Cycle Therapy Spring 2016 Issue

new board members // victoria bike plan //theatre SKAM// Biking for everyone // andalusia spain // shelbourne street // and more...

SPR ING

CycleTherapy

Spring 2016

16 20 no.1 133

CycleTherapy Published by the: Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition 709 Yates St. PO Box 8586 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 us online:

gvcc.bc.ca facebook.com/GVCCbc twitter.com/gvcc

Editorial Collective: Kate Berniaz, Mandy Pearce, Kathleen Fraser, Julia Schenck Editor: Kate Berniaz Design Collective: Ryan Mijker Contributors: Michael Fisher, Ed Pullman, Ben Jestico, Anne Drummond, Matt Huculak, Darren Marr, Sophie Michelle, Sarah Webb, Mandy Pearce, Susanna Grimes, Janet Besler, Ray Straatsma, Cindy Marven, Soren Henrich Distribution: Brenda Boyd Bike Couriers: Janet Besler, Brenda Boyd, Barry Edmonson, Forrest Nelson, John Perry, John Van Hoorn, Andy Robertson GVCC Board of Directors President: Edward Pullman Vice-president: Bharat Chandramouli Treasurer: Michael Fisher Secretary: Brenda Boyd Director: Kathleen Fraser Director: Breanna Merrigan Director: Matt Huculak Director: Mandy Pearce Director: Timothy Scolnick Director: Cyrus Molavi Director: Glenys Verhulst Director: Matthew Webb Printed by:

First Choice Books & Victoria Bindery

The GVCC is a proud member of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition.

On the Cover: Newlyweds Lyanne Quirt and Ed Pullman enjoy the ride from their ceremony to the reception on October 24, 2015. Photo by Kristopher James Photography.

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President’s

Message

by Edward Pullman

Throughout its 25 year existence, the GVCC has operated as a small volunteerbased nonprofit, operating on less than a $10,000 per year budget. Our membership usually fluctuates around 400-500 members—sometimes less, sometimes more— with several dozen active volunteers. Advocating for better cycling infrastructure, organizing rides, and publishing Cycle Therapy have been our core activities over the years.

The past few years have seen the GVCC raising its profile and making a bigger name for itself. Two years ago, through a City of Victoria sustainability grant, we

published our Bikes Means Business Report, highlighting the many benefits, monetary and otherwise, that improved cycling infrastructure can bring to businesses and residents. Last year, we co-hosted, with support from the Capital Regional District, the TransForm Speaker Series, featuring 12 speakers over six evenings, culminating in a sold-out presentation to 300 people by Happy City author Charles Montgomery.

Almost 1000 people attended those sessions, and the TransForm themes continue to resonate today as Victoria, Saanich and other local governments boost their investments and commitments to active transportation and urban mobility.

In June 2015, we hired Susanna Grimes as the new GVCC Volunteer Coordinator to ensure our growing volunteer activities were being run effectively and promptly.

In December, the GVCC was awarded a $35,000 Capacity Building grant from Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) to assist in the continued growth and prosperity of the GVCC. We’ll be using these funds to pursue potential social enterprise schemes such as bike parking and a bike/ business awards program, and new communications and outreach initiatives to engage the broader community and local partners. We’ll implement a new database to track our members, supporters and volunteers. We’ll make the GVCC a bigger organization with more services, advocacy and events to serve its members and the broader community.

2016 and beyond looks to be a very exciting time for our organization, and for the bicycle community in Greater Victoria. Please consider signing up as a member, or join our active cadre of volunteers. Please stay tuned to Cycle Therapy, our website (gvcc. bc.ca), and our e-newsletter to learn more.

And follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Or feel free to make inquiries by email at info@gvcc.bc.ca and we’ll get back to you promptly.

Shameless plug: my wife and I recently purchased a Bullitt cargo bike from the Danish company Larry vs Harry. If you happen to have any familiarity with building a box for cargo bikes, or want to tell me about how awesome your cargo bike is, send me an email at president@gvcc.bc.ca.

the Next Level

by Susanna Grimes The GVCC is thrilled to announce that we’ve been awarded a $35,000 Capacity Building grant from Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC)!

Over the last 25 years, the GVCC has accomplished amazing things with volunteer effort alone. However, as the chicken-andegg dilemma goes, it has struggled to get to the next level without a concerted and prolonged focus on organizational development and operations. Having a hand-up from MEC will enable the GVCC to begin that work.

The grant will support key GVCC goals for 2016: building strategic partnerships, improving our communications and outreach, as well as pursuing self-sustaining revenue streams.

Thank you Mountain Equipment Co-op!!!

According to MEC: “Through Capacity Building grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000, MEC supports grassroots conservation organizations and activity-based organizations by providing funding that will help strengthen their effectiveness.

To keep space for adventure, Canada needs strong, resilient and active non-governmental organizations who advocate for the conservation of our land and water, and help people experience activity outdoors.”

Grant-funded activities will be led by contractors Susanna Grimes and Ray Straatsma, both of whom have been active in the cycling advocacy community for over 30 years combined.

Walk the Talk

by Ray Straatsma

On November 4th, the GVCC was pleased to host Walk the Talk, a dynamic presentation by Brent Toderian, one of Canada’s leading urbanists and city planners.

Attended by almost 80 people, Brent led a compelling and image-filled discussion about the multiple opportunities to create and build more engaging cities and vibrant streets.

