Bike to Work Week Fall 2011 is almost here! If you have participated in this event before, you know how much fun it can be; if you haven’t, then this is your chance to get involved.
 
This year’s Fall Bike to Work Week runs from October 31st to November 6th, and here are some of the things that will be going on:
 
Log your commutes for the chance to win great prizes
 
• Go to http://www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca/

Everyone who logs even one commute during BTWW is entered into a draw to win fantastic prizes, including a brand-new bike.
 
Visit a commuter station
 
There will be commuter stations set up on popular bike routes across the city. Stop by for coffee, breakfast, giveaways, and a chance to get a tuneup from a bike mechanic. More details here:
 
http://www.biketoworkmetrovan.ca/commuter-stations-map
 
And more....
 
“Halloween Commute” on the 31st. Dress up your bike and yourself to win prizes!  Watch this space for more information.
 
Questions? Pedal Pushers have tons of experience riding all year round. Ask us about staying visible and keeping warm and dry.
 
Phil Hall
Bike to Work Week Team Leader
On behalf of the Pedal Pushers

Kay and Jodi in the starting corral

Following on from Jodi’s successful completion of the 2010 RBC GranFondo Whistler, she and fellow Pedal Pusher Kay Cahill set out on a beautiful sunny Saturday in the Okanagan to ride in the inaugural RBC GranFondo Kelowna. The 115km route wound its way along the shore of Okanagan Lake, up the punishing climb to Predator Ridge, through Vernon and then back through the rolling hills of Lake Country to the finish line in Kelowna. Kay and Jodi both completed the ride successfully, and are now preparing for their next long-distance ride to Whistler in September.

A full description of the ride with accompanying photos is available at Kay’s blog.

Anyone who is interested in joining Jodi and Kay for training rides can contact them at kay dot cahill at vpl.ca or jodi dot caddick at vpl.ca. Not all of them are 115km long.

Phil with his trusty Brompton

Some of you may have heard that I’m going to Denmark and Germany in a few days to participate in the Cycling for Libraries Unconference: a bicycle ride from Copenhagen to Berlin.

Cycling for libraries is a politically and economically independent international unconference and a bicycle tour from Copenhagen, Denmark to Berlin, Germany. The purpose of the Cycling for Libraries mobile conference is to gather a group of 100 library professionals from all around the world together to cycle a total of approximately 650 kilometers and to discuss the strategic issues of the library field in seminars along the route.

What you might not know is that I’m going to take a folding bicycle in my luggage and ride that bicycle for the whole ride. This is a fact that surprises a lot of people when I tell them. Frankly, some people are more than surprised, they are alarmed. I guess they feel I would be jeopardizing my chances of enjoying myself if I don’t have the best bike possible. I think this is a common reaction to cycling in
Vancouver. We are conditioned to think that we have to have the best bike possible or we can’t do it.

The brompton is light, comfortable, and reliable. I’ve had it for 14 years and ridden many miles on it. It’s quite familiar. Those are all things that count more than just whether it’s the lightest, fastest, or latest style of bike.

The ride is quite flat. Its highest point is barely higher than my house which I ride to everyday. The ride is also well supported, so I don’t have to carry my luggage, and it’s well designed with easy early stages so we can all ease into it.

Essentially, there’s no reason to expect that, if I can’t do it on this bike, I can do it on some other bike. The irony is that I have a very high-quality racing bike that I ride on Sundays. It’s call a Litespeed Tuscany and is made out of light-weight titanium. It has a 10-speed rear derailleur and is a joy to ride. However, now that I’m training for distances on the Brompton, I’m timing my rides and it’s turning out that the Brompton is only about 10% slower than the Litespeed. I think I’m learning a lesson that I’ve learned before and that we all tend to forget; Riding is mostly about attitude, and only a little bit about the bike. Even though I enjoy dressing up in “Roadie” riding gear and riding my fast racy bike, I’m really only gaining a marginal advantage over suitable (but ordinary) clothes and riding a regular bike.

