Friday, September 30, 2011

A few thoughts

Last month I spent a few days "down island" and the following are observations on this trip. In driving through downtown Langford, I came across the new "Green" bike lanes. They certainly catch one's attention and you do notice them.



Comox has a similar bike lane just recently completed on Comox Road heading towards Courtenay.











A very warm day was spent riding the Galloping Goose Trail west from Langford. What was appreciated was the lack of traffic as you head west as opposed to heading the opposite way into Victoria. Having to just cross Happy Valley Road about 3 - 4 times as you ride towards Sooke is about the only time you encounter vehicles for quite a few kms. The signage for the trail was well laid out and it was easy to follow the route. It would be great if we could have the same well-laid out signage in our area.

It will be great when the Trans Canada Trail is finished from the Victoria area to Shawnigan Lake. Apparently there are just a few kms. of trail left to complete between Goldstream Park and Shawnigan Lake. Then one could ride all the way from Victoria to the Cowichan Valley without having to ride on roads.

Here's a recent article on this project


It was amazing to see the Kinsol Trestle. I was there on a Sunday in August and the number of hikers and cyclists taking in the view was incredible. I felt that the adage - Build it and they will come - certainly holds true for the trestle. The riding surface for the trail to the Bridge is crushed gravel and very easy to ride and walk on.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Bike Lanes - 2 interesting takes

I came across these interesting takes on Bike Lanes.

1.In New York City people cyclists are fined for not riding in bike lanes

Click here for the video

2.Never park your car in the downtown part of the capital of Lithuania

Click here for the video

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Kinsol Trestle - latest photos

Click on the link below to see very recent photos of an inspection done of the Kinsol Trestle. There is still not form date as to the grand opening date but the Trestle looks like its almost ready to go.

Click here to see the latest photos

Farm Cycle in Comox Valley

The Comox Valley Cycling Coalition, working with Comox Valley Farmers' Market Association, Comox Valley Farmers' Institute, and Discover Comox Valley have planned a non-profit farm cycle tour on Saturday, August 6th. There will be 3 routes and each route will visit farms in the Comox Valley. The cost is $10 for the day and this certainly sounds like a fun day. You could go in this event on the Saturday and then go in Bike For Your Life on the next day.

Click on the link for information on the Farm Cycle event

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Free parking for Cyclists in Ottawa

I came across this on CBC News this evening. It's an interesting idea for a large city (Ottawa)to promote cycling.

CBC News
Posted: Jun 18, 2011 2:24 PM ET

Motorists who commute into downtown Ottawa will soon have another option thanks to a new program, which the National Capital Commission is peddling.
Cyclists will be able to park for free and cycle to work as part of a pilot project in Ottawa.Cyclists will be able to park for free and cycle to work as part of a pilot project in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press)

The NCC plans to allow free access to 10 parking lots, where drivers can leave their cars and cycle the remaining distance to work. The Park and Cycle pilot will run from June 20 to October 28, 2011.

Under the plan, the public will have access to 10 parking lot facilities (360 spaces), where unrestricted access will be provided weekly to cycling commuters. All of the parking lots all located between five kilometres and 15 kilometres from Parliament Hill.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Party For Parkinson's Fund Raising Event

The event is being held on Friday July 8th in Qualicum Beach, at the Community Hall. Doors open at 7:30.

The entrance fee is 15 dollars per person. For this, you receive free food, free drinks, and a great night out! Children thirteen years of age or younger go free. You can get tickets at the door or from the Mulberry Bush Book Store in Qualicum Beach.


Last year’s fundraiser was an enormous success, as was the ride across Canada. Let’s build on that success this year, with another great night at the Community Hall! Invite as many people as you like!

Also, there will be a wall of wine. So if you do come, it would be absolutely fantastic if you brought a bottle of wine!



Thanks,



William Cope

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Accent Inn Bike Love Program

I was reading in the Travel section of today's Times Colonist about this interesting new program for cyclists. You can keep your bike in your room, at each Accent Inn there are a bike wash, tuning station, Advanced Mechanic Tool Kit available for use,
Rags for cleaning and drying your bike and on On-Site Laundry room. There are 5 Accent Inns in BC - Victoria, Vancouver, Burnaby, Kelowna and Kamloops.