With a focus on active transportation, attractive public spaces, and creative ways to support and sustain walkable neighbourhoods, Brent shared many bold ideas and initiatives from around the world. Brent also addressed a large group of Victoria-area planners and engineers the following day.

Brent is the founder and principal of TODERIAN UrbanWORKs, a consulting practice with experience in many global cities. He was Vancouver’s Chief Planner from 2006-2012 and is the founding President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism (CanU).

The Walk the Talk event was co-presented with the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network, and sponsored by the City of Victoria, District of Saanich, and Downtown Victoria Business Association.

Photo By Ryan Mijker

Spring 2016

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Warm Showers

by Anne Drummond It all started a few years ago when, after building a number of sailboats—which I had no interest in sailing—my partner said ‘Why don’t you build something useful?’ So I built a Tiny House with the aid of some younger male muscle. About the same time, we went cycle touring in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and there we met a lovely couple from Edinburgh. They were much more experienced cycle tourists and told us many things including all about Warmshowers.

Time has passed and the Tiny House was completed along with

Photo By Ann Drummond

an outhouse, shower and outdoor kitchen. I joined Warmshowers and the adventure began. Over the last 18 months or so we have enjoyed the stories, energy and inspiration of the many bicycle adventurers that have called the Tiny House “home for the night”.

Warmshowers is a reciprocal hospitality community with 71,143 members around the world. You will even find shelter and a shower in the Cape Verde islands, Vanuatu and Lesotho. The community has been going since 1994 and the 262,776 hosting requests thus far in 2015 speaks to a vast embrace of hospitality.

The premise of the Warmshowers community is that every member has some sort of accommodation and a warm shower to offer potential cycling guests and in turn may enjoy the hospitality of other members when on a tour. There is no money involved at all and this community is, in practice and philosophy, very much 4

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part of the sharing economy.

Warmshowers.org is a very user-friendly website and there is also an app for mobile devices. As a host, you are under no obligation to offer anything more than what you are comfortable with, so long as it includes a warm shower. Some hosts offer food, laundry facilities, bike repair tools and expertise, and in my direct and indirect experience all have the intent to be welcoming and hospitable and often these encounters turn into friendships or ongoing contact.

And then, when your wanderlust becomes uncontrollable, you pack up your panniers, mark your profile as “Unavailable for hosting” and add a few sentences about your proposed adventure, and head for the road and all the wonderful Warmshowers hosts that you will meet.

Our own experience as Warmshowers hosts has been overwhelmingly positive with a steady stream of bicycle powered adventurers staying in the Tiny House. One of our first guests was a young couple from Belgium cycling down the Pacific coast with their big friendly Collie dog; I was happy to see the very low gear drive train on their bikes, as 50 pounds of dog on top of a lot of gear would have been hard work. Then there was an art student, a bicycle mechanic, a newly married couple exploring the northwest while deciding where to live, Dutch world travelers riding to raise money and awareness for International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), two French teachers and their very young children in their second year of travelling the world, two young Canadian women on their very first bike tour heading for Toronto, and so the list goes. Intrepid, inspiring, interesting, funny, playful and gentle and often very tired and hungry describe the guests we have hosted.

One couple really stood out for me: Chris and Heather from Quesnel, BC. They arrived on a bright summer afternoon all eager and happy after a ride from the Lower Mainland. They were kindred spirits and quickly we found ourselves deep in conversation which continued over supper together. What was so remarkable about the two of them was their passion for delight and positivity. They were newly retired and a few weeks into an extended cycle tour they had been planning and dreaming of for many years.

They left the next morning so we really only had a brief time with them, but through reading the journal of their trip as they travelled south to the sun, I learnt much more about this lovely couple.They

met as teenagers and then in their twenties and then, newly married, they headed for central BC where they homesteaded, building a log home from trees they felled, growing their food, and raising two children.

A persistent theme through all their career and personal adventures has been a love of the active life. They were seduced by the bicycle touring bug when Chris injured his foot and could no longer run. After a few summers of weekend and short tours in BC they set off on their 32nd anniversary for a two month tour through southern BC and Washington state. Chris is an eloquent

writer so the journal describing their 2008 tour is full of wonder, delight and humour; it was also quite clear that the trip was life changing. They reflect on numerous occasions about how little they need to be happy, and that central to their happiness is being together exploring new places and meeting new people.

For the next six years they took six to eight week long tours in the northwest while getting on with their lives as a cabinetmaker and personal fitness trainers, but always dreaming of an extended open

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ended cycle tour, preferably somewhere warm and sunny.

In 2014 they started “dismantling the machine”, Chris’s term for unraveling all the systems needed to support careers and homelife. Businesses liquidated, stuff sold and home and dog in the care of their son and his family, they were ready for the “big one”. Setting off late in July, they headed south to Central America. Their trip through BC, the Pacific coast and then Mexico is a story of joy, music, challenge, pain, love, delight, sunshine and much more. Any summary I write of their journey would not do it justice, so I invite you to read Chris and Heather’s journal “Quesnel bikers - Heading south to Central America” found on the website crazyguyonabike.com.

See more at: warmshowers.org or crazyguyonabike.com Photo By Chris Hartridge

Spring 2016

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UVic

By Matt Huculak

Sustainability Week at Campus Bike Centre The second annual Sustainability Week at the University of Victoria (October 13-16) was themed around sustainable transportation and the Campus Bike Centre. Formally an underground parkade, the Centre has been completely reclaimed to provide over 250 bicycle parking spots, lockers, and equipment for the campus cycling community.

