recreation

Us cyclists have been saying for awhile: "Doesn't it look like there are more cyclists out there?" Well it's true. Cycling in Toronto is up 13% over the last decade - from 48% to 54%. The number of utilitarian cyclists - those who use their bikes to get to work, school, visit, or run errands - rose an astounding 45%: from 20% in 1999 to 29% in 2009. How do we know this? The City of Toronto has released their 2009 Cycling survey and all the numbers are up.

Will we have to wait another 10 years for an update? The plan now, says Dan Egan of Transportation Services, is to do the survey every 3 years, timed to coincide with municipal elections. Get the numbers out just before an election and you've got some good fodder for pushing politicians.

Some other interesting finds: motorists and cyclists feel that there is more respect for each other, despite the proverbial "War on Cars"; the largest increases in utilitarian cyclists is in the burbs: up about an average of 83%!

(Photo: rezavaziri)

The IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association) Ontario rep says Toronto is getting closer to adding a mountain biking park, as the City's strategic planners have update the BMX Go Forward Strategy to also include some kind of mountain biking, in addition to recommendations for BMXers. From the report:

This report sets out a number of strategic actions that are aimed at enhancing the off-road cycling opportunities and experiences within Toronto by:

• improving the condition of the City’s three existing BMX facilities at its two sites;
• supporting the establishment of additional high-quality outdoor BMX facilities, as well as giving consideration for providing indoor BMX-related facilities;
• developing a trails management strategy for river valleys and parks where hot spots of unauthorized off-road cycling are observed;
• pursuing partnerships where appropriate, including with other service providers;
• educating users through various programs on how to ride safely and construct sustainable trails; and engaging groups of users who typically have had low rates of participation (e.g. female users).

Starting Saturday, April 25th, 2009, all GO Transit buses will be equipped with racks that can carry two bicycles. This means that you can take your bike with you on any GO bus at any time of day, without any additional cost.

Bike racks were first installed on GO buses in August 2008, starting with buses serving the QEW Express (Union to Hamilton) corridor and the Hamilton to Aldershot corridor. It's great to see that this project has been expanded to the whole system!

I've had the opportunity to use the GO bike racks several times now when traveling between Toronto and Hamilton. It's honestly a little bit nerve-wracking when you first put your bike on the front of a bus that's about to hurtle down the QEW at 100km/h, but the system works well and I'm confident enough to keep using it.

I'm looking forward to many other opportunities to use this. It doesn't help me much on my own commute (Dundas West station to Square One), but I have already been scheming to try other trips. Everything from getting around the GTA faster/easier, to using the GO system as a launch pad for weekend bike tours:

• Take the GO bus downtown after work for events if I don't have the time to cycle
• Save time and local transit fare by riding to and from GO stations

Bike on Exhibition GO Train Platform

A few weekends ago, after finishing the Ride For Heart, Jen and I caught a GO Train from exhibition station out to Ajax for the first Sunday of the GO By Bike initiative. Yes, bringing bikes on GO trains isn't really a new idea, but the purpose of GO By Bike is to help promote the idea to people.

Ajax GO Station

Taking bikes on the GO Train is a great way to quickly get out of the city to enjoy some new scenery for a day ride, or to get a jump on suburban sprawl when starting a bike tour (the rush hour restrictions for bringing bikes on board GO Trains limits their usefulness for multi-modal bike commuting, but that's a whole other story...). We have used the train many times to go on weekend tours of the Oshawa to Port Hope area, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, visiting family in Hamilton, and more.

The GO By Bike program is what lead me to get out at the Ajax GO station for the first time. To be honest, I didn't think there was much reason for me to ever get out there. However, Donald Wiedman, the instigator of this project has worked hard to map out and mark an interesting and safe route from the Ajax GO station, down to the lake along Duffin's Creek, and all the way back to Toronto along the Waterfront Trail. When we got off the train, Donald welcomed us along with another rider to Ajax, gave us some free maps of the area, made some route suggestions and ideas for places to stop, and pointed us in the right direction.

BMX Ramp Fire at Wallace-Emerson Park

Several BMX ramps and other structures were destroyed in a fire at Wallace-Emerson Park at Dupont and Dufferin in the west end a couple of weeks ago. So far, it doesn't look like they have determined whether the fire was arson or an accident, but it seems suspicious to me...

I first read about this fire over at Michael's Bloor-Lansdowne Blog, but more recently City News picked up the story and posted a video.

The Toronto Police have also posted a story on their website.

Ramps have been destroyed, and artwork has been lost to the fire, but there has been at least one positive outcome to this: The volunteers who built these ramps, lead by Michael Heaton, have already made plans to rebuild the park and have opened a trust fund to collect money for this.

Today at 2:30pm, Toronto Crime Stoppers will be presenting a cheque to help cover the costs.

The Toronto-Niagara Bike Train is now accepting reservations!

This is an exciting new service that will allow cyclists to bring their bikes on board VIA Rail trains between Toronto's Union Station and Niagara falls Station. Return fare is $59.00.

It is still a pilot project with limited weekend service in July and August 2007. Perhaps if there is enough demand, this will become a permanent service with expanded schedules and new locations added.

Personally, I'm hoping they can expand to have a Friday evening train. With the current schedule, the earliest train on a weekend arrives in Niagara Falls at noon, meaning half the cycling day is already over. They may also have trouble carrying tandems, recumbents, and trailers, so be sure to call ahead if you're bringing anything other than a "standard" bicycle.

Crossposted to Spacing

Riding my bike makes me happy.

That is why I would like to share this article by an Edmontonian cyclist-soul-sister called, Biking as spiritual exercise. It is an ode of sorts to fair-weather cycling. Although I ride in the rain, and sometimes snow, I no longer bike year round as I simply do not feel safe enough in our city’s streets. But, I will not rant on about the lack of cycling infrastructure and empty council promises today. This is a happy post for a beautiful day.

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blockquote>Robins and crocuses are all well and good. But I know spring has arrived the first time I ride my bike to work.

I’m not one of those hard-core cyclists who ride in all weathers. I am a cycling wimp. I don’t bike in the snow. I rarely ride in the rain. And I never ride in the dark. I pedal slowly and sedately, down lanes and side streets, smiling to myself as grim-faced racers flash past. I could tell you I ride my bike because I’m concerned about greenhouse-gas emissions. Or about my health. Those would be the fashionable, politically correct responses. But in fact, I ride for the most selfish and sybaritic of reasons.

It makes me happy.