Here is the link: http://www.accentinns.com/special-offers/bike-love

Thursday, June 2, 2011

A very succesful Community Ride

It was great to have so many people out for today's Community Ride from Parksville to Qualicum Beach. There were over 30 participants who rode the entire 13.5 km route. This event was part of the Bike To Work Week festivities in the Oceanside area. The ride started at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre, wound its way through the streets of Parksville before first stopping at Oceanside Place. Thanks to Joan Michel with the RDN all of the participants enjoyed fresh fruit and water.

We then rode the Parksville Qualicum Links Trail on our way to our 2nd stop at La Boulange Bakery. The coffee, water and baked goods were really appreciated before heading out on the last leg of our journey to the Celebration Station in front of the Town Hall in Qualicum Beach. When we arrived at the end of the ride we were met by riders from the Qualicum Beach Middle School Mountain Bike Club. Thanks to the Town of Qualicum Beach everyone enjoyed the Bike To Work Week Cake and goodies. We were also greeted by Richard Backus, The President of Bike To Work Week BC, and Penny Noble, the Executive Director of Bike TO Work Week BC.

I wish to thank Const. Smith and Kokesch, members of the local RCMP Bike Squad; Brad Donaldson and his crew from Marin Bikes; Joan Michel of the RDN; Arrowsmith Bikes; John Layton and the staff at La Boulange Bakery and Amanda and Heather with the Town of Qualicum Beach.



Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Bike To Work Week Video

A Channel News (Channel 12) filmed a feature piece on Tuesday, May 31st on Bike To Work Week in our area. It was very interesting to see Vancouver Island Report that day to see how the filming turned out. As we were distributing the Bike To Work Week Registration Forms in Parksville on Monday, John Fair and I found that there were very few bike racks in front of the restaurants and coffee shops. This is one thing that I hope is resolved in the near future.

Enjoy the video

Monday, May 23, 2011

Friday, May 20, 2011

Internationally renowned city adviser coming to the Comox Valley

Gil Peñalosa, former commissioner of parks, sport and recreation for the City of Bogotá, is coming to the Comox Valley on June 16 and 17. Internationally renowned as a livable city adviser and social marketing strategist, Peñalosa is passionate about vibrant and healthy communities that improve the quality of life for all residents. His talks are designed to re-energize local citizens and politicians: to interest and motivate them to create more people friendly cities — moving from talking about it, to doing it.

In his position in Bogotá, Peñalosa led the design and development of over 200 parks, created a 10-day summer festival, and initiated car-free Sundays. Now, as executive director of Canadian non-profit organization 8-80 Cities, Peñalosa’s commitment to fostering healthy communities remains front and centre.

I am hoping that many of our local politicians and civic and regional planning staff will be able to hear Peñalosa speak. In doing a web search, it is truly amazing to realise just how well respected he is in planning livable communities, whatever size they are.

I also hope that many of our local cyclists will be able to attend his presentation. As soon as I have more details, I will post them here.

BC Cycling Coalition has successful meeting in Parksville

Thursday, May 19, 2011
A Successful Meeting in Parksville
A great meeting on a rainy day. The torrential downpour just before the event ensured that many had soggy feet. The BCCC Moving Cycling Forward forum in Parksville attracted 30 cyclists from all around Vancouver Island. The new Oceanside Cycling Coalition is off to a great start lead by Jim Swanson. It was good to see former VACC President John Fair who now lives in Parksville involved. Participants included Carrie Powell-Davidson the Deputy Mayor of Parksville and Joan Michel the Parks and Trails Coordinator for Regional District of Nanaimo. Their contributions were much appreciated. Thanks to Jim and BCCC Vice President Rob Rao for organizing the meeting.

