Obstacles on cycle routes lead to cyclist injury and death. Cycle routes are routinely blocked by police cars, roadworks, snow and even ducks! Cyclists are expected to fly or die. Why can’t people understand that bikes don’t fly?
Vancouver Cycling Infrastructure: New walk and bike Burrard Bridge approach from Kitsilano via York St
The City of Vancouver just keeps on improving the cycling infrastructure, making life safer and more fun for everyone who bikes in the city. Read about Great Bike Rides in and Around Vancouver Here – Vancouver Cycling Here’s a video about the new walk and bike Burrard Bridge approach from Kitsilano via York St. The […]
Protected Bike Lanes Benefits
Protected bike lanes offer safety benefits to cyclists, pedestrians and motorists; health benefits to everyone; and promote business.
How to Report a Road Maintenance or Safety Issue to the City of Vancouver
If there’s something unsafe in your neighborhood – Who you gonna call? In the City of Vancouver, call 311 for help with bike safety or road maintenance issues.
Bikes and Blossoms: Vancouver in the Spring
Spring is finally, really here. I saw the first sleeveless-cyclist on Granville today! And the trees are blossoming. Just went out today to photograph some of the beautiful cherry blossoms, and everywhere I went, there were bikes and blossoms – happy days! Here are some photos taken at Burrard and Melville.
Let’s make bike routes in Vancouver safer
The Vancouver Park Board abandoned the plan for a new bike path at Kits Beach on February 17th, 2014. BUT they said that some of the money would be re-allocated to other pedestrian and cycling safety priorities. I’m all for that! In fact, on balance, I would rather be able to bike to work safely […]
News Flash: Cyclists and Gays are REGULAR PEOPLE (and spend money)
A new report out of Victoria reflects the fact that cyclists and pedestrians actually DO SPEND MONEY, and therefore should be embraced by business. I have been saying this for a long time. But the businesses on Hornby and Dunsmuir and Union Streets that got hysterical because they would lose a few parking spots to […]
UPDATE: Email Todd Stone about Safety Improvements along Stanley Park Causeway
On May 25th a 61-year-old cyclist was killed on the Stanley Park Causeway. Apparently she was trying to get by a pedestrian, fell off the sidewalk, and was hit by a bus. Someone at work asked me: “Whose fault was it – the cyclist’s or the pedestrian’s?” That question really made me think. It was […]
Vancouver might not be perfect for cyclists … but it’s a whole lot better than some places
On a trip to Peru, I discovered how truly blessed I am to live in Vancouver, with our separated bike lanes and (usually) polite motorists. I could not even cross the streets in Lima, which directly resulted in having to eat dead things with rubbery exploding colons.
“Bike Lanes a Disaster!” Who the Heck got to Global?
When I first immigrated to Canada I was blown away by many things – not least of which was its free press. I had spent more than three decades living under a regime that tolerated no press freedom whatsoever, so I was extremely impressed by what seemed to be an unfettered press. After watching Global […]
BCAA’s Response to my post on the Bike Assist Program
I am happy to report that I quickly heard back from BCAA Bike Assist, after my recent less than complimentary post about their services. In fact, Ken Cousin, BCAA Associate Vice President, Road Assist, went to great lengths to contact me, posting a comment on my blog, emailing me, and finally phoning. We had an […]
BCAA’s Bike Assist Program: What a Rip-off!
I am sorry to report that my first experience with the BCAA Bike Assist Program was deeply disappointing. Imagine if you paid your BCAA fees dutifully for years, seldom or never using it. Then one rainy morning your beautiful, expensive car got a flat. Then when the BCAA technician arrived to fix it, he smiled […]
Why aren’t more people using Vancouver’s new bike lanes?
Vancouver Observer just published my post, “Why aren’t more people using Vancouver’s bike lanes?” I wrote it as a response to that question, as I hear it from many of my friends. Unfortunately, it has already attracted the usual contingent of ranting cyclophobes. Ironic, seeing as I wrote it to show that such people are […]
Vancouver: No Fun City to Become No Bike City?
The Vancouver media has just launched another attack on Vancouver cyclists. On Tuesday the Vancouver Sun ran an opinion piece by Rob MacDonald entitled “Downtown Bike Routes are a Disaster”. And tonight Global headlined the news with a promise to tell us more about: “The growing anger over Bikes Lanes – why they’re very much […]
Cyclists DON’T Slow Traffic – Traffic Slows Traffic!
Just read an hilarious post about what REALLY slows motorists down – other motorists, not cyclists. Commenting on road rage (as I did in a post in the Vancouver Observer), Boston Biker advises: “If you really want to get mad at someone for all that traffic, tilt your rear view mirror down till you can […]
Can You Think of a Collective Noun for Cars?
Isn’t it strange that we have no collective noun for cars? Especially given that traffic has become the defining motif of modern society. Can YOU think of a perfect word to describe large quantities of cars?
Ethical Environmental Destruction (aka – No One is Evil as Long as Someone Else is More Evil)
Oil from Alberta’s Athabasca Oil Sands is more “ethical” than oil from the Middle East or Venezuela or Nigeria, because Canada is so much more ethical than those countries! (And let’s just not think about that pesky environmental destruction, OK?)
Magical Moments in Vancouver Cycling – and a Very Happy New Year!
I wanted to let you know that I have just started a blog called Byke Bytes in the Vancouver Observer. I have just published a post there that reviews the high points – the magical moments! – in Vancouver cycling in 2010 – please check it out at http://www.vancouverobserver.com/bikebytes/2010/12/30/magical-moments-vancouver-cycling-2010. The downside of this is that […]
If You Build It, They WILL Come: Bike Paths Lead to Increase in Cycling in Montreal
Montreal’s great cycling infrastructure has led to impressive progress towards the city’s aims: decreasing pollution by increasing cycling in Montreal, while decreasing motor vehicle use.
A Little Perspective on Costs: Knight Street Left Turns and the Hornby Bike Lane
Apparently, if money is spent on roads, no one gives a damn – but if money is spent on a bike lane, then it could suddenly become the most personal and important $3,2 million ever spent in the history of Vancouver. Am I the only one who finds this odd?
