Biking Toronto

This past Saturday was Toronto’s first Tweed Ride.

It was immensely successful (we estimated about 200 people showed up) and this will be an annual event. We kept hearing again and again how much fun everyone had and how they can’t wait until next fall when we do it all again (and hopefully bigger and even better).

The best part is the event raised over $10,000 for the fantastic work that Bikes without Borders does, which is currently sourcing and buying bicycles and bicycle ambulances for health workers in Malawi.

If you missed the event (or even if you were there, looking dashing and lovely in your tweedy best), you’re probably interested in seeing videos and photos from the event. This post is for you.

Let’s start with a great video put together by Xander of 416CycleStyle: Tweedride Toronto on Queen St.

The next video is also from Xander… of the massive tall bike (complete with propeller) on the ride. It has a funky soundtrack, that somehow mashes Tweed with the 1970s. haha.

After the ride, we all stopped at Dovercourt House (on Dovercourt, north of Bloor) and parked our bikes at the BikeValet provided by the Toronto Cyclists Union and Autoshare, and proceeded to have dinner and a swinging 2-floor party.

Here’s a video of Tweedsters and Swing Dancers cutting a rug to “Sly Blue”, a swing band from NYC.

Finally, there are hundreds and hundreds (maybe thousands) of photos out there of the absolutely astounding fashion on the ride. Here’s a few from our TweedRideTO Flickr Group:

If you’re looking for more photos, you can find them just about everywhere:

• Dandyhorse Magazine: Bowlers, bow ties and bikes: Tweed Toronto Ride
• Dandyhorse Magazine: Bike Spotting at Tweed Ride Toronto
• BlogTO: Photos of the Toronto Tweed Ride
• Toronto Tweed Ride Facebook page
• Toronto Tweed Ride Facebook Photo Album
• The Grid TO: Snapshot – Tweed Ride Toronto
• Torontoist: Spotted: Tweedy Bike Riders
• Photojunkie: Tweed Ride Toronto

Wow! The last few days have been amazing for registrations for the Tweed Ride!

It’s going so well, in fact, that we’ve decided to extend registration a little bit longer (making it easier for people to get the cheaper online rate of $15). IF there are any spots left on Saturday, it’ll be $20 for in-person registration (from 12 to 2:30 at the Trinity Bellwoods Park Gates), so it’s in your best interests to sign up online.

Our NEW Online Registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 14, at 12 noon!

Remember, we’ll aiming to leave Trinity Bellwoods promptly at 3pm, so be sure and show up BEFORE 2:30 to get your ride packages, and hobnob and pontificate and conversate and take pictures with your fellow Tweed riders!

Useful things to bring is a teacup (we’re stopping for tea, of course) and a blanket (if you want to relax a bit during tea) as well as a bit of money. We’ll have a pay-what-you-can light informal dinner at our after-party, plus an amazing raffle for a Bobbin Bike courtesy of Curbside Cycle (pictured above).

Via Bicycle Commons Connect:

Our Dear Leader, Rob Ford, has defied expectations and continued tradition by officially proclaiming October 9, 2011 as Messenger Appreciation Day. In doing so, Rob joins Mayors throughout North America in paying respect to thehard-working and fearless (fearsome?) men and women who cycle Toronto’s streets for a living.

As October 9th is a holiday, we’ll honour our brothers and sisters on October 11, 2011 from 10am – 2pm outside Roy Thomson Hall

We’ve brought together the Toronto Cyclist Union, Roy Thomson Hall, CLIF Bars, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Orontas, Charlie’s Freewheels, Urbane Cyclist, Trelock, Community Bike Network, BikeSauce, ING Direct, and many more to ply Toronto’s 500+ messengers with free caffeine, energy bars, and great bike swag.

 

 

The Tweed Ride is hastily approaching (next Saturday, Oct. 15) and if you’re interested in the most stylish and civilized ride Toronto has seen in decades, you need to register to ride.  Online registration closes on Wed, Oct. 12.

