Presentations from Velo City 2012

Thanks to Arno Shortinghuis with the BC Cycling Coalition, here are links to many of the presentations from the Velo-City Global 2012 Conference held in June in Vancouver:

1.European Cyclists' Federation 

2.Research on Cycling Education and Cycling Accidents in Canada

3.Malmo Sweden and Planning for Cycling

4.Very Interesting Dutch Perspective on Cycling

5.Presentation on Idaho Law regarding Signage on Highways

6.The BICY Project: analysis on ways to increase cycling use in Central Europe

7.Around the World in 80 Days: Using GPS Technology to get kids cycling

8. 5 Lessons learned at Velo-City: a Good Overview of current trends in cycling

9.Reflections of conference attendees at Velo-City on Cycling Trends

Slow Food Cycle events

If you want to have a great experience cycling, visiting farms, sampling fresh, healthy foods and enjoying great views, try taking in a Slow Cycle event. There are 2 Slow Food Cycle events taking place this summer on Vancouver Island:

1.Comox Valley - Saturday and Sunday August 11 and 12 - Cost $15 per person - http://www.discovercomoxvalley.com/cvfarmcycletour

and

2.Sooke Slow Food Cycle - Sunday - Sept 23 -http://www.sookeslowfoodcycle.com/ 

There are also 2 Slow Food Cycle Events on the Mainland:

1. Vancouver - Actually in Agassiz on Saturday July 28 and Chilliwack on Sunday July 29

http://www.slowfoodvancouver.com/

and

2. Pemberton Sunday, August 19

http://www.slowfoodcyclesunday.com/

ICBC funding to create a BC standard for cycling education and organize an instructor accreditation process.

The BC Cycling Coalition's Education Committee is pushing forward with it's "Right To Bike - Cycling Education for Children" initiative. ICBC has just announced funding to create a BC standard for cycling education and organize an instructor accreditation process.

Check out the BC Cycling Coalition Blog entry

Helmets - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has just released a report on Bike Helmets. CTV Vancouver just did a feature piece on the report plus also on how to make sure that a helmet will fit properly.

CTV's report on Bike Helmets

David Suzuki: The benefits of cycling go beyond reducing climate change

In this Georgia Straight article - March 13th - Dr. David Suzuki discusses the benefits of separated bike lanes with specific reference to Vancouver.

http://www.straight.com/article-634356/vancouver/david-suzuki-benefits-cycling-go-beyond-reducing-climate-change

Thanks to John Fair for the link to the article

How Bikes Make Cities Cool - Portland

This 5 minute video - filmed entirely on bicycle - looks at the bicycle culture of Portland Oregon.

http://vimeo.com/38385810

NOTE: Video is in HD and may not run on your Internet feed. To see Video, when video starts:




Thanks to Fred Pakkala for passing on the link to the video

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.