And now, thanks to the vision of fourth-year undergraduate student, Kyra McLeod (Department of Visual Arts) the centre now sports a mural celebrating cycling. The 20-metre painting uses the shapes and structural elements of the building as a metaphor to show the link between sustainability, art, and cycling. Just like an artist can use ready-made urban spaces as canvases, cyclists, too, can think creatively to get out on the road. You don’t have to buy new clothes or have the latest gear: you can simply use what’s at hand to participate in the culture.

And because the Bike Centre is also home to SPOKES—a student-and-staff-run volunteer organization that refurbishes (“upcycles”) donated bicycles—students, faculty, and staff can rent bicycles cheaply year round, or sign up for a longer bike loan.

SPOKES has over 500 bikes out on loan right now, and there’s plan for a new bike drive in the spring. The project is so successful that two work-study students have been brought in to help with the administration of the project; while bicycles are being refurbished and brought back onto the roads, these students are learning hands-on skills in administration, planning, communications, and how to rebuild bicycles.

Another student-run enterprise during sustainability week was a series of free bike-repair workshops run by the UVic Cycling Club for the “novice mechanic.” The president of the club, Killian Loftis, wanted to empower riders with basic skills to repair common problems one might encounter riding to school. The 45-minute workshops were full all day long, and everyone was given an opportunity to purchase discounted repair tools for the road.

Photo By Paul Marck

sustainability is that viewers can step back and actually reflect on their environment and think about the message the artist is trying to convey while coming up with their own way of thinking about it. It creates conversation as well as beauty.” But she has particular pride in the fact that it is students driving the ideas of art and sustainability on campus: “It’s experiential learning and a collaboration between students, professors, staff, and Facilities [Management]. It’s a collaboration project bringing the community together to accentuate the beautiful campus we already have. We live in one of the best places in the world, and it can just get better.”

Web Links: https://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/ transportation/cycling/index.php Twitter: @green_uvic

Sustainability Coordinator, Susan Kerr, was really happy with how the week went. “It really was successful. It was successful because we got the message out.” In the spring, the Cycling Advisory Committee on campus and the Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability noticed that the Bike Centre wasn’t being used to its full potential, so they worked together to increase its profile on campus. Since the new term began in September, the space has been full. “It has been fantastic,” Kerr noted. “You think once the weather changes and it’s darker that people might not ride as much, but it’s still full! And if you walk around campus the racks are full, too.”

Kerr is hoping to expand the mural art program to include more paintings and perhaps bike sculptures. “I think we need more art on campus. Because what’s so beautiful about linking art and 6

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Photo By Cliff Haman

Accent Inn/hotel zed We Think Bikes Are People Too!

How can you not like a hotel chain that professes such unabashed sentiment towards bicycles - and by extension – their owners?!

By Susanna Grimes

Welcome the GVCC’s newest corporate member: The Accent Inns.

They have 5 Accent Inns around the province along with their New Hotel Zed properties. The Accent Inns & Hotel Zed offer Bike Love at all of its locations in British Columbia: a genuine welcome to those who want to ride a bike while visiting another city. Cycling amenities include: hotel rooms you can bring your bike into, bike tune-up station with professional tools, rags and water hose, guest laundry room if you “get dirty”, information and advice on local cycling routes, and even free bike rentals if you don’t have your own.

The Accent Inns supports numerous cycling groups such as the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, HUB Vancouver, Bike to Work Victoria, Bike to Work Kelowna, Bike to Work BC, the South Island Mountain Bike Society, the BC Cycling Coalition, Tour De Victoria, Tour De Rock, Kamloops indoor Grand Fondo, MS Bike Kamloops, Giro de Burnaby and the Accent Inns Russ Hays Grand Prix. They are also sponsors of a local riding team through Russ Hay’s The Bicycle Shop, and supporters of the Triple Shot team. Russ Hay’s is also the hotel’s support bike shop.

Management of the Victoria Accent Inns speak from rubber-onthe-road experience. Mandy Farmer – President and CEO – rides to work. How cool is that? She also sits on the Biketoria Technical Advisory Committee. Wow! Their Director of Marketing & Communications – John Espley – is also a bike commuter.

Consider staying at an Accent Inn or Hotel Zed the next time you travel in BC, and let visitors know about this bike-loving hotel chain. After all, according to them: “This is no place for an antibikeite”.

Accent Inns are located in Victoria, Burnaby, at the Vancouver airport, and in Kelowna and Kamloops. www.accentinns.com Hotel Zed locations are in Victoria & Kelowna (opening spring 2016). www.hotelzed.com

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New Board Members Matt Huculak

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Victoria

the

My first experience with cycling as a lifestyle came when I started university at U.C. Davis in California. I had grown up in the country on dirt roads, and the car was simply a necessity of country life. But, when I started at Davis, I saw two things that caught my eye: first, there was a giant Penny Farthing at the entrance to campus (the penny farthing is the unofficial school logo); second, there were bicycle stoplights for every major intersection near campus!

The whole town seemed to be bicycle crazy, and I got swept up in the lifestyle. People would say with pride, “there are more bicycles per capita in Davis than in Amsterdam”—I have no idea if that is true, but the town did become the home of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame.

cycling could be a primary mode of transportation—but more so, that I lived in a place that seemed to value cycling and the safety of its community. For me cycling represents something larger than just a mode of transportation; it’s an indicator that a community is interested in making itself livable: for pedestrians, for cyclists, for cars, and for anyone who likes to slow down and meander down unknown streets. Victoria is such a beautiful city filled with both natural beauty, great restaurants, and wonderful shops, so I love being able to slow down and enjoy it all.

