea of your preferred topics relevant to cyclists in Toronto.

It's as simple as that.

Once you're set up you can post to your own blog page. If your post is interesting and written well enough we may promote it to the front page.

Advocacy and Groups

The Toronto Cycling Committee is an advisory committee to the municipal departments and city council.

bikeToronto.ca is a web site by TCC member Martin Koob to keep the cycling public abreast of the latest developments at the Toronto Cycling Committee and to track the progress of its ten year Bike Plan.

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists is a group which formalizes the principle of cyclists standing up for each other. ARC was formed in August 1996 as a community response to a particularly brutal two weeks which saw two cyclists killed by trucks and another two arrested on a Critical Mass ride.

Initially formed to lobby for a coroner's inquest and to help in the arrestees' defense, ARC has since expanded to provide support and legal advice to cyclists involved in accidents, to educate on cyclists' rights, and to hold direct actions aimed at changing society's dependence on the automobile.

Groups

Bicycle Commons is busy recycling all of Igor's ill-found bikes, before he was arrested and all his stolen bikes confiscated. It is all organized around a youth drop-in program where the youth earn a bike at the end of X number of hours committed.

Charlie's Freewheels is a youth program and soon a bike shop operated by youth.

BikeSauce is a DIY space in Leslieville at Broadview and Queen.

Bike Pirates is a DIY space at Bloor and Lansdowne, the best established such project in Toronto.

Bike Racks

NOTES:
Some of these bike racks were recommended by the Toronto Cycling Committee.

* These racks are similar to the City of Toronto post-and-ring design

** Distributes “Graber USA” products

*** Wall-mounted racks which park bikes in vertical position

**** I Bike TO readers get a 10% discount if they mention this blog

Bike Repair and Mechanics

Community bike repair and DIY

• Community Bicycle Network - 761 Queen Street West, Suite 101 (Queen and Euclid) - open most days from 12-6pm
• Bike Pirates - 457 Bathurst St. about a block south of College and Bathurst, across from the Beer store. Open Thurs, Sat from 12-5
• Bikechain (University of Toronto) - basement level of the International Student Centre at the Cumberland House, 33 St. George St., just north of College St.

For a list of bike collectives in other cities, check this.

Back alley and mobile repair shops

• Parts Unknown - George is a Toronto institution. You can find him in the alley where Baldwin and Augusta meet in Kensington Market
• Mike the Bike - north of Dundas on Augusta in Kensington Market
• TorontoBike.ca - A mobile bike repair shop that holds repair days at various locations and festivals across the city.

Toronto Bike Shops

Find a map of Toronto bike shops on the Toronto Cyclists Union website.

Laws regarding parking in the bike lane

If you've wondered what are the laws regarding cars parking in the bike lanes there is an interesting Q&A from the Ontario Traffic Council blog:

Posted: Monday August 31, 2009 at 10:30 AM
I understand that it is good practice to restrict parking in bike lanes, but do other jurisdictions combine parking lanes with bike lanes?
Posted: Tuesday September 01, 2009 at 03:02 PM by rhamilto@toronto.ca
Presently, Toronto has two specific on-road bicycle lane designs. 1) Immediately adjacent to the curb. Typically the lane is 1.7m to 2.0 m in width. Our traffic bylaw prohibits stopping/driving at all times in any bicycle lane, the only exception being: for the purpose of crossing the lane to access a driveway/laneway; for making a turn at an intersecting roadway (may enter and drive in the lane within 45 metres of the turn location); for the purpose of picking up/dropping off a disabled person, while actually engaged in doing so; for the purpose of loading/unloading passengers by a school bus; and for the purpose of a taxicab picking up/dropping off a passenger.
2) The bicycle lane is delineated to the roadway side of the parking lane (typically about 2.5 metres out from the curb). In this format the above-noted stipulations apply with respect to activity that may take place in the bicycle lane, with the added provision that a motorist is allowed to cross the bicycle lane to access a curb lane used for parking. This scenario is typically used where there is a high demand for curb lane parking and the road is sufficiently wide enough to support the combination of parking, a bicycle lane(s), and traffic movement. Also, in this scenario parking is allowed on a 24/7 basis. In both bicycle lane scenarios the the restrictions on the use of the bicycle lane do not apply to emergency vehicles, public transit vehicles (TTC, GO, or other transit agency authorized to operate in Toronto), or vehicles engaged in works undertaken on behalf of the City/TTC/Public Utility.

