Cyclist Profile - Councillor Adrian Heaps

Name / Occupation / Age

Adrian Heaps, Toronto City Councillor Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest, 51

What do you use your bike for?

Work and play.

How often do you ride?

4-6 times per week.

How long have you been commuting by bicycle and what made you decide to do it?

25 years- easier to park, fitness and health reasons.

Can you give a brief description of your route?

Home - the lakeshore trail - through the Esplanade to Victoria street - Queen to bay street - City Hall.

What's the best thing about commuting by bicycle?

Good time to work out any frustration and think about the day's events.

Any advice for new riders?

Start off on recognized bike trails and work your way to the "streets." If you've been out of the groove for a while take the Can-Bike program to give you confidence about the "rules of the road."

What would you say to convince someone who is considering commuting by bicycle to get on board their bike? Ride!

What do you like about biking in Toronto?

The existing newtork.

And dislike?

Not enough integrated routes and storage areas for bikes.

Where is/are your favourite place(s) to bike in Toronto?

Taylor Park ravine to Sunnybrook Hospital to the Don Valley-to the Leslie Street Spit and back.

What's your favourite cycling street in Toronto? Least favourite?

See above for favourite. Least: Diamond lanes that are not respected.

What's your favourite piece of cycling kit/clothing/gadget?
My bell.

Favourite bike stores?
Cycle Solutions.

How could the City help you enjoy riding more?*
n/a

*(Note, I asked the councillor this follow up question: What will he do as new chair of the TCC/CAC to improve cycling in the city? His assistant says he will try to get back to me tomorrow - he's very busy! Presumably, working on improving cycling!?)

How did you start biking?

By pedalling!

Helmet or no helmet? Helmet!

Bikelane or no bikelane? Both.

This picture of Councillor Heaps was taken at the Bike Train press launch on June 5th at Union station by his assistant. I will be posting a story about the new Bike Train service next week.

Crossposted to Spacing

tammy : 18 years 3 weeks ago
Tags: profiles

Bike Retailers get political

BTACThe BTAC (Bicycle Trade Association of Canada) held a reception last night. Though the politicians failed to show, the board of directors did get to meet Councillor Heaps earlier in the day. They had a good discussion on what needs to be done for cycling in Toronto. A number of city staff and reps of various cycling organizations were also present for the free fodder: the Toronto Cycling Committee, Community Bicycle Network, and ... maybe that was it. I don't know if the other groups were conveniently not invited or if they just couldn't make it.

One of the board members, Pete Lilly of Sweet Pete's filled me in on conversations BTAC has had with the federal government on getting a GST rebate, and to the Ontario government on getting a PST rebate on all cycling equipment. If the feds can create a rebate program for hybrids (and the gas-guzzling E85 vehicles which may some day actually be able to burn high-ethanol gasoline if they ever have it available in Canadian gas stations) why not for bicycles?

They claim that they have a good chance of convincing the province in implementing a PST rebate before the next election.

They also want to work closely with the city of Toronto in getting more bike lanes in since, as they told me, Toronto seems to be getting behind other Canadian cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver. Exactly how they intend to help the city remains to be seen.

It's refreshing to get support from the bicycle industry and that they seem to be getting the direct connection between cycling infrastructure and cycling. If cycling is to become more than a fringe mode of transportation then BTAC will need to be there to help change the facts on the ground. And when there are more regular cyclists then there are more people who need to buy bike stuff. I think this shift in BTAC is in no small part due to the new board members.

herb : 18 years 3 weeks ago
Tags: bike week, business, politics

Soon you can bike without getting your toes wet

Lower Don path

We've got an update from John Routh of Don Watcher on the Lower Don construction between Queen and Lakeshore.

The Lower Don path has been closed since last year to fix the railway overpass as well as reroute the path so cyclists and walkers need no longer dip down to water level to get under the railway. It has been proceeding slowly but it looks like they are making good progress.

John, I didn't understand what part of the trail will be opening this summer and which part we'll have to wait until next year. Can you fill us in?

At any rate, we'll soon be able to bike without getting wet.

herb : 18 years 3 weeks ago
Tags: bike infrastructure