Your $15 registration fee gets you:

• Official participation in Toronto’s first annual Tweed Ride
• High Tea (bring your own teacup)
• Swag Bag
• A Swinging After-Party at Dovercourt House.

People are putting together their Tweed outfits (or outfits inspired by a bygone era), and we want to see photos of what you are planning!

In fact, we want to see your outfits so much (and have your outfits inspire others), that we’re having a photo contest (which also closes on Wed. Oct. 12)…. all you need to do is “tweet” your photo to our @TweedRideTO twitter account, or email them to info@bikeswithoutborders.org and you’re entered!

Prizes! The winner of the photo contest will win a Basil Memories Basket and a Giro Bike Helmet, courtesy of the Urbane Cyclist Co-op.

Here’s a few photos to get you started…. submit a photo to win!

Yvonne Bambrick, Mike Brcic, Kristen Corbet, David Miller, Tanya Smith, Casie Stewart and Ryan Smith

 

This is me, trying out some tweedy clothes.  Yes, I don’t usually have a beard… the things I do/grow for Tweed! haha.

 

Kristen of Bikes without Borders, with the Penny Farthing at the ING Direct Cafe

BlogTO has a post today about the removal of the Pharmacy Ave. bikelane.  The Birchmount bikelane is also due to be removed thanks to the backwards-looking decision of Rob Ford’s regime at City Council.

Although the vote to kill the Jarvis bike lanes got most of the attention earlier this year, they weren’t the only ones to get the axe. The Urban Repair Squad reminded us yesterday of the alteration of the bike lane at Dupont and Lansdowne, and today we share the scene at Pharmacy Avenue, where the City has commenced work on the complete removal of its cycling infrastructure.

Read the full post on BlogTO

[photo by Christian Bobak, via BlogTO]

If you’ve been putting off buying a Bixi Toronto membership, Groupon is making it a lot easier to buy one.  For a limited time (until today, Wed, Oct. 5, at midnight) you can get a Bixi membership for $47 instead of $95.  That’s a savings of 51%!

As of midnight last night, almost 900 people had taken advantage of this deal.

Bixi Toronto isn’t making much on this (I’ve heard that Groupon takes about half of the purchase price), but they will be getting a bunch of new users who will get hooked on Bixi and then renew their memberships in a years time at full price.  There’s also the word-of-mouth effect… all these new users will tell their friends how useful and fun Bixi is… expanding membership further.

Get a Bixi Membership for $47.  You know you want to.

The Toronto Tweed Ride is less than 2 weeks away, and lots of people are registering and planning their tweed/retro outfits!

The ride is a fundraiser for Bikes without Borders, so if you want to do more than just register, we have fundraising prizes for people as great thank-yous!

Raising $500 gets you a $100 Mountain Equipment Co-op gift card… And raising $1000 gets you a beautiful retro Bobbin bicycle donated by Curbside Cycle.

Check out the Tweed Ride site, and register to ride (and party) with us!

Volunteer Opportunities with the Toronto Tweed Ride

Thanks to all those who have offered to volunteer to help with the Toronto Tweed Ride taking place on October 15th, leaving the Trinity Bellwoods Park Gates (registration is open from 12:00 – 2:30 at the Gates that day, or you can register NOW online)

We’d like to ask once more for your help, this time to assist in promoting our Tweederific event to Torontonians. We’re looking for volunteers who are able to spare one, two, or three hours of their time to dress in tweed and help spread the word. To learn more, we will be having a special volunteer orientation on Tuesday September 27th at 6 pm at the ING Direct Cafe located at 221 Yonge Street (across from the Eaton Centre). If you are interested in helping out with this specific opportunity and are able to attend this orientation, please email: volunteer@bikeswithoutborders.org

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The Toronto Bike Awards are this coming Monday (Sept. 26) at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen West)

The Toronto Bike Awards consist of the City of Toronto giving out Bicycle Friendly Business Awards (BFBA) and some bike groups will give out their own awards.

