Cycle Therapy Fall Issue

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falling to earth | riding on| being and bikingness | transforming | sensing | connecting | planning | stopping and talking | normalizing | reflecting | and more...

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CycleTherapy

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Cycle Therapy Published by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition PO Box 8586, Stn Central Victoria, BC, V8W 3S2 The GVCC’s purpose is to get more people cycling more places more often in Greater Victoria by: • Improving cycling education and making it universal for cyclists, motorists, and others dealing with bicycling • Facilitating communication between cyclists, business, government, and other community groups • Improving facilities and infrastructure for bicycle use • Improving the legal climate for cyclists • Encouraging more people to ride bicycles more often • Developing a cycling information base To contribute to Cycle Therapy, please email: cycletherapy@gvcc.bc.ca Submissions are greatly encouraged. Still, we reserve the right to edit copy in the interest of clarity or where necessary. The views expressed in Cycle Therapy are not necessarily those of the GVCC. All articles, photos and graphics published in Cycle Therapy remain the intellectual property of the authors and artists.

Visit our website: gvcc.bc.ca facebook.com/GVCCbc twitter.com/gvcc Editorial Collective: Kate Berniaz, Michael Fisher, Celina O’Connor, Jason Weedmark Editor: Kate Berniaz Design Collective: Celina O’Connor, Jason Weedmark, Ryan Mijker Contributors: Kate Berniaz, Jennifer Black, Bharat Chamdramouli, Michael Fisher, Ed Janicki, Tyson Jones, Ed Pullman, Ray Straatsma, Tony Webster, Celina O’Connor, Eden Oliver, Lise Richard, Olena Russell, Sophie Wooding, Larry Zakreski Distribution: Brenda Boyd Bike Couriers: Janet Besler, Brenda Boyd, Barry Edmonson, Forrest Nelson, John Perry, John Van Hoorn GVCC Board of Directors President: Edward Pullman Vice-president: Bharat Chandramouli Treasurer: Michael Fisher Secretary: Brenda Boyd Director: Kathleen Fraser Director: Jeremy Loveday Director: Darren Marr Director: Celina O’Connor Printed by First Choice Books & Victoria Bindery The GVCC is a proud member of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition.

On the Cover: Since getting an electric-assist bike, Aislinn Sirk and Mishka have been leaving the car at home more often. Photo: Ryan MIjker

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President’s Message Car-free, Care-free

by Edward Pullman This issue of Cycle Therapy is about how to reduce our dependency on cars. That said, I should probably begin a confession of sorts. I don’t own a car, nor am I licensed to drive one. I keep telling myself I’ll get some practice in a friend’s car and take that road test in the near future, but work and life seem to always get in the way. Hopefully I’ll have it worked out by the time my imaginary pregnant wife has to be driven to the hospital. Or we’ll just take a cab.

My lack of a motor vehicle is aided by the fact that, living in a place like Victoria, I’m not at a disadvantage by not owning a vehicle. Quite the opposite.

Everything I need, work, groceries, the gym, somewhere to have a drink and socialize, are all a short distance of where I live. I’m healthier from riding a bicycle everywhere, and get to combine my commute to work with a cardio-vascular workout. My community is healthier from not having been exposed to the emissions from my vehicle. Not having to pay for a car, auto insurance, gas and maintenance has saved me tens of thousands of dollars over the years. I’m not stuck in traffic, and experience less stress.

I attribute my lack of a license to many things (or, as my family likes to call them, ‘excuses’). When I was young, I was a bit of a slow learner. I learned to walk at 18

months, ride a bike when I was 8. I had a terrible driving instructor when I was 17.

I live in Victoria, where you hardly need a car to get around. Millennials, my generation, are abandoning cars in droves, preferring an urban lifestyle that favours walking, cycling, public transit and car shares over car ownership. While some may fret at this decline in auto sales, I think it’s a sign of the growing recognition among my generation that we need to do a better job of living within our means. Climate change, suburban sprawl and a general sentiment that cars contribute to a less healthy and sustainable lifestyle have led many young adults to conclude that they (and society) are better off if they stay car-free.

So, to quickly recap on how I reduce my car usage: don’t get one in the first place.

You won’t know what you’re missing!

Your wallet, body, mental health and fellow human will thank you.

Editor’s Message Another amazing summer in Victoriasun, music, beaches, picnics, and a whole lot of time outdoors. It is this kind of weather and lifestyle (leaving work early on a Friday, yes please) that makes it easy to leave the car at home and hop on a bike.

This issue highlights going car-free or car-lite. September 22 is car-free day, a worldwide movement to celebrate sustainable transportation. While going car free is good for your health, the environment and community, it can also be a challenge. We have cities that have been built around cars for the last century. On an individual level, we have over-scheduled, high expectation, two people with jobs at either ends of the city and kid’s dance recital is at the same time as the soccer game lifestyle. This is where car-lite comes in. I heard one person explain that giving up a car for 80% of their trips was easy, but the other 20% was more difficult and inconvenient. Car-lite is the reminder that you don’t have to give up your car completely, but there are many benefits for using your car less.

In this issue, our authors give us a diversity of perspectives on the benefits of reducing car use. For Olena Russell, it

by Kate Berniaz is building community relationships for herself and her kids. Michael Fisher explores the short and long term financial benefit of giving up your car. There is also a profile of a bakery, “Il Forno di Claudio”, whose owner has found that it makes good business sense to be carfree. Bharat Chandramouli gives great tips on how he changed his commute from car-centric to multi-modal. Celina O’Connor introduces us to a diverse group of people who have chosen bikes as an important part of their lives. And for those times when you just need a car, we have an introduction to the Victoria Car Share Co-op.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Cycle Therapy survey. We had some very informative feedback. In response, we are going to continue to focus on local content, and are looking at providing more stories on infrastructure, advocacy, and rides and trips. Congratulations to the winner of a delightful Copenhagen prize pack complete with bike bell, seat cover and shopping bag.

After a jam-packed summer, there are still lots of bike events to participate inTweed Ride, CRD webinars, Trans-Form

speaker series, the Bike Sense/British Columbia Cycling Coalition conference and more. Also, don’t forget the event of the season - the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition’s Annual General Meeting is on October 29, 2014 at the James Bay New Horizons Society. This is your chance to hear an engaging speaker and vote for new members of the Board.

Thank you for riding, Kate Editor, CT

Letter to the Editor As I read your spring 2014 issue, with the emphasis on multimodal cycling, I was reminded of one of the many reasons I like to bike ... because biking can be combined with so many other enjoyable activities. For example, today I went grocery shopping, pulling my bike trailer to the store with my 75 lb German Shepherd along for the ride. And once we got there, I filled the trailer with my shopping and my dog got in some of her daily exercise running back home alongside of me. Gotta love that safe clear path on the Galloping Goose!

As for camping, I now much prefer to let my bike (or my bike trailer) carry the load rather than backpacking. Accordingly, I have optimised my bicycle and camping gear for flexibility, modularity, scalability and versatility. And if I ever become totally committed (or perhaps committable?), I have the option of loading my folding bike and folding trailer into my folding kayak and paddling off into my next adventure. OR, throwing the whole bagged-up load into a van, a bus, a train, or a plane, to go off to some distant exotic location. New Zealand perhaps? Repeat until done ... until done do.