The meeting started off with presentations by BCCC Board members Jack Becker and Richard Campbell:

Municipalities have Choice for Their Transportation Plans of the Future
Preparing for the Third Wave of Cyclists – Designing cycling facilities for everyone from 8 to 80
Five is the New Twenty – The advantages of quickly completing cycling networks
Provincial and Federal Cycling Strategies – Increasing cycling while reducing collisions

The presentations were followed by a lively discussion of local and provincial issues including:

Cycling tourism and BCCC's Golden Eagles Cycling Routes Proposal
Cycling education in schools
Added cycling paths to existing highways in rural areas
Using unused road allowances for cycling paths
The importance of engaging local politicians

The more we have these meetings in communities, the more we realize the value sharing of success stories, challenges and experience among cycling groups throughout the province. Joining the BCCC email discussion list is one way of sharing such information. This blog is another such opportunity.

To get involved in the Oceanside Cycling Coalition, please go to their website.

The next BCCC forum will be in Abbotsford on July 16 hosted by the the Abbotsford Cycling Action Group. Stay tuned for details.
Posted by Richard Campbell at 6:40 PM 0 comments
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Labels: Oceanside, Parksville Links to this post

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Kinsol Trestle opening soon

The Kinsol Trestle, one of the longest wooden trestles in the world, will be opening sometime this summer. Located west of Shawnigan Lake, the trestle will be part of the Trans-Canada Trail.
Check out the article in the April 28th edition of the Times Colonist

"Finishing touches are being made to the historic Kinsol trestle and the refurbished span should be open to pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders in July.
"I'm very happy with how the project has gone so far," said Brian Farquhar of the Cowichan Valley Regional District parks department.The 187 metre-long trestle has been off-limits for 22 years.

In 2008, the Cowichan Valley Regional District voted to rehabilitate the trestle with funding from the federal government, the province and the Island Coastal Economic Trust.The trestle is expected to be a highlight of the Trans-Canada Trail.
A date for an official opening ceremony will be announced in a month or so, Farquhar said."

Interestingly, the missing link in the Trans-Canada Trail between Victoria and the Cowichan Valley may soon be completed. In the same article, there was mention of plans to complete a 20 km stretch of the trail from just south of Shawnigan Lake south towards Victoria.

"Another project in the works is a 20-kilometre extension of the Trans-Canada Trail from its current terminus south of Shawnigan Lake to an intersection with the Galloping Goose Trail."There are still some segments of corridor we need to secure, both on our side and the Capital Regional District side," said Farquhar. Once the Kinsol trestle opens up, the pressure will be on for the trail to connect to similar trails in Greater Victoria, said Farquhar. "The whole intent is this will be an entirely off-road route from Shawnigan down to Langford," he said.

"I've actually bushwhacked and walked every last foot of it so I am really excited knowing what's in store here."

The trail will follow Shawnigan Creek at the south end of Shawnigan Lake and then head up into the Goldstream heights and it ties into the north end of the Sooke Hills Regional Park. From there, the trail will follow an existing logging road and come out at the Sooke Lake reservoir.

Farquhar hopes that the E&N train will one day bring Victoria residents and their bicycles north to discover Cowichan Valley.

A starting date for the trail's construction has not been set.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Refurbished+Kinsol+trestle+likely+open+July/4693931/story.html#ixzz1MrmSpohQ

Friday, May 13, 2011

Victoria International Cycling Festival

This event, the largest cycling event this year in B.C., offers 12 individual cycling-related events and sponsors to-date. The 17-day Festival will celebrate Victoria’s cycling community from May 27 to June 12, 2011. Competitors, cycling enthusiasts and spectators alike can participate in events ranging from a 140 kilometre road ride alongside Canada’s Tour de France hero, Ryder Hesjedal, to big air jumps and stunts, to a relaxing community ride with friends and family, to chilling out with popcorn and a cycling-related movie in Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour.

The website can be found at http://www.vicf.ca/

Thursday, May 5, 2011

BC Cycling Coalition Board Meeting here in Parksville

Moving Cycling Forward Forum –Parksville

Calling all cyclists and interested members of the public in the Parkville, Qualicum Beach, Nanaimo and Campbell River areas.