Also, please note that the Toronto Cyclists Union is providing their Bike Valet service, so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to park or about your two-wheeled steed getting stolen.

More about the BFBAs:

The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are given out every year to businesses and organizations across Toronto who are making an effort to encourage their clients and employees to cycle. Previous award winners have proven their commitment to cycling through a variety of initiatives such as providing secure bike parking, shower and change facilities, and offering economic incentives for employees who cycle to work.

The awards recognize that the more people ride their bikes, the more we will notice a reduction in traffic congestion and pollution, making Toronto a greener and healthier place to live, work, and play.

And here are the winners from the last BFBAs (in 2009)

• Best Bike Parking Award:Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business Award:Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan
• Bicycle Commute Award:Ontario College of Art & Design
• Best Small Business Award:Bike Train Initiative
• Best Large Business Award:Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
• Best Skills Development Award:Charlie’s FreeWheels
• Best Overall Award:Bike Train Initiative

We’re working furiously on the Toronto Tweed Ride (Sat. Oct. 15), and have announced our first contest, aimed at getting groups of friends / co-workers / neighbours registering in groups for the most stylish, most debonaire, and most fun event of the fall!

Via TweedRideToronto:

Contest #1: Tweam Captain Extraordinaire!

Hear ye, hear ye!

Gather your fellow tweedy friends! Be the first to register a Tweam of 10 people or more and the Tweam Captain will win a fabulous tweedalicious prize package consisting of a Basil Memories Basket, a Brooks D-Shaped Tool Bag, and a Yakkay Helmet!

Get started on your Tweed Ride “Tweam” by clicking here!

In case you don’t know, BikingToronto and Bikes without Borders are bringing a Tweed Ride to Toronto on Sat. Oct. 15, and generous sponsorship by ING Direct is making it possible.

It’s going to be, quite frankly, amazing, with people dressing up in Tweed and other fashions of a bygone era, and riding through downtown Toronto, stopping for high tea, and ending it all with a big party.  It’s only $15 and proceeds go to Bikes without Borders.

One thing we’re allowing people to do is create “Tweams” (or Tweed Teams) to allow for friendly fundraising rivalries between groups of friends, groups of co-workers, or any other groups that form.

You can sign up to be a Tweam Captain on the registration site (just follow the New Participants -> Sign Up link and follow the Team Instructions)

Or… if you’d like to join the BikingToronto Tweam I’ve set up, just click here.  Joining a team only costs you $10 instead of $15!

Want to know what a Tweed Ride is like? Check out these great videos:

Tweed Run London:

The Tweed Run from Studiocanoe on Vimeo.

Tweed Ride Victoria:

Victoria Tweed Ride 2011 from duncan gidney on Vimeo.

Tweed Ride D.C.:

Tweed Ride 2010 from Steven Greenstreet on Vimeo.

City Council is meeting this coming Wednesday (Sept. 21st) and Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22, St. Pauls) has a proposal on the agenda by substantially increasing the fine (to $500) for parking on city arterials or in bikelanes during rush hour periods.

I don’t see parking enforcement officers ticketing bikelane parkers much (but do, on occasion), but perhaps with higher fines they’ll pay more attention to the issue… and you can be sure that once a driver gets a $500 ticket for parking in a bikelane, they’ll think twice about doing it again.

From JoshMatlow.ca:

NOTICE OF MOTION: Relieving Congestion by Increasing Fines and Enforcement for Motorists and Delivery Vehicles that Obstruct Traffic During Rush Hour Periods

Moved by:  Councillor Matlow

Seconded by:  Councillor Layton

 

SUMMARY:

Traffic congestion is a significant problem for Toronto’s motorists, public transit users and cyclists. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently noted that the Greater Toronto Area suffers from the longest work commute times in North America. This congestion costs the region’s economy an estimated $3.3 billion per year while negatively impacting on the quality of life of our residents. The long-term solutions to this problem include building a more accessible, extensive and efficient public transportation system in addition to encouraging car-pooling and cycling.