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seriously the call to prioritize h i g h - q u a l i t y, a l l - a ge s - a n d abilities cycling infrastructure, and the role the GVCC has played in bringing that about! On the GVCC board, I aim to grow our membership, continue to strengthen our advocacy with relevant levels of government, and work with media to inspire more people to try cycling.

I am a commuter and recreational cyclist and for work, I do communications and program management for a local energy efficiency nonprofit. I also enjoy growing and preserving food, and learning new skills.

I am very excited to work together with everyone at the GVCC to make cycling here truly great, with more people of all ages choosing to ride to school, work and play. I’m really pleased that local governments in the region are taking

Christmas Lights Ride

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I joined the GVCC because I want to live in a city that is accessible to all—a community where people are able to slow down and enjoy a glass of wine or speed up on a ride out to a lake or forest— and the GVCC represents an organization that shares my deep personal values about creating livable cities where all people—from children to seniors—can mingle and enjoy the gifts of our environment.

Glenys Verhulst

When I left Davis, I forgot about my bicycle until I moved to Halifax, where I picked up an extra-large Fuji hybrid after selling my car. Thankfully, I decided to bring it with me to Victoria because when I got here, I felt that same vibe that I had in Davis. I was really excited to be living in a city where

The 18th annual Christmas Lights Ride shall go on record as one of our most blustery, rainy rides ever. The ride started and ended at the Burnside/Gorge Community Center and included festive displays in the Gorge and Colquitz areas. Despite the weather, 34 brave souls came out to ride, with several coming from outside Victoria.

? w e N s ’ What

by Janet Besler

Meet a couple of those brave souls: Rochelle and Warren Brubacho. They reside north of Squamish and, anticipating ferries being shut down due to wind warnings, caught a very early ferry to be assured of passage to Victoria. It was Warren’s first ride with the GVCC and Rochelle’s second Lights Ride.

What attracted them to the ride? For Rochelle, it’s love of cycling, appreciation for the “beautiful city of Victoria” and brilliant displays of lights. They also enjoyed meeting after the ride for hot chocolate, cookies and door prizes, and Rochelle mentioned she looks forward to the Christmas Lights Ride 2016... hopefully with better weather.

Skedaddle to SKAMpede

by Sarah Webb

SKAMpede: part theatre, part work-out, part community building and part surprise. The SKAMpede Festival combines multi-modal travel with outdoor theatre in a stunning setting along the Galloping Goose Regional trail and the Gorge waterfront.

I sat down with Matthew Payne and Kate Wallace of Theatre SKAM on a sunny afternoon to talk mobility, live theatre and community partnerships.

Matthew is one of the four co-founders and current Artistic Producer of the company and Kate recently joined the team as Operations Manager. They both have a love of cycling and agree that one of the main motivators to get on their bike each day is the sense of freedom they gain from travelling on two-wheels.

“Not only is a cycling cheap way to get around, but it is great physical activity and good for your brain,” says Kate Wallace, who cycles with her family as well as solo trips to work.

In fact, it was a bike ride which helped to inspire Matthew to develop the idea for SKAMpede.

“I was riding along with a friend when I realized that there are so many natural performance spaces along the Goose. We built the concept from work we did with the HIVE projects in Vancouver and all the pieces just fell into place. The Galloping Goose trail is an incredible venue with natural spaces, industrial spaces and everything in between.”

Theatre SKAM was formed in 1995 with a mission to create theatre that is innovative and entertaining, and, above all, never boring. Known for its sense of fun and “small batch” productions, the company has been a

vital part of the local arts scene in Victoria.

But this little company is far from quaint— they have recently expanded their touring efforts and have brought shows to cities across North America and Europe.

SKAMpede is based on 4 mini-tours of 3 live performances along the Galloping Goose Trail. Emerging and established artists from around the region and across the country come to perform acts of ten minutes or less. In between each trio of shows patrons head back to the central Festival HUB where they can enjoy refreshments, bike decorating and spontaneous acts.

From comedy to drama, opera to rap, storytelling to improv, there is something for everyone. In fact, SKAM is working to bring two national companies to the 2016 event—Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre from Saskatchewan and the 2B Theatre from Nova Scotia.

“One of ways we support artist development is through mentorship. Emerging art-

ists have a chance to learn and get support through established leaders,” says Matthew.

“Having these companies as a part of the festival and mentorship program provides an important opportunity to support local talent.”

The SKAMpede festival is in its 8th year.

First established under the name ‘Bike Ride’, the festival has now expanded to support multi-modal travel. Attendees are supported on bike, on foot, on scooter, on skateboard and even in wheelchair. “Last year we approached the Victoria Disability Resource Centre and asked them ‘How can we make the festival more inclusive to support people with different mobility needs?’

It was a super positive experience,” Matthew adds.

Theatre SKAM also recognizes that infrastructure in the region, not only the trails themselves, but on-road facilities are critical to encourage residents to walk, roll and ride.

“In 2016 we are moving our festival HUB to Harbour Road—this is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the City’s planned walking and cycling investments as well as to create new partnerships with businesses in Vic West,” says Kate. “We also plan to host a Friday night feast and preview event. If hosting 12 performances with more than 30 artists over 4 kilometers wasn’t enough, we figured we would throw in a locally made, 3-course long table dinner. This event was sold out last year and we know it is going to be amazing again this year.”

