| Our AGM is Sunday, September 30, 2012. We will be electing 6 people to our Board of Directors. Do you know of anyone with the vision and experience to lead EBC forward? Nominate them today! |
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Isaak Kornelsen, age 21, was killed on August 27 while riding his bike. Isaak was a member of the University of Alberta track and field team and Faculty of Arts student at the school. Nick Eaton, 20, said Kornelsen was a runner long before the pair became friends in the seventh grade. "He was so incredibly smart and talented at everything," said Eaton. "Everybody loved him." (from Edmonton Journal) more » |
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What do you think of the City's new pilot project, on-street bike corrals in Old Strathcona? Have you tried them out? Like their design? Thoughts on a better location? Want more? » |
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Metro Edmonton
Duncan Kinney spoke to Metro Edmonton about the new bike boxes being installed on 116 St and 87 Ave. We'll talk a bit more about them in this newsletter. |
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The Spoke on Global Edmonton
We were on Global Edmonton on Thursday, speaking about The Spoke. You can watch the clip here. If you're interested in getting involved, please e-mail us. |
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News
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Cyclist death
Isaak Kornelsen was killed on Whyte Ave the morning of August 27 by a passing cement truck, just blocks from BikeWorks. Isaak was just 21 years old.
As a memorial, EBC has placed a ghost bike at the site. Our condolences to the family and friends; Isaak was active and involved in his community, as are many of his friends and family, and it's a tragic loss.
EPS has called the incident a “freak accident”. But we know that collisions aren’t freak accidents. They’re the result of a specific road design, a built environment, decisions made, and the dynamics of traffic. We don’t know the full details of this incident, but calling it a “freak accident” ignores the role that infrastructure and education play in how drivers and cyclists can share the road safely.
The police suggested Isaak lost control of his bike. One of our members was present when the collision happened, and I was there a half-hour later. The EBC member that was present mentioned that the parked truck Isaak was passing was far from the curb (hence possible charges), and that it's possible the passing cement truck started to overtake him too-close for comfort, forcing him over towards the parked truck. A cyclist could have been riding a door's-width away from the truck and still have that happen. The conclusion that the police reached was based on interviews with a few nearby pedestrians (the cement truck driver didn't see Isaak after overtaking him), so the information we have is incomplete at-best. It may be accurate, it may not be, but we don't know (and we may never know) what really happened here.
What we do know, however, is that the scenario just described--being passed without enough space--is a very real concern for cyclists.
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We're hiring: BikeWorks Manager
Alex Hindle, longtime volunteer and, for the past several years, one of our two full-time staff, is leaving to pursue new opportunities in warmer climes. We're sorry that he's leaving us, but wish him the best. His last day will be September 7; you can send your regards to hin...@edmontonbikes.ca. We are currently hiring to fill his position. The posting closes August 31, so get your applications in soon. Please pass this on to anyone you feel may be interested.
Full details are available here. |
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New Website
We have launched our new website at http://edmontonbikes.ca, designed and coded by Ryan Drewniak. It works much better for us; we hope it works better for you, too! Some of our content went stale or broke in the transition, so if you come across anything that seems out-of-place, please send an e-mail to in...@edmontonbikes.ca and we'll address it as soon as we can. Future features include online rental bookings. Check it out! |
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Older Website
If what you really want is something from way back, our old Freenet website is still available at http://edmontonbicyclecommuters.ca/oldebc. I don't know if there was a website before that: it's starting to approach the days before the Internet existed, and the days before I'd been born. I wonder if we had a Geocities page? |
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Advocacy
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Advocacy Committee Meeting
Our next advocacy committee meeting is today: Tuesday, August 28, at 7pm, at BikeWorks South (upstairs). This meeting is open to anyone that's interested in getting involved in making Edmonton a better city.
We'll be getting an updated presentation of So You Want To Be a Bike Advocate: Lessons from Velo-City 2012. Following this, we'll set up teams to help research and develop various position statements for EBC. You can pick your particular interest and help examine current cycling issues in Edmonton. We'll also be discussing data collection and traffic counts, and other timely topics. |
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Position Research Teams
Mandatory helmet laws. Bike lanes vs. separated cycle tracks. Bikes and businesses. Truck side guards. Sidewalk riding. Comparative analysis of weather and cycling. Bike licencing. Idaho stops.
Do any of these topics get your thoughts crackling? Are there other issues you feel we should be addressing?
Come to our advocacy meeting tonight, or e-mail in...@edmontonbikes.ca to get involved if you can't make the meeting. |
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Bike Box
The City of Edmonton will be installing a bike box at 87 Ave and 116 St, at the south end of the new 116 St bike lane (currently being installed). They also created an awesome video for it. You need to watch this: it's impressive!
