Air Canada – you’re not quite getting it
It’s time to reconsider your policy, just like Jet Blue as reported by BikePortland.
The corporation is just too big to apply common sense, to properly communicate within, and is indifferent to what travellers really think. It’s not the issue that bicycles are green transport and as such, should be encouraged and welcomed. Air Canada is missing the key point here. They have a policy, appropriate for conventional bicycles that requires the passenger to pay a $50 fee to cover the cost of handling that unwieldly bicycle. When it comes to bikes which fold up smaller than a snowboard, that do not require any special handling, the fee should simply not apply. Indeed, it often does not.
I have traveled on Air Canada with my Strida folding bike many times. Customarily I pay no fee, drop my Strida’s carry bag on the belt and pick it off the carousel on the other end, much like I do for many other items. Occasionally, when I have been told there is a charge for bicycles, I have had a discussion with the ticket agent in which I compare the Strida folding bike to many other items Air Canada accepts from me and thousands of others every day without a fee. Each time so far, I have not had to pay the fee.
A few weeks ago Yvonne Bambrick, Executive Director of the Toronto Cyclist’s Union, took a Strida folding bike to San Francisco on Air Canada. There was no fee requested on the flight down, but the $50 fee was insisted upon on the return flight.
Read some of the details of Toronto writer Lloyd Alter’s experience with, and impression of Air Canada’s policy in this Financial Post article. Lloyd Alter has stitched together a summary of the saga.
Interestingly while typing this post, I received two email messages from Air Canada offering me 15,000 bonus miles as part of a current marketing campaign to keep us all flying with them.
What Women Want
As “an ‘indicator species’ for bike-friendly cities” – women being more risk averse than men – perhaps planners should consider what women find important.
Until women feel it is safe and easy to jump on a bike and head through town, the North American ratio of men: women cyclists (now 2:1), isn’t going to inch towards Europe’s ratio (1:1) anytime soon. As the lack of women riders generally indicates relative safety, this is a big part of the reason why North American statistics for trips by bicycle are also so poor compared to those of Europe. Less than 2% of trips are by bicycle in North America, while many European cities are well into double digits.
Have a look at this article from Scientific American.
Thanks to a feed via Momentum Magazine for sourcing this article.
Cycling in the rain
Fall brings some of the best weather for bicycling: no muddiness of spring, no heat of summer, and without the bugs of both; just wonderful crisp, sunny days.
Oh, and some rain.
Here’s a primer on rainy day cycling with some great post, post discussions from one of our favourite blogs: Let’s Go Ride a Bike. For those of you thinking, I really should go beyond the occasional fair weather recreational ride: you should. And this blog can help you to do just that in so many ways, particularly if you are a woman.
Lane envy
From Bicycle Queensland, a posting with an image of a “Copenhagen” style bike lane.
Segregated two way bike lanes are a very safe and efficient way to enhance bicycle travel. Talk about adding to quality of place. Brisbane has a population of almost 2 million and has evolved a great bicycle culture; even a website that reports on bike lane closures and news.
This posting, while having me think wouldn’t it be nice, had me checking out Copenhagenize.com, and they commented on the same post. What a nice feeling of pride…
Also from Copenhagenize.com is a post on
cycling around New York City with some lovely images of bicycle lanes in that city.
Toronto is where I do most of my bicycle commuting. As I think about my ride home tonight, I think it’d be best if quit looking at bike lanes in other cities.
How to get 50,000 new commuters on bicycles…
I think it’s beneficial to remind people every so often of progressive ideas/policies that would benefit us here in North America.
In order to decrease the number of autos in UK cities, alleviating a significant source of carbon emissions and improve the health and well-being of it’s citizens, the UK government introduced a Cycle To Work initiative a few years ago.
The plan allows employers to “loan” bicycles to employees, who then pay the employer back for the value of the bike (up to £1,000, $1700 CDA) using pre-tax salary. In addition to all the benefits of bicycle commuting, both to the individual and the community, this can result in a 50% saving on the cost of the bicycle. Since 2005, there are some 100,000 who have taken advantage of the initiative with some 50,000 NEW bicycle commuters. Great program! Something to think about here, particularly in Ontario Canada when tax harmonization likely eliminates the <$1000 PST exemption on bicycle purchases.
From the UK Department of Transport website, excerpts below:
Cycle to work
The Finance Act 1999 and the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 provided
a tax exemption to allow employers to loan cycles and cyclist safety equipment to
their employees to cycle to work. In 2005 the Government assisted the cycle industry
in promoting the scheme by providing implementation guidance. It also asked the
Office of Fair Trading to issue a group consumer credit licence to allow all UK
businesses to offer cycle packages to each member of staff of up to £1,000 in order
to cycle to work. This dispensed with the need to apply for an individual licence.
Since 2005 we estimate that nearly 100,000 employees are now benefiting from the
use of new bikes to cycle to work. Half of these are new or returning cyclists.Value for Money
Economic modeling carried out for Cycling England3 shows that increasing cycling
levels by 20 per cent by 2015 has the potential to save £107 million in reducing
premature deaths, £52 million in NHS costs and £87 million in reduced absence from
work.
