Advocacy
Moving Beyond The Automobile
At Monday's film screening, EBC's Advocacy Committee showed us the many ways that communities are reducing car dominance and improving community livability. From parking reform and congestion pricing to bicycle friendly streets and road diets, there are a lot of choices!
Take a look at the various mini-films then share with your City Councillor and Community League if you think your neighbourhood could try a few. Join EBC's Advocacy Committee on
Feb 28 for an organizing meeting to get some 2012 projects underway.
Winter City Strategy
EBC is proud to be a part of the
Winter City Strategy to voice the needs, ideas and concerns of cyclists. The goal of the Strategy is to present City Council with innovative and practical ways to use winter's snow, ice, wind and darkness as a resource, and to help Edmontonians embrace (rather than endure) our winter months. EBC is focusing on urban design principles that improve cycling transportation in the winter.
Submit your idea on what would make Edmonton a great winter city at
www.edmontonwintercity.ideascale.com.
BikeWorks
Good Time to Buy A Refurbished Bike
Yes, it is. Right now at BikeWorks South, there are many ready-to-ride bikes for sale! Most are under $100, and many are under $60. Beat the rush and come by before spring!
BikeWorks North Renovations
Renovations are well underway at our second community bike shop (9305 111 ave) and we hope to be open for public hours by April. So far we’ve hosted a few reno volunteer orientations, made repairs and improvements to the walls and are now into the painting phase. Next will come floor painting, workstation construction and equipment installation.
If you’d like to lend a hand helping to transform this space into a mighty and functional bike workshop, we’d love to have your help. There are many ways to help:
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drop by during volunteer renovation hours: Mondays 1pm-8pm, Tuesdays 5pm-9pm, and Thursday 1pm-8pm (sign up for email updates)
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make a donation of renovation supplies or equipment (see the donation wish list)
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make a monetary donation
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tell your friends and family about our new shop!
We will also need lots of help from volunteers to run the new shop once it’s opens in April. If this interests you, come to the volunteer orientations or email volu...@edmontonbikes.ca.
Education
Complete Streets
Our streets are an important part of the livability of our neighbourhood and city. Currently, our streets are designed almost exclusively for vehicular traffic. Creating "complete streets" means transportation planners and engineers routinely design and operate the entire road right-of-way to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation. The City will be hiring a consultant this year to write Edmonton's Complete Streets Policy, so let's be ready to provide sound input.
Click on the photo to see how a typical downtown street can be transformed into a complete street.
Many recent documents released by the City have given explicit attention to how cyclist and pedestrian needs could be better met:
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Transit Oriented Development Guidelines (Feb 2012) - defines specifications about bicycle facilities in and around transit centres and stations (p.44).
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Jasper Avenue New Vision (Feb 2011) - "The design and function of the mobility network should recognize pedestrian circulation and comfort as its highest priority, with cycling as well as transit circulation as other high priorities. Vehicular movement should function effectively and smoothly, but not unduly impede the comfort and safety of pedestrian and cycling modes" (p.93). Yes, Edmonton!
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Downtown Plan (July 2010) - defines nine 'catalyst projects' of which one is a High Profile Bikeway System. A Downtown Bicycle Master Plan is to be developed and updated every 5 years. "The cycling environment to, from and within Downtown will be significantly improved through commitments to make cycling a more viable and visible mode of travel for a larger portion of Downtown commuters and residents" (p.144). Oh, and the city will "explore the possibility of undertaking a 'bicycle station pilot project' as part of the Master Plan process" (p.144) which sounds like a municipal bike rental program!
Upcoming Events
Volunteers Needed for Special Needs Learn To Ride
Occupational therapists and great volunteers needed for this one-to-one course. More info
here.
February 23: Bike Art & Knit Nights
Every Thursday in winter! More info
here.
February 26: Bikeology Annual General Meeting
The fine folks who organize
Bikeology and Bike Month in Edmonton are VELOfest Edmonton League and Organization and they’re looking for ideas and volunteers for 2012! More info
here.
February 27, 28, March 1: BikeWorks North Renovations
Help get our second community bike shop ready. More info
here.
February 28: EBC Advocacy Meeting
More info
here.
March 6, 19: EBC New Volunteer Orientations
We love bike; you love bikes; we love you. More info
here.
March 9: EBC Volunteer Appreciation Party
Log Cabin, round 2! More info
here.
