Bikes, bikes, bikes

[rousseau]

Damn, sorry to hear about Cafe Domestique closing. I loved that place. I go to Dundas a couple times a year to do rides in Dundas Valley and beyond, and until now I'd always begin and end them at Cafe Domestique. Such a shame. I wish someone would take up the mantle and keep it going.

[mattgrande]

Oh man, I'm super bummed about Cafe Domestique closing. I only started going there recently, but it's always been great.

[rousseau]

From Facebook:

For those of you who don't quite get my charming combination of wit and subtlety: THIS IS THE LAST NIGHT WE'LL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AT 12 MILLERS LANE! We'll have our spot in the Mattamy National Cycling Centre ready to go October 1st...No, wait...November 29th...Next year sometime and a new Dundas location in the near future...MAYBE...K

https://www.facebook.com/events/6342...y_type=regular

[eemy]

It sounded like he was going to focus primarily on his other stuff at the cycling centre for now though. I've never been there, but the concept sounds great.

[matt602]

SoBi bikes are hitting the racks starting today. Already seen a few at Bay/Main, Bay/York and James and Mulberry. Free if you have a membership until they launch in the spring.

[interr0bangr]

Yep. Got the email this morning.

http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=...c&e=6968b32ee4

Bikes Roll Out Today!

The moment you've been waiting for is here! Now members can start biking the Hammer in style using our local SoBi bike share system
Beginning today, SoBi Hamilton will start rolling out bicycles across the city as part of the first test phase of the new year-round bike share program. The upgraded electronic systems developed by Social Bicycles recently arrived to the local operator so the bikes are now equipped to start hitting the streets. About 200 bikes will be installed for the winter season test and the full fleet of 750 bikes will be deployed in March 2015 for the official launch of the program.

“Rolling out some of the bikes during the winter supports winter cycling and will provide SoBi Hamilton with an opportunity to test the system and ensure it is completely operational for prime cycling season,” said Peter Topalovic, Project Manager of Transportation Demand Management with the City. “Other North American cities like Toronto, New York and Chicago also operate their bike share programs throughout the winter with success.”

“Anyone who has already purchased a bike share membership - or who buys a membership during the test phase - will now be able to start using the bikes,” said Chelsea Cox, Community Manager with SoBi Hamilton. “The membership clock for Annual and Founding Memberships won’t start ticking until the official launch of the program on March 20, 2015 so members will get 14 months of usage but will only pay for 12 months, and Monthly Members get two months for the price of one.” Those that use the system during the test phase will have the opportunity to help ensure that the system is ready for launch and help the City obtain valuable winter cycling data.

[mattgrande]

I don't know if any of you folks would be interested in this, but I may as well drop the info:

The Glowriders is a bicycle gang that started in Hamilton a few years ago. I hope you'll join us for the ride! Here's the details:

What: Hamilton Glowriders group ride. This is a friendly gang/group bicycle ride around the city with both bikes and riders decked out in lights and glowsticks. The ride is open to anyone of any cycling ability. It's a leisurely ride through the city which usually takes about an hour or so. It's important to us that we ride legally around the city and are good cyclists. One of the intentions of the Glowriders is to promote safe and legal cycling and help spread friendly cycling vibes.

The ride ends on Augusta St where everyone is welcome to enjoy a refreshing beverage if you so choose.

Where: Meet at Durand Park just west of James S on Charlton/Herkimer

When: 8:30pm to get the bikes ready with plans to roll-out around 9:00pm once it's dark out.

What to Bring:
- bicycle
- lights/glowing equipment - I'll be bringing some 8 inch glowsticks that we can use (PWYC). If you want anything more crazy than that, I encourage you to go nuts and raid the party/dollar store. There's lots of great battery powered lighting options available online for fairly cheap. They're sustainable and less wasteful then glowsticks, so I'd encourage acquiring something along those lines.
- water - in case you get thirsty until we can acquire beer
- a bell, we've had great success having a chorus of bells ringing as we ride
- a lock to secure your bike at the bar or if we stop somewhere
- friends who also want to join a gang

Link to Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/842258465843623/
Video from our first ride last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvesmT4WRwQ

[LikeHamilton]

City of Hamilton @cityofhamilton · May 13

Since launch, @SoBiHamilton has seen 22,000+ trips on Bike Share bikes, clocking over 50,000km.