My recipe for a happy and healthy retirement.

Larry Zakreski Formerly a contributor to MOMENTUM Magazine and author of THE BUDGET BACKPACKER.

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Upcoming Events Since our last issue, the GVCC: •

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Webinars

Was instrumental in the adoption of the City of Victoria’s new Bicycle Master Plan by providing ongoing feedback to the city of Victoria throughout the process, promoting public engagement opportunities, and speaking at Council meetings. Held a rally in front of City Hall to support the endorsement of the new plan.

This fall, the CRD is hosting Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals webinars over the lunch hour (12:00-1:00pm). Bring your lunch and participate in a free, engaging and informative webinar.

Campaigned for a 2-way cycle track on Pandora Ave through meetings with City of Victoria staff and Council.

In July, Council authorized staff to explore the option of a 2-way cycle track, which would provide a high quality and direct connection off the Galloping Goose Trail at the Johnson Street Bridge.

Design Treatments to Transition from Trails to Roadways, October 15, 2014, CRD Parks (490 Atkins Avenue, Langford, BC)

Hosted 3 theme rides:

Optimize Signals for Pedestrians and Bicyclists, September 14, 2014, CRD Office (645 Fisgard)

E-bikes, Electric Assist Bikes, and Transportation Policy, November 19, 2014, Location: TBA

Speaker Series

-Scenic Murals -Magical Historical (with noted historian John Adams who led a route that explored First Nations sites, including the new Wellness Centre in Esquimalt) -AIBC/GVCC Architectural Tour •

Hosted Trans-Form Speakers Series #1 and #2 in collaboration with the CRD. -Chris and Melissa Bruntlett of Modacity (www.mo dacitylife.com) and Cycle Chic Vancouver (www.modacitylife.com) spoke at St Ann’s Academy in July.

-Dr. Meagan Winters (cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca) & Dr. Denver Dixon spoke at Alix Goolden Hall in August.

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Hosted bike parking for the Selkirk Waterfront Festival.

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Volunteered at the Esquimalt Family Bike Festival, including marshalling the family ride.

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Hosted information tables at many of the celebration stations at Bike to Work Week, giving away over 400 copies of Cycle Therapy and Bike Sense. Volunteered at the bike parking booth at the closing event on Saturday, May 31.

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Hosted an information table at the MEC Bike Fest at Ships Point in June.

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Volunteered at Ride Don’t Hide event to support women’s mental health issues.

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The ongoing speakers series bring experts to inspire and educate on active transportation. Brought to you by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition and the Capital Regional District.

Creating a Successful City for Everyone, Speaker: Dr. Kay Teschke, University of British Columbia, and Gil Penalosa, (8-80 Cities), September 18, 2014, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, Alix Goolden Performance Hall (900 Johnson St) Walkable Communities and Healthy Aging, November 13, 2014, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, CRD (625 Fisgard Street, Victoria)

Other Events Tweed Ride Victoria, September 14, 2014, 11:00am, St. Anne’s Academy, www.tweedridevictoria.ca, Brought to you by the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition BikeSense Review Workshop, October 17-18, 2014, Victoria, BC, www.bccc.bc.ca/conference British Columbia Cycling Coalition (BCCC) AGM and Conference, October 18-19, 2014, Victoria, BC, www.bccc.bc.ca/ conference Complete Streets Workshop, Speaker: Peter A. Lagerwey, October 20, 2014, 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM, CRD (625 Fisgard Street), Cost: $100. Brought to you by the Capital Regional District (http://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/event/2014/completestreets.php) GVCC AGM, October 29, 2014, 7:00pm, James Bay New Horizons, 234 Menzies Street, www.gvcc.bc.ca

The Trans-Form Speaker Series is sparking a dialogue in the capital region focused on city-building, vibrant public spaces, accessible mobility, health, urban design, and livability.

Leading experts from near and far deliver compelling, concise, fast-paced presentations to inspire and educate local audiences.

Trans-Form Speaker Series

by Ray Straatsma Over the past couple of months, the GVCC hosted two evening presentations as part of our new Trans-Form Speaker Series, co-sponsored with the Capital Region District (CRD). The first, in July, was a slide and film presentation by two of Vancouver’s most engaging bicycle advocates, Chris and Melissa Bruntlett.

Chris and Melissa are well-known in Vancouver - and abroad - for their compelling blogs, social media and photo-documention of their bike-styling, car-free lifestyle. At their Victoria presentation, Chris and Melissa shared the ongoing pleasures of their two-wheeled family life and a glimpse into the dynamic bicycle culture of BC’s largest city. Chris and Melissa even brought their two young children for the trip - via transit, ferry and bicycle. The evening opened with Olena Russell (Kidical Mass) and Susan Stokhof (Le Velo Victoria).

On August 14, the CRD brought in two leading bicycle researchers, Denver Nixon (UBC) and Meghan Winters (SFU). Denver presented recent research findings on the first-person experience of cycling in urban settings. Dr, Winters outlined a broad set of research on safety hazards and risks of various bike facilities and conditions, and the effectiveness and shortcomings of current cycling education and marketing materials in addressing those risks and challenges.

Creating a City for Everyone: Trans-Form Speaker Series #3 The third event in the Trans-Form series takes place on Sept. 18 featuring Kay Teschke of UBC and Gil Penalosa. Along with Dr. Winters, Dr. Teschke is one of the lead investigators in the Cycling in Cities research program at UBC (www. cyclingincities.spph.ubc.ca). Mr. Penalosa is the Executive Director of 8-80 Cities in Toronto, and has worked around the world on city-building, cycling and public space projects as an advisor, consultant and speaker. Where: Alix Goolden Performance Hall (907 Pandora Ave). Doors: 6:30pm. Show: 7:00pm. Admission: $5 suggested donation.

Trans-form: Reflection

by Ed Janicki Did you miss the first Trans-Form lecture, Easy as Riding a Bike? Ed Janicki shares his reflections from the talk.

On a recent trip to Bruges, Belgium, I witnessed first-hand what was advocated by Chris and Melissa Bruntlett in their talk, As Easy as Riding a Bike, on Friday, July 11, 2014 at St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria. They spoke to the practical side of bike riding. They ride practical bikes while dressed in their everyday clothes. In Bruges, people typically ride sturdy city-style bikes, often over cobblestone streets, as part of their daily routine. Women of all ages can be seen wearing heels and nice slacks or skirts; men are often in business attire. They tend to ride at a crisp but relaxed pace appropriate for the road and surroundings. Seldom are they trying to go really fast. Cycling in their city just seems like a faster form of walking to them.

Spandex or shorts are not seen, except in the country-side where serious sport riders practiced on their lightweight road bikes.

Ed Janicki is a lifelong commuter cyclist and sometime competitor.

Cycle Therapy fall 2014 5

Tolias family By Tyson Jones

No Car, No Worries

by Tyson Jones

“Human nature is above all things — lazy.”

a month — it was ridiculous — so there’s another $5,000 in fuel.

We saved a schwack of cash.”