Ron Hamilton, Manager, Traffic Operations, City of Toronto/President, OTC
Posted: Thursday September 03, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Thanks, Ron
Posted: Friday October 30, 2009 at 09:05 AM by bryan.purins@brampton.ca
Ron, could you please provide me with an excerpt from the City of Toronto's by-law regarding the designated parking lanes adjacent to bicycle lanes? I looked for it on the City's website but couldn't find it. Thanks
Posted: Monday November 02, 2009 at 11:33 AM by marco@otc.org
Hello,

Ron is on vacation this week. I will see if there is someone else at the City who can post a reply to your question.

Marco D'Angelo
OTC Executive Director
Posted: Tuesday November 03, 2009 at 01:59 PM by marco@otc.org
§ 886-10. Operation and stopping of vehicles restricted.
A. Subject to § 886-11, no person shall operate a vehicle other than a bicycle in any bicycle lane except for the purpose of:
(1) Ingress to or egress from a private lane or driveway adjacent to the bicycle lane;
(2) Making a turn at a highway intersecting the bicycle lane;
(3) Entering or exiting a curb lane used for parking;
(4) Loading or unloading of a person with a disability, while actively engaged in doing so;
(5) Operating a school bus while actively engaged in picking up or dropping off school children; or
(6) Operating a taxicab while actively engaged in loading or unloading of passengers.
B. Despite § 886-10A, no person operating a vehicle in a bicycle lane for the purposes set out in § 886-10A shall operate a vehicle in the lane for a distance exceeding 45 metres. [Amended 2007-06-22 by By-law No. 665-2007]
C. Subject to § 886-10A(4), (5) and (6), no person shall stop a vehicle other than a bicycle in a bicycle lane.
§ 886-11. Exemptions.
Section 886-10 does not apply to the following vehicles:
A. Ambulances, police or fire service vehicles or any other vehicle actively engaged in responding to an emergency; or
B. Vehicles actually and actively engaged in works undertaken for or on behalf of:
(1) The City, the Toronto Transit Commission or a public transit agency authorized to operate in the City; or
(2) A public utility, including utilities providing telecommunications, energy, water supply or wastewater related services.
ARTICLE VI
Schedules
§ 886-12. Schedules.
The Schedules referred to in this chapter form part of this chapter, and each entry in a column of a Schedule shall be read in conjunction with the entry or entries across from it and not otherwise.

Schedule D to Ch. 886
Designated Lanes for Bicycles

[As amended by By-law Nos.: 1261-2007, 1264-2007, 1265-2007, 1266-2007, 1271-2007, 1354-2007, 1418-2007, 1419-2007, 175-2008, 180-2008, 632-2008, 635-2008, 636-2008, 820-2008, 825-2008, 829-2008, 834-2008, 836-2008, 841-2008, 846-2008, 1026-2008, 1029-2008, 1030-2008, 1114-2008, 1166-2008]

Highway Between Lanes Times or Days

Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] A point 50 metres east of Runnymede Road and Gilmour Avenue
Westbound lane, adjacent to the curb lane used for parking Anytime
Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] Gilmour Avenue and Fairview Avenue
Northerly Westbound Anytime
Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] Fairview Avenue and Evelyn Avenue
Westbound lane, adjacent to the curb lane used for parking Anytime
Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] Evelyn Avenue and Clendenan Avenue
Northerly Westbound Anytime
Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] Clendenan Avenue and High Park Avenue
Westbound lane, adjacent to the curb lane used for parking Anytime
Annette Street [Added 2008-07-17 by By-law No. 841-2008] High Park Avenue and Medland Street
Northerly Westbound Anytime

Recreation

Toronto Bicycling Network is Canada's largest recreational cycling club with over 900 members. They have daily/weekly rides in Toronto and area, by road or dirt.