[HillStreetBlues]

I wonder if that's good or not. It would be interesting to know how much revenue that would have translated to, if all had been paid trips? Or what their goal had been in their business plan for that period.

[LikeHamilton]

CBC Hamilton

About 30 per cent of the people who live in a 'large portion' of the SoBi Hamilton service area live below the poverty line, and now 'hundreds' of low-income people will get free Hamilton Bike Share memberships thanks to a grant from Union Gas, the program will announce Monday.

[thistleclub]

Hamilton's Bikeshare Success Provides Lessons for Toronto
(Urban Toronto, Stefan Novakovic, July 22 2015)

On July 6th, the Province of Ontario announced $4.9 million in new funding for Toronto's Bike Share program, providing an infusion of capital that will—according to reports—effectively double the size of the system. Currently, Toronto Bikeshare consists of a network of approximately 1,000 bikes and 4,000 active users, though the system has been plagued by difficulties since its inception in 2011. Initially operated by Montreal's Bixi service, the system was taken over by Toronto's Parking Authority after Bixi filed for bankruptcy in 2014.

Bixi's financial problems, together with the program's limited success in Toronto, has curtailed the program's expansion, leaving the network relatively unchanged since its launch, and undersized in relation to many other cities. Compared to Montreal's 5,200 bikes and 411 stations, for example, Toronto's system of 1,000 bikes and 80 stations is underdeveloped, especially when our city's far larger population is taken into account. In this regard, the system's forthcoming expansion is especially welcome, given that any bike share system requires reasonably comprehensive coverage in order to become a viable option for commuters.

While an expansion of the system will almost certainly provide crucial benefits, the comparatively small size of Toronto's network is not the only hurdle that it faces. Compared to many other cities, Toronto's bike-sharing infrastructure and technology is relatively inefficient and expensive for both the city and the user, notwithstanding the number of bicycles and stations. Yet, to find an example of a more successful and popular system, we need not stoke our 'second-city' envy by looking to New York or Paris for inspiration. A surprisingly efficient and successful system can be found in a smaller city in our own region; Hamilton, Ontario.

Though Hamilton's SoBi system only launched a few months ago (March 20th), it already boasts more users (5,200 active as of early 2015) than Toronto's system, thanks in large part to its greater convenience and ease of use, together with lower maintenance costs, which pass savings along to the consumer. While Toronto's system features low-tech bicycles and high-tech parking stations, each of Hamilton's city bikes has its own GPS tracker and payment interface, meaning that using a bike does not involve paying at a central terminal.


Read it in full here.

[thomax]

@cityofhamilton - Bike lanes on CANNON St are being extended east past Tim Hortons Field; new lanes now between Gage-Barons. #HamOnt


Cannon Street Bike Lanes - October 23, 2015 by cityofhamilton, on Twitter


Cannon Street Bike Lanes - October 23, 2015 by cityofhamilton, on Twitter

[ScreamingViking]

Extending the protected 2-way bike lanes would have been the best option, but this is great. Takes the lanes all the way to the Pipeline Trail. The trails along the Red Hill Valley are only 2+ km further -- why not go all the way in the near future?

[interr0bangr]

Absolutely terrible that someone had to die for the city to take it seriously, but here's some promising news for cyclists that want mountain access.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...cess-1.3351330

Wish it was more concrete than "looking into" but it's a start.

[thistleclub]

Via TheSpec.com:

A dedicated bike lane on the Claremont Access, where cyclist Jay Keddy was struck and killed in December, is at least a year away, city staff tells council.

[thistleclub]

No Sense of Urgency for Claremont Cycle Track
(Raise The Hammer, Ryan McGreal, Jan 15 2016)

[thistleclub]

Claremont bike lanes won’t be fast-tracked
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Jan 19 2016)

Even extra cash can't fast-track the creation of Claremont Access bike lanes this year.

Several city councillors asked Tuesday what it would take to add separated bike lanes in 2016 to the Mountain access, where a cyclist was struck and killed late last year.

"Can funding speed this thing up?" asked Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr, who discussed with fellow councillors how to pool ward infrastructure cash if required.

The short answer is no, said Daryl Bender, the city's cycling project manager. He said the traffic and collision studies, community consultation and related work for the project require either more time — or more staff — than is currently available in 2016.

