Last week there seemed to be a theme in the cycling news I came across: "problems and solutions". I liked how all the ideas spoke to problems we have here.

Reclaiming the street in Dhaka, Bangladesh:
If we loved our kids more than our cars

Even though car owners are very much the minority, children's freedom has been greatly curtailed by those cars cars. Those whose parents do have cars are driven everywhere; those whose parents do not, unless they are very poor, are escorted by adults, and strictly prohibited from playing outdoors. It sometimes seems the only children in the city who have the opportunity for wholehearted pleasure, and who have confidence and skill in negotiating the streets, are the slum children.

...a few months later, a couple of my colleagues came into my office and announced that on that very afternoon, they were starting a cycle training program. A what? We have been working to promote cycling, and fighting with transport officials on the issue of cycle rickshaw bans in Dhaka; ...


Bike Boxes in Portland, Oregon

After Six Deaths, Portland rolls out plans for 'bike boxes'

The boxes reserve a spot in front of cars at red lights, Burchfield said. When the light changes, the position gives bikes "some measure of priority. They're able to move out of the intersection first, ahead of cars."

Parking in Queens and Brooklyn, New York
Sleek Bike Parking Facilities Appear in Queens and Brooklyn

2008 quickly bring good news for commuters in Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. Eric Chang of Transportation Alternatives' Queens Committee snapped these photos of the new covered bike shelter ...

Winter Commuting in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ultrafit: A two-wheel winter commute

With the right gear, riding your bike to and from work in the winter can be a lot more enjoyable than it sounds. Here are some tips on doing it right.

I love hearing whispers and rumours about what is happening in the cycling community. If you hear of any, please let me know.

Here's what I recently overheard that I hope is all true...

  • The Bike Map is now being produced primarily by the Planning arm of the cycling staff, not Transportation Services. I've always thought that the Toronto cycling map is the best free, printed map of the city. Here's hoping that this year it is better than it has ever been!
  • The Bike Map should be ready for the annual Bike Show, which will held March 7-9 at Hall A of the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto.
  • Transportation Services will be taking the responsibility for bike parking from Parks, Forestry and Recreation. This will be a good thing for cyclists as it means that Parks won't be able to propose awful locations for bike parking, install terrible bike racks, install them improperly, or to refuse the request outright.
  • City staff working on the cycling programs are more excited and energized than has been seen in years!
  • BTAC is continuing to use its clout to get things done. It has big plans for Toronto's Bike Month, including an on-street bike race in the St. Lawrence Market area.
  • There will be many bicycle races to be held this year in the city
  • Trek has expanded its One World Two Wheels advocacy efforts into Canada.
  • It looks like various regions within Toronto will be represented on the Board of the upcoming Toronto Cyclist's Union. This should help all cyclists in the city, wherever they happen to live or to ride. These folks will probably be heavily involved with the Ward Captains and other volunteers from the wards that they represent.

The common theme between these two news items? Riding your bike dressed up to the nines to go to work or for a nice, leisurely picnic.

For Congressman, Life in Bike Lane Comes Naturally (original article is no longer available)

"Bikeman," a House colleague from Oregon calls him. Mr. Blumenauer owns seven bikes. His congressional office is one of the few -- if not the only one -- that didn't even apply for a parking permit. On occasion, Mr. Blumenauer has cycled to the White House. On Mr. Blumenauer's first visit, the Secret Service, more accustomed to limousines, was flummoxed at the sight of his bike.

Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon Rides to the White House, Congress, and everywhere in Washington, D.C. He has been quite successful in increasing the amount of money spent on cycling infrastructure in the States. He has recently been working on a bill to provide more tax incentives for cyclists, but has so far been ridiculed by his fellow congressman accusing him of trying to get everyone out of their cars and onto bikes. While he says that he still drives himself at times and finds cars useful, I say, own up to it, Blumenauer! Yes, you do want people out of their cars!

From experience, D.C. can be quite a nice city to explore by bicycle - many roads are wide enough and there are extensive trails along rivers and canals. The difficult sections include not being able to easily squeeze past the rush hour traffic jams downtown, getting intimidated by the constant presence of cops and rent-a-cops, and not knowing when you might suddenly end up on the on-ramp to a freeway! Good luck in Washington, Blumenauer!

Tweed Cycling Club - While technically not news, this is a great cycling club in the UK that emphasizes tweed over lycra; lugged frames over carbon fibre; casual country jaunts and picnics over sweaty races. How could you not like this?

For a Toronto experience of tweed you can join in on our Bike Polo, or start up a local tweed club.