Routes and Maps

Cycling Map

Produced by the City of Toronto, you can get a map from a local community centre, bike store, City Hall. You can also view the full map online.

You can also buy cycling maps produced by private companies but none of them have kept them up to date since people can always get a free one from the city.

Cycling Routes
You can also check out Bikely for favorite routes of Toronto cyclists - an amazing resource for cyclists.

How to Always Smell Fresh

... even when your workplace has no shower.

1. Always shower in the morning so you start your ride clean.
2. Use a non-mild soap. (Something like Ivory is good. Dove is bad.)
3. After arriving at work, wait at least 15 minutes to cool down and stop sweating. This is a good time to stretch, drink cold water, read emails, etc.
4. Use a hot or warm wet facecloth to wash your entire body. Entire.
5. If you want to use cold water for your facecloth to cool yourself off, make sure you repeat using hot water on the facecloth afterwards. * (see note below)
6. Use a small towel to dry. A small towel can be carried with you every day and can be replaced at home with a clean one easily.
7. Apply deodorant liberally, not antiperspirant. This whole technique could be useless if you start messing with your body's attempts to sweat when it chooses. ** (see the other note below)
8. Put on a complete set of clean clothes.

• One cyclist describes cold water washing like this: I don't know why exactly, but if I use cold water only, I'll sweat a lot more after changing into my clean clothes.

** For women, few deodorants are available (as opposed to antiperspirant), and most are the organic ones. You may need to experiment with which brand works well for you. For men, if you go for the organic stuff, it may mean using a scent like Honeysuckle Rose, which is not as bad as it sounds. You just may be more likely to attract flying insects instead of the opposite sex.

More comments on different cleaning techniques here. Some people like using baby wipes, but this IBikeTOer has not experimented with this.

How to become Rain Resistant

Rain can be a big deterrent for cyclists. Being prepared and having the right frame of mind can help out a lot. In general you don't want to wear heavy rain gear in summer rains - the rain can be refreshing and all you might need to do is towel off a bit - whereas spring, fall, or winter rains can make you quite cold so that you'll want to protect yourself well.

The other factor to take into account is your destination. If you are going some place casual you might not want to bring along a change of clothes. Going to work or a formal event may require you to bring along a clean, dry set of clothes and shoes.

Rain Gear
Rain gear made for cycling usually has built in vents to allow air intake and cool you off. Many hardcore cyclists in Canada usually wear some sort of cycling jacket with arm pit vents (a common version is made by MEC).

You will also find a hardy core of cyclists in places like Chinatown that use ponchos. I've been told this is the common gear in parts of Asia. You can buy specially-made bike ponchos from the Center for Appropriate Transportation in Eugene, Oregon. The bike poncho is shaped so you're legs won't get wrapped up in the cape and so that you can cover your handlebars. Quite innovative!

It's hard to avoid splash back. If it's raining really hard, it's cold, and the roadway is gathering puddles, then put on a cheap pair of rain pants and some waterproof booties over your shoes. An alternative is to put your feet in plastic bags and then into your shoes. Then just bring along a dry pair of sandals or shoes. This also works well in the soggy winter. But in the warmer weather you can just put up with the splash-back, and bring along a change of clothes so you don't have to sit around in wet clothes.

Bike Equipment
Fenders with mudflaps make a huge difference when they are on both front and rear. The spray from your own wheels makes you wet and dirty and is worse than what you get from cars.

If you can afford waterproof bags or panniers, great! Again, MEC has a good selection. But you can also investigate a really cheap waterproof "bucket pannier", as exhibited by one of your intrepid bloggers on I Bike T.O.