Pushing forward the Claremont project this year would mean other cycling projects "would have to fall off the table," he said.

The committee voted to endorse the staff plan to report back late this year on the proposed cycling solution for the Claremont access, with construction in 2017.



2017 achievable target for Claremont Access bike lane
(CHML News, Ken Mann, Jan 19 2016)

It’s not as fast as some would like, but a timeline is in place for construction of a dedicated bike lane up the Claremont Access.

Staff will complete the study and design work before pitching a solution to city politicians before the end of the year. Plans are to build the bike lane in 2017.

Transportation Planner Darryl Bender says that’s as fast as they can go, noting that a long list of other cycling infrastructure projects are already on the books in 2016.

He stresses that “money isn’t the only obstacle”. Bender adds that staff also have to be available to review, manage and advance a project.

The Claremont bike lane was fast-tracked in early December, after kindergarten teacher and mountain resident Jay Keddy was struck and killed while cycling on the access.

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Claremont bike lanes won’t be fast-tracked
(Hamilton Spectator, Matthew Van Dongen, Jan 19 2016)

Even extra cash can't fast-track the creation of Claremont Access bike lanes this year.

Several city councillors asked Tuesday what it would take to add separated bike lanes in 2016 to the Mountain access, where a cyclist was struck and killed late last year.

"Can funding speed this thing up?" asked Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr, who discussed with fellow councillors how to pool ward infrastructure cash if required.

The short answer is no, said Daryl Bender, the city's cycling project manager. He said the traffic and collision studies, community consultation and related work for the project require either more time — or more staff — than is currently available in 2016.

Pushing forward the Claremont project this year would mean other cycling projects "would have to fall off the table," he said.

The committee voted to endorse the staff plan to report back late this year on the proposed cycling solution for the Claremont access, with construction in 2017.



2017 achievable target for Claremont Access bike lane
(CHML News, Ken Mann, Jan 19 2016)

It’s not as fast as some would like, but a timeline is in place for construction of a dedicated bike lane up the Claremont Access.

Staff will complete the study and design work before pitching a solution to city politicians before the end of the year. Plans are to build the bike lane in 2017.

Transportation Planner Darryl Bender says that’s as fast as they can go, noting that a long list of other cycling infrastructure projects are already on the books in 2016.

He stresses that “money isn’t the only obstacle”. Bender adds that staff also have to be available to review, manage and advance a project.

The Claremont bike lane was fast-tracked in early December, after kindergarten teacher and mountain resident Jay Keddy was struck and killed while cycling on the access.

Ridiculous. The only information you need is that a cyclist died. Period. Stop with the studies as to how a bike lane will impact cars, and accentuate how it will save lives.

[Jon Dalton]

I hope they name the new bike lane after the guy that died because it didn't exist. By 2017 people will have forgotten. It would serve as a good reminder to people who still wonder why we need bike lanes.

[LikeHamilton]

Police lay careless driving charge in Jay Keddy cycling death

Hamilton Spectator By Joanna Frketich

A 55-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with careless driving in connection with a fatal collision that killed a Prince of Wales kindergarten teacher.

Jay Keddy, 53, was killed just before 6 p.m. Dec. 2, 2015 when he was struck by a dark-coloured truck while cycling on the upbound lanes of the Claremont Access.

A police investigation at the time of the accident led detectives to an address on the West Mountain where the vehicle involved in the collision was located. A warrant was obtained to seize the vehicle.

At that time, a 55-year-old person of interest was taken into police custody for questioning and later released unconditionally.

A 55-year-old man was charged Friday and will appear in court at a later date.

Keddy regularly cycled to school from his central Mountain home. He'd stayed late at the Melrose Avenue North elementary school that day to cheer on the senior girls' volleyball team as they played in the city championship for the first time.

Described by the school principal as "very student-centred" he also ran the school choir.

Keddy was married to Ingrid, an office administrator at another Hamilton school. The couple had three grown children.

They were former missionaries who did work in Africa and were active at West Highland Baptist Church.

Keddy's death prompted the Hamilton cycling community to renew demands for bike lanes to be installed on all city accesses to improve safety.


jfrketich@thespec.com

905-526-3349 | @Jfrketich

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/63...cycling-death/