In the meantime, council can take small, but important, measures to alleviate traffic congestion. One such measure is to provide sufficient deterrents to motorists and delivery drivers that stop, stand, park illegally or otherwise obstruct traffic on arterial roads during rush hour. Far too often, entire lanes of major roads are blocked due to an individual pulling over to grab a coffee in the morning or a delivery vehicle choosing the afternoon rush period to drop off their goods. Drivers along arterials often use bicycle lanes as a parking lane, forcing cyclists to dangerously merge into traffic. During rush hour this creates very unsafe conditions for cyclists. While currently not permitted, it is clear that current fines and levels of enforcement are not sufficient to deter such activities.

This motion seeks to improve traffic flow during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods by increasing the fines and level of enforcement for individuals that obstruct other motorists, public transit users and cyclists.

 
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. City Council requests the City Manager to report to Public Works Committee with an implementation plan to increase fines to $500 for any motorist, including delivery vehicles, from stopping, standing, parking or otherwise obstructing traffic on arterial roads and in bicycle lanes>during City designated rush hour periods

 

2. City Council request the City Manager to work with the Toronto Police Service to increase enforcement of existing by-laws prohibiting any motorist, including delivery vehicles, from stopping, standing, parking or otherwise obstructing traffic, including bicycle lanes, on arterial roads during City designated rush hour periods.

You may have already gleaned this from past entries, but for the past few months, BikingToronto has been working with Bikes without Borders to bring Toronto a Tweed Ride on Sat, Oct. 15!

Here is our press release, as well as some fabulous photos of dapper Mayor Miller (yes, it’s still appropriate to call him Mayor, etiquette-wise, I’ve been told), cycle-goddess Yvonne Bambrick, the always stylish Casie Stewart, and some of the friendliest and loveliest people I’ve ever known, Mike, Tanya and Kristen of Bikes without Borders!

(ps. register for the ride HERE. It’s $15 and worth every penny.  You’ll see why in the description below!)

Party Like It’s 1899!

Tweed Ride Toronto to Celebrate Fashion, Cycling and a Bygone Era

Sep. 10, 2011 (Toronto, ON) – BikingToronto.com and Bikes Without Borders are proud to announce Tweed Ride Toronto, the most dashing and fashionable cycling event to hit Toronto streets in decades.

On Saturday October 15th, over 400 participants will take part in the first annual Tweed Ride Toronto. Cyclists, dressed in their finest tweeds and old-time clothes, will leisurely take in some the city’s finest landmarks, break for high tea with renowned cycling co-operative Urbane Cyclist, and end the day with a jumping two-floor big band party.

Tweed Rides are a worldwide phenomenon, started in London in the fall of 2009 as “Tweed Run London.” This past year London registration sold out in seven minutes with more than 500 participants and celebrities such as Ewan MacGregor taking part.  Similar rides have taken place in New York, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo and other locations.

Any efforts made to recreate the spirit of a bygone era will be appreciated, and while all bicycles are acceptable, Penny Farthings are especially welcome.

Prizes (including Brooks saddle bags) will be awarded in several categories, including Most Distinguished Chap, Most Lovely Lady, and Most Awe-inspiring Moustache.

Tickets cost $15, and include ride, swag bag, high tea, a light dinner and party. All funds raised will support Bikes Without Borders, a non-profit organization dedicated to using bikes and bike related solutions as a tool for development in marginalized communities.

Participants are encouraged to do additional fundraising, and each participant who raises $1500 or more will receive a free Bobbin bike (courtesy of Curbside Cycle).

The event is sure to be a sellout, so get your tickets early! For more information or to register, visit tweedridetoronto.com

 

Remember… Rock Out with Your Tweed Out!

 

 

ABOUT BIKES WITHOUT BORDERS

Bikes Without Borders is a federally registered Canadian non-profit organization using bikes and bike-related solutions as a tool for development in marginalized communities.

