Old, handy stereotypes are beginning to fail in this city. One of the loudest opponents to bike lanes on City Council, Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, has finally learned to ride a bike, thanks to the CAN-BIKE program. Equally disturbing: Toronto Cranks reports that the head of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee, Councillor Adrian Heaps, was spotted running red lights on his bike while supporting the idea of getting cyclists licensed:
“…“Cyclists should be obeying the rules of the road. They should be subject to moving violations just like everyone else,”
But just when we are beginning to doubt who's friend or foe, we learn Minnan-Wong insisted that he still has little desire to make the city more bike friendly: "For me, it's a way to get exercise." He still loves driving his car (and cursing at the slow cyclists blocking him on Jarvis?)
Comments
Random cyclist (not verified)
No wonder he's such a grump -
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 23:24No wonder he's such a grump - such a sad childhood with no bike and over protective parents.
That's enough to make anyone "lean right".
Jacob L.
Denzil can't go left?
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 23:26What does right/left-wing politics have to do with cycling? I know some right-wingers who cycle too.
Seymore Bikes
All Good
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 00:11I would like to thank the Councillor for taking on this challenge - It shows a great deal of character!
This a great story!
geoffrey
saddle too low?
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 08:48From the picture it is clear his crank arms are not vertical but to the casual observer it appears he isn't getting very good knee extension and worse, his knee appears to be over flexing in the raised position.
This is a recipe for knee injury I fear. It would be good of someone to offer the councillor a fitting before injury plays a role in his newfound bicycle appreciation.
herb
put saddle low to learn to bike
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 10:49There are some very good reasons to keep the seat low when teaching an adult or child to bike. I've taught these classes and have been quite successful in getting people to bike for the first time.
The instructors put the saddle way down so the student can put their feet flat on the ground. The student needs to be able to push themselves along and get comfortable balancing while taking big strides. There is no pedaling at all until they learn to balance. If the pedals can be taken off during this stage all the better. The student can learn to balance to push themselves without any support from the instructor. Unlike Izzie, the instructor in the photo, I never hold on to their bike.
Only when they become used to balancing with their feet does the instructor help them with pedaling and stopping. Until they can use their brakes well they need to be able to stop with their feet.
Instructors will raise the seat once it looks like the student is good at balancing and using the brakes. CAN-BIKE instructors are well aware of the ideal seat height for cyclists, but this standard is not useful for absolute beginners.
coastalcoaster
Cool
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 09:22This is really interesting and useful information, herb. I was just wondering about the process of teaching an adult to ride a bike... assuming training wheels were not used. Teaching them to balance w//o pedalling is really smart. Thanks for sharing.
8sml (not verified)
learning to ride
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:35When I was very young my dad thought I would be able to teach myself to ride a bike if he gradually raised the training wheels. All that happened is I gradually rode on a steeper and steeper slant...I still laugh thinking about it.
Luke Siragusa
Slippery slope...
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 10:41... for the formerly cagebound councillor, that is.
The two wheels may only be for exercise now but one day he may discover that losing the lard can be accomplished by gaining a destination -- you know, like work, a grocery mart, or a social affair. Then there goes the neighbourhood. About time too.
I remember reading that in Copenhagen many (if not most) of the planners and bureaucrats cycle to work and bicycle infrastructure is so superior there partially because it's informed by their direct and daily experiences.
The more politicos and bureaucrats on two wheels the better all round. So better late than never. Tailwinds to ya, Denzil.
PedalPowerPat
Cycling:Right/Left
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 12:53Name a well known right-winger that is a champion/advocate of the bicycle.
Now do so with a well known left winger.
Right: David Cameron and Boris Johnson
(U.K. Tories [Not well known, I had to google search for a awnser.])
[And thats in the U.K. where cycling is WAY more popular than in North America]
Left: Jack Layton, David Suzuki
(Obviously well known and Canadian.)
Feel free to try it yourself. Your political background doesn't mean you are or aren't good at cycling, I just think there is validity in saying that the left-wingers have been advocates of cycling long before the right-wingers have (just like the left has been talking about Climate change for ALOT longer than the right).
vic
Lance Armstrong
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 13:58Lance Armstrong = Republican
Ben
...and he lives in liberal
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 14:55...and he lives in liberal Austin too, which apparently is not a bad city for bicycle advocacy, as far as Texas goes.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/armstrong%20bush/ktk_bhgl/randumb/bus...
PedalPowerPat
Lance Armstrong is a
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 22:12Lance Armstrong is a republican? Huh, didn't know that.
I meant it in terms of politician / activist for the question though (i.e. someone that has a career that is political but also supports biking). Not just someone who cycles for pleasure/work and has a political slant.
Darren_S
Most cyclists are Republicans.
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 22:13It is pretty hard to label anyone today as being left or right, there is so much of a mushy middle. What conservative in their right mind wants to give corporate welfare to the car companies? Stephen Harper for one. What lefty's want to keep building SUV's so Canadians have a choice on what to drive. The NDP.
If you listen to most cyclists rant on about cycling, they tend to be more in the Republican camp with their beliefs. I know some may get their noses out of joint with what I just said but you have to look beyond the superficial'-ness' of "George Bush was a Republican so I hate them all". A true Republican would not give the car companies a dime. They would also get government out of supporting most car infrastructure. They would sooner support public transit or cycling because it has a less of a burden on tax resources. Hell, they would not even bomb other countries because it is not their problem. What has given the Republicans so many problems is pork belly politics where they seek only to enrich their "cousins".
Look at the leftys in this country. Supported by the car unions and some of the dirtiest industries going. We would be selling our children to have their skin used for leather handbags to support the Big 3 if the leftys had their way.
PedalPowerPat
Left vs Right
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 23:19I know a true republican is someone like Ron Paul but the vast majority of republicans are neo-conservative slugs that get their policies straight from the companies that birthed their political careers.
As well the auto-unions the NDP represent does not mean the NDP is pro-car.
They are pro-working class and if those jobs die entire communities die. Why make those communities die that could, with enough instruction be building the e-cars/e-bikes of the future?
Lets not waste a skilled workforce / established workshops. I think that is where the NDP were going with that, there is also the point of not wanting all our jobs shipped to Mexico / China. By fighting for Canadian jobs we are stopping a large polluter in the form of global trade.
Yes cars pollute alot but globalisation is a much bigger contender in the pollution catagory due to diesel chugging super-ships that transport all our consumer nonsense.