In a world where going to the theatre often means putting on a fancy shirt and sitting in a hot theatre, SKAMpede is a refreshing summer alternative. Save the date: SKAMpede July 8, 9, 10, 2016. For more information and tickets visit www.skam.ca.

Spring 2016

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Biketoria: from a good to a great cycling city

by Ray Straatsma

As spring emerges in 2016, Victoria residents can anticipate a landmark year for bike riding in our fair city. Momentum for an improved and expanded bicycle network has been building over the last few years, with GVCC playing a significant role in pushing for quality bike facilities designed for people of all ages and abilities.

This spring and summer, some key forward steps will be taken.

As Cycle Therapy went to press (early Feb.), the city’s crack team of #Biketoria consultants were preparing their final route and design proposals for City Hall. As well, the Pandora protected bike lane is expected to receive final design approvals, with construction underway over the summer.

The Biketoria team has proposed eight potential routes as a primary bike network, suitable for all ages and abilities (AAA) (See map). Among the primary objectives of the network is to connect the everyday places where people go: schools, commercial nodes, main employment areas, and neighbourhood villages.

Biketoria’s proposed primary network also weighs other factors: topography, directness, transit and vehicle volumes and available right of way. Design treatments and route choices are under active consideration; City Council is expected to make key decisions on bike routes and designs in February and March.

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Late in 2015, the Biketoria team’s interim report and later design work recommended protected bike lanes on large segments of Cook, Fort Government and a Wharf/ Inner Harbour route. Other routes under design review: Haultain, Fairfield or Richardson, and Shelbourne Street, or an alternative north-south route (such as Shakespeare).

confident that City Hall, business leaders and the broader community recognize and support all the upsides to investments in our bicycle infrastructure. As business leader Dallas Gislason says: “One of the selling points of Victoria as a high-tech/ entrepreneurial city is bike culture from both a commuter as well as lifestyle/leisure perspective.

In January, the Biketoria proposals raised the ire of some community voices. Some local businesses in Cook St. village circulated a petition, complaining about loss of and access to parking, and threats to business success. This was to be expected. Cities across North America have faced local apprehension and opposition whenever bike facilities are proposed or installed.

This view is increasingly trumpeted in cities all over North America. Major bicycle investments are in place or planned in almost every major Canadian city— and dozens more in the U.S. Montreal is a leader in Canada: 72 kilometres of protected lanes. Vancouver has made huge strides in recent years with quality bicycle facilities. Smaller cities are building better networks as well: Ottawa, Calgary, Saskatoon and Edmonton each have 5-10 km of protected bike lanes. Those cities and others—Halifax, Hamilton, Winnipeg— are planning more. Many are making major bicycle investments in their downtown cores.

The GVCC has worked to counter these misconceptions and fears. Our December opinion piece in the Times Colonist highlighted the many benefits of Biketoria initiative. The TC also published a bikepositive editorial, following a meeting I arranged with their editorial Board (attended as well by Cindy Marven of WeBike). We’ve conducted surveys and parking counts in the Cook St. Village, and stressed in social media channels and elsewhere how bike-friendly friendly streets are a net positive for local businesses.

Watch for more on that front, and contact us if you like to help out.

Looking at the bigger picture, we are

This is where Victoria is headed. The Biketoria plan signals a critical step in that direction. As a city of just 82,000 people, Victoria has fewer resources than larger centres, but also has many exceptional bikefriendly assets: a moderate climate and compact size (20sq km), with residential neighbourhoods proximate to its major employment areas and other destinations.

Smaller investments here will go a longer

way.

Currently, bicycling in town means navigating busy roads and streets, riding on incomplete bike lanes, through dangerous intersections or squeezed between moving and parked vehicles.

Such variable conditions leave people riding bikes vulnerable, and make many car drivers anxious. Very few new or more cautious bike riders attempt to ride downtown or along major routes where services and shopping reside. Parents are nervous about letting their kids ride to school.

The proposed Biketoria AAA routes will mitigate those shortcomings. A well-designed network of quality routes will provide clarity for all road users, help create safer streets and improved health for regular riders. Most of all, it will make regular bike riding more attractive and comfortable for many more residents—of all ages and abilities.

Improvements in the downtown are key, having been overlooked in the City’s first bike plan in 1994. Equally important will be the next stages: completing an identified secondary set of bike routes and lanes, and connecting the many gaps in our existing network.

Both City Hall and Biketoria team have identified potential fixes and facilities for the years ahead.

All to say: we are pedaling in the right direction. But travelling from a good city to a great city for cycling takes years of effort, as well as committed leadership from City Hall, the business community, and ongoing public engagement with and support from local residents. The pathway forward is to be continued.

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A Tisket a tasket

by Mandy Pearce

It’s a fact of life: daily living requires stuff. Stuff that needs to be transported to and fro: picked up, dropped off, ready for use, just in case. While there are many ways to bring your things with you on a bicycle—backpack, messenger bag, fabric pannier, handlebar bag, saddle bag—one popular option is the one that most mimics a motor vehicle’s trunk: the hard basket or crate. No sweating under the extra layer, fussing around with fastenings, or having to take anything off the bike and carry it with you. Just toss your usual bag or carrying container in and you’re good to go! Attach it with some zap straps and theft is made difficult. Attach lights or reflectors to it in a visible spot. Strap on a bungy cord (or net) to keep things in place. And with one closable “case” style: lock it up with a key!