The British Columbia Cycling Coalition (BCCC) in conjunction with the Oceanside Cycling Coalition is pleased to hold a cycling forum and networking meeting focused on moving cycling forward in the region and the province.

When : Sunday, May 15, 2011 – 12:30 pm – 4pm
Where: Parksville Community Conference Centre, 132 Jensen Avenue East

Presentations by BCCC

Introduction 12:30 pm to 12:45 pm
Presentations 12:45 pm to 3 pm
Open Discussions 3 pm to 4 pm

Preparing for the Third Wave of Cyclists - Designing cycling facilities for everyone from 8 to 80 Jack Becker

What makes an Infrastructure a Third Wave of Cyclists Design
Jack Becker

Five is the New Twenty – The advantages of quickly completing cycling networks Richard Campbell

Municipalities have a Choice in its Transportation Plan for the Future
Jack Becker

Provincial and Federal Cycling Strategies – Increasing cycling while reducing collisions - Richard Campbell

Networking and open discussion with Parksville cyclists

Local Issues and Opportunities – Open Discussion

Opportunities to work together – Open Discussion

Parksville Cycling Direction - Organization, Options, Purpose, Directions

Soaring Eagle Cycling Routes – North Vancouver Island, E&N Railway
Open Discussion

Informal discussion over dinner for anyone interested following the meeting, at a restaurant to be announced.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Study comparing the costs of Bicycle vs Car Traffic

This study, comparing the costs and benefits of Bicycle versus Car traffic in Vienna won the Eltis award for best paper submitted at the recent Velo-City Conference.

Well worth looking at, it is well presented and illustrated. Not boring, even for those who aren't statistical wonks.

If the presentation (attached) is not available on your system, click on the link to view or download it.

Ron Richings
Vancouver, BC
Canada

Friday, April 15, 2011

International Trails Day/Weekend - June 4 and 5

To our trail enthusiasts:

Below is an invitation for you to join us on a number of Trail Challenges on International Trails Day. It's free. Some of you have already registered after having received our Newsletter. Those joining the guided trip will need to register early because we need to limit the registration for this activity. Thank you.

A special invitation to participate in Trail Activities on...

International Trails Day/Weekend - June 4 or 5, 2011

Trails BC Southwest is offering the opportunity to trail enthusiasts to sign-up for one of 5 cycle loops to be done on ones own or on one guided loop on International Trails Day/Weekend, June 4 or 5. Each of these cycle trips are between 58 and 66 km in length. Other walking, cycling and equestrian activities on the Trans Canada Trail are also encouraged.

The following blog will be used to update, allow participants to join others for a particular cycle, to comment on experiences while doing the cycle loop of ones choice and any other comment before the day itself
Trails Day Blog

The loops are the same ones offered in 2010, the Five Golden Rings, and an additional guided loop will take in the Crescent Beach area, White Rock, Peace Arch Park, Campbell Valley Regional Park, Redwood Park, and the Semiahmoo Trail to name a few highlights. Of note, some of you who have done one these loops in 2010 may be willing to help guide others to do it with them by communicating this on the blog.

Almost all the loops take in a portion of the Trans Canada Trail, some of them being alternative routing. It is a way of experiencing the Trans Canada Trail other than as a linear trail.

There is also an opportunity to register for a section of the Trans Canada Trail anywhere in the province that is not listed above. In this instance the activity does not need to be restricted to cycling. Walkers, cyclists and equestrians are all welcome to register.

Registrants will receive a Google Earth track by email of the loop for which they registered. This track enables one to look at the whole course in detail and also allows for the printing of sections that may be a bit confusing. Tracks may also be requested of circuits or sections of trail that you are not doing or may wish to do at another time.

Hopefully, many will see this as a great opportunity to experience the Trans Canada Trail and associated trails.

It is worth noting that the 5 cycle loop trails forming the 5-Golden-Rings in the year of the Olympics was great fun and was enjoyed by many.

It is important that you register even if it is free.

Click here for more information and to register.

