Urban cycling Magazine: A story for change | Winter issue

SPOTLIGHT: Taking a tour of inspiration

URBAN CYCLING: On Cargo Bikes

URBAN CYCLING

WINTER ISSUE

TRENDING: Taking cues from the cycling capital of the world

inside

STAPLES 03 LETTER from Susan 04 EDITOR’S NOTES 07 SPOTLIGHT: At the Heart 12 TRENDING: And Then There Was Light

18 Lifestyle: Why the

Future is Ours to Mold

24 URBAN LIFESTYLE: On Cargo Bikes 29 CONTACT & SUBSCRIBE: Share your stories

UrbanCycling@levelovictoria.co

https://levelovictoria.co

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D

from ear Friends,

people I get to work with, including local

Welcome to our second issue of our

businesses where we share our mobile pop-up

Urban Cycling Magazine: A Story for

shop and the people I interview and get

Change.

inspiration from. You'll get to meet some of them

I have never been more inspired and excited to be part

inside this magazine. I know they will inspire you

of the Urban Cycling Movement and to share the work I

too.

feel so blessed to do.The inspiration fuelling me right now has to do with the upcoming changes to Victoria's

We'd love to have you join our community too and

infrastructure and to be part of this community by

share your stories of urban cycling, and who

sharing our insights and inspiration to get new riders out

knows, maybe you'll be inspiring thousands of

on their bicycles riding more often is a pleasure to be

others when we create the next issue of Urban

part of.

Cycling Magazine.

The passion I have for my business and lifestyle brand,

Much gratitude,

Le VĂŠlo Victoria is largely driven by the amazing

EDITOR'S NOTE Written by Susan Stokhof Editor & Founder of Le VĂŠlo Victoria

If I were to have a New Years' goal it would be this: Creativity is inventing experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun. ~ Mary Lou Cook

U

pcoming changes to our transportation infrastructure in Victoria will provide creative opportunities for everyone to get curious about different means of traveling around our beautiful cityscape.

Biketownyyj is a celebration of cycling in Victoria.

Our gorgeous city is the backdrop for this video, which features people and places in YYJ, including our Mayor, Lisa Helps and yours truly. (I'm in the background wearing the sunglasses to the left of the Mayor).

This fuels my passion for urban cycling and the changes this transportation mode shift will bring to our city.

It is this passion that I was so happy to participate in the #Biketownyyj music video.

Find #BikeTownYYJ here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ntPIofoy_RU

URBAN CYCLNG Â MAGAZINE

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cycling capital of

C

canada?

ycling capital of Canada, well we're not quite there yet. In 1990 local cycling advocates naively declared YYJ the cycling capital of Canada. This moniker has been loosely hanging over our heads ever since. In terms of topography, weather and great places to ride to, with no shortage of coffee shops to enjoy, then I guess we are the cycling capital of Canada in that regard. We’re behind though in the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure realm, which makes it hard for me to agree with this statement, but what I think this video does is show what’s possible when you get behind a movement that supports cycling in a fun and captivating way.

By Susan Stokhof Above photo by Matt Hulse

The video puts a smile on my face every time I watch it. Watch out Canada, maybe it's time for Victoria's uprising!

Happy Rainy Day Rain Capes You'll be the only cyclist with a smile on your face

HappyRainy Days Rain Capes | https://levelovictoria.co

AT THE HEART

FRIENDSHIPS GROW OVER COFFEE I first met Pete at a coffee shop at the Dockside Green. He was sitting with a friend after a long bike ride, sipping espresso and talking bikes.

The conversation was interesting so I joined in; I mean, who can resist bike-talking espresso drinkers, two of my favorite topics.

URBAN CYCLNG Â MAGAZINE

Pete's in our Spotlight for this edition for a few reasons; not only does he ride his bike for exercise, and yes he wears spandex/cycling kit, and yes this is everything we're not about, but this isn't the only way that Pete rides a bike.