-Harriet Beecher Stowe When you step out of your house and the choice between walk, bike, and drive is presented to you, which do you choose? You know the walk or bike ride would be rewarding, but then you remember all the errands you must run after work, and the car begins to look like the best option. But, what if you get rid of the car — eliminate the lazy option.

That’s crazy, I know. What happens when you have to move, take a trip up island, or do a large grocery shop? Well, there’s a business in Victoria that’s been offering an affordable, environmentally friendly, and easy-to-use solution since 1996 — Victoria Car Share.

“When you don’t have a vehicle to rely on, you’re forced to use public transportation, walk, or bike — you’re more free” said Stephanie Tolias, a car share member. “When you get a vehicle you rely on it that much more.”

The Tolias Family have been using car share for nearly two years, and plan to include it in their transportation equation for the foreseeable future.

There are several ways of becoming a member; the cheapest option is becoming a shareholder. For a one-time payment of $400 (refundable) you become part of the co-op. Once you begin driving you receive a monthly invoice for hours used, and kilometres driven — you only pay when you drive.

“In the first year we saved $1,700 just in insurance and registration,” said Constantinos Tolias. “We were spending $400 on fuel

6 Cycle Therapy fall 2014

Getting rid of your vehicle not only eliminates the lazy option, it gives your bank account a break. You also don’t have to worry about vehicle maintenance, another relief on the wallet.

Car share offers variety. You’re no longer stuck in the same vehicle each day; the fleet consists of 23 vehicles ranging from hybrids to utility vans. These vehicles are located at 18 locations throughout Victoria , giving yet another reason to hop on your bike, and pick up a car for that family trip to the beach.

“I just rode my bike to get the car,” said Constantinos when I arrived at his house for the interview. “It’s the swiftest way to get around town.”

One of the other benefits of joining car share is the people.

When you become a member, you join a team that’s always trying to make the car-free lifestyle one that everyone can enjoy.

“One of the cool things is that car share is always looking to improve. We’ll bring forward ideas, and they’ll definitely listen,” said Constantinos. “They’re good people, and they really want to give us quality service. They’ll bend over backwards, they really want to make us happy, ever since day one.”

So if you’re ready to deny your laziness and ditch the vehicle, don’t be scared, there are plenty of alternate options for your travel needs.

Tyson E. Jones is a freelance writer and photographer from Vancouver Island BC.

The Victoria Car Share has 23 vehicles and over 750 members.

The Car Share has three membership categories: shareholder, provisional and business.

Rates include insurance, gas, cleaning and maintenance.

10% OFF! for GVCC members

Sales & Repairs

386-BIKE (2453)

1725 Quadra Street, Victoria BC V8W 2L7 www.northparkbikeshop.com

Cyclist friendly!

GVCC members get 10% off food 768 Yates Street, S Victoria, BC downstairs from Lyle’s Place.

Cenote Restaurant and Lounge

Learn more: victoriacarshare.ca

BikeSense by Sarah Stallard The Bike Sense manual is the bicycle operator’s manual that provides the rules of the road, bike handling and traffic skills to ensure biking is fun and safe. It is a valuable educational tool that is now in its 6th edition with over 100,000 copies distributed throughout BC. To ensure this continues availability and applicability for the next wave of people on bikes, the Bike Sense Review Workshop is being held this fall.

The Bike Sense Review Workshop will be held on October 17-18, 2014 in Victoria in conjunction with the British Columbia Cycling Sara Stallard by Ryan Mijker Coalition Conference and Annual General Meeting. This workshop is to support the ongoing relevance of Bike Sense through a full content review, case law examination for relevant edits to safety information, examination and suggestions for governance of the editorial powers and responsibilities, co-operation with regulators and enforcement bodies, and exploration of distribution opportunities and needs.

Sarah Stallard is the Bike Sense Coordinator Cycle Therapy fall 2014 7

Connection, Community, and the Car-free Life

by Olena Russell There are options for every budget, and every type and size of family, and I love to share my knowledge and experience. We also just meet friendly and interesting people. We shop locally, and the children know the shopkeepers, the market vendors, and farmers from whom we buy our food and other essentials. They look forward to seeing everyone when we go out. If we were in a car, they wouldn’t always have these opportunities. We found that traveling the way we do changes our patterns and dictates that we stay closer to home.

Like many people who live the carfree life, the lifestyle slowly evolved over a few years. We changed our transportation choices for all the typical reasons: environment, sustainability, proximity to essentials and work, and the sheer joy of getting around using your own two feet. The only reason for the change that seems to surprise people is that for our family of five, soon to be six, living a car-free lifestyle is much easier. Most importantly, our journey to a car-free life has created a greater sense of connection and community.

With three small children, getting around town by bike, bus, or walking has allowed us immense opportunities to focus on our connection as a family. As we ride, we talk to the kids about everything they see, what they are wondering about, what we have done or will be doing. Conversely, the children have a chance to talk to us, to ask questions, and to share their thoughts. The ease of biking with children, helped by the myriad of child transportation options available to suit each family, creates a relaxed time and space to be engaged and present with each other. We look forward to the conversations about butterflies, the changing seasons, the latest Lego creation, or anything else that comes up. Because we are traveling without the stress of being on a busy road, whatever mode we choose that day, we are able to slow down, and connect. Living without a car also helps us connect with the community.

When we are traveling by foot, bus, or bike, interactions with the people around us are unavoidable. This is, of course, a good thing. We meet wonderfully interesting people, as we go about our day-to-day routines.

This is especially true when we’re on bikes.

Being a passionate advocate for everyday cycling, community, and placemaking, I love when people stop to ask about our bikes. I usually ride a bakfiets, which gets a few

8 Cycle Therapy fall 2014

Olena Russell

stares and questioning looks, but those questions give me an opportunity to tell people about all the different options available to get their own families out of the cars and onto a bike.

Lastly, a car-free lifestyle has helped us foster a greater connection to place. In a car, we seemed to go through places, barely noticing the community around us. On a bike, by foot, or by bus, we use all our senses, and know so much more about the community and environment around us. We’ll talk about the changing seasons, the tides, the smell of coffee roasting, or bread baking. The children love traveling the same paths and seeing how the world changes. We also see how communities can be built and designed to include and engage everyone who lives, works, and visits in them. Because we travel through these places at a pace that lets us explore and notice details, we are more invested in how places work for people, or how they can be changed to work better.

As a family, we have found a community of like-minded people and have gathered to create the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. For us, getting together with a group of people who want to connect, who are invested in making the community better for everyone, is a point of culmination in our car-free journey. We started out wanting to ride our bikes more, and ended up finding connection and community that we didn’t know existed.

Olena Russell is a mama, homemaker, weaver, urban farmer, life learner, parent educator,urbanist, and cargobike-obsessed family cycling advocate. She can be found on twitter @OlenaNina. For more information about the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network, email : placemaking@rethinkurban.com

Book Review:

by Michael Fisher

Six Highways to Home 2,500 kilometres from Whitehorse to his home in Victoria over six different highways – hence the name.