Attitude and Techniques
Worrying about the rain is half the problem, at least in warm weather. The weather report will say something like 30% chance of rain, and really that rain could fall at any time of day, in another part of the city. Even, if it does rain on you, you get wet, then towel off, depending on your ability to change clothes.

To avoid spray from other vehicles, first discourage them from passing you too closely (take the lane rather than ride over at the gutter), and be cautious when you see huge puddles beside you; a car's wheel may go through it and create a huge splash. Avoid, as well, going through big puddles because you will have no idea what is hidden by the water: a pothole, a rock, crocodile and so on.

If this seams like a lot of preparation, just think of all the gear you'd have to bring along just to go to the gym! Commuter cycling is just a way of integrating your exercise with your commute.

How to claim insurance

Cyclists don't need insurance to ride their bikes. That's a good thing. But this might get a cyclist into some binds. There are, however, things you can do to make sure that you and your bike are covered in the case of a collision or fall. The following information is specific to Ontario, Canada but might be relevant for other areas as well. You're best to speak with an insurance broker in your city if you have more questions.

If a cyclist is in a collision with a car, any damage to your bike can be claimed under the insurance policy of the car driver. You need to make sure you actually get the insurance number and name of their insurance company. If it's a hit and run try to get the license plate number so you can try to track down the driver through the police.

Police will not come to the scene of a car/car collision with less than $1000 in damages. Instead a police report will need to be made at one of the reporting centres. It's more likely that police will come if there is a likely injury. Police will attend any car vs. cyclist/pedestrian collision in Toronto. Cyclists and pedestrians are not required to attend a collision centre. This is from an agreement with former Chief Boothby and turned into an order by former Chief Fatino years later.

If a cyclist is involved in a collision this is where no-fault insurance kicks in. This means that a driver will always claim first under their own policy for accident benefits due to injuries. Now, many cyclists don't have car insurance themselves, but might be covered under a family member's car insurance if they are a dependent. If that's not the case then the cyclist will claim accident benefits under the car driver's policy. No-fault insurance also means the cyclist cannot sue the car driver unless injuries exceed a certain threshold.

If there is a hit and run that causes injuries the cyclist would be best off getting the license plate number, or having a witness around that can support the police report. In this case a cyclist with proof of a hit and run can make a claim under the Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Fund. Also the cyclist should get an ambulance or go to a hospital themselves to get a doctor's report as evidence.

It's quite easy to underestimate the damage to your body since you often go into shock after sustaining injuries. Always keep this in mind and get checked out by paramedics. Internal head injuries might not become evident for 6-12 hours, by which time it might be too late to avoid death.

If the collision causes serious, permanent damage then the cyclist can sue. Time for the cyclist to get a good lawyer, have good witnesses and a hospital report.

If an insurance agent is uncooperative there are ways to put on the pressure. You can first ask to speak to a supervisor or case manager. If this doesn't help, in Ontario you can ask to speak with the Consumer Complaint Officer (use exact phrase) which will let them know that you know what's going on. The CCO must respond in writing within 48 hours to your complaint. Then if you aren't happy with the CCO response you can speak to the ombudsman of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, or even directly with the FSCO for arbitration or mediation. This is when it gets really serious and the FSCO can audit the agent or even the entire company. Companies want to avoid this hassle as much as possible so they are likely to be much more cooperative if threatened with the FSCO.

If you are traveling in another province or country please make sure you get travel insurance. Ontario can still cover you, but you are better off with the travel insurance which will cover hospital stays, luggage replacement and things of that nature.

If you feel that the fall or collision is due to faulty public infrastructure such as potholes then you can make claims to the municipal, provincial or federal governments. All claims must be made within 7 days of the incident and you must prove damage to your bike or injuries. Take photos of the scene, your bike. Get estimates of fixing the bike, and get a hospital report if you have injuries.

How to fight traffic tickets

This information is taken from the ARCwiki on "How to fight traffic tickets". There is a lot of good legal information there for cyclists.