Baskets and crates are a common sight at UVic, where students lug heavy books and computers from home to class. The photos below reflect a variety of styles seen around campus this fall…and this collection doesn’t even include the wooden crate or the pannierbasket. One thing’s for sure: there isn’t a shortage of options!

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I talk bicycles with a lot of people. Some of them know I write this series on bikes stores, but some do not. I had 2-3 recommendations to pay a visit to Pit Stop Bike Repairs and More located at 1014 Cook Street just south of Fort Street. I finally did it last week.

I met up with owner operators Guillermo and Audrey to talk bikes. In case you are wondering, his name is pronounced (as near as I can tell) as Gee-yermo. Pit Stop is probably the newest bike store in Victoria as they opened in March 2015. As I used to be in small business development, I asked about their business plan and how things have turned out over the last 8 months. Surprisingly well was the answer.

Audrey commented on how well bike sales went during the summer. As with any new business owner, they hope this positive impact will carry through the winter into the (likely) busier spring selling season.

Pit Stop is an unusual bike store as it is driven by a passion for repairing bikes.

They do act as dealers for Lochside Bikes

Pit on Cook Stop part of Michael Fisher`s continuing series of articles on local bike stores

but each time I have been in the store I have been impressed by the range of quality used bikes available. Pit Stop can sell your bike on consignment or buy it for resale.

Each time I have been there Guillermo has been refurbishing older bikes to make them ready for sale—this is the ultimate recycling in Victoria. The downside of this is that the availability of bikes is determined by what’s selling, although I was assured I could put in a request for a specific type of bike. Maybe it would become available.

Maybe not.

Our discussion eventually turned to plans for the future and the themes that came through loud and clear were an emphasis on youth and helping people. The couple spoke of mentoring young people in bicycle repair and Guillermo certainly is skilled in that area. It’s a compact shop but they plan to install another 1-2 workstations so that trainees can be mentored and people can learn bike repair skills in a workshop environment.

Starting any business is really hard work, so I take my hat/helmet off to Guillermo and Audrey as they learn about running a business in the best way possible: just doing it. They have enjoyed feedback from their many customers and are anxious to support local merchants and services. As I left the store I spoke with the supplier of KnitChanChan cycle caps and she spoke highly of the local focus of Pit Stop. Their service prices are on their web page and you can really speak to the mechanic who works on your bike as he’s the owner. All in all, it’s worth making a pit stop at this new business.

Spring 2016

13

Cycling the 17 Mile Drive:

Monterey California

by Darren Marr

If there ever was a picturesque route to cycle anywhere on the American West Coast, you would be hard pressed to find one more spectacular than the 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Just 2 hours south of San Francisco, the 17 Mile Drive begins just southeast of Monterey and winds its way through rugged rocky oceanfront, scenic beaches, lush cypress groves and nicely manicured golf courses to the quaint beachfront town of Carmel-by-

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the-Sea. Though winding, the 17 Mile Drive is relatively flat and is equipped with bike lanes throughout much of its length. It is also a private toll road which winds through one of most exclusive gated communities in California, Pebble Beach. However, cyclists can ride the route for free!

My journey started in Monterey with

friends Deb and Bob near Old Fisherman’s Wharf, a former working pier now occupied by shops and restaurants. Heading west on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, the route took us to Cannery Row, a popular shopping area which is also home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Further along, a bike laned road parallels the rocky coastline at the town of Pacific Grove, offering spectacular seaside views. Passing Point Pinos Lighthouse, the road curved south towards

the Pacific Grove gate of the Drive.

About 2 miles south of the Pacific Grove gate is Spanish Bay. Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola camped here on the shoreline in 1769 while searching for Monterey Bay in an effort to establish the first European settlement in the area. Today, it is a popular beach for strolling as well as viewing the birds and marine life at Bird and Seal Rocks. A popular golf resort is also located here.

Past Bird Rock, the road narrowed considerably and the bike lanes disappeared as we entered the Crocker Grove, the oldest and largest grove of Monterey cypress trees in California. We sensed that the jewel of the drive, the Lone Cypress, would be nearby. Sure enough, a 1/2 mile later, we turned a corner and saw the tree perched on the coastline in all its majesty. A symbol of strength, beauty and endurance, it is little wonder why the cypress was chosen as the corporate symbol of the Pebble Beach

Company, the area’s developers.

Past the Lone Cypress, the road wound through a large residential estate of luxury homes (the average home price in Pebble Beach is over $3 million US) before we arrived at the Lodge at Pebble Beach. Established in 1919, the Lodge has been a destination for high-end travellers, not to mention a focal point for golf enthusiasts given its proximity to the world famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the most scenic and challenging golf courses in America open to the public.

Just south of the golf course is the Carmel gate, which leads towards the seaside town of Carmel-by-the- Sea. Carmel is known for 2 large beaches, the Carmel Mission and a downtown with boutique hotels,

restaurants and shops. The town is a great place to have lunch or otherwise take a break from riding.

From Carmel, there are a number of ways to cycle back to Monterey. Most cyclists tend to go back on the route from which they came, or go along a somewhat hilly route through the Del Monte Forest to Pacific Grove. However, the most direct route follows an undeveloped trail system through Hatton Canyon—which could use some paving—then follows a network of residential streets before connecting with Highway 1 for 2 miles uphill with a narrow

shoulder and fast traffic, then connects with another paved trail system before entering Monterey.