AT THE

HEART

FRIENDSHIPS GROW OVER COFFEE

Just as much as he loves to kill it up a mountain or go off-trail, you'll find Pete riding around the urban landscape dressed for his day, no spandex, no special clothing.

You'll find him running errands and meeting friends for coffee.

Through the healing process, one of the things (besides his lovely family and friends) that kept Pete going on his journey to recovery is his bicycle or should I say his fleet of bicycles.

URBAN CYCLNG Â MAGAZINE

FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY What's special about Pete is how inspiring he is. Last year Pete received a blow to his head at work that rocked his world.

Pete talks freely about his injury on his Instagram feed and how his bike is bringing him back to feeling like himself again. His feed takes you on a journey of yes, recovery, but most importantly of inspiration.

JOY IS FOUND IN DOING You’d be hard-pressed to go through his feed and not be inspired to hop on your bike, especially because he offers more than one way to ride a bike which appeals to many riders.

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TAKING US ON A TOUR OF INSPIRATION STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU MAY BE INSPIRING

Pete's a really great photographer too with a quirky sense of humour and a side of sarcasm.

JOY IS FOUND NOT IN FINISHING

His photos take you on his journey, whether he’s in the woods or out in the town his Instagram feed is very inspiring and I encourage you to dive into it and get lost in it. In Pete’s words: "Focus on the journey, not the destination."

To add to Pete’s bailiwick of accomplishments he’s also an accomplished photographer and a really great singer. All photos are taken by Pete. Thanks for spending some time with us Pete and for sharing your story with us!

You can find Pete’s IG feed @lifeisbetterbybike

A STORY FOR CHANGE

PAGE 09

URBAN CYCLING

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AND THEN THERE WAS LIGHT

A DUTCH URBAN CYCLIST LIVING IN VICTORIA, BC.Â

The more people buy into the idea that cycling is a normal activity that millions of people partake in every single day, the faster we will see changes in our cycling infrastructure.

THE DEBATE: HOW BRIGHT SHOULD WE BE? CONSIDERATION FOR ALL USERS OF THE ROAD

Imagine, you’re on your bike traveling alongside traffic.

Approaching in the same bike lane another cyclist riding in the opposite direction and it’s getting dark. His bike light is so bright that for a brief moment you experience a total loss of vision.

Taking cues from the Dutch [I’m Dutch and speak from my experience], we have a worldclass cycling infrastructure in Holland where bright lights are not necessary. Don’t get me wrong, cycling with lights is a smart idea.

TAKING CUES FROM THE CAPITAL CYCLING CITY OF THE WORLD

WE WANT AS MANY PEOPLE RIDING AS POSSIBLE

These bright lights can be a real safety hazard. I’m all for lights on bikes but not at the expense of someone else’s safety.

As the infrastructure changes and improves in Victoria (or any North American City), so will our cycling habits. So let's take this a step further and start cycling like the Dutch in Four easy steps.

URBAN CYCLING MAGAZINE

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4 STEPS I eat to enjoy the food | I drink to enjoy the wine | I ride so I can enjoy the freedom

ON DUTCH

1. On Lights: Pointing lights downwards helps you to see the path you are cycling on, especially on cycling paths outside of city lights.

Don’t worry, your light can still be seen by oncoming cyclists and motorists, plus it removes the possibility of your light shining in the eyes of oncoming cyclists and motorists.

Amsterdam, affectionately known as "Bike Town".

2. City Cycling: There is a fine line between needing to be seen and blinding people around you with bright lights. My suggestion, adjust your front light. It needs to be high enough so that on-coming traffic, pedestrians, as well as people on bikes can see you but not be blinded by you.

This can make for dangerous conditions for everyone on the road.

Continued next page

4 STEPS TO CYCLING LIKE THE DUTCH Lets talk strobe

3. Strobe function: A great suggestion is to never use it on city streets and avoid shining in someone’s eyes as people just can’t see. Strobe lights can also trigger migraines that can instantly blind the affected person.

Consideration of others is necessary; we’re all in this together.