So, I’m sure I’m going to have great fun riding my folding bike and talking about libraries, and I won’t miss my racing bike at all.

Phil Hall

Some related links:

• Phil’s Blog: Phil Hall.ca: Information, Libraries & the Web
• From the Cycling for Libraries website: Phil’s homework: starting now to imagine the library in 100 years

The Pedal Pushers cycling committee is pleased to announce that Phil Hall will be participating in the first ever Cycling For Libraries Unconference. Cycling for Libraries is an international and independent “unconference” in the shape of a bicycle tour starting from Copenhagen and ending in Berlin (650 km) May 28 – June 6, 2011. The purpose is to gather a group of library professionals from around the world and cycle approximately 650 km, and on the way, discuss strategic issues in the library field. The ride starts at the Danish National Library courtyard in Copenhagen, and it ends at the 100th Deutsche Bibliothekartag! (The German Library Conference in Berlin). It is a unique and exciting opportunity to enhance the visibility of libraries while participating in a professional conference.

Some of the themes for the unconference are: communicating to customers; extending knowledge and skills, what the library can offer to the community; library as a public place; mobile libraries, library lovers’ best practices, how to communicate with library users; open your data; the future of libraries; and much more.

In order to support Phil’s participation in this exciting event, the Pedal Pushers are fundraising to help out with his expenses.

Interested VPL staff and management can support our Cycling for Libraries emissary by:

• Attending our bake sale/info session at Central in the staff lounge on Tuesday, May 10th from 12 to 2—come and eat delicious homemade treats and ask Phil all about the unconference.
• Buying a 50/50 ticket. At Central, ticket sales will begin on the evening of May 6th at Cabaret 391, and sales will be ongoing with spontaneous workroom visits by Pedal Pushers until noon on Tuesday, May 24th when we will draw a winner! If you work in any of the branches, members of the Pedal Pushers will be cycling to all of the branches in an epic bike ride to sell 50/50 tickets on Saturday, May 21st. Tickets will be $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.

If you miss any of these opportunities, please feel free to email Dana.Putnam (at) vpl.ca to buy your 50/50 tickets (after May 6th but before noon on May 24th!).

The Pedal Pushers are excited about Phil’s participation in the inaugural Cycling for Libraries unconference as it is sure to be a very fruitful international library conference for library lovers who also happen to love to ride bikes. We all wish we could go too!

~ The Pedal Pushers
pedalpushers (at) vpl.ca

Great strides have been made to our cycling infrastructure in the past year:

• In addition to the separated bicycle lanes on the Burrard Bridge, there are now separated lanes that create a connected route through the Downtown core along Dunsmuir Street and Hornby Street.
• To improve comfort and safety the City has also installed some trial bike-permeable barriers on popular cycling routes such as on 41st Avenue at the Ontario Bikeway and on King Edward Avenue at the Heather Bikeway.
• New bike routes include the Valley Bikeway (from Trafalgar Street at Cornwall Avenue to Valley Drive at 33rd Avenue) and the 29th Avenue Bikeway (Pacific Spirit Park to Midlothian Avenue at Ontario Street). New bike lanes include Kerr Street (E 49th Avenue to E Kent Avenue) and E 22nd Avenue (Nanaimo Street to Renfrew Street).

To stay up-to-date on these and other bicycle-related developments in Vancouver, check out the Bike Vancouver website.

A pocket-sized map showing the bicycle routes in the city is available at City Hall, by calling the Bicycle Hotline at 311 or by email at bikevancouver@vancouver.ca. Maps are also available at Vancouver libraries, community centres and some bicycle stores. Download the map here (PDF document 6.69 MB).

Velo-City Conference Series
In 2012, the City of Vancouver will host the the Velo-City Conference Series, an international cycling planning conference. This four-day event (June 24-29, 2012) is designed to encourage cycling as part of daily transport and recreation. The Velo-city Global 2012 Conference Blog will post articles, have informal short polls and announce contests for conference registrants who visit the blog. This is a good place for information while the official conference website is still under development.