But, is the book worth reading? In my opinion, yes, as it is a very readable story told in a relaxed fashion about what John did, where he went, who he met, and the various adventures he had with bears, characters on bikes, and those running campgrounds, as well as the vagaries of cycling in the nether regions of Canada. Until I read the book, I had not realized that this is the same John

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“I began my journey with no intention of writing about it (for the public that is) apart from my personal journal”.

This is probably the first book I have reviewed where I attended a book launch and imbibed a complimentary beer at Russell Books. I managed to arrive late and after taking a sip from the craft beer, listened to John Crouch talk about the dreaded W word as he pedalled out of Whitehorse. At that juncture, I had no idea that W referred to walking – something I am quite willing to do if the hill is too steep for comfortable cycling.

Once we got over that hump as it were, I listened and eventually enjoyed reading about John’s adventurous ride to support the Parkinson Society of BC. This was a ride with a purpose, beyond that of a very fit 70-year old, as $13,000 was raised for a very worthwhile cause. John rode

Crouch who authored a number of walking, hiking and cycling guides to Victoria that were some of my first purchases when I moved here.

John and I share some degree of English heritage with its Boy Scout-like perspective of taking on adventures without perhaps fully appreciating the implications. This adventure ended well, and as John states in his introduction: “I began my journey with no intention of writing about it (for the public that is) apart from my personal journal”. This much is obvious as there were a couple of descriptions of people in the book that make me hope the target never reads them.

What does shine through is the sense of

adventure, curiosity and wonder that John experienced on his ride--and it is charming.

In summary, this is a book about an adventure that you can live vicariously. It’s an easy read and I managed it in one evening. The story ends well, as suspected, and I left the book with a feeling of optimism about my own cycling adventures in the years ahead. I hesitate to call it inspirational, but it is certainly a book that makes you feel positive when you put it down.

The book is priced at $20 or is available at the library under call number 796.64097191 CRO. At press time, all copies were in use with multiple reservations.

Cycle Therapy fall 2014 9

When I arrive at Mike’s house, I learn that he and his family are right in the middle of lunch. Olena, his wife, is preparing a batch of “whatever I had left in the fridge soup” while their youngest daughter, Kalyna, sits perched atop her left hip. Their two other children, Kasian and Kaia, can be heard playing in the next room. I have a little over an hour of everyone’s time before Mike has to leave for work and I am feeling frazzled. After spending half an hour biking uphill with a backpack and two panniers full of heavy audio-visual equipment, I am here to capture material for a project about the cyclists of Victoria; I fear that I haven’t given myself enough time to get it all done. I should have prepared better interview questions. I should have decided on the overarching theme of my story before setting up interviews. But now it is too late and all I can do is start shooting, ask questions, and hope for the best.

I first met Mike last October through the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition and was immediately intrigued. Who was this police officer by day/cycling advocate by night, father of three with full arm sleeve tattoos? Not sure where to begin, I start the interview by asking him how many bikes his family owns. He frowns, looks at the ceiling, and responds hesitantly: “Seven? Yeah, I think we have seven bikes now.”

T

wo hours later, I am back home uploading photos and interview materials onto my computer. My index finger taps the space bar of my laptop in quick succession as I peruse through my files. Mike and Olena’s voices waft through my small apartment.

“I bike every day. You name it, I get around on two wheels.”

Fast-forward.

“The most important thing for me is the sense of community we get on the bike. We interact with people when we’re going places, we stop and talk about our weird and wonderful bikes. Our kids get to witness that and see what it’s like to be good citizens.”

Next clip.

“I go for 150 kilometre rides or off into the woods on my mountain bike and get to see things that nobody else sees when they’re buzzing by in a car.”

Pause.

“I find it easier, to be honest, with three kids. I don’t have to worry about getting everybody in and out of the car and find-

10 Cycle Therapyy sping 2014

ing a place to park. There’s also the environmental factor. I don’t see the point in taking a car when pretty much everywhere I go is within a

I Bike, Ther seven-kilometre

radius.”

My cell phone buzzes. Neil, my next interviewee, is texting me to let me know that he’s home and ready to go. I quickly re-pack my camera and gear into my bike panniers and head out the door.

I

glance at the address scribbled on the inside of my left wrist, wondering if I’m almost there. Not before long, I spot a chrome low-rider bike with Easy Rider-esque handlebars parked halfway down the street. As I approach, a man with shoulder-length brown hair can be seen wheeling around on a cobalt-blue hogrider-frame bicycle with leather tassel handlebar grips. This must be the place.

Neil is on the Board of Directors for the Angels Chopper Bicycle Club, a non-profit organization that teaches youth how to fix up and trick out chopper-style bicycles. As I struggle with audio levels, light meters, and a tangle of electrical cords, he talks excitedly about the club’s many bikes and projects. “This one here is the bike we built for the Victoria Royals hockey team,” he tells me. “And that one is the Ozzy Osbourne bike, it was built

by Sophia when she was about 11-years old.

The whole band signed it.” His eagerness is endearing but awkwardly timed. I haven’t even turned on the cameras yet and am, to my great dismay, failing to record any of this.

I finally start filming as Neil eagerly recounts the story of Tony, age 11, who built the “Chris Cornell bike” and eventually donated his creation, in person, to its namesake. As I listen, I remember a line from an e-mail message Neil had sent to me in preparation for this interview. “I am 43 and have never done my learner’s [driving] exam,” he wrote. “I have no desire to drive or ever own a vehicle.” When I ask him about this, he smiles and shakes his head. “I don’t drive because you’re isolated from your environment and I don’t like that.” He pauses, his eyes glazing over the line of choppers before him. “I think we live in a world that’s far too convenience-based. It’s too easy to just hop in your car and go down to the grocery store and forget that you’re spewing out all sorts of hydrocarbons into the environment.”

As we talk, Micah, Neils’ six-year old son, rolls between us on his custom mini-hog. Neil continues. “I’ve been building bikes since I was a kid, so being able to pass that on to my son was really appealing. Plus it’s something that gets us out, it’s healthy.” We stand and watch Micah weave around the choppers. Apprenticeship has never looked so badass.

refore I Am

by Celina O’Connor

I

t is a crisp yet superbly sunny morning. I have taken the longer, scenic route to my next interview, trying to capture as much of the sun’s rays as possible.

My eyes begin to water and my cheeks grow increasingly pink and numb in the dewy, frigid, yet sun-soaked air. It feels wonderful.

I lock up my silver 18-speed and knock on the door of what is locally referred to as “The Point Street House”. Raised garden beds, home-brew paraphernalia, bike trailers, and on-the-go art projects are strewn about the front yard. The house’s entryway is framed on either side by rows of hanging bicycles, helmets, and milk crates. I am here to meet Chaim, a 26-year old bike mechanic and one of the dozen or so Point Street House residents.

He comes to the door and directs me towards the bike shop around the side of the house, a small room that is filled with wheel rims, bike tubes, allen keys, chain lubricants, and discarded bicycle frames. We spend the next hour or so chatting as he works on the fixed-speed bike that he salvaged and rebuilt from a junk pile. He occasionally takes sips from his coffee mug, a “revolt!” sticker emblazoned on its side. He is wearing a blue felted hat with a little red bicycle motif on the top left-hand corner.