In my opinion, this would be a great Class 1 bicycle route back into Monterey if the can-

yon trail was paved and a new trail paralleling Highway 1 was built separating bike traffic from the fast-moving vehicle traffic, along with proper bike signage through the residential area. Perhaps this is something for local planners and cycling advocates to push for?

All in all, the 17 Mile Drive is one of those rides every touring cyclist needs to experience at least once. Neither words nor pictures can adequately describe this wonder on the Pacific Coast.

Spring 2016

15

I met a cyclist today I met a cyclist today. I don’t know his name, nor did he learn mine.

I was on my way to work when I saw him, resting on a short wall in the November sunshine, behind A&W with his bike parked nearby. The bike was hitched to two trailers and the trailers were partially filled with empty bottles. Something in the scene, the ingenuity of the tandem trailers, made me stop to talk. I pulled up beside him on my bike, said hello, beautiful day, and admired his trailer set up. He thanked me, and said he’d pulled one of the trailers out of Bowker Creek, near Fort and Foul Bay, cleaned it off, and fixed the two flat tires. I reflected silently on the fact that he had helped to clean up the creek and that he was reusing something that someone else had thrown out as useless. Or maybe it had been stolen, and ditched in the creek. Either way, it was abandoned and was now being used again. He showed me how he’d attached it to the first trailer: bungee cords, and a friend had drilled a hole in the aluminum for him so he could run some cord through it. It worked well, but because of the hitch system, he could only turn left—we laughed at that. I said that must make for some interesting route selections.

He talked about how he doesn’t come out this way (Shelbourne/ McKenzie) until after 9:30am because it was ‘like Western Speedway out there’. I totally agreed, Shelbourne? He said, well, mainly McKenzie. He said that the police once stopped him on the sidewalk—he was riding on it because although the street sweepers sweep the road, they don’t get everything and you can get a flat.

He said he now had two good tires on his bike—he’d gotten extra

by Cindy Marven

bottles one day so he splurged and got the expensive ones with liners so he wouldn’t get so many flats. He was happy about the new bike lanes on McKenzie—he said they were absolutely great. He had ridden the Goose all the way out to the end of the line, past Sooke, to the old mining town (but neither of us could remember the name at the time—I said, I think it starts with ‘L’). I had also ridden most of the Goose, out to Sooke, a long time ago, so we talked about the trail and the improvements.

He certainly knew his bike stuff. His bike was in excellent condition. He said he did his repairs himself, and had figured out how to work on the hub. He carried his tools neatly packed in a plastic box that he had stowed in his trailer. He said he had Allen wrenches of all sizes because on a bike, that’s what you need.

He talked about how he doesn’t come out this way (Shelbourne/ McKenzie) until after 9:30am because it was ‘like Western Speedway out there’.

So true I agreed, thinking—where are mine? He’d given a set to a friend recently, ‘another homeless guy’ who really needed them.

He added quietly, I’m homeless myself, almost as an afterthought.

I mentioned that I had Allen keys but can never seem to find them and I needed to raise my seat a bit and tighten my kick stand. He immediately offered to adjust them for me and got out his tool box.

He raised the seat, careful to align it straight with the top tube, and tightened my kickstand so my bike wouldn’t fall over, as it occasionally does. I thanked him and he offered to give me his set of Allen keys. I declined, thanking him again, telling him that I did have some, that I just needed to find them, that they were in my garage somewhere. Thinking that I have so much stuff, I can’t even find what I need, when I need it. Or maybe I’m just disorganized.

Or both. He wished me safe travels—I thanked him, and said you too. I rode away, immediately feeling the benefit of having my seat at the right height and knowing I could trust my kickstand again.

He was kind, helpful, friendly, courteous, and homeless. He and other homeless people probably rely on their feet, and increasingly bicycles, for transportation, with cars being out of financial reach.

This man earned his living using his bike. But it was clear that he enjoyed riding. His cycling concerns were my concerns—traffic volume, puncture hazards, having the right tools at hand when you need them. I shared his admiration of the new lanes on McKenzie, near the university. Instead of me helping him, he helped me. Our connection, brief as it was, happened because we rode bikes. Bikes encourage us to stop and talk with people along the way, in ways that cars cannot. They remove barriers between people (both real and presumed), build connections instead, and remind us of our humanity.

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Cycling for everyone:

a billion for bikes.

British Columbia Cycling Coaltion

Sign the petition and spread the word to your friends: http://bccc.bc.ca/everyone

It is time for bold action now to enable everyone in BC, including children and seniors, to cycle or walk for their everyday trips. The Government of BC is currently working on their new Climate Leadership Plan and improved cycling and walking should be a big part of that plan. In addition to reducing GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions, cycling and walking also make our communities more vibrant and safer while reducing healthcare costs and improving the economy.

Please urge the Government to invest $1 billion in networks of safe paths, protected bike lanes, sidewalks, improved cycling facilities on highways & bridges and safe routes to school in communities across the Province. This investment should be accompanied by cycling education for children and adults.