Bikes Without Borders serves marginalized communities in both the developing and developed worlds where bikes and bike-related solutions can have a significant, positive impact on community development.

Bikes Without Borders is currently raising funds to launch Pedal Powered Hope 2 in Malawi Africa which will include the distribution of bikes and bike ambulances to local organizations, continued monitoring and evaluation of their impact and a new component of work with maternal health organizations.

 

ABOUT BIKINGTORONTO.COM

BikingToronto.com is an extensive resource for Toronto cycling information — it’s a positive outlook on all cycling-related events and news in Toronto.  It is Toronto’s largest and most popular site for finding cycling information as well as learning and discussing cycling news and events.

 

via the Toronto Star:

A sign that went up quietly last week prohibits electric bikes from using the Martin Goodman Trail.

Perched at the entrance near Bathurst St. and Queens Quay W., the sign is raising the ire of electric bike (or e-bike) users.

The ban is “inconsistent” with the shift to greener ways of travel, said Lock Hughes, treasurer of the Toronto Electric Riders Association, which represents users of electric two-wheelers.

He added that the ban on “motor power assisted bikes” is vague and can refer to anything from an e-bike to a scooter or Segway, which are all different sizes and speeds. E-bikes generally resemble conventional bicycles but with a small motor.

A city bylaw restricts the use of bike paths to bicycles, defined as vehicles operating solely on “muscular power,” Lukasz Pawlowski of Transportation Services said, adding staff are in discussions to rework the term.

Read the full article at the Star

[photo from the Star]

This is another case of treating the symptoms rather than the cause of a problem.

According to the Star, there are plans to “crack down” on cyclists riding on sidewalks:

Cycling on the sidewalk has become “a huge issue” in cities across the province within the last five years. But the laws governing it are inconsistent and moves to update them have been slow.

“There isn’t enough teeth in the law,” said Sgt. Angelo Costa, the traffic sergeant in 31 Division where the incident occurred. “All I can do is stop a cyclist, he has to identify himself to me and I can give him a ticket. There isn’t anything else . . . that’s going to change his behaviour.”

In January, Toronto’s public works committee recommended that council work on a strategy to get cyclists off the sidewalks.

The police services board then discussed the issue in July and sent a report on harmonizing and enforcing sidewalk cycling bylaws back to the committee.

This is all fine and good… let’s increase the fines for sidewalk cycling.

However, this entire Star article (plus most discussions of this issue) ignores the cause of sidewalk cycling… that cyclists (especially in the old boroughs and suburbs of Toronto) do not feel safe on the road because:

1. there is NO cycling infrastructure
2. posted speed limits for cars are often 80 km/h… and most cars do far above that, usually close to 100 km/h.

As a result, most cyclists in these areas take the sidewalk because it’s safer, and the sidewalks are mostly deserted because hardly anyone actually uses the sidewalks in the old boroughs and suburbs.

If you’re going to crack down on sidewalk cyclists, at least give them a safe alternative.

 

BikingToronto and Bikes without Borders proudly present:

Tweed Ride Toronto – Sat. Oct. 15th

Leaving from the Trinity-Bellwoods Park Gates at 3pm

Tweed Rides are a worldwide phenomenon – a metropolitan ride with style!

Dress up in tweeds and join us for a bicycle ride through the streets and raise money for a good cause. Similar rides have taken place in locations such as New York, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo. This past year London registration sold out in seven minutes with more than 500 participants and celebrities such as Ewan MacGregor taking part.

Register here and guarantee your spot (space is limited!): https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=76618

On Saturday October 15th we will gather at the Trinity-Bellwoods Park Gates for a 3pm departure. With the sound of the bell we will take to the streets for a lovely ride. Participants will leisurely take in some of the city’s finest landmarks and break for high tea in The Grange Park with renowned cycling co-operative Urbane Cyclist. Special prizes will be awarded for Top Notch Tea Cup, Best in Tweed, Tweediest Bicycle, Fundraiser Extraordinaire and much more. We will end the day with a jumping two-floor big band party at the historical Dovercourt House at 805 Dovercourt Rd. (1 block north of Bloor St. West).

