Just found out about this from The Mississauga News
The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee is bringing in Ben Gomberg, Chicago’s bicycle program coordinator, to share his expertise and insight about that city’s success in creating a bicycle-friendly city.
Gomberg’s presentation, which is open to the public, takes place Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. in the Central Library’s Noel Ryan Auditorium. A question-and-answer session is included.
Also, Mississauga has this press release about Gomberg's visit.
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vic
Bike Parking?
Fri, 08/08/2008 - 12:22I assume this means they have free underground bike parking. Right?
anthony
Learn to share the road, urges US cycling expert
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 08:54from http://mississauga.com/article/17608
By: Joseph Chin
August 13, 2008 12:14 AM - If Mississauga wants to curb cycling deaths, two of which have occured already this summer, both motorists and cyclists must be educated on bicycle safety, says Ben Gomberg, Chicago’s bicycle program co-ordinator.
“Go to every taxi driver and school ... then go on to couriers and transit authorities,” said Gomberg, who was in Mississauga last night to to share his expertise and insight into the Windy City’s success in creating a bicycle-friendly city.
All students in that city’s taxi licensing program, he noted, are now receiving new training on safely sharing the road with cyclists.
But it’s not all classroom teaching: under a bike-safety ordinance recently approved, drivers there are heavily fined for several types of infractions against cyclists.
“This year, we’re focusing on legislation that would hold drivers accountable for crashes that kill or seriously hurt pedestrians and bicyclists to make our streets safer for vulnerable users,” said Gomberg.
The new law covers five dangerous moves by motorists: opening a car door on a cyclist, parking or driving in a bike lane, passing within three feet of a bike, and turning left or right into the path of a cyclist. Those fines range from $150 to $500.
Drivers who kill a bicyclist or pedestrian due to careless driving would be issued a minimum fine of $12,500, face up to a year in jail and be subject to revocation or suspension of their driver’s licenses.
The measures are tough, but necessary, said Gomberg.
“Two weeks ago in Chicago, a cyclist flipped over when a car door was opened in his path. He was then ran over by a car. Our challenge, when something like this happens, is to go to the police and say please enforce the laws,” Gomberg told the audience.
John Lohuis, Mississauga’s director of recreation and parks, noted that a 51-year-old Mississauga cyclist was killed last week on Hurontario Rd. when she was struck by a tractor trailer.
“It’s a shame,” he said. “Clearly, there has to be an outreach program in Mississauga. (Curbing such accidents) is a big hurdle right now.”
Like Gomberg, Lohuis said responsibility has to be shared equally by both motorists and cyclists.
Gomberg said getting the safety message out doesn’t have to be expensive. Currently in Chicago, more than three million drivers sport Share the Road stickers on their vehicles.
“And it cost my department nothing,” he noted.
Under Gomberg’s direction, Chicago has become one of the best cities for bicycling in North America. It has more than 185 kilometres of bike lanes, 11,500 bike racks, and a $2.5 million annual budget for cycling improvements.