As he re-aligns brake pads, he tells me that while he occasionally drives, he has no desire to own a vehicle--they’re too expensive and he worries about their environmental impact. We talk about self-sufficiency, whether or not bike mechanics is a dying art, his thoughts on living in a collective household. I ask him to describe the personal appeal he finds in bike mechanics. “I think it’s that satisfaction of figuring out problems,” he answers.

“You’ve gotta troubleshoot and figure it out and once you jump that hurdle it feels good, it’s really gratifying…being a low-income person, being someone who loves doing things with my hands, doing things for myself, it’s a lot of fun.” He pulls out a wrench and adjusts the bike seat. “I strive in my lifestyle to live as low-impact as possible, so it all kind of fits into an ideology of using less and trying to inspire others to do the same.”

Before I leave, Chaim gives me a tour of the backyard, an area he affectionately refers to as the “bike graveyard”. We stand together in the quickly dimming sunlight while a tortoiseshell cat scratches around a frosty, winterized garden bed.

Tinghehimnextmake day, I am sitting in my friend Rob’s kitchen, watchcoffee as I recount my slightly frenetic experience in putting this project together. Rob has recently started a sustainable construction company and is lamenting the fact that his new career has made him dependent on driving a car.

He lets out a sigh. “It’s sad. Biking has historically been such a huge part of my life. It’s a super fun way to travel, there’s no road rage with a bicycle, and you get to experience your surroundings. When I hop in my truck, common feelings are frustration, impatience, and urgency. I don’t feel those when I ride.”

Theresa, Rob’s partner, echoes his sentiments. “It feels like freedom to me,” she says, “that physicality of feeling the elements, I love being that much more connected to my surroundings.”

As our conversation meanders, from Rob’s experience in learning how to bike with his four-year old daughter, Magda, to simple lifestyle choices that can lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, I start to notice a similarity in the stories I have been hearing over of the course of the past week’s interviews.

Without intention, the people I’ve spoken with--parents, youth, professionals, the unemployed--have spun a unifying story for me, one that speaks of a desire to interact with and build their community, the thrill of sensorial connectedness to the physical environment, the need to address climate change through creative and self-sufficient means, and the importance of passing on intergenerational skills and knowledge.

I am snapped back into the real world by Rob’s offering of coffee. “Anyway,” he says, “I don’t think biking is going to save the planet. But I think it’s a pretty easy step to take.” Theresa nods.

“Yeah, given our current environmental situation, biking empowers me to feel like there’s something I can actually do about it. It’s like, I can do this, so I will. And I think most people, who are blessed and able to, should. Plus, you know, it’s also super fun.”

• Video, I Bike Therefore I Am: vimeo.com/85308419

Cycle Thera Therapy apy fall 2014 11

Financial Planning for Millenials & Others

by Michael Fisher The Globe and Mail often profiles a poor couple who own their $800,000 house and worry that their $1.6M RRSP portfolio is not enough. This is a financial planning article for the rest of us. Once you are able to save $500 or $1,000 a month, there are lots of people who will be quite willing to help relieve you of your money (a topic for another day). This is how to start saving, and in a cycling magazine, you can guess it involves cycling.

Automobile ownership is extraordinarily expensive, as demonstrated by the CAA who calculated that it costs almost $10,000 per year to run a compact vehicle. This estimate is based on gas at $1.25 a litre, which is out of date as the current price is about $1.39. The CAA study does not reflect the cost of parking – conservatively, an urban parking spot costs $30,000 to build if you own the property; a condo or apartment will usually charge a monthly fee for a parking spot. If you don’t need it – don’t pay for it. Maybe you manage to park for “free” on subsidised street space. Count yourself fortunate for a while but the subsidised free spot is slowly being eliminated in many areas. Urban parking at work can range up to $12 a day in after tax dollars or another $2,400 on top. All these figures are after tax dollars, so you will need to earn about $18,000 before tax to pay for that vehicle. Is it worth it?

Vehicle ownership among young people has been declining for years as they discover cycling, mass transit and car share systems for when a vehicle is absolutely required. American statistics show that car licenses are now held by only 50% of those under 19 – in 2008, it was 65%. The rise of social media has meant that most young people have a cheaper way to meet up.

Growing urban congestion and poor economy of the last few years have also impacted driving habits, reducing the number of vehicles purchased and the distance driven.

A new bicycle costs about $500 and clothing and equipment may add another $250 to that amount. Parking is free and maintenance costs should be less than $100 per year. Assuming 10 kilometres a day brings the average per kilometre cost to about 6 cents a kilometre as compared to 48 cents for the subcompact above. The $9,500 saved each year can be invested in a balanced portfolio of stocks through an Exchange Traded Fund (ask me if you need to know) which has returned a historic long term rate of 7.4%, so in 30 years you will have saved up $1,036,000. All because you gave up that car. Or put another way, which would you prefer: $1 Million or a series of cars with all their attendant issues and problems? This analysis does not include the health benefits of cycling, the improved social network from not being locked in a steel can or the savings on fitness clubs or other means to get some exercise – all free on a bike. Lastly, Dutch statistics show that cyclists live longer than non-cyclists thanks to the regular exercise in fresh air. Get started today on your $1M plan.

12 Cycle Therapy fall 2014

Women’s Everyday Biking (WEBike)

WEBike celebrates, encourages, and supports women and families riding bikes for everyday reasons: going to work, school, shopping, and always for fun.

Women’s Everyday Bicycling (WEBike) was formed after our members met at the Victoria Cycling Master Planning Workshop this spring.

As the workshop progressed and ideas were shared, we recognized a recurring theme in our discussions – the need to address women and family cycling transportation as part of the cycling community.

We hope to share our knowledge and experiences as cyclists with other women, encourage women who are thinking of riding to start riding, to share knowledge and information about family cycling, to host events and rides that celebrate cycling, to advocate for women and family transportation cycling, to act as ‘roll’ models for women who may want to cycle but are unsure how to get started, to offer workshops or information sessions about subjects such as bike maintenance, clothing and gear advice, purchasing a bicycle, one-to-one support for route selection, etc. We will create an on-line presence to compile resources for cyclists and for communication.

Find out more and get involved at: facebook. com/womenseverydaybicycling

Stop and Talk to Strangers

by Sophie Wooding

dubbed him the Bungee Genie.

A couple weeks later, we were biking from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal to downtown Vancouver, and were taking five minutes to stretch out some kinks on a grassy slope under the sky train. A cyclist, all geared up and probably on his way home from work, stopped and walked his bike over to us to ask if we needed help finding our way. I was ready to say no, but my boyfriend phrased it in such a way that left room for the guy’s input. Afterwards, I realized that if I practiced humility, I could engage in more of a conversation and perhaps glean some useful knowledge, or simply interesting personal information.

When we disembarked from the train in Portland, we got one block before we needed to check that we were heading in the right direction. We didn’t even have time to consult each other, when three cyclists rode past.

“Are you trying to cross the river?” One of them called out, as they kept on pedalling.

“Yes!” “Follow us!”

Touring Hats By Sophie Wooding

After cycling, driving a car can feel like sinking into two dimensions. The speeds may be greater and the sound systems might rumble up from the leather seats, through your torso, like a stereo climax, but you are boxed in by technology, cut off from humanity.