So lets do it up…classic tweed or any smart and dapper looking outfit to recreate the spirit of this bygone era will be appreciated, and while all bicycles are acceptable, Penny Farthings are especially welcome.

And dear friends it’s all in the spirit of charity. Funds raised will support Bikes Without Borders, a non-profit organization dedicated to using bikes and bike related solutions as a tool for development in marginalized communities.

By registering yourself ahead of time you are confirming your spot and securing your ticket to the swingin’ after party! Registration is $15 per person, or register a team (a.k.a. Tweam) it’s more fun that way!

Come one, come all, lets party like its 1899!

 

Register for the Ride – $15/rider, all money goes to Bikes without Borders

Follow the Tweed Ride on social media:

• “Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TweedRideTO
• Follow the event itself with our Facebook Event listing
• Follow the Tweed Ride on Twitter – @TweedRideTO

 

http://bikingtoronto.com/

http://www.bikeswithoutborders.org/

via OMG/Yahoo:

They might be used to fancy rides in stretch limos, but Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel couldn’t resist enjoying the summer air in Toronto over the weekend. The A-list pair was photographed enjoying a romantic bicycle ride on Queen Street West on Aug. 28.
…
This photo (obtained by eTalk) shows Mr. “SexyBack” himself cycling with Biel through the streets of the Big Smoke on the weekend. You can even see one of the city’s trademark streetcars in the background. Biel is currently in Toronto filming the remake of “Total Recall” with Colin Farrell, and it’s very sweet of J.T. to come visit and take her out on one of her days off.

My most vivid memory from my many years of riding in the Ride for Heart is riding along and having a tandem bike come up along beside me.  I thought nothing of it other than “cool! a tandem!” until I looked at the people riding it and saw Jack  and Olivia.

I nearly fell off my bike.

Thanks for your inspiration Jack.  I feel lucky to have lived in your riding of Toronto-Danforth for 6 years and actually getting to vote for you federally.

 

Via Not Far From the Tree‘s Flickr:

“A fleet of 7 new cargo bikes are hitting the streets today for Not Far From The Tree to distribute fresh fruit picked from Toronto’s trees.”

About Not Far From the Tree:

Not Far From The Tree puts Toronto’s fruit to good use by picking and sharing the bounty.

When a homeowner can’t keep up with the abundant harvest produced by their tree, they let us know and we mobilize our volunteers to pick the bounty. The harvest is split three ways: 1/3 is offered to the tree owner, 1/3 is shared among the volunteers, and 1/3 is delivered by bicycle to be donated to food banks, shelters, and community kitchens in the neighbourhood so that we’re putting this existing source of fresh fruit to good use. It’s a win-win-win situation!

This simple act has profound impact. With an incredible crew of volunteers, we’re making good use of healthy food, addressing climate change with hands-on community action, and building community by sharing the urban abundance.

 

 

There’s been a lot of work going on to organize a Tweed Ride for Toronto over the past couple of months, with another 6 weeks of organizing to go before the ride on Sat, Sept. 24.

BUT… we are extremely happy to release the 2011 Tweed Ride Toronto Poster!

This awesome poster was designed by Hyedie Hashimoto of Happy D Designs, and *perfectly* captures the spirit of the ride we are planning – Tweedy style with a focus on Toronto (you may notice the old 1930s skyline superimposed on a current 21st century skyline).

Thanks Hyedie!

Mark your calendars for Sat, Sept. 24th, and check out the facebook event page for the ride!

The ride has an  registration of $10 which goes to Bikes without Borders, and gains you entry into the after ride party (which we’ll be releasing details about soon).

Be sure and keep up to date on the Tweed Ride by liking the Facebook page and following @TweedRideTO on twitter!

If you’d like to help organize/get the word out/help in any way, shoot me an email at joe@bikingtoronto.com