TICKETS UNDER THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ACT

Tickets may be issued for moving violations (such as failing to stop), or for inadequate bike equipment (lights, for example). You can't receive demerit points on your driver's licence for tickets received while on a bicycle. This circular is meant to provide a general explanation of the legal process, but is not meant to be definitive.

DEALING WITH THE POLICE

Don't escalate the situation by yelling, etc. Stay calm, it's just a ticket. You will be able to fight it. Don't assume that as a "law-abiding citizen" you can't be criminally charged just for being annoying. It has happened and it sucks. If necessary, there is a police complaints process.

GOT A TICKET? DO THIS IMMEDIATELY:

1. Write down what happened as soon as possible after receiving the ticket. Include the location, direction of travel, the incident, witnesses, etc. Obtain as much information as possible at the scene. Sign and date it.
2. Call for witnesses: It is very hard to get them later. Get their phone number or contact information. Ask them to make a signed and dated statement of events as soon as possible. All of the information you need about your charge and the officer (such as badge number and division) should be on your ticket.

WHAT NEXT? FIGHTING THE TICKET

Once you have been ticketed, you have three possible courses to follow:

• Plead guilty. This is the easiest thing to do - pay the money, and forget about it.
  (Note that ignoring the ticket is the same as "accepting guilt.")
• Plead guilty with an explanation. This is an attempt to get the fine reduced. It may be as simple as, for example, "Yes, I ran a red light, but there was no traffic, I was slow and careful and on a bicycle, I won't do it again, and I'm poor."
• Plead not guilty. To contest your ticket (enter a not-guilty plea), you must do so in person at the place indicated on your ticket (usually Old City Hall). Bring your ticket with you. Entering the plea itself takes only a few minutes, but depending on the time of day, there may be a long line up. There may be a deadline to contest the ticket -- check your ticket to be sure.

If you decide to enter a plea of not guilty, you'll receive a notice in the mail of your trial date. It could be a year or more away.

Once you get a trial date, you have the option of sending in a request for disclosure, which you should fax in and keep the fax receipt as evidence of your request. By requesting disclosure, you are requesting information from the Provincial Prosecutor's office relevant to your case (i.e. the police officer's notebook). If this is not disclosed to you within a reasonable amount of time before your trial, you can request that the case be thrown out, although more likely it will just be delayed to a future date. Before your trial date, you should call Old City Hall to see if your disclosure is ready for pick-up: if it was ready but you don't come pick it up, it won't help you in court.

If the officer does not show up, the ticket will be thrown out. If you receive disclosure, and the officer shows up for court, you'll want to have some sort of case ready. Visit the ARC library to look over info on legal issues, rolling stops, etc. Note that witnesses must be present, they cannot send a written statement. You will have a chance to question the officer. In this situation it is not easy to win the case unless you have compelling evidence that you did not do whatever you are charged with. You can change your plea to guilty with an explanation and ask for a lesser fine on the basis of not having the money, however you may also have to pay some minor court costs.

How to fix a flat tire

Part One of a series on bicycle maintenance from Australia:

We didn't make the video. We just found it on the internet, and want to pass it on.

How to free post and rings of merchant signs

Here and there you see merchants who have sidewalk signs. Many merchants lock them to something solid so they won't lose them to damage, theft or wind. Locking them to post and rings is not only a big annoyance to cyclists, it is also illegal.

The best thing you can do is call this number: 416-39CYCLE (416-392-9253) and the city will send by-law officers to inspect the post and rings and remove the signs if necessary. They will impound the signs and the merchants will have to spend $200 to retrieve them.

If you feel bad for the merchant you could perhaps warn them that you called the city. But you might also want to avoid a confrontation so don't do it if you think the merchant will verbally or physically lash out at you.

Sidewalk signs are in a grey area of the law, but what is clear are keeping post and rings available for bike parking. They are city property, not private.