There are also quantifiable benefits in terms of reduced congestion and pollution.
The SQW work quoting a 20% increase in cycling delivering congestion benefits of
£207m and pollution benefits of £71m. Overall, it is estimated that investing in cycling
gives very good value for money, with benefits estimated to be 3.2 times the costs.
Regular cyclists are also likely to live a healthier, longer life.
Interbike 09 Trends observed
Interbike 2009 wrapped up in Las Vegas on Friday.
Amidst the thousands of bicycles and accessories, there were 3 major trends.
1. The emergence of the drive belt replacing the chain has become, well, more mainstream. STRiDA folding bikes have been successfully using the belt since 1985, and the reviews of the belt drive have all been positive. For 2010 bicycles from Specialized, Trek and others adopt the proven technology and reviews are positive as well. A drive belt lasts longer than a chain and does not need to be lubricated with oil. It therefore can be much more appropriate for the commute, keeping your clothes clean. The belt on the STRiDA folding bike has an expected service life of a minimum of 50,000 miles!
2. The rapid growth of the number of commuter and city bike models that we have seen recently has become massive – definitely the fastest growing segment of the Bicycle Industry. The industry is betting heavily that people in North America will continue to move to bike commuting in ever-larger numbers.
3. Speaking of growth in bike commuting, this is beginning to fuel a related trend that was evident at Interbike; business appropriate clothing that is at the same time, bicycle commuting appropriate. On display were more and more garments tailored to business/career and casual dress, made out of lightweight wicking fabrics and cut for cycling motion.
All positive confirmation of a positive trend away from fossil-fuel commuting.
Fall bicycle clothing tips
Fall brings with it some of the best weather for bicycle commuting or recreation. This post from Let’s Go Ride a Bike about dressing for fall cycling is little different than most because it’s from a woman’s perspective.
It’s still a long while before winter, but the cool winds are just around the corner. Of note in the post is the reminder that fallen leaves which have already begun to arrive can be quite slippery.
Any favourite cooler weather clothing tips?
Sept 29: Yonge St bike & pedestrian lane opens
It was always a bit of a deadly ride or walk from downtown, past the access points to the Gardiner to the lakefront. But, a safer and easier access to the waterfront trails opens tomorrow.
From the City of Toronto’s Media Advisory:
Ribbon cutting for Yonge Street pedestrian promenade and bicycle lanes
Media are invited to join Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28 Toronto Centre – Rosedale) as she officially opens the Yonge Street pedestrian promenade and bicycle lanes. The section of Yonge Street that has been improved is located between Front Street and Queens Quay. This significant transportation project will result in safer and more aesthetically pleasing conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
Date:Tuesday, September 29
Time:11:30 a.m.
Location: Northwest corner of Yonge Street and Harbour StreetThe project features wide sidewalks with decorative pavement, pedestrian-scale lighting and granite-clad planter boxes with seat walls. There are also groves of trees, landscaped traffic islands, new crosswalks, public art installations, and new plazas and walkways. As well, the improvements include a reconf igured Yonge Street off ramp from the Gardiner Expressway, safety and lighting improvements in the railway underpass, weather protection along new buildings, 0.6 kilometre-long bicycle lanes and bicycle parking.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto’s incorporation as a city. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.
Car Free Day
September 22; Toronto was the first city in North America to host a Car Free day. Started in 1999 in France as “In Town Without My Car!”
I did happily notice more people on the GO Train this morning. Participation in the event in which Car Free day is the final day of a week long event, has been growing steadily.
From the European Union Mobility Week press release: (http://www.mobilityweek-europe.org/)
In 2008, under the focal theme of ‘Clean Air for All!’, a record number of 2,102 local authorities signed the EMW charter and/or registered their activities on the campaigning site www.mobilityweek.eu. In terms of population, this translates into 220 million citizens in 39 countries potentially engaged by EMW 2008!
This was also an increase of nearly 4% on 2007 rates, with a good participation of old and new EU Member States, Accession Countries and EEA/EFTA countries. EMW’s successful campaigning model is also increasingly being adopted by countries outside Europe, including Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, with the major cities of Seoul, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei, Montréal, Yokohama and Quito all participants in EMW 2008.
We should be doing more with this here; many European Cities have free public transport for the day. Montreal has closed off some streets to cars…
At Fault in Car-Bike crashes. Cyclists: it’s not you.
I’ve seen this in a few places and was reminded of it on Freakonomics. It bears repeating since I hear so many say and write that cyclists are reckless.
90% of car-bicycle crashes are caused by the motorist.
I notice with interest that the largest cause is Drive Out at Controlled Intersection. 20 years ago I remember a study that concluded that pedestrians were statistically safer to cross at a crosswalk that at an intersection with streetlights. Essentially the streetlights lent the pedestrian a sense of security, where the pedestrian was aware and more careful at a crosswalk.
If you’re the pedestrian, or on a bike and a motorist hits you, it doesn’t really matter that the other guy caused it.
Be aware, obey the laws (and common sense), be safe.
