The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses has been getting a lot of press lately with inflammatory, and in some cases, inaccurate remarks about the proposed Hornby Street protected bike lanes. In response, a number of progressive businesses in the city have fired back, issuing a press release lauding the decision, supporting City Hall’s work in creating safe cycling amenities in the downtown core, and signing a petition to show their support. And, while much of the media coverage tends to focus on the negative, or divisive, some journalists are actually working to help the public better understand the issues and realities of the debate. It will be particularly interesting to see the response to Vancouver Sun columnist Don Cayo’s Saturday column (preview in second link), where he is promising to explain why it’s bicycle users, not motorists, who are getting a raw deal when it comes to tax dollars spent on roads.

Here’s the press release’s full text:

Contact: Rob Baxter, robert@vrec.ca, 778.869.8333
Release immediately
Business Owners Initiate Petition in Support of Hornby Bike Lane
Local business owners have started a petition in favour of the proposed separated bike lane on Hornby
Street. “We wanted to show that there are many businesses in Vancouver who support the proposal,”
said Rob Baxter who initiated the petition, and is a Vancouver business owner himself. “We don’t want
Vancouver to fall even further behind other cities that are investing more in cycling infrastructure.”
One of the petition signers, Ken Simpson said, “I own a software company downtown and I strongly
support separated bike lanes as a way of encouraging people to get out of their cars and ride bikes
downtown – reducing congestion and leading to an improve quality of life for everyone.”
A recent study in Norway found the urban cycling infrastructure is the most cost effective policy to
address climate change, and in Australia, a cost analysis showed for every $1 spent on cycleways, the
benefit to the economy is approximately $4, compared with an average of $2 for motorways.
The petition organizers also point to cities world wide that have many more separated cycling routes and
thriving businesses along those routes.
This petition highlights the strong business support for cycling as evidenced by events like Bike to Work
Week.
The petition is available on line at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/vanbizforbikelanes/
###
For more info contact:
Rob Baxter,
Co-owner, Vancouver Renewable Energy (VREC); Owner, EpiLogic Consulting
778-869-8333
Below are selected comments from a petition by business owners who support expanding bike lanes in Vancouver
including the proposed Hornby separated lane.
“Cyclists make for friendly and frequent customers. Bike lanes also make for safer streets and add street life in front of
businesses.”
Boyd Thomson
The Wilder Snail Neighbourhood Grocery & Cafe
“Along with several coworkers at MetroQuest, I bike everyday and make full use of the city’s bike routes. The expanded bike
lanes into downtown are critical for so many reasons. In many ways they are inevitable given our growing awareness of the
necessity of providing attractive alternatives to the automobile. Besides, it’s increasingly a critical part of our identity,
Vancouver. Let’s celebrate it!!!!”
Dave Biggs
MetroQuest

gets to leave the car at home once in a while.

Last weekend, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition put on a Family Bike Skills workshop, so that parents could learn the safest ways to cycle with their kids. Three families took advantage of the offering, gaining practical advice and valuable experience. The course began with a classroom session designed to teach everyone what they need to know, while keeping it fun so the kids didn’t get bored.

Kids and adults alike found the workshop to be fun and informative. photo: Chris Keam

That was followed by some on-street exercises, to put theory into practice. Kyle Pearce and his son Julian took the course together.

“(He) was ready and frustrated that his parents won’t let him go on the street without him knowing how to shoulder check and signal and all that stuff,” says Kyle. “He’s been practicing and he’s very good at stopping and starting, but it was just getting to that next level, of awareness, signalling, and putting it altogether so he could be a safe rider and do all the things that ‘big kids’ do.”

Have bicycle, will travel. Julian Pearce's bike handling skills are now complemented by an understanding of safe cycling principles. Photo: Chris Keam

“My favourite part was when we got to ride on the street,” says Julian. “It was my first time and it was exciting.”

Michelle Kuo and her 10 year old son Ian Ching recently moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong. Both of them want to use their bikes to get around the city. Michele thinks Ian may need a bit more practice before he’s ready to take on his ambition of riding to school, but she appreciates the foundation the family bike skills course has offered to her son.

“I don’t think he’s quite ready to ride by himself,” say Michelle. “He’s a bit impulsive still, but once we practice more together I think I will have the peace of mind to let him go (on his own).”

Ian Ching's enthusiasm for cycling was evident. This kid is going to love the North Shore trails! photo:Chris Keam

Ian is looking forward to the time savings riding with his Mom will offer.

“We can walk to the library, but it’s a bit far. Riding our bikes is going to be faster.”

Sophie Davidson pretty much grew up on a bike. With parents actively involved in the local cycling community, getting places by bike has always been a part of their life. But her parents Gavin and Liz admit some of their own bad habits were creeping into Sophie’s riding style as she transitioned from riding with her parents on a tandem bike, to riding her own bike for trips around town.

Sophie and Gavin Davidson take cycling safety much more seriously than having their picture taken. Photo: Chris Keam

“I think they learned a lot,” says Sophie with a laugh. “And, there’s some stuff I hadn’t known before, so it was good to learn about keeping some space between me and the curb. I think now I will be more confident riding in traffic.”