“Velo-city conferences bring together those in involved in policy, promotion and provision of cycling facilities and programs.  Engineers, planners, architects, social marketers, academic researchers, environmentalists and industry representatives join forces with government at all levels ranging from municipal politicians, policy makers and educators in knowledge sharing and building effective trans-national partnerships to deliver benefits worldwide.” From the Velo-City Global 2012 Conference Blog

Upcoming Events
We’re excited about the upcoming cycling season and getting a head start on some of these events. Some of the websites have yet to update their pages from last year, so check back as their respective dates approach for more up-to-date information:

• Bike the Blossoms - Saturday, April 16 - 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m - presented by the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Velopalooza
• Bike to Work Week (BTWW) - May 30-June 5, 2011 - sign up and track your commutes for chances to win prizes and compete against other teams. Visit a celebration station during the week and get free refreshments, free mechanical services, and enter draws for prizes!
• June is Bike Month - BIKE MONTH is about fun, activity, and getting out and riding! Check out the staggering number of fun BIKE MONTH events and cycling tips on this website. 
• Velopalooza 2011 - June 3 to June 19, 2011 - Velopalooza is 17 days of bike fun. With 32 events, most organized by individuals, bikers of all persuasions are likely to find many events of interest. Nearly all events are free.

We simply can’t list all the great rides in Vancouver and British Columbia. Here is a site that lists a number of rides around B.C.:

• Bike Events in British Columbia (Canada Trails)

The Pedal Pushers Committee is gearing up for another eventful year. The first meeting of 2011 (January date tbd) has an agenda full of exciting plans.

• Fundraising for and sending a delegation to Copenhagen for the Cycling for Libraries unconference cycling tour (Copenhagen to Berlin in 10 days).
• Being involved in the creation of a secondary secure bike room at Central
• Fixing up the primary bike room
• Organizing social rides for the spring and summer
• Participating in the Bike to Work weeks in May and November
• The BikeMobile project
• and more ...

~Dana

Update, November 22nd:

FALL BIKE TO WORK WEEK 2010 RESULTS

In total, the City of Vancouver logged 702 trips during fall BTWW, travelling 5,240 km, saving 1,079 kg of CO2e and burning 157,227 calories. Well done everyone who participated!

The City won the “Best of Government” category and took second place in the organizations over 1000 category (following UBC).

Overall Bike to Work Week commuter station cyclist counts saw a growth of 115% from November last year.

The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition has announced their workplace winners:

• Bruce Carscadden Architects
• Form3 Design
• Zaber Technologies
• Pulse Energy
• Worksafe BC
• ARCTERYX Equipment
• SAP
• VCH
• City of Vancouver (including The VPL team)
• UBC

Congratulations to everyone!

The VPL Team was second only to one city department in number of trips: Greenways and Neighbourhood Transportation had 140 and we had 105. 

You can see how other City teams placed by visiting the Bike to Work Week Website.

*************************
October 25th

Dear Commuter Cyclists and Potential Commuter Cyclists:

November Bike to Work Week 2010 is almost upon us. Here are the upcoming activities:

1. Share the Road Challenge, Wednesday, October 27th.
Car drivers, transit users and cyclists race to Library Square! Media will be in the South Plaza to capture the happy looks on the faces of the cyclists as they roll in (usually ahead of the cars and transit users). Be there around 8:15 am to greet all the commuters as they arrive and find out how their travel times and enjoyment levels compare. Join us for free refreshments and a friendly crowd.

2. Check out the Pedal Pushers’ table at the staff expo on Thursday, October 28th.
Come down to the moat between 12 and 2 to chat with us, check out winter riding gear, pick up cycling info and make buttons.

3. Bike to Work Week (BTWW), November 1 - 7th
If you are planning to cycle to work that week, please remember to join the VPL All Staff team. Even if you cycle to work just one day that week, log your commutes and you could win prizes!

See the VACC’s BTWW website to login or register.

