Happy Friday! Here's the news from the past week:
Globe and Mail: A city made for cyclists (Hint: it's not Toronto)
There's a big, disturbing gap between what's normal for cyclists in Toronto and what's normal for cyclists in Copenhagen. Normal in Toronto means biking as an edgy urban sport. Normal means risking life and limb to dodge cars, pedestrians and, during the winter, ice and snow on roads and dicey bike paths. Normal in Copenhagen means bike paths receive the same kind of snow removal as the city's main arteries. In Copenhagen, half the city's population uses some of its 350 kilometres of devoted lanes, which is normal. (more at the Globe and Mail)
Spacing Toronto: The role of local government in promoting cycling
With Bike Month all wrapped up for another year, it seems only appropriate to tackle to question of how our local government can take the reigns from cycling advocates and bike month organizers by promoting cycling through policy. (more at Spacing Toronto)
Toronto Star: Where the streets have no cars
Great article about Vancouver joining the ranks of New York, San Francisco, Portland, Bogota, etc in embracing the car-free streets movement. They'll be closing off 4 neighbourhoods to cars on Sundays in July and August, creating 20 car-free routes just for pedestrians and cyclists.
Toronto has 7 car-free Sundays in Kensington Market this year... and really, a lot more downtown areas should embrace the concept too. The Church and Wellesley area would be fantastic with no cars on Sundays in the Summer. My personal favourite though, would have to be the Yonge-Dundas Square area... Yonge from Gerrard to Queen and Dundas from Victoria to Bay (excepting streetcar passage, of course). Some may put up a fuss, but businesses would do well, and tourists would love it!
Where would you like to see car-free Sundays? Discuss it in the Forum.
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Discuss this topic and a lot more on the BikingToronto Forum
