Sunday, May 22, 2011

Should we label cars the way we label cigarettes?

Maybe the flashing skeleton will get their attention. That's what the New York City Department of Transportation is hoping, anyway. The city announced yesterday that it will start using electronic message boards saying "Speed Limit 30" and "Slow Down" with a skeleton figure in an attempt to get drivers to stop speeding.

The city has also unveiled a billboard with a half-skull, half-child's face image to bring home the message that when someone is hit at 40 mph, there is a 70 percent chance they'll be killed; at 30 mph, there's an 80 percent chance they'll live.

Ottawa - Councillor plans to vote for Bixi next year

The city should make room in its budget for the Capital Bixi bike-sharing program next year, says Rideau-Vanier councillor Mathieu Fleury. “We need the support of other councillors, and I’m hopeful we can get it,” says Fleury, who plans to vote in favour of the project the next time it comes before city council.

The Bixi program, which has also launched in Montreal and Toronto, will launch in Ottawa on May 18 with the financial support of the National Capital Commission. Under the original plan, the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau were also supposed to support the project—which would have included 50 stations and 500 bicycles in the National Capital Region.

Instead, the program will launch with 10 stations and 100 bikes around the downtown core and near the Ottawa River in Gatineau.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Nova Scotia Rural Active Transportation Summit

Dundee Resort, Richmond County, June 9-10, 2011.

Conference - Changing Lanes: Improving the Bike-Car Relationship on Canada's Roads

As part of our commitment to further the bike-car discussion, CAA is hosting a national conference on the topic. Changing Lanes: Improving the Bike-Car Relationship on Canada’s Roads will be hosted on May 25th, 2011, in Vancouver, B.C. The conference will bring together leading international and domestic experts to discuss the latest thinking on bike/car safety, infrastructure, and the business opportunities and costs of increasing the presence of bicycles in our cities.

2010 Active Healthy Kids Report Card

According to newly released data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, only 9% of boys and 4% of girls meet the new Canadian Physical Activity guidelines.

Canada's Grade: F.

Brisk Walking Could Improve Prostate Cancer Outcomes

Men with prostate cancer can improve their outcomes if they walk briskly for at least three hours a week following their diagnosis, according to a recent study in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

“It appears that men who walk briskly after their diagnosis may delay or even prevent progression of their disease,” said lead researcher Erin Richman, Sc.D., a research associate at the University of California, San Francisco. Richman said the evidence adds to the growing body of literature that suggests walking regularly may prevent a variety of adverse health problems, including cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

“Walking is something everyone can and should do to improve their health,” she said.

Winnipeg - Hey, cyclists — smarten up

I hope cops ticket every single cyclist on the Osborne Bridge.

In recent years, I’ve come out in defence of cyclists on a number of occasions, mostly because I ride my bike regularly and support active transportation. But I have zero sympathy for cyclists who get ticketed for riding on the sidewalk. They know the rules and they break them. Cry me a river.

Ambitious bike plan proposed - 712 km over next 20 years

[Essex] County council received Wednesday a countywide active transportation plan that will add 712 kilometres of cycling and walking trails to the county over the next 20 years.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Golden BC - Town to launch Bike Share

Whether you’re a bike lover or just excited by cutting-edge community initiatives, there’s good news coming your way : The Town of Golden’s Community Bike Share program will be launched next week.
The program, announced last fall, features 15 bikes that can be dropped off and picked up at 2 Cycle Stations in town.

Montreal’s Bixi pedals hard for more funds from the city

The not-for-profit, city-owned corporation that developed the Bixi bike system went cap-in-hand to city hall on Tuesday, getting approval for $108-million in loans and guarantees.

Controversy on Type Approval Regulations for e-Bikes

MEPs are being lobbied by representatives of the industry associations as well as the European Cyclist Federation (ECF) who argue that more electric bicycles and light electric vehicles on the road will endanger the safety of ‘conventional’ cyclists.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Bixi didn't steer well while pedalling to success

Urgently in need of funds to pay an overdue debt, Bixi was in danger of shutting down its 400 stations and removing 5,000 bicycles - or as many as could be retrieved in the ensuing chaos.