Bikes, bike lanes and infrastructure, cycling road rules (and rule-breakers), video surveillance of cyclists and the number of cyclists on Vancouver streets became some of our most read stories and columns this year.
The editorial team at the Courier even made the two-wheeler, person-powered machine its newsmaker of 2010, in large part because of reader engagement and feedback.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Australia - NSW motorists to pay the price for city cyclists' safety
Under a proposal from the powerful State Government StaySafe committee, cyclists would have their own green traffic signals to get a head start over vehicles - similar to lights currently in use for government buses.
The City of Sydney Council, headed by cycling queen Clover Moore, told the committee it wanted speed limits dropped to 30km/h in CBD streets not yet torn up to accommodate cyclists - but bike riders will pay for none of the costly proposals.
The City of Sydney Council, headed by cycling queen Clover Moore, told the committee it wanted speed limits dropped to 30km/h in CBD streets not yet torn up to accommodate cyclists - but bike riders will pay for none of the costly proposals.
Report urges more skateboarding parks for underserved Calgary
More than a decade after opening Shaw Millennium Park, the city is acknowledging in a new report the skater-filled suburbs deserve one new mid-size skate park in every city quadrant.
The document notes that Calgary also has two smaller skate parks at McKenzie Towne and the west-side recreation centre - as well as three portable parks it shifts around the city. But that's a dismal tally compared to smaller prairie cities such as Edmonton (11 parks), Winnipeg (8) and Saskatoon (6), to say nothing of Greater Vancouver (18).
The document notes that Calgary also has two smaller skate parks at McKenzie Towne and the west-side recreation centre - as well as three portable parks it shifts around the city. But that's a dismal tally compared to smaller prairie cities such as Edmonton (11 parks), Winnipeg (8) and Saskatoon (6), to say nothing of Greater Vancouver (18).
Skateboarders aim to flip commuter bans
To most, skateboarding is a sport featuring half-pipes and high-flying riders performing daredevil tricks.
To Ryan Seymour, it represents something much more basic: transportation. He would like to commute to his job managing the city-run Food Lion Skatepark in downtown Asheville, from his apartment in the nearby Montford neighborhood.
To Ryan Seymour, it represents something much more basic: transportation. He would like to commute to his job managing the city-run Food Lion Skatepark in downtown Asheville, from his apartment in the nearby Montford neighborhood.
Winnipeg - Rehab project could bridge conflict gap
Tighter safety measures could help bridge the gap between the needs of cyclists and pedestrians at one of Winnipeg’s busiest bottlenecks.
The first option is the preferred blueprint recommended by the city’s Neighbourhood Advisory Committee. It includes revamping the bridge with separate sidewalks and bike lanes for pedestrians and cyclists in both southbound and northbound directions. Concrete shoulder barriers would separate the two lanes. The second includes a multi-use pedestrian-cycle lane next to the southbound lanes of the bridge.
The first option is the preferred blueprint recommended by the city’s Neighbourhood Advisory Committee. It includes revamping the bridge with separate sidewalks and bike lanes for pedestrians and cyclists in both southbound and northbound directions. Concrete shoulder barriers would separate the two lanes. The second includes a multi-use pedestrian-cycle lane next to the southbound lanes of the bridge.
Fun urban planning by ... children
Montreal Urban Ecology Centre gives N.D.G. students cameras and asks them to pinpoint trouble spots and for their suggestions on how to make the neighbourhood safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and cyclists.
Video - The Fattest Place on Earth
I found this seven minute video about the tiny island nation of Nauru quite thought-provoking. -MH
Fitness targets to be lowered for Canadians
Canada's new physical activity guidelines, due later this month from the Public Health Agency of Canada, lower the targets to 60 minutes a day for kids and 150 minutes a week for adults — changes that reflect the latest research and harmonize standards with the World Health Organization and U.S. and U.K. authorities.
Doctor urges new view of obesity
"I think one of the biggest misconceptions when we talk about obesity in general is that obese people are obese largely because of their lifestyles and because of the way that they live," Dr. Arya Sharma of the University of Alberta, told CBC News.
Canadians not as healthy as they think: poll
Many Canadians are deluding themselves about their weight, a poll released Monday for CBC News suggests. When asked if they're overweight, 44 per cent said yes, with seven per cent admitting to being obese. The reality is worse, said Dr. Arya Sharma of the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
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