Spring 2016

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bikes and

BIG DATA

by Ben Jestico

If you own a smart phone, a GPS watch, crowd-sourced data is part of a larger citi- routes multiple times per week. Standard or a GPS cycling computer, you are likely zen science trend of using mobile apps to data collection surveys provide a high level aware of fitness apps that will track cycling collect data from ordinary people on their of detail in regards to the number of cyclists routes. Distance travelled, average speed, environment. Determining how, when, and at a particular location in time, but are extravel times and calories burned can all where these data can be used is the chal- tremely limited in their spatial and tempobe measured through apps such as Strava, lenge faced by researchers hoping to tap ral coverage. Fitness apps provide the opMapMyRide, and Garmin to connect and into this information goldmine. posite—a high level of detail in their spatial provide detailed information and temporal coverage, but are about your trip. Routes can be BikeMaps.org is a research project from the Spatial Pattern a biased sample of cyclists as uploaded to share with friends only those using an app will be Analysis and Research (SPAR) Lab at UVic. Citizens are tracked and monitored. for kudos, monitor progress, brag about how far you went encouraged to pin any collisions, near misses, thefts, or that day, or even compete hazards they have encountered onto BikeMaps.org. Check How can we have the detail against strangers along defined out the site to see where others have pinned and what of manually counting cyclists segments. with the high spatial and temissues they’ve had. BikeMaps.org poral coverage of Strava data?

Beyond crowning KOM (King As part of my MSc in Geograof the Mountain) bragging rights, apps like phy at UVic, I am exploring some of these Strava are also generating huge amounts Researchers aiming to better understand research questions. My goal is to determine of “crowd-sourced” data. The prevalence cycling safety and ridership trends often if the information content contained withof GPS and route tracking has exciting lack data on where cyclists ride and how in crowd-sourced cycling data can be appotential for researchers aiming to un- many of them are riding there. Standard propriately used to estimate overall cycling derstand how crowd-sourced data can be methods of collecting cycling data consist volumes. By supplementing existing data used to supplement existing data sources. of manually counting cyclists during peak sources, crowd-sourced data can provide While these fitness apps are marketed for commuting periods of the day and at one valuable insight into ridership trends to intraining, which holds some inherent bi- point in time. Time periods are selected form cycling safety and planning. ases, the wealth of information they sup- in order to capture commuting cyclists to/ ply make them difficult for urban planners from work or school who are likely to be and bike safety researchers to ignore. Using regular cyclists travelling along the same

Photo By Gillian Harvey

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Sharing Shelbourne

by Soren Henrich Photo By Tom Newton

I make a right turn signal and launch myself onto northbound Shelbourne Street at Haultain, anticipating potholes, opening car doors and vehicles entering from side streets. I ride one-third of the distance from the curb, sit tall in the saddle, will myself to look bigger and brighter than my florescent yellow jacket, front and rear flashing lights, bike festooned with reflective tape, and beanie light on my helmet. I assert my definite presence in the right-of-way, as my ears and the hairs on the back of my neck are instinctively aware of vehicles looming up from behind. Drivers who I pray pay attention and are not in a rage, drunk, or texting. They can pass me when Shelbourne Street fans out from one lane to four lanes ahead at Hillside, a busy and potentially dangerous intersection—one of the worst intersections for traffic collisions in the city…

There is a short, reassuring section of painted bike lane between Hillside and North Dairy in Saanich where a sign says, ‘Truck Bylaw Route in Effect’ …but nothing about ‘Bicycles Allowed Full Use of the Lane,’ or anything even mildly, legally protective like that. The light at the intersection turns green. This is the stretch of Shelbourne only idiots ride, says a friend. They also say cycling should be banned on Shelbourne, cyclists thrown in jail, hanged, then shot.

pair. The proximity of speeding cars is threatening. Seniors walk there, emerging from their nearby homes on foot, with walkers and scooters, blithely or bravely picking their way through the busy car-filled intersections to the grocery store, doctor’s office, bank, café or bus stop.

Could Shelbourne Street be better, safer and more pleasant for people who walk and ride; better for seniors, students, families and children? Better for business? Are there economic benefits to having bike lanes and improved accessibility for everyone?

Opportunities to provide input into the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan were provided at Open Houses in February and March, and an on-line survey open until March 20. Visit saanich.ca/business/ actionplan/shelbourne for more information.

Until repair is made, people who walk and ride remain to steel their nerves, pray, and brave the speeding traffic on Shelbourne.

Mild-mannered me assumes the attitude of what I imagine to be a ‘road warrior’ (think ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’) and I start pedalling for all I’m worth. I’m going to show that a human on a bicycle can make it to Pear Street in the same time as a vehicle gunning to the next intersection, trying to beat their neighbour to Home Despot, the airport, or wherever they need to go at 60 km/h down Shelbourne.

I drive a car on Shelbourne too. Two lanes each way encourage passing behaviour. In a car from Haultain Street, at so-called ‘rush hour,’ it typically takes 8 or 9 minutes to drive a 4 km length of Shelbourne. Even when I hold to the posted speed limit of 50 km/h, cars regularly pass, only for me to cruise slowly beside them stopped at the next intersection. I feel smug. I wish they’d understand that driving 10 km over the speed limit gets you nowhere fast. The traffic advances down Shelbourne in pulses of a dozen cars during peak travel times. At other times of day and night, Shelbourne is bare as a closed bowling lane. All this right-of-way for cars and trucks, moving goods and people, so inefficiently too, taking up all that space…

Who walks along Shelbourne Street? It is an unpleasant, forbidding experience. Narrow and broken sidewalks are in need of re-

Photo By Tom Newton Spring 2016

19

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