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June is Bike Month! EBC is a non-profit society dedicated to making Edmonton a more livable city by supporting active transportation.
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We sold out our allotment of tickets for Bike to the Symphony 2013! Please join us for the ride (to which everyone is always welcome), as it's a major part of the event (we want to show the city that even this is possible). You can also join us inside the Winspear by purchasing a regular price ticket. Sorry: no more $20 tickets! (If we manage to get a few more released at the EBC member rate, keep an eye on our Facebook page, where we'll let you know first.)
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Have you seen Edmonton's latest magazine dedicated to urbanism? Spacing Edmonton launched in April!
(I submitted one of my photos of canoe-biking to their launch contest and it won. Cool!)
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Thank you for your support!
In 2006, EBC had just 121 active members.
Last month, we broke 1000, and as of today, we have 1163 current, paid members.
What does that say about the desire for cycling in Edmonton, and the demand for a better city for cyclists? These videos we made of our recent Bake & Bike Sale and the Edmonton Bike Swap speak volumes.
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Our membership numbers convey a powerful message as well: in 2005, the City saw over 20,000 trips per day made by bicycle. In sub-zero temperatures. If we've grown by 810% since 2006, it shows that we truly need to invest more in cycling infrastructure.
In 2011, during the Council debates regarding the 2012-2014 Capital Budget, we raised the alarm: the budget proposed spending $0 over 3 years for active transportation. That budget line covers Edmonton's multiuse trails, sidewalks, bus pads & accessibility for wheelchairs, curb ramps, and bike lanes. Through your letters and phone calls, and support from most of our civic leaders, we saw that number increased to $20 million for the 3-year cycle. Still a small amount, considering the breadth of essential infrastructure it's required to cover, but considerably more than nothing.
Again this year we called for your support, and the letters flooded into City Hall in support of expanding Edmonton's cycling infrastructure. With a proposed cost of just over $1 million, the additional 23km of bike routes were threatened. (About 90% of that money goes towards road resurfacing.) Again, you rallied behind us, and many of you came out to a 4-hour long debate at City Hall to speak in support of active transportation. And while 2 routes have been delayed this year, the rest continue and pre-construction work has already begun on some routes.
All I can say is: thank you. With your continued support, especially through the financial contribution of your membership, and the support of our partners and sponsors (by giving you discounts!), we can continue to do our work in the city.
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Supporting memberships, as well as all subscription memberships (automatic recurring payments of any amount or frequency) were automatically entered in a draw last month for a 900-lumen bike light. Congratulations to the winner, Genevieve!
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Got some time this summer? Want to hang out with bikey people? And eat free food? And get a fabulous t-shirt? Volunteer for Bike Month!
EBC and VeloFest Edmonton are hosting numerous bikey events in and around Edmonton all summer and need your help with them. Contact in...@bikeology.ca to volunteer, or sign-up online.
Highlights include:
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Ghost Bike and Ride of Silence
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On May 3, a 56-year-old cyclist was struck by a motor vehicle. On May 5, he died from his injuries. This Ghost Bike was erected on May 7, 2013.
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Sadly, EBC installed another ghost bike in May.
Ghost Bikes, bicycles painted all-white and placed at the site where a cyclist has been killed, are small and sombre memorials for cyclists killed by automobiles. The installations are meant as reminders of the tragedy that took place, and as quiet statements in support of the right of cyclists and pedestrians to safe travel. Ghost Bikes do not lay blame, nor do we assess fault when placing a bike. All road users need to pay attention to each other and share the road safely.
Following the death of the cyclist, and the injury of a young cyclist a few days later, we organized a Ride of Silence on May 15, in conjunction with over 360 other cities worldwide.
These collisions highlight the urgent need for safe cycling infrastructure in Edmonton. Walking and cycling are good for your health. The benefits outweigh the risks by an order of magnitude, even moreso for a cyclist with on-road riding training.
But, as with any activity, there are still risks, real and perceived. Bike lanes cut that risk in half, and for many people, bike lanes take much of the fear out of cycling (the same fear which leads people to ride on sidewalks).
Please keep the recent debate on bike lanes in your mind when speaking with municipal election candidates.
Thanks to Michael from Earth's General Store for setting up the ghost bike and organizing the Ride of Silence. He's helped EBC to place 14 ghost bikes since 2007. Let's help him avoid having to paint any more.
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Instructor Training: CAN-BIKE On-road Cycling
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Become a certified instructor for Canada's premier, nationally certified traffic cycling course!
