Magnificent Magnolia Ride,

May 9 at 1pm-3:30 pm

Join The Guelph Hiking Club for a free, casual bike ride to kick off spring and enjoy the Magnificent Magnolia Trees in blossom. For added fun we're having a costume contest to brighten the day. We will ride about 10km to visit about 10 Magnolia trees, in and around Downtown Guelph. We will be riding mainly on quiet residential streets and trails. Make sure you pack your camera and get some beautiful shots!

There will be prizes for the Best Dressed Cyclist, Most Outlandish Ensemble, and Best Spring Bonnet, so get your best outfit ready!

The trip will begin at Speed River Cycle at 135 Wyndham St. N, at  1pm, and end at the Boathouse for ice cream. Lemonade along the way!

Prizes courtesy of Speed River Cycle and Moon Law Office, and Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation (GCAT)

Helmets are encouraged.

For more information, please contact wendysgates243@gmail.com or activeguelph@gmail.com

Thank a councillor, we got our Woodlawn Road Multi-Use Path!

Because of community activism, Guelph gets a Multi-Use path on one of the busiest roads in the city.

Over the years, Woodlawn Road has become more and more populated with restaurants, a bowling alley, a theatre, and huge concentration of employment in the manufacturing industry.  Much of this employment is low wage.

Yet,  people using Woodlawn Road to get to work or to shop other than by car,  such as by bicycle or on foot or by transit,  had no safe passage. A well worn goat path was the only way many of them traversed this busy and dangerous road.

In 2014, city council voted in an $300,000 Active Transportation line item to fund a sorely needed multi-use path along the very busy Woodlawn Road.

However, for some reason, city staff, in their proposed budget of 2015, eliminated the funding of the MUP for one year.

The Active Transportation community did not passively accept this.  Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation and GOTbike rallied concerned citizens.  13 out of the 20 delegates that spoke on Feb. 25. spoke against the defunding of this Multi-Use path.  Moms of young children,  engineers, cyclists, transit users and landscape architects spoke about the need for proper cycling/walking infrastructure in Guelph. And city council heard us loud and clear.

On March 25, we were hoping to get $300,000 re-instated in the 2015 budget for Active Transportation. But, we didn't get that.

Instead, we got $600,000!!!! We got enough money, combined with the $300,000 from 2014, to actually build the Multi-Use Path beside Woodlawn Road this year!

The support from council was overwhelming. The motion for $600,000 was put forward by Councillor Mike Salisbury and seconded by Councillor Bob Bell.  Half of the $600,000 was to be covered by development charges, and therefore the budget was only increased by $300,000.

It was voted in 11 to 2!  Councillors who voted for the motion were:  Phil Allt, Bob Bell, Cathy Downer, Dan Gibson, James Gordon, Mayor Guthrie, June Hofland, Leanne Piper, Mike Salisbury, Karl Wettstein, and Andy Van Hellemond.

So please consider thanking your ward Councillor and Mayor Guthrie for actually funding a real live multi-use path that can be used right away this year.  The path will be located on both sides of Woodlawn (off road) from Nicklin to Silvercreek Parkway.  No longer will cyclists, walkers, and transit users be subjected to using an unsafe goat path, or to travel precariously on Woodlawn Road. 

We are pleased that council had the vision to listen to the overwhelming support from Guelph citizens for this important active transportation corridor.  Thank you to all of you who delegated and wrote letters to ward councillors. Thank you for the joint support from GOTbike as well.

Now is the time to tell your councillors, "Thank you for making this happen."

I’m hoping this sidewalk gains ‘sex’ appeal

Guelph Mercury

By Yvette Tendick

Will Woodlawn Road get a sexy sidewalk?

OK, so sidewalks aren't sexy. But maybe I got your attention.

Over the past few years, Guelph has seen some wonderful investments. There is the beautiful ice rink-splash pad in front of city hall. The Hanlon Creek Business Park is open for business. We have two-way GO service to Toronto. Costco has set up shop.

Each one of these events opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A photo op. An opportunity for Guelph to shine. I get it. Who doesn't like the media attention?

However, are there other things also important to Guelph residents? Mobility, for example? Mobility options are key to keeping a city moving.

The most basic of all mobility needs is the sidewalk. If you want to move around, in ways other than driving a car, be it for leisure or for work, you need to have sidewalks. This is particularly true for low-income earners and the elderly in particular. Nowhere in the city is this need more evident than along Woodlawn Road.