Looking ahead

We will possibility be putting on a Major Trans Canada Trail Challenge Event on Vancouver Island September 24th to celebrate the opening of the Kinsol Trestle in the Cowichan Valley. Keep checking our website or become a friend on our Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/TrailsBC, to find out more in a few months from now.

_________________________________________
Léon Lebrun
Vice-President
& Southwest Regional Director
Trails BC
www.trailsbc.ca
southwest@trailsbc.ca
604-942-6768

Thursday, April 14, 2011

April 7 edition of Oceanside Star

Cycling a tough sell, advocate warns new coalition
Brian Wilford, Oceanside Star
Published: Thursday, April 07, 2011

Cycling is healthy and environmentally friendly and cycling infrastructure doesn't cost a lot.

"These are things that should be easy to sell to the politicians," cycling legend Ed Schum told the Oceanside Cycling Coalition last Thursday, "but don't count on it."

Schum, a national and provincial cycling coach who has cycled across Canada and Europe, said decades of automobile-centric planning have created communities that are one-third roads, one-third parking and one-third buildings, with little room for trees and cycling.



The new priorities, he said, should put pedestrians, cycling and public transportation first and the single-passenger automobiles last.

Cycling infrastructure, such as dedicated lanes, signs and parking, is cheaper to build and maintain than that for cars and trucks, he said, but it takes a lot of public pressure to develop the political will and to overcome bureaucratic resistance at all levels.

Ministry of Transportation officials in Nanaimo and Victoria are particularly resistant, he said.

The Province likes to say it's doing a lot for cycling, he said, "but they're really not."

Past-president of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition, Schum said members are still fighting to get safe river crossings in Courtenay but they've made some progress in terms of road surfaces and converting car lanes into cycling lanes.

Safety is the biggest barrier to cycling, he said. Most people don't cycle because they don't think it's safe, he said, and they don't let their kids cycle to school, either.

But there are big cities, like Paris and Portland, where lots of people cycle because there are beautiful, dedicated cycling paths, safe cycling routes to school, safe intersections, secure parking and a cultural recognition that cyclists have a rightful place.

Portland, Schum said, is "the most cycling-friendly city in the world."

He likes to quote Portland Mayor Sam Adams from a city planning document (available at www.crazyguyonabike.com): "You just can't get a better transportation return on your investment than you get with promoting bicycling."

Schum urged the 40 or so people at the Oceanside meeting to form a public advocacy committee, offer instruction, hold special rides (like a Mother's Day ride), and work with schools to offer things like bike rodeos.

"That's the best way to develop a cycling culture," he said.

Oceanside Cycling Coalition members voted to join the BC Cycling Coalition and to elect a formal board at their next meeting.

Schum said a cycling coalition in Nanaimo is active once again and people in Campbell River and the Cowichan Valley are interested in forming coalitions in their areas as well, creating the possibility of an Island "cycling mecca."

For more, see http://oceansidecyclingcoalition.yolasite.com or email oceansidecyclingcoalition@shaw.ca.


© Oceanside Star 2011

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Workshop in Parksville on Transportation Demand Ideas

Is your small or rural community trying to reduce GHGs and wondering which TDM methods might actually work for you?

Perhaps you provide a social, health, or commercial service in a rural area and see some of your clients struggle with transportation issues?

Do you wonder how rural residents and communities will adapt to a post-cheap-oil world?


This learning event will bring together transportation, land use, health, recreation and other practitioners on Vancouver Island and the Coast

who would like to hear about TDM innovations and successes, and talk about how to take action together.

Tentative Agenda:

Setting the Context: Regional District of Nanaimo
• Transportation Demand Management: A Small and Mid-Sized Communities Toolkit - Fraser Basin Council
• Innovations with Transit, Car Use, and in the Pedestrian and Cycle Realms – Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo Car Share Coop, Duncan Car Free Zone, and more!
• BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Your Community GHG Reduction Goals – MoTI Regional Manager, Programming, Partnerships & Planning
• Dialogue: what are the untapped opportunities for TDM in your community? On the Island? What do we need to make it happen?


