There's more fun Toronto Coalition for Active Transport stuff in the news!

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Recent TCAT activities and news items:

1. Martin Goodman Trail bollards at the Boulevard Club – TCAT’s response
2. South Kingsway/Queensway Interchange – To be discussed at next Pedestrian Committee Meeting, September 12
3. ‘Walking Life’ exhibit – Show opening, September 9, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
4. Pedestrian Sunday in Mirvish Village – This Sunday, September 9^th! & TCAT Volunteer Opportunity
5. Bicycle manufacturers as cycling advocates – TREK announces new program
6. Gould Street International Student Design Competition

1. Martin Goodman Trail bollards at the Boulevard Club – TCAT’s response

If you’ve walked or ridden the Martin Goodman Trail lately, or read the City’s cycling blogs (I Bike TO and BikingToronto) you will know that the City recently erected a second, staggered row of bollards at the intersection with the Boulevard Club’s driveway off the Lakeshore. These bollards have had a negative impact on users of the Trail and the rationale for making this change has not been sufficiently expressed to those concerned (in correspondence with City staff and local Councillor Gord Perk’s office). In an effort to clarify the situation and seek out a solution that can more fairly accommodate those who use this intersection, TCAT has sent a letter to Councillor Perks (attached). TCAT will keep our supporters up-to-date with any developments.

We encourage you to express your opinion about the new bollards by forwarding this letter to Councillor Perk’s office and the office of your local councillor with a statement that you endorse it. You can also write your own letter or make a phone call to make sure the voices of Trail users are heard.

2. South Kingsway/Queensway Interchange – To be discussed at next Pedestrian Committee Meeting, September 12

As reported in past TCAT e-Bulletins, the Environmental Assessment for redesign of the treacherous South Kingsway/Queensway interchange was cancelled in July, ending plans to make this 1950s highway style interchange more cycle/pedestrian friendly.

More recently, TCAT has learned that this issue will be discussed at the next meeting of the Toronto Pedestrian Committee on Wednesday, September 12^th at 3:00 pm at City Hall, Committee Room 3. TCAT will report back on this discussion and next steps for getting this project back on City Council’s agenda.

3. ‘Walking Life’ exhibit – Show opening, September 9, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

4. Pedestrian Sunday in Mirvish Village – This Sunday, September 9^th, noon-9pm & TCAT Volunteer Opportunity

PS Kensington and Streets are for People are leaders in creating car-free street festivals, and we encourage you to get out and enjoy their next event, not in Kensington Market but in Mirvish Village ( Markham Street south of Bloor Street ). Streets are for People are also one of the over 35 community organizations that support TCAT.

Mirvish Village, home to the landmark discount store Honest Ed’s at Bathurst & Bloor, is a collection of boutiques, studios and restaurants founded and named for the Mirvish family in recognition of Toronto’s retail show biz entrepreneur Ed Mirvish.

This historical area is located in midtown Toronto , (near Bathurst subway station) in an eclectic, culturally diverse, and vibrant neighbourhood. Filled with many spectacular specialty shops including video & bookstores, jewellery stores, antique stores, art galleries, vintage shops, and outstanding eateries to satisfy many different palates, visitors can stroll the spacious boulevard and open street, or relax & enjoy some food & drink on one of the many patios that Markham St. hosts.

The Mirvish Village BIA welcomes visitors to join the community in enjoying activities, entertainment & live music for all ages.

Time: 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm

For more information visit: www.pskensington.ca

5. Bicycle manufacturers as cycling advocates – TREK announces new program

Though this is not a Toronto story – not even a Canadian story – TCAT is pleased to see TREK bicycles playing a strong part in the cycling advocacy community in the US . In the coming months TCAT will be looking to work with other manufacturers, as well as the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, to combine our efforts creating a safer and more enjoyable cycling environment in Toronto.

[with files from the National Center for Bicycling & Walking]

John Burke, president of Trek Bicycle Corporation, this past Monday announced an ambitious new advocacy program during Trek World, its dealer event held at the Monona Terrace in Madison , Wisconsin .

Burke asked retailers to participate in the One World, Two Wheels program that will directly fund the efforts of the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) and the Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) program of the League of American Bicyclists.

Trek will donate to IMBA $10 for every full-suspension bike sold, for a minimum of $600,000 over the next three years. Trek also will donate $1 per helmet to BFC, for a minimum of $1 million over the next three years. Burke said Trek will also provide ads, brochures, T-shirts, billboards and signage in support of the projects.

Burke urged bicycle dealers to help achieve the goal of increasing bicycle trips in the US from one percent to five percent in the next 10 years (by Trek World 2017).

"[This announcement] follows on from John Burke's presentations at the National Bike Summit and Taipei bike show, where he challenged the industry to spend more of their marketing dollars on advocacy," said Andy Clarke, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. "Rather than waiting for the industry to do this collectively, he decided Trek should take a leadership role and get on with it. Hopefully others will follow suit."

Clarke noted that the $1.6 million contribution to the BFC and IMBA programs (over three years) isn't being tacked on to the price of the bikes and helmets to dealers or consumers. "Trek described it as a tax on themselves," Clarke said.

6. Gould Street International Student Design Competition

Designing Gould Street is an open, international student design competition to propose an innovative, imaginative series of spaces that will transform the existing Gould Street corridor of Ryerson into a pedestrianized environment. The Competition is held in conjunction with the Walk21 conference.

TCAT News – Help spread the word!

TCAT is continually looking to increase its list of supporters. Please send this message to any groups or individuals you think would be interested in learning more about TCAT, receiving our weekly e-Bulletin, or volunteering with TCAT.

To learn more about TCAT, visit our web site at: www.torontocat.ca