When using the bike lane, cyclists will enter the bike box by the intersection and, when the light is red, move to the front, ahead of cars. 116 St & 87 Ave is a T-intersection, so cyclists will move to the left side of the bike box to make a left-hand turn, and stay on the right side for a right-hand turn. Cyclists will move first, before cars, when the light turns green. When approaching on a green light, cyclists and cars need to treat the intersection as a standard bike lane: signal and move to the left for left-hand turns when the lane is clear, and be cautious on right turns. At least for the initial period of this bike box, right turns will be banned for both cyclists and automobiles on red lights; car drivers might otherwise attempt to follow right-turning cyclists through red lights.
Watch for both bike lane and bike box to be ready in early September. |
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On-street bike corrals
The City has placed four on-street bike parking corrals in Old Strathcona. The parking is a 3-month trial, with two corrals north of Whyte on 105 St, one on 104 St in front of the Bamboo Ballroom, and another on the corner of 104 St, in front of Starbucks. You can view a map of locations here.
This is a pilot program, so the City wants your feedback! Fill out their online survey with your thoughts on their design, placement, and where you'd like to see more! |
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Get Involved
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Symphony Under the Sky
We still need volunteers for Symphony Under the Sky this weekend to help monitor bike lock-ups. This involves sitting at our bike lock-up greeting people, and then enjoying the music (from the bike lock-up) while eating a hot dog. It might sound high-pressure, but you may want to bring a book.
If you're available, please complete this sign-up form. Shifts are 3 hours.
Volunteers receive complimentary tickets to another performance for each shift volunteered for. Available shifts are:
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Friday, August 31 @ 6pm-9pm (Mozart, Rossini & Tchaikovsky)
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Saturday, September 1 @ 1pm-4pm (Orchestral Showcase)
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Saturday, September 1 @ 3:30pm-6:30pm (BBQ)
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Saturday, September 1 @ 6pm-9pm (The Hollywood Sound)
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Sunday, September 2 @ 1pm-4pm (Family Matinee)
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Sunday, September 2 @ 3:30pm-6:30pm (BBQ)
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Sunday, September 2 @ 6pm-9pm (Louise Pitre's Broadway Showstoppers)
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Monday, September 3 @ 1pm-4pm (Bolero: Great Symphonic Dances, 1812 Overture)
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Board Nominations
With our Annual General Meeting (AGM) approaching on September 30 th, EBC is looking for new board members! Board members serve a two-year term starting in December, and are responsible for the governance (but not the day-to-day operations) of EBC. The time commitment is a minimum of eight hours a month. A draft board member job description is available on our wiki, along with recent meeting minutes.
This is a great way to contribute to EBC if you share the vision of a bike-friendly Edmonton and have skills or an interest in non-profit management, accounting, grant writing, fundraising, or local advocacy. We are a growing organization with lots of projects on the go, and good governance is crucial to our success.
If you know of anyone that fits the bill, including yourself, please nominate today.
Board members will be elected to vacant positions at the AGM. Candidates can be nominated from the floor of the meeting, but interested folks are encouraged to share a bit about themselves in advance at edmontonbikes.ca/candidates. If you have any questions about the board, or just need a little encouragement, please e-mail bo...@edmontonbikes.ca.
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AGM Volunteers
Our AGM is Sunday, September 30 from 1pm-4pm, at Parkallen Community League Hall (11104 65 Ave). If you could show up a little bit early or stay a little late to help us set-up and tear-down, we'd appreciate the assistance!
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Grainge and Allsopp Volunteer Awards
Every year at the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society annual general meeting (AGM), we award two people with awards recognizing their contribution to the cycling community.
The Dale Allsopp Award is awarded to people for bringing something special to the organisation (innovation, volunteering, energy). The Jack Grainge Award is given to celebrate a life-time commitment to cycling in the broader community.
If you know of someone deserving an award, please nominate them. Awards (useful ones!) will be presented at our AGM. |
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Financial Audit
Every year we present our financial statements at the AGM. These need to be audited either by an accountant or, at a less in-depth level, by 2 members-at-large. If you have some background in bookkeeping and would be willing to assist us by auditing our finances for this year, please e-mail in...@edmontonbikes.ca. |
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Events
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Advocacy Meeting
Date: Aug 28
Time: 7pm
Location: BikeWorks South
Website
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Symphony Under the Sky
Date: Aug 31-Sep 3
Time: Various
Location: Hawrelak Park
Website
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Tour des Trees
Date: Aug 29
Time: 5pm
Location: Three Bananas
Website |
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Copyright © 2012 Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website or in your membership application.
Our mailing address is:
Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' SocietyPO Box 1819 Edmonton, AB T5J 2P2 Canada
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