Tues. April 19, 2011

9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p-.m.

Parksville Community & Conference Centre

$15 at the door


RSVP: http://www.createsurvey.com/s/mDZFUd/



Angela Evans, MCIP

Sustainability Facilitator, Vancouver Island

Smart Planning for Communities

Fraser Basin Council

250-858-6209


Smart Planning for Communities Webpage

www.smartplanningbc.ca



social well-being supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment

Monday, April 4, 2011

Comparing BC Communities - Emissions and Transportation

Check out the website in the Links section of the website comparing all BC communities for such things as emissions and transportation.

It's called BC Emissions - bcemissions.ca

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

New Maps on Website

Thanks to Joan Michel with the RDN Parks and Trails Dept., there are new maps that have been posted on the website. They can be found in the Local Links section. There are maps for: 1. Englishman River Regional Park, 2. Lighthouse Country Loop Trail, 3. Nanaimo River Regional Park, 4. Trans-Canada Regional Trail and 5. Top Bridge Regional Park. In addition, there is a map of the Trail System for the Town of Qualicum Beach. All of the maps are downloadable in PDF Format.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Cargo Trikes on Vancouver Bike Lanes

Cargo trikes gear up for Vancouver bike lanes
CBC News
Posted: Mar 22, 2011 9:03 AM PT




The SHIFT Delivery Co-op will use a heavy-duty tricycle with an electric assist motor designed in England and modified for use in Vancouver's separated bike lanes. The SHIFT Delivery Co-op will use a heavy-duty tricycle with an electric assist motor designed in England and modified for use in Vancouver's separated bike lanes. (SHIFT )

A group of Simon Fraser University students has found a new use for Vancouver's controversial bike lanes: a delivery service using electric-assisted cargo trikes.

Graham Anderson, a student of sustainable development at SFU and one of the founders of SHIFT Delivery Co-op says the service will use a heavy-duty tricycle with an electric-assist motor designed in England and modified for use in Vancouver's separated bike lanes.

"We're looking to carry about 600 pounds of goods in these heavy-duty trikes — things like beverages, coffee, office supplies," says Anderson. "Six hundred — that's about the weight of an adult grizzly bear."

Anderson says the co-op already has a healthy roster of local merchants as potential clients. It's now waiting to get incorporated and a business license with the city in time for its May launch.

"We've been really encouraged that businesses have been open to that solution," he said. "That was really exciting to us, to push the limits of cycling and what cycle-based transportation can do in the city."

The city's engineering department says since the trikes are less than 1.2 meters in width they will be treated as bicycles and thus free to use the city's bike lanes.

City Councillor Andrea Reimer says it's an exciting business development for the bike lanes.

"The city can enable citizens and businesses on green initiatives, but it really takes those residents and those businesses and those non-profit organizations to kind of step up and make use of the infrastructure and it's very heartening to see someone really invest at a very practical level in this," said Reimer.

In recent years Vancouver has installed two new bike lanes through the downtown core and across a connecting bridge and overpass, as a part of a long-term plan to link more sections of the city with safer bike routes and encourage more people to cycle.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Rail trail soon in Courtenay

By Lindsay Chung - Comox Valley Record
Published: February 15, 2011 3:00 PM

This fall, Comox Valley residents will be able to cycle and walk from Fifth Street to Cumberland Road along the railroad tracks.

The City of Courtenay, the Island Corridor Foundation and the Courtenay Rotary Club are partnering to build a new cycling and pedestrian trail between Fifth Street and Cumberland Road next to the railroad tracks along the east side of the E&N Corridor.

The Rail With Trail project was announced Monday when members of the Courtenay Rotary Club, dressed in period costumes, spoke to Courtenay council about the project. Councillors approved the project’s vision and agreed that the city will work with the Rotarians.

The section between Fifth Street and Cumberland Road will be the first phase of the project, and it will be built between April and September.

The second phase from Cumberland Road to 17th Street will be established pending community assistance, other partnerships and funding.