How to make a Ward-based Bicycle User Group

Consider this: The City is proposing a new bike lane on a local street near you, but it will require taking away parking on part of the street. You can be sure that local ratepayers and business improvement associations are going to give the local ward councillor an earful about how removing parking will hurt business. But how many cyclists will be there to let the councillor know that they support the bike-friendly proposal? Often the answer is too few.

Building better cycling infrastructure in Toronto requires local ward- by-ward support. A City Councillor has a lot of influence over whether or not a new bike lane or other bike-friendly infrastructure is built in his or her ward. But if councillors don't hear from local cyclists then they have little incentive to stick their necks out and fight for change.

There is an easy way to make sure your councillor knows that voters in his or her ward support cycling - create a ward-based Bicycle User Group BUG.

Usually a Bicycle User Group is formed in a workplace to promote cycling. But you can also form a BUG that represents a neighbourhood (for example, the St. Clair West BUG. By bringing local people together you can create a stronger voice and presence for cycling that is visible to the councillor.

The easiest first step -- and one of the most effective -- is for a ward-based BUG to create an email list and encourage local cyclists to sign up. Leave brochures and posters in local shops to let cyclists know about the lists. Hand out flyers during the morning commute or maybe during Bike Friday. You can also post messages on I Bike TO or other sites. Once the list is set up it is an effective way to keep everyone in the neighbourhood in the loop about what is happening on the cycling front locally and at City Hall. When it comes time to support pro-bike initiatives then everyone is just a click away.

If you want to go beyond the email list the BUG members can also start to develop a good working relationship with the local Councillor. Identify areas in your neighbourhood that need improving for cycling and submit your ideas to your local councillor. Ask him or her to endorse the pro-bike ideas and come talk to your group about how he or she can help make them a reality - make the Councillor an ally and champion for change. The St. Clair BUG in Ward 21 had great success with this approach and Councillor Mihevc helped them champion new bike lanes on Christie Rd. and new bike routes on Vaughan Rd.

Change may be slow, but is possible and it needs local support. It doesn't take long to set up a ward-based BUG, but it can make a world of difference.

How to make panniers out of buckets

Building a bucket pannier can be fun, cheap and relatively simple. You will come out of it with a nifty, waterproof, sturdy pannier for your bike. This was first tried out at the Hauler! Moving Stuff with Bikes event, Toronto, August 2006. A printable version is available as a pdf.

Get a Square Bucket
We use square buckets because they fit flat against the bike rack, though it might be possible to use round buckets if you are using the 2 bungee method. Independent cafes, grocery stores and bakeries are the best options for finding square buckets. Call ahead and ask them to start saving up square buckets so you can pick them up later. You can also buy kitty litter in square buckets at grocery stores. Make sure they come with lids – the lids that snap on are the best. Places you don't want to look for buckets: Dominion, Timothy's, Starbucks, Tim Horton's.

Attachment systems
There are 3 different systems for attaching your bucket to your bike. I will list them from most expensive to least expensive:

1. Arkel Hook Replacement system. I bought a pair of hooks and hangers at Velotique on Queen East for $29 before tax (you can also order them directly from Arkel online) for the two panniers. I found out later that the bar is a bit long. I will likely drill a second set of holes closer to the center so they'll fit. This seems to be the sturdiest of the attachment sytems.
2. MEC hook replacements. At Mountain Equipment Co-op you can buy hangers for $6, J-hook and cord for $4, and anti-sway bar for $3 (optional). The kits come with bolts, washers and nuts. This comes to $13 for each pannier. All the gear attaches relatively easy and is quite sturdy.

   Place the top hangers in the places where they won't interfere with the bars on the bike rack – use your bike rack to test that their positioned correctly. If they need to go higher you can cut away some of the ridges from the bucket. Be aware that this will decrease the strength of the bucket. Using a permanent marker, mark where holes will go. Drill the top two holes and bolt on the hangers. Using the hanger as a guide drill the third hole and bolt it on. Once the hangers are bolted on estimate how much the shock cord and J-hook will need to stretch to reach the bottom “Y” of your rack. The attachments for the cord need to be on the top. Mark, drill and bolt the cord attachments. Tighten all the bolts and test it on your bike.