Woodlawn Road houses a large number of businesses, hundreds of employees, as it also services the large and growing manufacturing sector in Guelph.

Let's face it. Most people employed in the manufacturing, retail and hospitality sectors down Woodlawn Road are earning low wages.

Many take transit or walk or bike to work. On Woodlawn Road, there is no multi-use path for them to walk or cycle on. So users made a goat path. There is a four-lane road for cars, including those going on to Kitchener, but no safe travel for those walking from the bus stop or cycling. It has been acknowledged for many years, even by Guelph's former chief engineer, that Woodlawn Road is unsafe for pedestrians.

Guelph had a $200,000 sidewalk budget for many years. However, since sidewalks aren't sexy, that budget was axed, starting about seven years ago. Other issues considered more pertinent took centre stage. Last year, the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation lobbied hard for an active transportation line to be put back in the budget.

The coalition got the ear of council. The $300,000 a year for active transportation line was put back in the budget, starting in 2014 to continue for 10 years. The Woodlawn Road multi-use path was back on the books.

However, when the 2015 proposed capital budget went public, the $300,000 active transportation line had been removed. At the city council budget meeting, people from various walks of life who had never appeared as a delegation in front of council before put their fears aside and spoke about the lack of safe pedestrian/cycling infrastructure on Woodlawn Road. And their voices were heard.

Let's get this unsexy sidewalk/multi-use pathway/active transportation corridor built, finally. Its design phase is mostly complete. It already has $300,000 set aside from 2014. It needs $600,000 more to complete Phase 1, from Nicklin Road to Silvercreek Parkway. Many council members already have given verbal support to the $300,000 reinstatement. If we get a second $300,000, we can build this multi-use path in 2015.

The budget is being finalized at the March 25 council meeting on the active transportation budget and other issues. You may want to bend an ear of your ward councillor if you think this is important.

Will there be a sexy ribbon-cutting ceremony when the Woodlawn Road multi-use path is finally built? I hope so.

Yvette Tendick is a member of the Guelph Mercury’s community editorial board.

Have Your Say: Removal of Woodlawn Multi-Use Path from the Proposed 2015 budget

Bus stop near the bowling alley.  No sidewalk to get you to where you need to go!

Last Thursday, Feb. 25, city staff unveiled the proposed budget for 2015.  As you are probably aware, the Active Transportation line item was eliminated.  The $300,000 that was earmarked for a Woodlawn Road multi-use path was cancelled by staff.  It is possible that sidewalks/cycle tracks will never be built on Woodlawn.
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Another typical bus stop along Woodlawn.  Lack of any pedestrian access.

Well, that evening, city staff and councillors heard an earful of opposition to this item.  13 out of the 20 delegates spoke on behalf of the multi-use path, from liability concerns,  to personal stories of difficulty,  to health, transit and economic benefits, and even tourism benefits.

All of the councillors heard us loud and clear, and  a few of them verbalized their support afterwards  for our cause.

As a result,  a couple of councillors declared their intent to put forth a motion to not only reinstate the $300,000, but also to get an additional $300,000 in order to get the project underway this year. 

The motion will be presented at the council meeting on March 25.

You can help the probability of success of this motion by contacting your ward councillor and asking them to vote in favor of the motion for $600,000 in capital for completion of phase one of the Woodlawn MUP.  A letter to the editor of the Guelph Tribune or Mercury wouldn't hurt either.

Wouldn't you love to get off at this bus stop on Woodlawn?  Not!!

Thank you for considering showing your support for better cycling/walking infrastructure in Guelph.

For more information, please contact activeguelph@gmail.com

Active Transportation removed from draft 2015 budget

Do you remember how pleased we were a short while ago when $300,000 was added to the City of Guelph 2014 budget for Active Transportation? It was supposed to be $300,000 a year for 10 years.  Well, it has been removed from the 2015 draft budget.

The Active Transportation fund was to be used for a long awaited  multi-use path beside Woodlawn Road.  $300,000 was already put aside for it in 2014.  The design process for this multi-use path has been well underway and it is still being delayed.  Back in 2012,  the late Richard Henry, Chief Engineer,  said how dangerous Woodlawn Road was to pedestrians in its current state, and that it was a public safety issue. Failure to rectify safety issues when identified exposes the city to lawsuits in the event of injuries .