This time I was ready, and who knows, maybe next time we can be the ones to appear on our bikes, exactly at the moment we’re needed.

Sophie is a recent creative writing graduate from UVIC and has commuted by bike in Victoria for three years, only recently taking her bike further out than Greater Victoria.

My boyfriend and I could each only book a week off of work this summer, so we took the Amtrak train across Washington to jumpstart our Oregon bike tour. After ten hours nauseously steaming along the rails, escaping the boxcars of recycled air felt like the relief of a cold shower after working in a windowless kitchen all day. Pressure released.

In the world of cyclists, people are right at pedal’s edge. There are no walls. If you pause in your lane for a moment, take one swift glance at your phone that may or may not be connected to GPS at the moment, nine times out of ten a guardian angel on two wheels will appear.

My first experience of this was at home in Victoria. I was riding downtown from the ferry, along the Lochside Trail. Although I wasn’t lost, it was reassuring to know how helpful people are.

On the same path a half hour later, one of my pannier cords snapped, hurtling my pannier towards the underbrush. Before we could decide how to reattach everything to my bike, we heard a voice: “Need a bungee cord?”

It took me a moment to locate the source, and then I realized a man had been resting on a bench mere feet away, having watched the whole mess. His sturdy looking cruiser-and-trailer ensemble leaned next to him. We accepted his gift and later Cycle Therapy fall 2014 13

Ride On!

by Jennifer Black and Lise Richard Can a full-time cyclist continue to reduce car trips?

They sure can! Here’s the easiest way.

You know who you are. You’re ‘the cyclist’…the one who makes co-workers make remarks that border the line between joke and jealousy. You’ve discovered the ease and joy of traveling by bike. Despite being a shining example of the many benefits of commuter cycling, you’re still given the laundry list of limitations regularly:

“How do you carry all your stuff on a bicycle?”“Don’t you get sweaty?”“I have too many meetings during the day.” “You’ve got more energy than I do.” “I have to transport my kids and groceries.” , “It seems unsafe and it takes too long.”

You field the questions, offering solutions where you can. Don’t you wish there was some way to pass the ‘cycling-evangelist’ torch? Some way you could help your family, friends, and co-workers transition to a full-blown-bike-commuter? After all, the quickest way you –a full time cyclist - can continue to reduce cars on the road is to encourage those around to ditch their driving machine for a slick two-wheeler.

N

o doubt you have picked up all kinds of little tips and tricks along the way. Knowing how to make a left-hand turn with traffic, the freedom of panniers vs. a backpack, or knowing that kids make great cyclists. For many, this is a big barrier to replacing car trips with bike trips.

Refer them to one of the Ride On! Cycling Skills courses! These courses are a one-stopshop for bike education and are empowering citizens to make cycling a regular part of their lives.

Now is the perfect time for an ‘interested, but concerned’ cyclist to go beyond the basics of riding, to ride defensively, confidently and no longer question things like lane positioning while crossing the Johnson Street bridge, knowing that they are following the rules and asserting themselves on the road.

It is knowledge and training that will propel your family member, friend or co-worker off the plateau of a sometimes-commuter cyclist to a person who simply ‘can’t be bothered to drive a car’. Knowledge is power – the more you know, the more confident and happy you will be riding a bicycle.

T

he Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society has taught cycling skills and safety courses since 1999, and they’re thrilled to lend their expertise and certified instructors to the delivery of the CRD Ride On! program. The Federal Gas Tax sponsorship through the CRD enabled the expansion of the Ride On! Program to all reaches of the region, providing residents the opportunity to rediscover the joy of riding a bicycle for everyday use. There are nearly 60 interactive, informative courses available from April-October 2014. To learn more or register for a course, visit biketoworkvictoria.ca/bike-skills

J

ennifer Black is the Active Transportation Program Manager at the Capital Regional District, and Lise Richard is the Bike Skills Coordinator at the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society

14 1 4 Cy Cycle C ycl cle T Th Therapy heerrrap her appy ffa fall allll 22014 014 01

Upcoming Courses: Sunday September 14th: Full Day Adults, Women’s Specific, Sidney, 9:00 AM Tuesday September 16th: Part 1: In Class, Esquimalt Rec. Centre, 5:30 PM Saturday September 20th: Part 2: On Road, Juan de Fuca Centre, 9:00 AM Monday September 22nd: Kids Can Ride, Oak Bay – Henderson, 1:00 PM Thursday September 25th: Part 1: In Class, Oak Bay – Henderson, 5:30 PM Saturday September 27th: Part 2: On Road, Oak Bay – Windsor, 9:00 AM Sunday October 5th: Part 2: On Road, Esquimalt Rec. Centre, 9:00am

You’ve discovered the happiness and convenience of travelling by bike; why not share the joy with your friends, family, and co-workers? Education is rewarding! Our ‘Refer-a-Friend’ promotion, running while supplies last, rewards community catalysts (like you?). Spread the word about the Ride On! Skills courses, and for each referral resulting in a paid registration (using the promo code FRIEND14, including your name as the reference) you will receive a $15 gift certificate to the Old Spaghetti Factory!

How I stopped driving and started multi-modal commuting by Bharat Chandramouli I have never lived close to work. Between specialized workplaces in industrial zones and needing to be near my intentional community, I have sucked up the long commute. From 2003 to 2009, in two different countries, I commuted about 60 km per day by car. Living in North Carolina, I did try multi-modal bicycle/bus commutes, but, the lack of bike lanes, having to navigate highways of cars going 100 km/h, and infrequent buses meant that car-pooling was about as close I got to reducing my personal driving.

Moving to Victoria in 2008, I drove (the same 60 km funnily enough) for my first year and a half. I would bike occasionally, but an hour and a half each way, plus showering/changing was not on the cards as a continuing practice.

school, or you can drop them off by bicycle/walk in school/day care, where cars, even if needed, are reserved for fun trips like camping.

Start slow. Leave your car behind once/twice a week for a month, see how that works.

If you’re biking, but concerned about showering/changing, start multi-modal. BC Transit reaches most areas in Greater Victoria. Put your bike on the bus on the way to work, then bike back, shower and changing issues mostly Put your bike on solved!

the bus on the way to work, then bike back, shower and changing issues mostly solved!

Things changed when I decided to stop driving to work every day, thanks mainly to BC Transit’s introduction of an express bus on my route, and irritation with the zombie-like state of my driving habit. I slowly switched out from being an occasional 1-2 times a week bus user to a full-time (except maybe a couple of times/month) car-free commuter.

Commit. Get a bus pass so you’ll take the bus, put your car keys away, far away in the morning.

Get nice bike clothes so you’ll be prepared.

Have an intention for your bus ride. My reading habit revived as soon as I had an hour of my own time. I have also finished 11 online courses in the last 15 months or so. Reading on a bus used to make me sick, so I slowly built my tolerance up over a few weeks.