   If you think the pannier is swaying too much or if your heel is hitting the pannier you might want to attach the anti-sway bar which can prevent it from swaying too much and can help move the pannier back if you move the J-hook to the slot on either side.

3. Two bungee cords. This is the simplest system that just requires two bungee cords and 6 large holes through which to thread the bungee cords (as seen in Illustrations 3 and 4 of the pdf). It isn't waterproof but it is super cheap and easy to make. The vertical hook needs to be free on the bottom and long enough to be pulled across to the other bar (as in Illustration 5 of the pdf). The bottom hole for the vertical bungee can be made off center if you want to keep the bucket away from your heel. The hole will be made on the side that will eventually be closest to your heel.
   It attaches onto the bike by putting the bottom hook in the upside down “Y”; the upper two hooks on the top bar; and the top hook is pulled to attach to the other bar or as far as it will go to make the vertical bungee tight.

This should be enough to get you started on making your bucket panniers. If you search the internet you can find other people who've experimented with buckets. If you have any suggestions you can send them to us.

How to reduce chance of bike theft

Locking your bike

• Always keep your bicycle locked, even in a garage or on a porch.
• Lock at least one wheel (preferably two) and the frame to the rack or object. This also prevents your bicycle from falling over. If you only lock the wheel, your bicycle can be quickly detached and carried away.
• If you don't need a quick release seat and wheels, replace them with standard bolts. If you do want quick release items, take them with you or lock them to your frame.
• Take lights, mirrors, bags and panniers with you, along with anything else that is not securely fastened.
• Consider riding an inexpensive (beater) bicycle for everyday use and short trips.

The lock

• Invest in the best quality lock (or two) that you can afford-usually a hardened steel U-lock or hardened steel chain and padlock.
• Use two different locks-one for each wheel-so that a thief would need two different types of tools.
• Position a U-lock so that the keyhole faces down towards the ground. A keyhole that is located in the middle of the straight bar (instead of at the end) offers greater security.
• When locking your bike, fill up the space of the U-lock with your bike frame and bike wheel so there is little room to jam a lock-breaking device into the lock.
• Make sure chains cannot be smashed against the ground.
• Register your lock with the lock company in order to get their anti-theft protection policy - if they have such a policy. Do this as soon as you've purchased the lock in order to able to collect insurance on a stolen bicycle

The location

• Look for a busy, well-lit place to lock up.
• Lock to sturdy, immovable objects that are securely bolted down.
• Make sure your bicycle cannot be lifted over the object.
• Avoid locking to materials that can be cut, like wire fencing, trees, and wooden railings.
• Avoid "sucker" poles by checking to make sure that sign poles are securely fastened to the ground.
• Out of courtesy, never lock to wheelchair ramps.

Stolen bicycles

• Thieves will steal an entire bicycle, or they may steal items on your bicycle that are not securely fastened-but don't be deterred!
• You can often avoid theft by taking a few extra precautions.

Take action

• Register your bicycle with the online registration form. This will increase the chances of having your bicycle returned to you. You will need to know the serial number (it will be somewhere on the frame) and the make.
• You can also register with a for-profit bike registry company. A Canadian example is Bike Registry Canada (we're not sure how they stand up for reliability but Mountain Equipment Members can get a discount).
• Keep a copy of your serial number, make, model, colour and frame size. You can't always trust that your registration with the police will be secure (registrations have been known to be misplaced) so keep a copy so you can prove to police later which bike is yours.
• Always report a stolen bicycle or part-even if your bicycle wasn't registered. If there are numerous thefts in an area the police can take action.
• Don't support the market for stolen bicycles. Only buy a secondhand bicycle from someone you trust. If you are not sure whether a bicycle has been stolen, ask questions or call the police.