Certification allows you to conduct CAN-BIKE 1 or 2 courses (honorariums are available), and is a coveted asset for anyone working or applying for work that may involve cycling. (It may also carry weight in insurance or legal matters.)
Dates and times will be chosen to fit the schedule of interested participants.
Registration:
E-mail John Collier <jbco...@shaw.ca> to register.
If you do not yet have CAN-BIKE 2 certification (as a participant, as opposed to as an instructor), but are interested in becoming an instructor, please still contact us, as we may be able to arrange an additional CAN-BIKE 2 course in preparation for the instructor training.
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The Spoke is coordinated by our program coordinator, Tara, who volunteers over 15 hours a week doing everything from working with families and agencies to coordinating volunteers to driving around picking up supplies (and, of course, teaching mechanics to youth).
If you know of any individual, group, corporation, or grant that could help us to sustain the program by allowing us to pay our program coordinator, please let us know.
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This month we launched a new adapted bicycle loan pool program, called You Can Bike Too. The sister project to our special needs children learn-to-ride program, You Can Ride Two, You Can Bike Too provides, for free, adapted bikes to families and schools so that children who aren't able to ride two-wheeled bikes can still enjoy the freedom of cycling with their families.
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You Can Bike Too is supported by EBC and,
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President’s Choice Children’s Charity
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Women and Children’s Research Institute
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Children’s Ability Fund
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Canadian Paraplegic Association
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City of Edmonton
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Cerebral Palsy Association
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Miller Thomson LLP
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and a host of other community partners
If you'd like to support these programs, through volunteering, donations of adapted bikes, or financially, please visit http://youcanridetwo.ca!
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EBC is running supervised bike parking at the Legislature for Canada Day, July 1, from 10am-1:30am. Want to volunteer for a shift? You get to sit and read or chat! E-mail in...@edmontonbikes.ca if you can help out.
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The Works Art & Design Festival
June 20 to July 2, 2013
Churchill Square
http://www.theworks.ab.ca/festivalfolder/festival/festival.html
Are you inspired by art & design? Intimidated? Want to learn more from the other side, or just be immersed in it?
The Works Art & Design Festival is offering a finders fee to EBC for EBC volunteers who can volunteer at least 10 hours at The Works Festival this summer! The Festival dates are June 20-July 2, shifts are a minimum of 3 hours, and a variety of duties are available including:
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Tour Guide,
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Festival Greeters,
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Art Exhibit Attendant,
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and Art installation Operator
Spend some time with art, have fun with the public, and benefit two of your favourite non-profit organizations in one!
Indicate on your application that you are an EBC volunteer for EBC to receive credit for your time.
You'll of course get snacks and drinks, a t-shirt, access to volunteer appreciation events, and daily draws for prizes. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn more about the exhibits and talk to the public about the art (if you want to). There are also opportunities to assist artists in preparing their installations as well as operating them.
Keep an eye out in this year's festival for bikes provided by EBC: both in installations, as well as in several guided bike tours!
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EBC Advocacy Committee
Help us as we gear up for the 2013 municipal election. If you followed our CycleEdmonton.ca election website in 2010, you know what kind of campaign to expect. We want to survey the candidates, provide letters and example forum questions for our membership, and highlight the importance of bike infrastructure in municipal politics.
The difference this election?
The profile of cycling infrastructure is higher than its ever been (it's already been brought up in the mayoral race), and with Complete Streets Strathcona and West Downtown Complete Streets aligning with the City of Edmonton's 2014/2015 priority bike routes, we've reached a crucial point that will affect livability in our city for well beyond the next 4 years.
Our next advocacy committee meeting is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday, June 25 at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave). Please join us to help formulate our strategy for this election.
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West Downtown Complete Streets
Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7pm, tentatively at Paul Kane House
We were at the Oliver Community Festival on June 1 giving free bike tune-ups and speaking with community members about our goals and the City's plans for 102 Ave, 105 Ave, and other streets that will help connect and connect to Oliver, downtown, and area. Our next meeting will be Monday, June 17. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Join the WDCS mailing list to learn more and get involved.
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Complete Streets Strathcona
Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 83 Ave and 104 St
Complete Streets Strathcona will be having an open street open house on June 29. Watch http://edmontonbikes.ca/css for details!
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Victoria Promenade
My other bike is a broom
We couldn't wait any longer. So I brought a broom from home. We've been working on getting the priority of bike lane sweeping increased (above-bank multiuse trails are currently cleared at the same priority level as alleyways: which is to say, the absolute lowest; while roads with bike lanes receive no special treatment), but change will really need to be a directive from council with attendant funding. In the meantime, we take our DIY ethos to the streets:
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Stony Plain Road over Groat Road Bridge Rehabilitation
Still open for cyclists and pedestrians
The Stony Plain Road bridge is being rehabilitated. The 102 Ave bridge will be completely replaced (including new bike lanes) starting next year.