Headlamps

ON INFRASTRUCTURE 4. Headlamps: Great for camping and trail riding, but have no place in city cycling. As you move your head around in traffic you temporarily blind anyone in your path.

Home Stretch We understand the case to stay safe, but at the same time, we need to be aware that shining lights in the eyes of others is not desirable and can be dangerous.

What this article really showcases is the need to focus more on promoting our city as a bicycle-friendly one where the fear of not being seen doesn’t

Infrastructure is more than encouraging people to ride their bikes.

Instituting separated infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians as well as creating other modes of transportation will go a long way in getting us to a place where cyclists and pedestrians receive the absolute respect of all road users.

In the Netherlands there is clarity in the power gap between these modes of transportation; drivers show unconditional respect to cyclists & pedestrians and they fully understand that it is their responsibility for the safety of others. We've got a long road ahead of us to bring British Columbia to this level of maturity.

As I understand it, the City has financial obligations where pedestrians & cyclists, emergency vehicles and transit budgets all come before road maintenance and road infrastructure for vehicles. This is really about our policy-makers and community leaders understanding their priorities and their distribution of responsibilities to its citizens and this should be clear, as it is in the Netherlands. When this happens the fear to be lit up will dissipate.

By Laszlo Stokhof

16

BECAUSE LIFE CONTINUES OFF THE BIKE.Â

Hill & Ellis Leather Bags & Panniers | https://levelovictoria.co

Lifestyle

Urban Cycling

Jan/Mar 2017

WHY THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MOLD

T

he debate whether to wear a helmet or not will always be a hot topic. That, however, is not what this post is about, rather I want to delve into the unique opportunity the Hรถvding helmet presents and discuss some of the questions that may arise as it makes its way into the Canadian market.

INTERVIEW WITH CURTIS SMITH, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

By Susan Stokhof Photographer Source: Jonas Ingerstedt

Photograph Credits Hövding | http://www.hovding.com

My request was simple, or so I thought.

I was interested to know what the Ministry of Justice, specifically the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles (responsible for the Motor Vehicle Act), had to say about the HÖvding invisible helmet?

Before we begin let’s take a step back for a second and chat helmets. When we talk about helmets inevitably one connects it to the helmet laws that we have in British Columbia and to safety. The more people link cycling to helmets the message becomes clear, cycling is unsafe.

I have had many conversations about helmets (to wear or not to wear) and many people do not want to wear them and it's not for the reasons you may think. Some carry cheap helmets around with them as they ride, in case they are stopped by a law enforcement officer.

Our sources tell us they would rather have the cheap helmet then receive a traffic ticket. The Motivation not to wear a helmet is outweighed by the possibility of receiving a ticket. This is mainly the student population who can't afford the price of ticket violation and understandably so.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE Photograph Credits Hรถvding | http://www.hovding.com Photographer Source: Hannes Sรถderlund

WHY THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MOLD Yes, helmets can potentially mitigate the effects of a collision but, cannot stop a collision from happening, neither can the use of reflective clothing and cycling gear. This is, however, a symptom of an immature infrastructure that is not safe.

First off, what is the Hövding?

The Hövding is the world's first airbag for cyclists that is actually a collar that creates an airbag for your head on impact, it retails for about $600 USD. The Hövding is the result of intensive research, dating back to 2005. Through advanced sensors, Hövding can sense a cyclist's movement patterns and will inflate in case of an accident.

I don't believe the Hövding is the answer to our helmet debate, in fact, there shouldn't be a debate. This topic is only to provide options to individuals. Wear a helmet, don't wear a helmet. As you read on - warning, spoil alert... there is no plan to make changes to the helmet regulations and this is why I think the future is ours to mold and to wear or not to wear, it should be up to the individual to decide

We have to go back to infrastructure to clear this up and look abroad to the Cities that are doing it right, Amsterdam and Copenhagen are two great examples.

Neither city has a helmet law. They also have the highest number of people who commute by bicycle.