Adapted from City of Toronto Cycling website and Sean Lerner.

How to report road problems

If you come across potholes or road maintenance issues you can call 311 Toronto or you can use their online form to submit a request for repair.

One of the I Bike TO bloggers has used this service a few times to report such problems as big construction trenches that have been left open for bicycles to fall into. It helps for us to all be vigilant and get the city to fix up the roads! The municipal government has a legal duty of care to keep roads in working order for all road users.

How to run for office and keep cyclists on your side

Are you running for office? Need some advice?

Here are some suggestions for your campaign according to the level of government for which you are running.

Step 1. Make promises.

Municipal

• Build your city's bike network. Really! Please do it.
• Consider new ideas. Consider bicycle infrastructure that is not currently popular in Canada like: Bicycle boulevards, bike boxes.
• Expand the local CanBike program. Make it more convenient for people interested in learning. Help children learn how to ride a bike safely by getting CanBike running in schools.
• Implement a bike sharing program. It's a cheap and effective way of getting people short distances around a city. More cyclists mean safer streets for everyone.
• Change development practice. This is a daunting but important problem. Force developers to end sprawling neighbourhoods; increase density with mixed residential and employment buildings in a single area. Reduce distances to effective transit.

Provincial

• Improve education and enforcement for motor vehicle operators. Cyclists too often reminded of how many drivers are unfamiliar with the law. A recent study showed that a driver's education program in Ontario actually increased the likelihood of being in a collision. Something is wrong with the current system.
• Connect Cities. Help municipalities co-ordinate their bike networks. People often use bicycles to get to places that are on the other side of a city boundary.
• Highway crossings. Make sure that there are a number of safe ways for cyclists to cross the "400 series" highways in your area. These highways are maintained (and expanded) by the province, and create a huge barrier to cyclists moving safely across a city.
• Teach people about bicycles. Improve funding for programs like CanBike to help cyclists learn how to ride in traffic.
• Help people be healthy. Remember that supporting bicycle transportation means helping people get regular exercise. Isn't that what our doctors keep telling us about?

Federal

• Require side guards on large trucks. These are mandatory in Europe to protect cyclists, pedestrians and even small cars from being drawn under the wheels by a brush of the front side of the wheel.
• Remove the GST from bikes and bike accessories.
• Fund Public Transit. Transit friendly areas tend to be more welcoming to pedestrians and cyclists.

One of the most comprehensive studies carried out in our area was the Recommendations for reducing cycling injuries and death, by the Toronto Coroner in 1998. It is vital reading for anyone with the power to make a difference.

Step 2. When you get elected, whether as councillor, mayor, MPP, MLA, MP or PM, follow through on all the things you promised in Step 1, and do it quickly. It's very very very very very important.

How to start commuting

For now here are a few resources you can access in order to get bike commuting. Don't forget to check out the commuter tools we include here: go on a BikeFriday ride and meet fellow cyclists, or sign up for a RideMatch to get comfortable with your new bike route.

From Paul Dorn, you can read up on Bike Commuting: A Better way to Travel.

The City of Toronto Bicycle Promotions gives a number of suggestions to their Bicycle User Group commuters.

Other cycling maps

OSM Cycle Map of Toronto

Other ways to get your bike map fix:

1. Layered cycling map. Click on the image to see layers of bike lanes, paths, routes, unofficial routes and suggested connections in Toronto (all in a Google layered mashup).
2. Cycling Directions. Find a good cycling route (even Google doesn't provide directions for cyclists). Provided by CloudMade using OpenStreetMap.
3. smoothpaths.com - works similarly to RideTheCity.com and google bike directions
4. Google Bike Directions - New and fresh (as of 2010), this will probably become the way most cyclists will start looking for bike directions.

(And just to get you drooling you can see what they've done elsewhere. CycleStreets of the UK has a great cycle map and destination planner.)

SeeClickFix: report potholes, bike infrastructure issues