Find community. Cycling is fun with a buddy, and you can stop for a beer occasionally on the way back. Bus buddies are fun too, whether it’s that person you say hello to everyday, or that My current commute has me riding on a bus for an hour plus every day, plus about 40 minutes of walking and a few minutes co-worker you share gossip with. of waiting around for a bus to show up. My goal is to cycle to/ Keep a regular schedule. Unlike driving, taking a bus or bike from work a quarter of the time, still working on that. requires me to try and leave “on time”. This is a bit of a mental shift, but absolutely necessary because my error margins tend How to supercharge your car-light commute to be lower None of the tips that follow below are anything but small tweaks compared to big structural changes--living and working Celebrate!! Have fun, stop to take pictures, or for ice-cream! in a dense and connected environment where a work comBharat Chandramouli is the Vice-President of the GVCC, and loves mute is but a short ride/walk away, where your kids can walk to riding his bike for fun and taking the bus for work.

I Put My Bike on the Bus by Mary Leighton - YouTube

Cycle Therapy fall 2014 15

Normalize It!

by Eden Oliver

By the time this article is published, my three bandmates from West My Friend and I will have cycled 750 km towing a double bass, an accordion, a mandolin, two guitars, sound equipment, merchandise, sleeping gear and clothing. We will have played a show every night, and will have woken up every morning to do it again.

When I talk to people about the tour they are often pretty taken aback, and a few years ago my reaction would have been

Motivation #2 – Make it Feel Safe I’ve been doored. I’ve been sideswiped. I’ve been told to “Get off the *&%@ing road!” I’m a firm believer that biking is, for the most part, safe. But biking next to unsafe cars is unsafe. So I’ve taken my time getting comfortable on the road, I’ve adopted safer biking methods, and I make sure I’m viewable on the road. I think having more people biking on the road is one of the best ways to make it safer, so I keep biking and taking up space.

Motivation #3 – Normalize it I’m lucky in that both the independent school I work at (Oak and Orca Bioregional School) and the band that I’m in have very strong biking ethics. I’m also lucky to have friends and family who are as jazzed about biking as I am. Not everyone has the opportunity to surround themselves with biking enthusiasts, and not everyone would want to, but it is definitely something that has helped me choose biking time and time again.

the same. But at this point in my life I’m not really fazed. It’s gotten me to thinking about what motivated me to become one of those “crazy bicycle enthusiast” people. What got me to where I am now?

Motivation #1: Make it Convenient Biking is convenient: you’re not held to a bus schedule, you don’t have to worry about parking, and you don’t have to pay for it every time you use it. The things that seemed inconvenient at first went away as I developed systems for them. While I firmly believe cars aren’t more convenient in the big picture (they cost money, they burn gasoline, they can kill people), it doesn’t stop me from wanting to use one if it’s available, so I’ve also eliminated this possibility by just not buying one.

Motivation #4 – Celebrate it Going on a biking West My Friend By Brett Wildeman musical tour is kind of my inevitable next step. To date, my various biking adventures have ranged from taking groups of children on biking field trips to going on midnight mystery bike rides to moving by bike within the same town (yes, that’s including biking the large furniture).

When biking’s fun and social, I want to do it more!

You might think it’s a bit out of your league to do something like going on a biking musical tour or moving by bicycle. You might believe that you can’t be one of those hardcore bicycle enthusiasts. If you catch yourself thinking this way, remember that at least one of those crazy bike enthusiasts thought the same way just a few years ago.

Be sure to catch West My Friend’s performance at the GVCC AGM on October 29th, 7pm, 234 Menzies Street!

Eden is member of the Victoria BC indie-roots band West My Friend and a gardening, singing, teaching cyclist extraordinaire.

16 Cycle Therapy fall 2014

Tour de Disaster

by Ed Pullman On July 26, Victoria emergency management agency hosted the 2nd annual Tour de Disaster. GVCC reps were once again in attendance.

Part cycling rally, part emergency exercise, Tour de Disaster gives cyclists the unique opportunity to participate in a disaster photo by Ryan Mijker emergency response scenario and understand the role bicycles, cargo bikes, bakfiets, and cargo trikes can play in the event of an emergency disaster.

The perfect overnight bike getaway from Victoria and surrounding communities.

Participants began at Topaz Park and were instructed to arrive with 12 liters of water, a map, pencil/pen and something to carry 2 eggs in (to simulate transporting fragile medical supplies).

After being given our disaster scenario and a map, we traveled to 16 locations around the city performing various tasks before returning to Topaz Park.

Arbutus Cove is a beautiful waterfront boutique guest house located on the Galloping Goose trail 37 kilometers from Victoria on the Sooke Basin, a 3 hour ride.

Big thanks to Rob Johns of Victoria emergency management agency and all of their volunteers for another successful year!

Arbutus Cove Guest House

3 private deluxe rooms, each with their own entrances, queen beds and full bathrooms share a huge waterfront deck with hot tub await the cycling visitor.

A 15 minute walk takes you to the 17 Mile Pub for supper and a breakfast is served before your departure.

June 15 - Sept. 14 $150 ( for 2) Sept. 15 - June 14 $125 (for 2)

Reservations:

arbutuscoveguesthouse.com

NE W NA ME, SA ME LOC ATION .

1419 BROAD STREET, VICTORIA, BC COME SEE WHAT WE'RE UP TO...

Cycle Therapy fall 2014 17

Part 8 - Farmer and Suitcase Carries

Postural Improvement Tips for Cyclists

by Tony Webster I’ve made my case in previous articles for the important role of supplemental stretching and strengthening exercises for cyclists to address or prevent postural problems. The weight supported nature of cycling means that it is especially important for cyclists to find other ways to load the bones and muscles to keep them strong and healthy. This edition’s exercise is one of the most simple yet most functional ones in terms of everyday fitness: picking up and carrying heavy(ish) objects.

As I hinted at in my last article on deadlifting, you should take the opportunity to pick up and carry stuff whenever you can.

Today it seems people are allergic to this. We have wheeling luggage, shopping carts, wheeled grocery baskets and even wheeled bags/cases for our kids for crying out loud!! While I understand this makes life “easier” in the short term, it robs us of an easy opportunity to improve our fitness.

I’ll outline two types of carries – the farmer’s carry and the suitcase carry. They’re not complicated - the key with both is good lifting technique and posture while carrying.

For a farmer carry, you should stand between two respectably heavy objects placed on either side of your feet. These could be dumbbells, kettlebells or shopping bags and they don’t have to be of equal weight. Push back (“hinge”) into your hips while keeping your back straight and shoulders level with the ground and grab the objects. Now stand fully upright with the weights in each hand, imagine slotting your shoulder blades down into your back pockets, look

18 Cycle Therapy fall 2014

to the horizon and go for a walk! (see picture 1). Try and keep your chest proud and your head stacked nicely on top of your spine. There is no rule as to how far you should walk but when you feel your grip or posture slipping, safely set the weights down (keeping your back straight!), shake it out, take a rest and repeat. You can progress by increasing the weight carried or the distance traveled.

The suitcase carry is one where the weight is on only one side of the body (picture 2). This exercise challenges the body to maintain posture and alignment to a greater degree. With the object to the side of one foot, hinge back into the hips and grab the object with Picture 2 one hand. Keep the shoulders level with the ground – DO NOT twist or tip to the side of the load. Now simply stand up and go for a walk. Set the weight down as soon as you feel the posture or grip slipping. Now change hands and give some love to the other side! Rinse and repeat as necessary.

