Citizens for Safe Cycling (CfSC) promotes cycling as fun, healthy, safe, economical, and environmentally-friendly transportation and recreation. We've been helping cyclists in the Ottawa area improve their cycling skills and their cycling environment for 26 years, starting in 1984. We welcome your participation!
Sunday, 22 January 2012 23:31
On a cold January day, a bike ride is not on the top of everyone's to-do list. But those who took part in Citizens for Safe Cycling's first Winter Family Bike Parade had a great time.
On Sunday, January 22, at noon, about 50 Ottawans came to Laurier Avenue West on bikes and recumbent bikes, some with trailers or cargo bikes, to celebrate cycling in winter. In temperatures of around -12C, with a wind chill of -17C, the cyclists were greeted by CfSC president Hans Moor, VP Alex deVries and City Councillor Mathieu Fleury. Fleury had not cycled in winter before.
The parade cycled along Laurier Avenue from Bronson Avenue, and then turned around at Elgin Street to do the loop once more before they had their group picture taken in front of City Hall. About half an hour after they started, they entered City Hall, where they were served apple cider and cookies by CfSC secretary Alayne McGregor, and City Councillors Marianne Wilkinson and Katherine Hobbs.
So why would people go for a bike parade in mid-winter? Moor responded that they were first and foremost out for the fun of it, but also to prove that cycling in winter is certainly possible when bike infrastructure is taken care of, and that cold weather doesn’t have to be a deterrent as long as you dress properly.
Although cycling from A to B and having a cup of cider afterwards sounds like an easy thing to organise, it actually took quite a number of people to make this possible:
OTTAWA, 30 Nov. 2011 – Citizens for Safe Cycling says the traffic and parking plans for Lansdowne Park overestimate the number of people cycling to major events, especially considering the lack of effective bike infrastructure at and around the site.
"The City is counting on a large number of people cycling to football games and other major events, but isn't planning adequate facilities to attract and safely accommodate them," says Hans Moor, president of the local advocacy group. "That affects motorists, local residents and businesses as well as cyclists. If the city doesn't get the cyclists it expects, traffic congestion and parking availability will be worse."
Read more: Citizens for Safe Cycling says Lansdowne traffic plan is unrealistic
Citizens for Safe Cycling's 2011 Annual General Meeting attracted more than 100 cyclists on a pleasant (for November 1) evening. The bike parking outside the Tom Brown Arena was filled to capacity.
Members socialized, they enjoyed sandwiches and salads, they visited the booths from community organizations, they provided ideas for the Initiatives wall, they listened to speakers, and they participated in the actual AGM.
All positions were acclaimed. President Hans Moor, secretary Alayne McGregor, and director Paul Clarke were re-elected. New directors Schuyler Playford and Simone Rivers joined the Board. Vice-president Alex deVries, treasurer Terry Evans, and directors Risa Sargent and Nancy Biggs started the second year of their two-year terms. Outgoing board members Rob Brooks and Tom Trottier were thanked for their work.
At Citizens for Safe Cycling's 2011 Annual General Meeting, members were invited to write on post-it notes ideas for initiatives which CfSC could undertake in the next year – and post them on a wall during the meeting.
CfSC Board member Risa Sargent coordinated and gathered up the notes. She has created a Wordle from the ideas.
The CfSC Board will consider these ideas at future meetings, and they will be used to generate ideas for a general Advocacy meeting in early 2012.
Click on the Wordle for a larger image.
Learn more about what's happening with cycling - on the other side of North America AND in your backyard!
On November 1, Citizens for Safe Cycling will hold its Annual General Meeting, with a speaker from the City of Bellevue, Washington (near Seattle), and updates from the local bicycle community.