For now, though, much of the auto traffic that normally takes Stony Plain Road is now using 102 Ave (a designated bike route). Many cyclists that regularly use 102 Ave are finding themselves stuck behind slow-moving cars.
So why not try Stony Plain Road? Pedestrian crossing access will remain for most of the construction period, and it's lovely to ride on a Stony Plain Road with no cars in sight!
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Mike's Bikes Sunday Rides
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Starting in May, Mike's Bikes has begun doing free, fun rides at the shop every Sunday afternoon starting at 5 o'clock. Be sure to check the Mike's Bikes website those days when weather is an issue, at www.mikelovesbikes.com, otherwise come out and have some cycling fun with them! These are very casual, fun rides, not long road rides. Shop hours have also changed for the summer, we're open late on Wednesdays especially for those EBC members who are looking for new bike parts. As ever, EBC members receive 10% off all parts and accessories, and all tune-ups are completed in 24h guaranteed! |
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City of Edmonton Children's Bike Education
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For all programs, register by calling 311 or online at http://ereg.edmonton.ca
Bike Safety Program, ages 4-10, $11
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May 26 @ Landsdowne Community hall
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May 26 @ Belgravia Community hall
Ride to Survive, ages 6-10, $11
Fun and safety are the focus of this program. Learn basic bicycle skills, rules of the road, and safety through bike-related games and obstacle courses.
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May 28-30 @ Hudson Park
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June 1 @ Lessard Community hall
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June 1 @ Ester Starkman school
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June 2 @ Fulton Place Community hall
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June 2 @ Glenwood Community hall
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June 2 @ Cameron Heights
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June 5 @ Summerside Beach House
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June 8 @ Grand Trunk Leisure Centre
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June 8 @ Father Michael Troy
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June 9 @ Queen Mary Park Community hall
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June 9 @ Parkview Community hall
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June 15 @ Pleasantview Community hall
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June 16 @ Aspen Gardens Community hall
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June 22 @ Henderson Park
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Four Wheel Drive, ages 3-5 or 4-6, $11
For riders on training wheels only. Children will be taught basic cycling skills and safety through drills and games and will take a mini tour.
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May 28-30 @ Hudson Park
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June 1 @ Lessard Community hall
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June 1 @ Ester Starkman school
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June 2 @ Cameron Heights
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June 5 @ Summerside Beach House
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June 8 @ Grand Trunk Leisure Centre
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June 8 @ Father Michael Troy
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June 9 @ Queen Mary Park Community hall
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June 9 @ Parkview Community hall
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June 15 @ Pleasantview Community hall
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June 16 @ Aspen Gardens Community hall
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June 22 @ Henderson Park
Bike & Splash Camp, ages 6-8 or 9-12
An energetic camp that teaches participants the components of biking. Participants will learn how to negotiate different types of road safety situations, go on short trail rides in the beautiful river valley, and cool off every afternoon in the pool.
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July 8-12 @ Kinsmen Rec Centre, $200
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August 6-9 @ Kinsmen Rec Centre, $160
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Bike to the Symphony 2013
Tuesday, June 4 from 5:00pm-6:30pm, 7pm-10pm
http://edmontonbikes.ca/symphony/
Sold out! Please join us for the ride from Rosso Pizzeria (87 Ave and 109 St, departing at 5:45pm) to the Winspear.
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EBC Board Meetings
June 19 from 6:30pm-9:00pm
BikeWorks North, 9305 111 Ave
All EBC members are welcome to attend and contribute at monthly Board of Directors meetings. The Board governs the direction of the organization, and welcomes the input of EBC members. Members are able to participate in all aspects of the board meetings except for votes on motions. Date, location and agenda are posted a few days in advance. Please RSVP to bo...@edmontonbikes.ca.
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OUR HOURS
BikeWorks South
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Mon |
6pm-9pm |
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Wed |
2pm-9pm |
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Thu |
6pm-9pm |
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Sat |
10am-5pm |
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Sun |
1pm-5pm |
1 st, 3 rd & 5 th Sundays of the month reserved for Women and Transgendered persons only; 2 nd & 4 th Sundays of the month open to the general public
BikeWorks North
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Tue |
6pm-9pm |
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Thu |
6pm-9pm |
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Sat |
1pm-5pm |
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Sun |
1pm-5pm |
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