January 26, 2009

19 Jan 2009

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Recent TCAT activities and news items:

  1. E-bikes in the HTA? Public Input: Feb 9
  2. 2009 Operating Budget Public Consultations: Feb 17 & 18
  3. Toronto Bike Award: Winners Announced!
  4. Increased & Safer Cycling in London (UK)

1. E-bikes in the HTA? Public Input: Feb 9

As reported previously in TCAT News, there is a bill currently being considered by the provincial government that, if passed, will change the definition of "bicycle" to include power-assisted bicycles (e-bikes).

TCAT is supportive of the overall intent of Bill 126 that proposes to introduce new drinking and driving measures into the Highway Traffic Act. However we are concerned by the e-bike amendment.

The key characteristic of all forms of active transportation is that they be non-motorized. The ever-increasing number of motorized vehicles on the roads, including e-bikes, reduces the comfort and safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

Please read TCAT's submission to the Standing Committee on General Government and consider making a presentation to the committee or sending in a written submission. Information about the committee hearings scheduled for the week of Feb 9th can be found here.   

2. 2009 Operating Budget Public Consultations: Feb 17 & 18

As reported in TCAT News in November and December and a recent City of Toronto media release, the capital budgets required for the Toronto Bike Plan have been secured for the next 5 years!

The next step is to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated in the annual operating budget. Public consultations will take place on February 17th and 18th according to the 2009 Operating Budget Schedule. If you would like to make a deputation to the Budget Committee, follow the instructions here.  

3. Toronto Bike Awards: Winners Announced!

The Toronto Bike Awards ceremony co-hosted by the Toronto Cyclists Union and the City of Toronto at the Gladstone Hotel was a great success, jam-packed with bicycle-friendly business owners, advocates, city staff and councillors.

It was inspiring to hear everything that all of the award winners are doing to improve conditions for cyclists. Congratulations especially to Councillor Adrian Heaps who won Most Cycling Friendly Councillor and Ryerson University who walked away with two awards -- one for Best Bike Parking and the other for Best Large Business.

This year for the first time, community groups were given the opportunity to hand out their own awards. As reported in last week's news, TCAT handed out an Active Transportation Champion award. The inaugural winner in this category is the Centre for City Ecology - Jane's Walk -- an exceptional organization that raises the profile of active transportation and its relation to a high quality of urban life.

TCAT was also pleasantly surprised and honoured to be awarded the Group of the Year award by ibikeTO. The outstanding work of former TCAT Project Coordinator Fred Sztabinski was highlighted. (Check out Fred's recent Spacing post to find out about his life in Amsterdam!)

Photos of the event are available below.

1.  TCAT Steering Committee Chair Jennifer Niece introduces the Active Transportation Champion award. (photo credit: Martin Reis)

2. Active Transportation Champion award acceptance speech by Jane Farrow, Executive Director of Jane's Walk and Hannah Evans, Board Member of Centre for City Ecology. (photo credit: Vic Gedris)

3.TCAT Research and Program Lead Nancy Smith Lea accepts the Group of the Year award. (photo credit: Martin Reis)

4. Increased & Safer Cycling in London (UK)

Koy Thomson from the London Cycling Campaign reported at TCAT's Bike Summit last year that London has aggressive targets for increasing the number and safety of cyclists. It looks like this plan is working.

As reported in CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking, "...there has been a 91% increase in cycle use on the capital's main roads since 2000, and a 33% reduction in cycle casualties in roughly the same period." More info here.

Cycling-related events:

If you know of other cycling or pedestrian related calendars to include, please let us know by e-mailing info@tcat.ca

TCAT News - Help spread the word!

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helps to be able to say how many people and organizations support the
work we do when we speak with City Councillors, City staff, and the
media, or put out a publication. Please send this message to any groups
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To learn more about TCAT, visit our web site at www.tcat.ca, e-mail info@tcat.ca or call 416.392.0290

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