The first half of the evening, which will include booths from local organizations, speakers, and refreshments, is free and open to all. Let's celebrate another year of increased attention for cycling!
| Date: | Tuesday, November 1, 2011 |
| Time: | Socializing and food (drinks, sandwiches and salads, while supplies last) at 6 p.m., speakers at 7 p.m., Annual General Meeting starts at 8:15 p.m. |
| Location: | Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Road (at Scott Street), Ottawa |
| Cycling connections: | East-West: via Gladstone or Scott. |
| Transit connections: | a short walk from the Bayview Transitway and O-Train Station, or use routes 2 on Somerset/Wellington or 16 on Scott. You can take your bike on the O-Train. Bike racks may be available on some buses. |
Our Speaker: Hayley Richardson
Hayley is the outreach coordinator for the city of Bellevue’s (near Seattle) transportation demand management (TDM) program.
She will talk about cycling and social media. Social media such as Blogging, Twittering, Facebook, Google + and YouTube combined with hardware such as smartphones have rapidly changed the world around us. How can we use these new technologies to the advantage of promoting cycling?
She will share stories with us about how she is using social media to generate interest in cycling activities and community participation.
Hayley has been a successful community organizer around bicycling/alternative transportation for the past four years. Says Hayley: “I work for the City of Bellevue in Washington State, a city whose built environment is decidedly un-bicycle friendly." She has spent the last year bringing issues of active transportation to the fore by organizing a first-ever series of bike month activities, fashion photo shoots featuring cyclists, group rides, running a bike parking facility, building a robust social media presence and organizing bike and pedestrian counts.
Previously, she lived in Atlanta, also a city notoriously built solely for cars, according to Hayley. “There”, says Hayley, ”I worked with the wonderful Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to co-found the inaugural Atlanta Streets Alive! program, a Ciclovia-style car free event that has become a regularly occurring event for the City." She also founded the Atlanta Street Food Coalition, which successfully lobbied to change restrictive vending ordinances in Atlanta. During this time, she was a street vendor herself, selling ice cream sandwiches from a Dutch tricycle! Hayley has much experience with public speaking, as both of these positions required her to appear before neighbourhood groups, the media, and the City Council.
Ottawa-based presenters
The AGM will also feature presentations by:
- Colin Simpson (City of Ottawa)
- Charles Akben-Marchand (Rescue Bronson)
2011 Annual General Meeting
At its AGM, CfSC elects its board members, discusses the results of the last twelve months, and sets its direction for the next year.
Only members may vote or speak at the AGM, and only those who have been members for 30 days may vote for the board. You can join at the AGM, or in advance. See how to join at https://www.safecycling.ca/participate/join-cfsc/why-join-cfsc- .
Any member may run for the board. E-mail
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to submit a nomination or for more information.
Non-members are welcome to stay and listen during the AGM.
Poster you can print to publicize the AGM in your workplace.
There is a danger zone for cyclists next to parked cars.
Cyclists: for your own safety, ride at least one metre away from motor vehicles. That is the only way to prevent getting doored – and it works. Don't let anyone push you any closer.
A car door springs open in only a few seconds. If a cyclist is passing by at that moment close to the car, the cyclist cannot avoid the door, and will be knocked off balance or onto the ground, leading to serious injuries and possibly death. This is a major cause of collisions. In Toronto, it is the most common cause of downtown cycling collisions.
Motorists: you (and your passengers) are responsible for checking for traffic – including cyclists – before opening a car door. And you will be charged under section 165 of the Highway Traffic Act if you cause a collision because you didn't check.
Cyclists: the only guaranteed solution is to stay out of the door zone (about one metre from the car). That way, even if a motorist opens a door without warning, you're far enough away to avoid it. That means:
- avoiding passing on the right if there's not enough space to pass, and
- taking extra space in the lane in order to stay away from the cars, even if it means that you hold up cars or force them to pass you outside of the lane. If you need to move left to do this, remember to signal and shoulder check first.
Unfortunately, it's impossible for cyclists to see in advance whether a vehicle door is about to open. Tinted windows and high headrests make it impossible to see from behind if a car is occupied, and a door flies open in only a few seconds – not enough time to react.
Motorists: if you see cyclists riding one metre away from parked cars, please do not honk or yell at them for riding there, even if they slow you down for a brief time.. This is a safety issue and cyclists need to stay out of this danger zone.