Think about the stability needed through the core and hips when carrying and walking with heavy objects. These are some of the best exercises we can do for building muscle, bone and postural “health”. You may even find that you start enjoying the challenge of carrying your groceries! Stop wheeling, start carrying and get a (healthier) life!

Picture 1

Tony Webster loves the freedom that his bike gives him. He is also a faculty member in the Centre for Sport and Exercise Education at Camosun College, housed in the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence. You can reach him at webstert@camosun.bc.ca or at 250-220-2558.

transporting breads by bike just made so much sense that Claudio did not even own a car for many years.

Claudio is opening a permanent location in Fan Tan Alley... the bike will be parked close to the bakery and still be used for urban deliveries Claudio Costi By Michael Fisher

The Baker Who Fell to Earth

by Michael Fisher With a nod to David Bowie, this article looks at one of a number of bike-based businesses that are growing and flourishing in Victoria.

You may have come across Claudio Costi and his delicious Italian breads at street markets such as James Bay, Moss Street or Oaklands Community. Or, you may have seen Claudio’s breads in a number of local coffee shops and specialist outlets such as Niagara Grocery, the Local General Store on Haultain, Fairfield Market, Aubergine, Machiatto’s coffee stores, Italian Imports or Ten Acres. Claudio’s “Il Forno di Claudio” mobile bike-based food cart has also attracted attention and hungry visitors at the recent MEC Bikefest and the Ride Don’t Hide event. What is unique is that Claudio does much of his delivery from a custom designed BIROTA cargo bike. These cargo bikes will not win any races but can carry a lot at a steady but sedate pace.

Claudio is from Milan, Italy. He first arrived in Canada in 1993 and quickly determined that Victoria needed better bread. He returned to Italy and took practical training in a proper bakery so that he could return and hone his skills in the Italian Bakery of La Colina under its previous owner, as well as other jobs to pay the bills. In 2005, he started his own business and transporting breads by bike just made so much sense that Claudio did not even own a car for many years. He acquired the BIROTA cargo bike from Fairfield Bikes and immediately had an 8-speed internally geared hub installed. More gears help ease the strain of carrying a heavy load and going uphill. He then retreated to his apartment to custom design and install the modifications that allow him to transport, display, warm and serve a variety

of bakery products. Like many garage-based boat builders before him, Claudio encountered a huge challenge once he was finished. Manoeuvring the finished bike onto the building elevator required a rescue by another resident from the same floor who reportedly heard a few choice Italian words being expressed.

Now at ground level, the bike-based business required food grade cooking facilities to bake his breads. As a start-up business, Claudio was able to arrange a number of nocturnal temporary arrangements in kitchens in the Fairfield and Cook Street area that allowed him to build a client base and a range of products including Ciabatta, Foccacci, Grissini, pizza products, Casereccio, Sfilatino and Pane di Segale. Wherever possible, Claudio uses organic and local ingredients in traditional cooking methods.

So how is this business grounded now? Well, in an exciting move to broaden his marketing appeal even more, Claudio is opening a permanent location at 101-3 Fan Tan Alley in the heart of downtown. When CT expressed concern about the possible loss of his bike delivery service, his Italian eyes twinkled and he assured us that the bike will be parked close to the bakery and still be used for urban deliveries when the bakery is not yet open. With free bike parking and easy low-cost delivery, this baker may have found a perfect business recipe and we wish him well in his new location.

More information can be obtained at ilfornodiclaudio.com.

Cycle Therapy fall 2014 19

Cycle Therapy is available in these locations Munro’s Books - Government St; Bolen Books - Hillside; SubText - UVIC; Open Space - LoFo; James Bay Coffee & Books - 5 Corners in James Bay; Solstice Cafe - Pandora; Bean Around The World - Fisgard; Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood; Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd; Fairfield Market - 5 Corners in Fairfield; McCrea’s Restaurant - Shelbourne; YM/YW - Downtown; Spiral Cafe - Vic West; Seed of Life - Government St; Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora; Bicycleitis - Bay Street; Brentwood Cycle & Sports - Brentwood Bay; Capital City Cycles - Broad Street; Coastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal; Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum; Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield; Fort Street Cycle - near Fort and Cook; Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford; Mac’s Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X; Marty’s Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt & Admirals; Munro’s Books - Government St; Bolen Books - Hillside; SubText - UVIC; Open Space - LoFo; James Bay Coffee & Books - 5 Corners in James Bay; Solstice Cafe - Pandora; Bean Around The World - Fisgard; Cornerstone Cafe - Fernwood; Cafe Fantastico - Kings Rd; Fairfield Market - 5 Corners in Fairfield; McCrea’s Restaurant - Shelbourne; YM/YW - Downtown; Spiral Cafe - Vic West; Seed of Life - Government St; Habit Coffee + Culture - Pandora; Bicycleitis - Bay Street; Brentwood Cycle & Sports - Brentwood Bay; Capital City Cycles - Broad Street; Coastal Cycle and Watersports - View Royal; Cycles West - Burnside near Tillicum; Fairfield Bicycle Shop - 5 Corners in Fairfield; Fort Street Cycle - near Fort and Cook; Goldstream Ave Bicycles - Langford; Mac’s Cycle Centre - Shelbourne and Cedar Hill X; Marty’s Mountain Cycle - Esquimalt & Admirals; Mountain Equipment Co-op - Downtown; North Park Bicycle Shop - Quadra & North Park; Oak Bay Bicycles - Oak Bay & Foul Bay - Kelly Road in Langford; Outpost Bikes - Sooke Rd @ Happy Valley Rd; Performance Bicycles - Quadra @ Reynolds; PM Bikes - Goldstream & Peatt; Recyclistas - North end of Switch Bridge on The Goose; Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop - Douglas & Hillside; Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop - Bevan & Second in Sidney; Selkirk Station Bicycle & Kayak - in the Railyards off the Goose; Sooke Cycle and Surf - Sooke & Otter Pt; Sports Traders - Irontown; Straight Up Cycles - Quadra & Tolmie; Trek Bicycle Shop - near Spinnaker’s; GVPL - all branches; Sidney Public Library; Bill Hartley Insurance - Douglas & Bay; Saanich Commonwealth Pool - Elk Lake Drive; Panorama Rec Centre - North Saanich

Help us advocate — Join the GVCC!

Want better bike lanes? Want our region to benefit from cycle tourism? Want more sustainable transport?

Your membership directly supports GVCC advocacy efforts for cycling in our community.

Become a member today at gvcc.bc.ca/membership 20$/yr adult; $10/yr student, senior, or low income $35 household; corporate $80/yr; sponsor $100/yr; lifetime $300

2014 Annual General Meeting Notice Wednesday, October 29th 2014, 7-9pm James Bay New Horizons, 234 Menzies Street, Victoria We will be electing several members of our Board of Directors. As a GVCC member, it is important that you attend!

Live Performance by West My friend!

Please note: in order to vote, you must be a paid-up member in good standing prior to September 29th, 2014.

20 Cycle Therapy fall 2014