Any questions? Send an email or phone a committee member or bike buddy - contact info avail. on the Pedal Pushers’ Wiki (can only be viewed from staff stations)

4. BTWW Commuter Stations
During BTWW visit the Commuter Stations, November 1-5th. Volunteers will be waiting with snacks, cycling info, drinks, prizes, and smiles! You can win fabulous daily prizes just for stopping by. Check here for the best station on your route to or from work

See you in the streets!

Loosely translated from Italian, GranFondo means “big ride.” Rides are often 100 km or more for a large number of cyclists at a variety of skill levels - everyone from the competitive cyclist to the amateur wanting to challenge themselves over distance and time enjoy these events. Gran Fondos are judged by the challenges they offer - steep climbs, long distances and a combination of the two.  While these are not races, top finishers are often recognized. The 2010 RBC GranFondo Whistler was the first world-class Gran Fondo in Canada, and will be followed by the 2011 RBC GranFondo Whistler on September 10, 2011.

Imagine cycling 122 km with 2,400 metres of climbing over the entire route…

Well, Jodi did it. Long time VPL staff member and a founding Pedal Pusher, Jodi Caddick finished the RBC Whistler GranFondo in a little over 6 hours.

Jodi started cycling again about three years ago after a roughly 10 year lapse. Ever since rediscovering her bike, she has been cycling to and from work every day, year round. The GranFondo was the excuse Jodi was looking for to ride her bicycle more. In April, she participated in the British Columbia Randonneur’s Pacific Populaire, riding her longest distance at the time - 100 km. In May, Jodi started riding with a cycling club on Sunday rides that averaged 80-90kms. She often found that when the ride was over, she really just wanted to keep cycling. So, the GranFondo was an excellent challenge for her, and she accomplished it despite her doubts. Congratulations to Jodi from the Pedal Pushers Committee and all the best for her future long distance rides (of which I am sure there will be many).

Here is a selection of videos and pictures from the event:

RBC GranFondo Whistler 2010 (Tourism Whistler) —The inaugural RBC GranFondo Whistler brought together 4,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities in an epic journey from downtown Vancouver, along the world’s most scenic coastal mountain highway (Highway 99), through Squamish and on to a breathtaking finish in Whistler. GranFondo rides have been popular in Europe for years and this was the first one ever to be held in Canada!

Aerial video of the start line, epic!

Aerial video of the Lions Gate Bridge

Aerial video on the Sea to Sky

RBC GranFondo Whistler 2010—A compilation of clips of the RBC GranFondo Whistler from the view of a motorcycle helmet cam.

GranFondo | Global News: “The RBC GranFondo Whistler takes guts, stamina and determination...”

2010 GranFondo Whistler (Dave Silver Photography)

RBC GranFondo Website

Photo courtesy of

From the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition’s Bike Bulletin

The coming wet and wintery weather don’t have to mean the end of your riding season. Many of the year-round commuters on the streets today got their starts with Bike to Work November, and if you’ve been a fair-weather rider, maybe this is the year you make the switch too.

Our third annual November event is taking place from November 1 - 7, 2010 and you can be sure the VACC will be taking to the streets to keep the commuters caffeinated and, more importantly, motivated. We’ll have commuter stations and prizes, and our volunteers will be out counting the riders, providing invaluable information about the current ridership in Metro Vancouver. 

In the lead up to the week itself, we’ll also be organizing a string of preparatory events to make sure you’re ready when the time comes:

Oct. 7 - Join Momentum and the VACC when the Bike Style Tour comes to Vancouver, with riding gear, you’ll want to wear!
Oct. 19 - Come out to the MEC VACC Members-Only night at the store on West Broadway. The store is yours from 7:00pm - 9:00pm, with discounts on all the gear you’ll need to keep your wheels on the road all winter long. Receive 5% off bikes (and boats), and 10% off everything else in the store.
Oct. 27 - If your main reason for driving is the need for speed, prepare to have your beliefs shattered with our fourth Share the Road Challenge. These car vs. bike vs. transit races through the region have consistently shown bikes to be as fast or faster than driving, with no pesky parking, insurance or fuel fees. Watch for media coverage of the race to find out this year’s results.