The Courtenay Rotary Club has made the Rail With Trail its major fundraising initiative for 2011, and the club’s online auction throughout the month of March and live auction April 16 will raise money for the project.

“We’re going to get the whole community involved if we can to supply, install, do the landscaping and beautify a fairly rough-looking area at the present time,” said Art Meyers, “conductor” of the Rotary delegation. “Our long-term vision is to help the city and hopefully move the trail to 17th and eventually all the way down to 29th Street.

“Just imagine the trail itself going all the way to Victoria because they’ve started at the other end with the Galloping Goose Trail. Rotary’s going to be raising the dollars, and the work will be done by our club, and we’re working hard with the community to raise the funds as we speak.”

Plans for the project include a three-metre-wide hard surface trail, as well as beautification components such as treeplanting, seating areas, improved signage and other landscaping.

Coun. Manno Theos thought the project was exciting.

“You have to be thankful to the variety of partners who would be involved in this project,” he said. “One of the main key reasons of why this project would be so important to the community is that it’s enhancing a community asset and it’s creating a cleaner, safer and more people-friendly area along the corridor there, and I think that will bode well for future activities in that area to again become a tourist attraction.”

Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard noted that the Rail With Trail concept first came forward at first through the cycling community, which is another area of partnership.

“It’s one of those opportunities we have to work in partnership and promote all good things,” she said.

Courtenay Rotary's online auction will help rail trail become reality

Published: March 03, 2011 5:00 PM
Updated: March 03, 2011 5:30 PM

The Courtenay Rotary Club went to the public in October 2010 for input on project ideas for 2011 and was overwhelmed with suggestions.
“We received over 250 responses with over 50 per cent of them suggesting more trails within the city or along the shoreline. This gave us a clear indication on which direction to go,” says Courtenay Rotary Club president Robert Buckley.
One suggestion was a trail and beautification project along the train tracks.
Courtenay Rotarian Art Meyers, who is the chair of Rotary’s auction committee, contacted Graham Bruce of the Island Corridor Foundation to discuss the possibility of this project becoming the northern terminus of the Island-long trail corridor along the E&N Rail tracks.
A meeting was setup with an invite to the City of Courtenay. All parties agreed this would be a great project and the City of Courtenay came on board.
“We are pleased to have the City of Courtenay get involved with us on this project. Rotary’s commitment is a walking and cycling trail from Fifth Street to the train station at Cumberland Road," explains Meyers. "The City of Courtenay envisions this project continuing to 29th Street over the coming years.
"The trail and beautification efforts will vastly improve visitors' impressions coming in on the train and give local residents a new community trail system to enjoy.”
The Courtenay Rotary Club is holding its annual online auction March 1 to 31 to support Trail Along The Rails. Everyone is invited to bid online on over 400 select items, services and gift certificates.
“This is a great opportunity to not only enjoy bidding online for great local products and services but also to help us build this trail system and beautify the neighbourhood it passes through,“ adds Buckley.”

Comox Valley Cycling Map

Comox Valley Bicycle Map and the Broken Spoke Cycling Shop

We are having a launch of the first Comox Valley Bicycle map at The Broken Spoke on Tuesday the 15th March from 5:00 - 7:00
(The Broken Spoke is located in downtown Courtenay at 420 Fitzgerald Ave)
The map has been 8 months in the making and is a joint venture between The Broken Spoke and the Mapping Centre, a registered charity dedicated to the preservation of our Estuary. Come on down to view/buy a copy and celebrate another milestone on the way to our Valley becoming a desirable biking community

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Nanaimo Cycling Plans - Presentation

There is a presentation on future Nanaimo cycling infrastructure additions.

Sponsored by the Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition

Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 pm, at the Bowen Park Complex.

