Bicycles for Africa from Canada
I understand that some 5000 bicycles were sent to Africa based on sales of Cadbury products in Canada.
Here’s the video:
Toronto’s Bikeway plans
The IbikeTO blog posted an update on the meeting at Metro Hall Monday night where city staff reveal a politically ambitious bikeway plan.
We remind all mayoral candidates that it is time to implement solutions to the city’s gridlock and air quality crises, not simply use hack political judgement, satiating automobile driving voters temporarily to “uptick” your poll results.
A coherent, connected plan serves both bicycling and driver communities. From the post:
These politicians need to get with the times. The types of folk who bike are not some fringe group of white males who bike because they want a rush. A wide range of people bike, particularly in downtown where the percentage of bike commuters is above 13% in some parts. Before you whip up the hate-on, Rossi, take a look at these people and try to explain to them why they don’t exist and why you think they should just buy a car.
Survey of Toronto Cycling 1999 compared to 2009
Blog TO has posted on the recently released Ipsos Reid survey on Toronto Cycling.
Since lack of bike lanes and safety concerns appear frequently as barriers to bicycle use, one wonders how different the results of the survey would be had the city met its bike lane targets as articulated in 2001.
Strida Folding Bike at Toronto International Boat Show
The leading choice in folding bicycles for sailors is the Strida 5.0. Since Stridas take 6 seconds to fold and unfold, are completely rustproof, stow cleanly because of the kevlar belt – no grease or oil, and are the lightest at 22 lbs., the bike earned editor’s choice by Motorboat and Sailing magazine.
Our sail logo was handmade by a Strida owner and fan -thanks!
We are an exhibitor, demoing the Strida folding bike at the Toronto International Boat Show from January 9-17 at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Please stop by our booth right in the midst of the big boats and tall sails; we’ll be delighted to see you and show you the real Strida.
Please ask about our Boat Show Specials.
Strida Folding Bike easy cosmetic modification
Just completed a quick (most time required was letting the coats of paint cure) paint job on the brake calipers of a Strida Sport Duo. This is a fairly easy project if you are ok with completely removing and partially disassembling the calipers.
To protect the threads, bearings and other large threaded surfaces, I stuffed in paper towel. It was easy to get it shaped perfectly around the edges.
I used automotive engine paint spray. For some reason there are people who like to have their engine block painted Lime Green; I guess that is similar to those who like their disc calipers lime green.
After giving the caliper and arm time to cure, I reassembled the brakes and reinstalled on the bike. The end result is very cool.
Bike sharing coming to a city near you?
On Pedalaround, Kirk added a post on bike sharing. There are some interesting links about bike sharing in the US, including a very interesting presentation by B Cycle.
Here’s some info on Montreal’s Bixis from NY’s Green Inc., and some more from I Bike T.O.
Lot’s of fascinating proposals are here where you can download pdfs of all the entries from Copenhagen’s bike share competition.
Strida Folding Bike review at Toronto’s Green Tenant
Since many rent their homes and apartments some terrific energy saving or green projects are not possible. However, many projects are possible when you know what or how to do them. Green Tenant is a blog with lots of environmentally appropriate how-tos and information primarily for those who rent. They just posted a review of the Strida.
Thanks to Andrew for this.
Strida Folding Bike – slip one under the tree for me
The BPlot is driven by great features, gossip, grooming and gifts. Written by Richard Virgilio who worked in production for programs such as “The Maury Povich Show,” “The Carnie Wilson Show” and “The Howard Stern Show.” He was “Gay Rich” on Stern’s radio show. In addition to the terrestrial radio show, he was regularly featured on Stern’s E! Entertainment show, short-lived CBS Saturday night show and in both his tomes “Miss America” and “Private Parts”.
In this post which evokes the Santa Baby Christmas hit, Richard drops the sable and adds the Strida among other temptations.
Strida Folding bike benefits Muskoka YWCA
savedbybikes.com was delighted to donate a Strida Folding Bike to the YWCA of Muskoka that was auctioned off at the Women of Distinction Gala.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes' Cathy Jones hams it up on a Strida Folding Bike
The Woman of Distinction program recognizes outstanding women in Muskoka under 4 categories:
Young Woman of Distinction
A young woman—under the age of 30—who has made a significant contribution to the life of her community through her outstanding personal achievements and leadership.
Entrepreneurship
A successful business woman who has employed herself and others with dignity for at least 3 years. In doing so, she has earned the respect of her peers and serves as a role model for women.
Mentorship
A woman to be honoured as a catalyst, guiding or influencing women or girls, inspiring them to achieve individual or collective success at critical turning points in their lives.
Exceptional Achievement
A woman to be honoured for achievements outside the scope represented by all other award categories. This woman will have either demonstrated capacity in several areas or tremendous capacity in one area.
savedbybikes.com was honoured to participate in this essential and worthy cause.
Relief from grid-lock not just about tolls
71% of people in the GTA are dependent on the automobile. This is one of the highest rates of automobile dependency in the OECD; this grid-lock costs our economy up to $3 billion annually.
Spacing.ca summarized articles on a report from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in their Nov 11 wire. Perhaps led by newspaper headlines, Spacing.ca took a one-dimensional view of this massive problem, offering only information surrounding toll roads. Toll Roads, being just one of many solutions, was even the section title.
We should not miss the point here. There are many, many solutions to traffic grid-lock, not the least of which includes proper investment in public transit and bicycle lanes.
Hopefully the study will lead to implementation of bold and creative solutions. In the meantime, each of us should make daily decisions to ensure our own personal productivity by choosing bicycle commuting, public transit, time-shifting and telecommuting.