Kyle Pearce had nothing but praise for instructors Mary Sherlock and Lorraine Smith.

“They were very knowledgeable about the subject, but what I really loved was they were calm, cool and collected. I had my own anxieties, but they were so patient with both the kids and the adults. I think everybody came away with increased confidence and a really positive feeling from the experience.”

Mary Sherlock is a Can-Bike accredited bike skills instructor. Photo: Chris Keam

The next Family Bike Skills course takes place Saturday, October 2 – 9am-1:30pm at the Local Ride Bike Shop in Maple Ridge (7-22214 Dewdney Trunk Rd). Children must be 6+ and able to ride a bike – specifically, they must have the ability to start and come to a full stop on their own,  ride in a mostly straight line, and take instruction from the instructor and their parent. Check out the Kids Learn to Ride course if they are not yet at this level. Everyone who attends should have a working bike and a helmet. Contact the VACC if you don’t have a bike to see if they can arrange a loaner bike for you.

The cost for VACC members is $40. Non-Members (includes adult 1-year membership with the VACC): $50
Private Course Bookings (minimum 5 participants) receive a 10% discount.

To register for a course please call the VACC office at 604-878-8222. For more information on this program or the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition’s other programs and courses, please visit their website at: http://www.vacc.bc.ca/

Battle Mountain, NV, Sept. 15 –French recumbent bicycle racer Barbara Buatois (Varna) broke her own world record today, recording a top speed of 75.69 mph/121.81 kmh during Wednesday afternoon speed runs at the 2010 Hydrive Energy Drink World Human Powered Speed Challenge. The 33 year-old, from Oullins, Rhone, France is also the current holder of the women’s hour record (52.2077 miles/84.0204 kilometres) set in July of 2009 at the Ford Automotive test track in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and the fourth fastest self-propelled human ever, according to official IHPVA (International Human Powered Vehicle Association) records.

Buatois’ other accomplishments include first place in the women’s solo division of the 2010 RAAM (Race Across America), first place at the 2009 and 2007 World Recumbent championships, and numerous other podium finishes in recumbent races dating back to 2004. For more information on Buatois, please visit her website: www.bbhpv.com

With three more days of racing still to go, both Buatois and the current men’s record holder Sam Whittingham (also Team Varna) stand a very good chance of breaking their records yet again.

For event pictures, complete results, and listings of all the competitors at this year’s event please visit:
http://recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2010/speedchallenge.htm

Battle Mountain, NV, Sept. 14 – The 11^th edition of the Hydrive Energy Drink-sponsored World Human Powered Speed Challenge began yesterday with ideal weather conditions and an international roster of competitors hoping to set new world records with the fastest human powered vehicles on the planet. The first day of competition saw qualifying runs in the morning, and official speed runs taking place in the late afternoon. The fastest men on the day were Canadian Sam Whittingham (Varna) at 78.64 mph/126.56 kmh) and Slovenian rider Damjan Zaboznik (Eivie III) with a top speed of 77.15 mph/124.16 kmh. French cyclist Barbara Buatois (Varna) recorded a run of 71.37 mph/114.85 kmh to claim top spot in the women’s division, with Amanda Chu (ACE/Univ. of Toronto) second at 52.67 mph/84.77 kmh.

“We set a world record last year and hope to do it again (this year),”said WHSPC Race Director Al Krause.

In 2009, Whittingham once again broke his own world record and retained his claim to the title of world’s fastest self-propelled human, with a top speed of 82.819 mph (133.284 kmh) inside the Varna Diablo III, a ‘streamliner’ (fully-faired recumbent bicycle) designed and built by Bulgarian-born artist and bike-maker Georgi Georgiev. Whittingham and Georgiev have been the team to beat at Battle Mountain for a number of years. If the weather cooperates, another record could be in the offing.

Canadian Sam Whittingham riding the Varna Diablo III delivered a 126 kmh run on Monday afternoon. Photo: Jonathan Woolrich

“The weather looks good and I think it’s going to be good all week,” said Whittingham on Monday morning. “Today (qualifying) is just basically make sure the bike works well, and tonight we’ll see how fast the bike can go.”

Also back for 2010 and piloting a Varna (Tempest) bike is Barbara Buatois of France, the current women’s world record holder (75.458 mph/121.437 kmh), while Whittingham’s biggest threat will probably come from Zabovnik, rider and builder of the radically-designed Eivie III, which Zabovnik pedals while lying headfirst on his back and steering with the aid of a small periscope. During Monday evenings speed runs Zabovnik crashed his bike after passing through the speed trap. Both rider and machine are reportedly none the worse for wear and will continue to compete.

For event pictures, complete results, and listings of all the competitors please visit: http://recumbents.com/wisil/whpsc2010/speedchallenge.htm

Britain’s Guardian newspaper offers Londoners how-to-cycle advice as a means of dealing with the job action planned for the ‘Tube’ transit system.

“If you are a London commuter dreading tube strike chaos this evening and tomorrow there is an alternative to fighting your way on to overcrowded buses or a long walk. Whether you are a lapsed cyclist nervous about busy roads, or don’t even have a bike, here’s our practical guide to cycling to work:”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/06/tube-strike-cycling-tips