City of Nanaimo transportation engineer Gordon Foy will be speaking about some cycling infrastructure projects in the works. For more info go to www.thegncc.org/

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Bicycle Parking at community events

Last summer as I was entering the Filberg Festival in Comox, I saw the Bicycle Lockup area run by the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition. It was well used with lots of bikes inside the Lockup. I believe the Coalition asked for a donation and also people could purchase raffle tickets for a quilt they were raffling off plus pick up info on the Coalition. It works like a Coat Check area at a hotel or dance and the area is surrounded by some type of portable secure fencing - i.e. the plastic rollable fencing around construction sites. I believe the Coalition runs the Bike Lockup at most major community events in the Comox Valley. Also, in looking at other Coalitions' websites, they do the same thing. What a great way to allow people to safely park their bikes at an event and to also raise awareness in the community of the Cycling Coalition. In looking at the list of community events locally in our area, this would be an easy way to make people aware of this group's existence.

Any feedback???

Jim

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Victoria Bridge Online Petition

The following is contributed by Ian Gartshore - who runs a Blog called Energy Solutions For 4 People - http://energysolutions4realpeople.blogspot.com/ He coordinated a Sustainable Transportation Symposium in Nanaimo in the Fall.

As transportation accounts for most of the greenhouse gases, adds a great deal to our personal expense, and that every industrialised country in the world, except Canada, is adding to its rail infrastructure, I'd encourage us all to sign the petition to strengthen our Island rail, especially the vital bridge taking trains to the Victoria train station.

Friends, tomorrow the Victoria City Council makes a FINAL DECISION about whether the rail will remain on the Johnson Street bridge. A "No" decision will impact the whole of the island now and far into the future. Please consider signing this petition. It will be sent to BC's Minister of Transportation, MLAs, Mayors, and Victoria Councillors. This morning on CBC radio, I heard the Mayor of Victoria report that the Minister of Transportation Bond has not even responded to the City Councillors request to talk to them about the rail's future on the bridge. Vancouver Island needs a cohesive transportation system to connect our island community and our participation is vital.

Here is the link to the petition:
http://johnsonstreetbridge.org/?p=1907

I would also encourage you to go to the non-profit Island Corridor Foundation's website (this Foundation owns the railway) and take further action to help Vancouver Island join the 21st century and become more transporation sustainable. http://www.islandrail.ca/media-room/how-you-can-help-turn-the-train-around/

Ian.

Calgary Bike Apalooza

Check out the link about this event in Calgary:
http://calgaryisawesome.com/?p=9576

Parksville OCP and Survey ideas

Greetings,

Yesterday evening Gord Byers, Jim Dimmick, John Fair and myself attended a special "groups" meeting for the Parksville OCP Review. Groups invited included: Restaurants,
Outdoor Rec and Cycling, Horses, Health and Wellness, Dogs, Fine and Performing Arts plus a group representing Beach activities. In our groups we were asked to identify things like what activities and facilities in our area of interest we would like to see in the Parksville area. Each group was able to share their discussion items with the whole group. It was very interesting to hear that the need for cycling and multi-use trails was mentioned by pretty well every group. All of the contributions from the meeting will be posted on the OCP Review section of the City of Parksville website.

Thinking of what happened at the meeting, it would probably be very timely to post a survey on our website that would ask for responses on cycling-related questions. The survey results could be used for presentations to groups like local City and Town Councils, the Chambers of Commerce and the School Board. I have looked at a few of the "free" online survey websites and most of them place a limit of 10 questions and a cap of 100 respondents.

If you can think of some good questions about cycling in the area, please send them to me. I will try my best to included them in the survey.

Jim - j.e.swanson@shaw.ca

Sunday, January 23, 2011

A few newsy items

Now that the weather appears to be warming up slowly and cycling season is about to begin, it's time for some news items:

1. There is a meeting of the Steering Committee (actually anyone interested in getting involved) for the Cycling Coalition. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 1st @ 6:30 in the Board Room of the Parksville City Hall. At this meeting we hope to plan for the first general public meeting of the Coalition in about 4 - 6 weeks plus plan activities for the first few months of this year. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to me - Jim Swanson via e-mail at j.e.swanson@shaw.ca

2.There are Cycling Coalitions that are also being formed in Campbell River and the Cowichan Valley. So, it appears that the entire East side of the Island will be represented by affiliates of the BC Cycling Coalition.