This post is about whether our policy-makers would accept the invisible helmet as a viable alternative to the traditional bicycle helmet?

We provided Smith, in the Ministry of Justice, the necessary links to the website, along with the tests and the certification information; I waited exactly 2 months for their reply.

Photograph Credits Hövding | http://www.hovding.com Photographer Source: Hannes Söderlund

Smith is from the Ministry of Justice, he replied with the following: “Our policy unit advises that they do not believe that the Invisible Helmet meets the current regulations, so as described, under the act a police officer could issue a violation ticket for not wearing a helmet despite wearing the Hövding unit. At this time they advise that they are not planning to move forward with any changes to the current regs re: helmets that would allow the Hövding unit to be included”.

Hövding is CE marked after undergoing an extensive process for approval by SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.

CE marking is required for a cycle helmet to be able to be sold in Europe and certifies that the helmet complies with the requirements laid down in the EU Directive for personal protective equipment.

Is the Motor Vehicle Act (referencing the helmet regulations) more about optics then common sense? We’ll let you be the judge.

By: Susan Stokhof Issue 27 | 234

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The Maxi Cost: The Maxi Cosi adapter can be mounted in the frame.

A cargo bike in your life?

Cargo bikes have been around a long, long time – actually since the advent of the bicycle about 100 years ago. These are bicycles with some sort of enhanced carrying capacity for people or goods. They often have a large box either in front or behind the rider and they can have two wheels or more. Cargo bikes have a long history in cycling cities in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Historically, these bikes have been large, heavy, difficult to maneuver, and slow. But in the last decade or so, innovations in the cargo bike industry have resulted in lighter frames, better agility, and general design improvements. Plus, electric-assist technology has been hugely beneficial for maneuvering and speed.

We sat down with Jorrit Kreek, CEO and Founder of Urban Arrow, a Dutch cargo bike company based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The company has been around for a decade and has seen tremendous growth and interest in cargo bikes. Jorrit gives us an insider’s perspective on Urban Arrow and cargo bikes in general.

THE NEXT FRONTIER IN URBAN MOBILITY?

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU STARTED URBAN ARROW? In the Netherlands you often see these big, boxy cargo bikes (the Dutch word is bakfiets) that look impossible to steer, especially in an urban environment. We thought they looked quite, well, clunky – not very sleek or modern. Danish cargo bikes, the 3-wheelers, were similarly big and cumbersome (and slow). There’s a few other Danish cargo bikes that are more modern, but they are not upright bicycles. Plus, there seemed to be a clear distinction between cargo bikes for families and cargo bikes for businesses. We took an inventory of all the cargo bikes and found a major gap in the market: a sleek, modern, upright cargo bike that works for women, men, families and businesses.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY AN UPRIGHT BIKE AND WHY IS THAT BENEFICIAL? Upright bicycles are what you often find in the Netherlands. It means the rider is sitting up, almost perpendicular to the bike. It’s the nicest way to ride because you can be more aware of your surroundings, you can easily see shops and people around you. Also, riding upright means you usually ride with your center of gravity completely balanced, you ride a bit slower, too, and hardly ever break a sweat. Riding balanced and slower means added safety.

CITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR BIKE-FRIENDLY STREETS. IS THAT A REQUIREMENT FOR RIDING A CARGO BIKE? Not necessarily. We hear from (and see) plenty of happy customers all over the world riding on all types of streets. No city has perfect bicycle infrastructure. In Amsterdam, most streets are shared between bicycles and cars. This bike is great (and safe) for a majority of city streets and it also helps to have a sense of confidence while riding a cargo bike. Plus, cargo bikes are still new to many drivers so they slow down anyway to get a look!

WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESSES BUY URBAN ARROW BIKES? Although most of our bikes are bought by families, we’re seeing a huge increase in small business customers. Our bikes are all electric-assist and modular, so depending on the business’ needs you can customize the frame and the “box.” We’ve worked all types of delivery and courier businesses, like UPS and Stuart (UK), or start-up home delivery services. My personal favorite is the CycloPlombier, a plumber in Paris who rides his Urban Arrow all over the city fixing leaky sinks and toilets. We also just finished a fleet of custom extra-large cargo bikes for Dutch supermarketgiant Albert Heijn for their home delivery service. I love seeing the creativity in using cargo bikes for all these different small businesses.

continued next page

Photograph | Doormeal, a Dutch food delivery service, has a fleet of Urban Arrow cargo bikes that keep meals hot or cold.

THE BRAND’S MOTTO IS THE “FIRST ELECTRIC CAR ON TWO WHEELS.” CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

"So there’s a trade-off that needs to happen: people have to change their habits and way of thinking just a little bit."

Our hope is that if a family or a small business is tempted to get a second car, they consider an Urban Arrow instead. Not only can the bike carry 100kg of load and easily go 25km/hr comfortably, it’s way more fun than a car – and you can park it anywhere! No more circling for a parking spot.

Think of all the gas and time a family would save if even just one or 2 trips per day were by bike instead of by car. It might be tough to imagine, but all you have to do is try it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR CARGO BIKES?

SPEAKING OF TRYING, WHERE CAN WE TRY AN URBAN ARROW? We now export our cargo bikes to 18 countries worldwide, including US, Australia and most of Europe. We just sealed a deal with a Toronto bike shop, so we’re officially now entering the Canadian marketplace. So if you know of a bike shop in Victoria or Vancouver area, let us know!

If you look at the facts – urban populations are growing, space is limited, traffic and congestion is at record highs, public health is decreasing, and so on – you can’t help but question the role of the private vehicle in our cities, businesses and everyday lives.

Certainly the car is here to stay, at least for the next few generations, but cities simply don’t have the space to offer everyone a nice little parking spot in front of every destination. So there’s a trade-off that needs to happen: people have to change their habits and way of thinking just a little bit. And cargo bikes can help make that shift easier. It just takes a little guts and a little practice. But once you start, I promise it’s a ride you won’t forget.

URBAN CYCLING MAGAZINE

Typical Dutch - In the Netherlands it's very common to see cargo bikes with children or goods all over the city.

Other ways you can reach out to Urban Arrow:

Shorty: Another version of the Urban Arrow cargo bike - a shorter but deeper box with a seat built in.

Interviewed and written by Meredith Glaser

@urbanarrow @urbanarrow @urbanarrowcom

In the Netherlands you often see big, boxy cargo bikes (the Dutch word is bakfiets).

Happy customers: The cargo bike is super spacious and can easily hold 3-4 children plus groceries.

Meredith is a researcher at the Urban Cycling Institute at the University of Amsterdam and lead editor of Amsterdam Cycle Chic.

She lives in Amsterdam with her husband, daughter, 4 bikes and no car.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT URBAN ARROW VISIT WWW.URBANARROW.COM

Photograph bottom right | The CycloPlombier in Paris has all his tools for everyday plumbing needs in his Urban Arrow cargo bike. Since switching to a bike from a van, he says he can see more customers, faster, and in the end he sees a net positive return on investment.

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Urban Cycling

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At the Heart

Trending

At the Heart is about people who are shaping the urban cycling scene, inspiring people, and in some way are making a difference to anyone who wants to ride a bicycle.

Our guest writer is a trained physiotherapist (with magic hands of steel) an urban rider who grew up in the Netherlands and knows what good cycling infrastructure is all about. He’s the real deal.

A Story for Change This magazine is about changing the status quo in the cycling world in our own backyard. We believe that you don't have to wear spandex when you ride a bicycle because cycling isn't just for sport.

Susan Stokhof, Founder

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We're bringing sexy back to cycling one post at a time. You can find us @le_velo_victoria

CONTACT US If you’ve got something to say, we want to hear it. Have a comment or a story to share?

Reach out to us at: UrbanCycling@levelovictoria.co

Photograph Credits HappyRainyDays | http://happyrainydays.com/nl/

SUBSCRIBE &BE AMUSED

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