Benny Zenga has been hard at work this year as always on the Bicycle Film Festivals in Montreal and Toronto this month. I can especially recommend checking out his film about the Tour d'Afrique which he rode in part on a tall bike. Amazing!
BFF09 Toronto happens on August 19-22. Check the website for details.
Blogger Daniel Harren provides us with a nice overview of Bixi use over a typical work day.
Have you ever been unable to find a bixi? Or unable to find a parking spot?
I’ve downloaded a map of the Bixi system every 5 minutes for the last couple weeks, and got to working on an animation.
As the morning progresses the residential stations empty and the downtown stations fill up.
Note: "red indicate a station is full; transparent ones are empty. Sizes are roughly proportional."
I expect someone to step forward once Toronto gets its "Bixi".
(Photo: van8)
A summer bike lane trial has begun for the Burrard bridge in Vancouver. Back in 1996 was the last time Vancouver City Council attempted a trial to close a car lane on the bridge and they got cold feet after only 5 days. This time things may be different as early reports show car traffic hasn't become congested and the as the new Canada Line transit line is set to open this fall.
Before the trial bike lane the Burrard bridge had a 2.6 sidewalk that was a dangerous mix of cyclists and pedestrians with a large curb drop down to the roadway. There was no room for cyclists to easily pass other cyclists (and when they do they have to pass on the right and contend with pedestrians). It was a playground for the "scorchers" weaving between pedestrians and motorists.
The City of Vancouver has done an excellent job explaining their choice and why they are doing their best in improving conditions for cyclists and pedestrians with minimal impact for motorists. Being clear on the alternatives is a good way to help stave off criticism of important sustainable transportation initiatives.
Some businesses worried about losing money on reduced car traffic, though the businesses were basing their concerns on a future drop in car traffic to their neighbourhood and not on hard data demonstrating how most of their customers arrive.