[Bike to the Future] October newsletter

[Bike to the Future]

October newsletter
 
Hello Bike to the Future members and supporters. This newsletter contains the following items:
 
1. Minutes from our September Monthly Meeting

2. Our next Monthly Meeting is on Tuesday October 13th 

3. BttF's questions to NDP leadership candidates and their responses

4. Bike Shorts Film Festival & Winnipeg Bike Shorts in memory of Tim Hunt

5. STOP signs as YIELD signs for cyclists
6. Volunteer opportunities

7. 2009 Annual General Meeting

8. Webinar: Building Political Will for Strong Bike/Walk Programs

9. Speak Up Winnipeg

10. Membership
 
Kevin Miller
Bike to the Future, Co-Chair
www.biketothefuture.org
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Minutes from our September Monthly Meeting

 
The September Monthly Meeting minutes have been posted at http://biketothefuture.org/about/meetings.
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Our next Monthly Meeting is on Tuesday October 13th
 
Bike to the Future meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 at the Eco-Centre (3rd floor MEC building at Portage & Donald). Anyone is welcome to attend.

 
A tentative agenda for the October Monthly Meeting has been posted at http://biketothefuture.org/events/archives/2009/09/19/october-monthly-meeting.
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BttF's questions to NDP leadership candidates and their responses

On September 25th, Bike to the Future sent a set of questions to each of the NDP leadership candidates. By October 7th, their responses were received.

Questions & Responses (PDF)

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Bike Shorts Film Festival & Winnipeg Bike Shorts in memory of Tim Hunt
 
The Bike Shorts Film Festival has been shown in a number of Canadian cities, including Winnipeg in October 2008. This is a new version with new films. Also included will be Winnipeg Bike Shorts, which are Winnipeg-produced films, and a Bike Art display. Anyone who loves riding bikes and/or likes films should really enjoy this.

When: Tuesday October 20th at 7:00 PM
Where: Cinemathique, 100 Arthur Street (Artspace building)
Price: $10  
 
Complete info (poster/program, location and bike valet, schedule, etc
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STOP signs as YIELD signs for cyclists

 

This topic was first covered by Winnipeg media in August after many cyclists were ticketed at Balmoral/Furby and on Assiniboine Avenue for treating the STOP signs as YIELD signs, which is exactly what the vast majority of cyclists always do at STOP signs. (Yield, not "blow through"!)

 

There was a lot more media attention this past week because Idaho Stop Law is on the agenda of the City of Winnipeg's Standing Policy Committee on Protection and Community Services meeting on October 9, 2009:

• Agenda (In the top window, scroll down to 7. Idaho Stop Law under Addendum Reports and click on it.)

In addition to print and web media stories (http://biketothefuture.org/cycling-news dated October 5th and 6th), I appeared on CBC Radio One's Up To Speed this past Monday afternoon (as did City Councillor Gord Steeves), and on CJOB's Richard Cloutier Reports this past Tuesday morning.

 

Given all this attention and discussion, I hope that the 50? (100?) tickets issued since August will not have to be paid ("plead guilty with an explanation" -- see our STOP as YIELD page), and that the police won't be setting up any more ticketing ambushes of cyclists in the future.
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Volunteer opportunities

1. IT skills

 

Bike to the Future is looking for volunteers with information technology skills. In particular, we need someone to maintain the software of our Membership Database System, which uses Ruby on Rails.

 

2. Power Shift Canada

 

http://powershiftcanada.org 

 

The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition has invited Bike to the Future to be a part of Power Shift Canada, and they've provided us with background info and ideas of how we can be involved. We need a BttF member to take on this initiative under the guidance of our Board of Directors.

 

3. BttF outreach opportunities

 

BttF receives many invitations/opportunities to set up a display at various wellness, environment, sport (etc) events and expos. Our Membership director (and his small committee) attends some of these to promote BttF and sell memberships. Examples in the past few months include the Muddy Waters 100 Ride and Ciclovia. If we had many more BttF members serving on the membership committee, hopefully we could take advantage of many more invitations/opportunities.

 

4. CentrePort -- cycling component

 

A BttF member has written to us:
"CentrePort is a large transportation development being planned for Northwest Winnipeg. Can we form a committee to advocate for cycling during the planning phase (that is happening right now)? This is a rare opportunity to get some cycling infrastructure put in as it is being built. This affects the new Silver pathway and possibly other new pathways. We could get wider shoulders put on the new roads that are going in."

The member would like other members to join him on this committee.

 

If you are interesting in any of these volunteer opportunities, or would like more information about any of them, please contact us at con...@biketothefuture.org .  
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2009 Annual General Meeting

 

When: Tuesday November 10th at 5:30 PM (immediately preceding our November Monthly Meeting at 6:00)

Where: Millennium Library

What: the agenda

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Webinar: Building Political Will for Strong Bike/Walk Programs

 

Wednesday November 18th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at the Manitoba Eco-Centre (3rd floor MEC building, Portage & Donald)

Info

If you are interested in attending (free), please contact Dave Elmore.
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Speak Up Winnipeg

Speak Up Winnipeg is the City's public forum for Winnipeggers to express their opinions about the future of our City, and how we can ensure it is sustainable, making Winnipeg a leader among cities.
 
Please go to the Speak Up Winnipeg website and post a comment about the need for more cycling infrastructure and cycling initiatives to make cycling in Winnipeg a safe, enjoyable, and convenient transportation choice.
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Membership

Members of Bike to the Future agree with our mission and vision and support it. We are a volunteer-run, incorporated, non-profit organization that is only as strong as our membership. Please show your support for our work by becoming a member or renewing your membership.

http://biketothefuture.org/get-involved
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Our website at http://biketothefuture.org/ is updated often.