Two bits of happy news for Canadian cyclists today!
Vancouver to Host the 2012 Velo-city Global conference
The City has just announced that Vancouver will be hosting the prestigious Velo-city Global conference in June, 2012. This will be the first time since 1996 that the conference has been held outside of Europe. Despite yet more disengenuous protestations from Suzan Anton, the reality is that conferences are an important part of Vancouver’s economy.
Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver, points out:
“Not only will Velo-City generate business for the local tourism industry, it reinforces Vancouver’s reputation as a clean and green travel destination with exceptional offerings for cyclists.”
It will also be a huge shot in the arm for the Vancouver cycling scene. According to Mayor Gregor Robertson, the Velo-city Global 2012 conference will bring around 1,000 cycling specialists to the city, to talk about the rapidly growing role of cycling in urban transportation – and to see the progress Vancouver has made in developing Vancouver cycling infrastructure.
I am already scheming about how to get to the conference and learn from this assembly of cycling experts!
Toronto’s Bixi Program is a GO!
Toronto cycling is set to make a huge leap forward. Toronto has been hoping to launch its bike sharing Bixi program in May 2011 (and I’ve been hoping they will succeed, as this will give me an excuse to visit Toronto – a city that I really love).
Chances are looking good, as the City of Toronto has just reached its goal of 1,000 subscribers. Interestingly, this was made possible by the car sharing company, AutoShare, which just bought 100 annual memberships (and also by ING Direct, which provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorship). Bixi Toronto will be run by Public Bike System Company; and will be modelled on the successful Bixi system used in Montréal. It is certain to improve the state of Toronto cycling.
I can’t wait to see Toronto from the seat of a Bixi! (The only thing that would make me happier is to see Vancouver from the seat of a Bixi.)
My mother always taught me that good things come in three – so it’s worrying me that I’ve only got two. I suspect there’s a third bit of happy news in Candadian cycling – can someone tell me what it is?
There is a magical time in the city that most bikers miss and that time is 5 AM
The world is asleep the city streets are your playground and its quiet so very quiet.
Have I mentioned watching the sun rise from Grandville island yet?
Slap a dozen lights on your ride chart a course for your fav all night coffee shop and greet the day with a grin.
Hey Mike, great idea! I will definitely try this – one day when I can get up that early. I do often see the sunrise on the way to work, but at the moment there are already cars out on my route at sunrise.
Commuting all year round sure is fun, I’ve been without a car for almost six years now – seeing the city at 5am is a wonderous thing. I recently commuted home at 330am from Park Royal after working on a movie set, its amazing what you see and don’t see and more amazing is what you hear and don’t hear at this time of day.
Great to hear about how joyful the experience of being car-free can be. 🙂 A lot of the time we tend to focus on how difficult it is – it is important to remember the unexpected joys too