group rides

Councillor Adrian Heaps talks to press: Credit: Brian Betsworth

Did you fail to get your "bodily oils" flowing with a nice winter bike ride? Well, you missed out on the pleasure of cold weather rolling, as well as the opportunity of hearing Councillor Heaps talk about fluids, oils and pleasure as he trumpeted winter cycling. If you were more likely to be at your favorite brunch spot instead, here is a recap.

After leaving High Park at noon we rode approximately 1/2 km before stopping for hot chocolate, a view of the snow plows that clear the Martin Goodman Trail, and listen to Heaps' press conference on the benefits of cycling and plowing the trail, both worthy causes.

Snow clearers: Credit: Brian Betsworth

We stood around drinking hot chocolate, looking at the distinct lack of snow. The plow guys were probably feeling under-appreciated.

Crowd stopped for hot chocolate and plows: Credit: Brian Betsworth

There was a distinct over-representation of "sporty" cyclists. I'm not sure where all these cyclists came from. I see a lot of winter cyclists but rarely see them decked out in waterproof booties, jackets, helmet covers and tights. Apparently such cyclists do exist, but they are a rare breed downtown. TBN must have recruited a sizable portion of their membership.

After the successes of this year's Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust will be doing it again in 2009.

It is with great pleasure that we announce that registration for the 2009 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure will open this Friday August 22nd at noon!

This summer’s tour was an absolute blast and we can’t wait to do it all again. While the details of the itineraries are yet to be finalized, as 2008 participants we wanted to give you first crack at registration for next year. Like last year, we’re following the prevailing winds and heading east from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border. Expect some changes to the itineraries - we’re bringing back some of your favourite stops and overnights from last year, and bringing in some new ones as well. All the details will be posted on the website as they come in.

Mark your calendars - the dates for next year’s tour are Saturday July 4th- Saturday July 11th, 2009.

The early bird registration cost is $400. This is up slightly from last year to reflect the cost of running the tour (please note that even at this price, registration covers less than half of the cost of the tour – our generous sponsors and partners provide the rest!). Like last year there are discounts for children, students, families and groups. All the details will be posted on the site on Friday.

To register, go to the GWTA website on Friday (http://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/) and follow the links.

Justin LaFontaine has sent me some more photos of the fancy Folding Bike rides organized by himself and other foldie friends on Bay Street and other moneyed areas. The purpose of the rides is to show people that folding bikes are the perfect key to a multi-modal world - where people can easily transition from house to folding bike to Go Train to TTC to folding bike and office. All without getting the suit dirty or mussing the hair (well only a little).

We'll keep you posted on the next ride so you can get your suit or dress dry cleaned in time. Business executives are welcome!

Over 120 riders rode in memory of Charlie Prinsep. Here's a photo I took along the way (more photos). I think it expresses how I felt that night. Thank you to all those who rode with us. CTV News covered the memorial ride in great detail online and on TV.

As many will already know, a(nother) cyclist was killed Friday, June 8th, on Bayview Avenue when he was hit by a truck. The official police report can be seen here.

A memorial ride will be held this Friday, June 15 at 6 pm departing from Bloor and Spadina. The ride will stop at York Mills Subway Station at 7 pm before heading to Bayview Avenue for the memorial, which is tentatively scheduled for 7:30. You are invited to bring flowers.

From Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC):

ARC would like to draw attention to the death of a cyclist…on Bayview Avenue: the sixth cyclist fatality in a row involving a truck and the seventh cyclist to die in the last 30 months in collision with a truck. He is also at least the 12th cyclist to die involving a truck since the Coroner’s Report on Cycling came out in 1998.

ARC has also sent out a letter asking those who witnessed the incident to contact Darren Stehr of ARC at 416-707-4744 or Detective Gill of Toronto Police Services at 416-808-1900.

The Coroner’s Report on Cycling recommends that Transport Canada investigate the feasibility of requiring “side guards” for large trucks, trailers and buses operated in urban areas to prevent pedestrians and cyclists being run over by the rear wheels in collisions with these large vehicles.

Olivia Chow has put forth a “Safety for Cyclists” motion. However, as I understand it, this will not be read in the House of Commons for some time. Chow also provides a petition that you can print off, have signed, and send to Ottawa, free of charge.

In response to Chow’s petition, the Minister of Transport tendered this reply dated May 31, 2006:

My commute lands me up in the Highway 7 and Leslie area, the city that hath no name. It's technically half Richmond Hill, half Markham, but that's beside the point. What does matter is that the employment area north of Toronto is so vast that it's difficult to have organized group commutes from one place to another.

Desperate for some company, this morning I met up with the southbound group commute from Yonge and Lawrence, heading to city hall. I would only ride with them far enough to qualify myself for a free t-shirt, which I decided was Eglinton Avenue.

The group was well formed upon my arrival at 7:25 AM. There were two cycling ambassadors who were busy giving out t-shirts. Two police officers were among the group. One was sporting a bullet proof vest, one just wearing his short sleeve uniform shirt. They must have turned down the free t-shirts before I got there.