The Tenth Annual Bike Shorts Film Festival celebrates the bicycle and cycling with short films that range form eclectic to bizarre. 

Wednesday, September 15th
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street
Cost is $10
Two screenings to choose from:

This is a licensed event. Show up early for a drink.

Doors open at 6:30pm.

Tickets are on sale @

On the Rivet - http://www.ontherivet.ca
Bikes on the Drive - http://www.bikesonthedrive.com
Jett Grrl Bike Studio - http://www.jettgrrl.com/
Atomic Bike Shop - http://www.atomicbikeshop.com
The Bike Doctor - http://www.thebikedr.com
Cambie Cycles - http://www.cambiecycles.com

OR email director (at) bikeshorts (dot) ca

Currently, the City of Vancouver is looking into creating a two-way separated bike lane on Hornby Street downtown. There is a lot of discussion going on about the benefits and drawbacks of this proposal from employers, employees, businesses, and other downtown users. We urgently need your input on the issue to help show a balanced view. These questions should take you less than five minutes to complete.

We also invite you to share your thoughts directly with the City at their public consultation session Wednesday September 8th, from 11am to 7pm at Pacific Centre (inside the dome at Howe and Georgia). Please spread the word and we hope to see you there.

Please take a moment to fill in this survey

Thank you for your time and commitment to a vibrant downtown.

Friday, August 6th
Two film programs at the Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street.

Saturday, August 7th
After party/art show at Grace Gallery, 1898 main street.
Three piece band & properly priced drinks. Dance party to follow.

Check out the website for more info and trailers --> http://spoked.org/

Copied and modified from the Facebook event listing

The VPL team had great results again this year.  We were first in our class with the most trips for our team size in Vancouver - 169 trips (just under 1,000 kilometres), Yay!

We also received a certificate from the City of Vancouver’s Sustainability Group for our exceptional participation in Bike to Work Week.

Ride on folks! Dana.

***

Visit the VACC picasa page for some great photos from BtWW.

Central Valley Greenway.  VPL group ride.
July 13, 2009. Photo courtesy of Phil Hall.

The Burnaby Now newspaper recently featured an article about the opening on June 12th with a photo of VPL staff member and dedicated commuter cyclist Eleanor Acker.

Winston Overpass, Central Valley Greenway
(not the new bridge mentioned in the article). VPL group ride.
July 13 , 2009.  Photo courtesy of Phil Hall. 

Dana

Bicycles locked in the new bike racks along the new Dunsmuir Street
separated bike lane. Photograph courtesy of Ken Ohrn

Mayor Gregor Robertson and City Councillor Geoff Meggs led a group ride from the Wilder Snail in Strathcona along the bi-directional, separated Dunsmuir Viaduct bicycle lane (opened in March) and onto the new portion of the bike lane running through Downtown from Beatty Street to Hornby Street.  From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the City of Vancouver hosted an Urban Bike Fair at Granville and Robson that showcased the latest in urban bicycles, featured a Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition Streetwise Cycling course and a bicycle bus rack demo.

Mayor Gregor Robertson speaking at the opening of the new Dunsmuir Street
separated bike lane.  Photograph courtesy of Ken Ohrn

A number of media covered the event, including Vancouver’s own transportation cycling and bike culture magazine, Momentum Magazine - New Separated Bike Lane Opens in Downtown Vancouver.  Of special note is the Vancouver Sun article submitted by Councillor Geoff Meggs that dispels the myth by some people that cyclists do not pay for their share of the road - Cyclists are not freeloaders.

The City of Vancouver’s Cycling website has information on the new bike lane, including a video that explains some of the new and unique features of the lane.  Check it out!  Separated bike lane on Dunsmuir Street now open.

Let City Hall know how you feel about this bold step to improve the comfort and safety of cyclists in Vancouver by sending an email to .  Other ways to provide your feedback include filling in an online survey, emailing , or calling 3-1-1.