Get on the Bike Train. It's great!


Last Friday, my partner Wendy and I rode down to Port Dalhousie/St. Catharines and stayed overnight at a nice B&B.

The next morning we pedalled down most of the fabulous Welland Canal trails (45k from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, a fully paved recreational trail, highly recommended) and returned to Toronto on the Bike Train via Niagara Falls. (More Photos)

Bike Train organizer Justin LaFontaine, has done an excellent job getting this pilot project off the ground. All 56 spots of the inaugural run were sold out. Congrats!

So, how is it? It's a breeze. Getting your bike on and off the train was easy. Mind you Justin and his assistant have to do some heavy lifting since there are no baggage handlers at the Niagara Falls Station. But they are very careful and friendly.

"Time to put up, or ...", Justin tells me. And I think he's right. But with a bit of help from many of us who enjoy bike touring in the Niagara Region we can make sure VIA will sees the obvious benefits of a long overdue bike/train alliance.

As for me and Wendy we'll be back very soon for the famous Niagara Trails Loop (120km of pure fun)

BikeFriday in Roncesvalles Village - July 27

This Friday marks the one-year anniversary of BikeFriday in Toronto. To celebrate, the bike-friendly, fair-trade baristas and bean roasters of Alternative Grounds (at 333 Roncesvalles) are offering cyclists free coffee and homemade muffins. I'll be there from 8 until 9:30 a.m this Friday.

Special thanks to Rowena Santos from MPP Cheri DiNovo's office for all her help in organizing this event. Rowena and I met on a BikeFriday ride last October. You can see my Spacing Votes post about that BikeFriday here. Here is the very first official announcement for BikeFriday.

Thanks also to Alex and Stacy of the City of Toronto's BUG program for supplying additional promotional bike literature.

All the other BikeFriday routes are posted here on BikingToronto and here on I Bike TO.

Last month, the City of Mississauga announced that it officially supports BikeFriday. A large group of cyclists rode to a free pancake breakfast served by politicians at Mississauga Civic Centre. Mississauga rocks!

Oh and ...don't forget, Critical Mass. Meet at 6 pm at Bloor and Spadina.

Crossposted to Spacing.

tammy : 17 years 11 months ago
Tags: bikefriday, commute, events

"Pedestrian-friendly" councillor chooses to keep car-centric South Kingsway/Queensway interchange

With friends like this who needs enemies!

I wonder if Mayor Miller couldn't find anyone better to be the co-chair of the Pedestrian Committee than Councillor Bill Saundercook. Saundercook has announced that he will no longer support the redesign of the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange because a number of local residents support the "Do Nothing" option.

The Globe and Mail's report.

And from the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation we have this update:

Last Tuesday, the Swansea Area Ratepayers Association (SARA) hosted a public meeting on the proposed changes to the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange. SARA has been lobbying hard to ensure that the City does not make any changes that would make this '50s highway style interchange more cycle/pedestrian friendly. Although the $1 million design that the City is proposing may not be ideal for pedestrians and cyclists, anything would be better than what currently exists.

Apparently the meeting did not turn into as big a debate and opportunity to voice public opinion as expected. The local councilor, Bill Saundercook (Pedestrian Committee co-chair), announced that he no longer supported the City’s design and would oppose the plan at City Council. According to the City’s public consultation staff, “Councillor Saundercook has requested that the Environmental Assessment be halted due to community support for the "Do Nothing" Option. Therefore, at this time there is no scheduled staff report to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee or to City Council.” This represents a blow to pedestrian and cyclist safety in this part of the City, as this hazardous interchange will receive no improvements in the near future.

herb : 17 years 11 months ago
Tags: politics, urban planning