City staff now say that the Active Transportation funding is out of the 2015 draft budget. While they say that it is "in the forecast for 2016-2017" there is no real assurance  that the $300,000 wouldn't be delayed the following years as well.

Many communities already recognize the importance and value of supporting non-auto modes: the Region of Waterloo has “sustainable transportation” as one of their five corporate strategic objectives, but an integrated transportation system is currently not one of Guelph Council's objectives.

Below you will find information on the upcoming public meeting on the capital budget on February 25th at 6pm. This is an important council session not to miss. 

Council needs to know that Active Transportation is very important and among the top priorities for Guelph. Not only does it affect the general health of our population, it also improves accessibility throughout our community for those without access to vehicles, improving access to our parks and open spaces, jobs, and schools.

We have many delegates that will be speaking on behalf of this issue. Please consider come out and show your support. We need you!

http://guelph.ca/2015/02/community-invited-discuss-capital-budget-february-25/

Speed limit reduction around school zones does not go far enough

 

Dr. Lin, Emergency Room Physician, concerned about children's safety

This article was also published on the front page of the Guelph Mercury, Feb. 12, 2015

http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion-story/5334785-lower-speed-limit-around-guelph-school-zones-doesn-t-go-far-enough/

 Kudos to the former city council for voting  in a 30 km/hour speed limit on collector roads, and 40 km/hr on arterials in elementary school zones. “As a community, we all share a responsibility to ensure the safety of our children, youth and crossing guard” said then  Chief Bryan   Larkin .   Former Councillor Kovach, according to the Guelph Tribune, said she had been trying for 9 years to get something like this done.

Unfortunately, once the reduced speed limit signs were installed this past September 2014, the gap between the intention of doing well and the reality of truly making a difference, could easily be seen.  A very good example of this gap is visible on the streets surrounding King George Public School, where only Lemon Street has the speed reduction sign.

Consider the viewpoint of  Dr. Daren Lin.  Dr. Lin is an emergency physician at Guelph General Hospital.  He also has a daughter who attends King George Public School.  He has noticed, first hand, a significant problem with the current speed signage.

At King George, students access the school from all directions, and not just the municipal address, which is on Lemon Street. That is where the 30 km/hr sign is located.  The school's main entrance and teacher's parking lot are off Metcalfe St.  Buses drop-off on St. Catherine St.  Neither of these streets has a speed reduction sign.  According to Dr. Lin, the crossing guards at his child's school on Metcalfe Street are putting themselves in front of cars going 50km/h  or more, with a handheld stop sign.

There are other examples of busy streets adjacent to schools with no change in speed limits.  For example, Powell Street at Victoria Public School has no speed reduction signage despite being the location of the bus drop off point.  Windsor Street beside Waverly Public School has the same problem.  

Being an emergency room physician, Dr. Lin is well aware of the dangers of higher  traffic speeds.  “Accidents are by far the most common cause of death in Canada in school age children, well ahead of cancer, infections, or other causes,”  says Dr. Lin.  “According to the World Health Organization, the risk of a pedestrian being killed when hit by a car going 50 km/h is 80%, as opposed to a 10% risk when hit by a vehicle going 30 km/h.  From my point of view, this benefit is clearly worth the extra seconds it would take drivers to traverse school zone at the lower speed."  

There is even an economic cost to accidents, Dr. Lin explains further. For a major trauma, hospitalization costs are in the thousands per day to our health care system and it may take days to weeks before discharge.  For Guelph parents, it would mean a leave of absence from their jobs in order to stay in Hamilton across McMaster Children's Hospital to be near their injured child.  Businesses would lose their employee for a time. The psychological devastation on both the victim’s family as well as the motorist would be impossible to turn right.

The Ontario government  now acknowledges that reducing default speeds on local streets would reduce pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist deaths.  The province is organizing public consultations in the spring to consider options around allowing municipalities to set 40km per hour speed limits within their boundaries, where there are currently no speed limits posted.   

Whether or not one agrees with this new policy initiative, the very least we can do, right now here in Guelph,  is to implement lower speed  limits on all roads adjacent to schools where children walk and cycle, and not just on the street that has the school address.

While it may cost more to put out a few more signs, the maintenance cost cannot be any higher than maintaining any other sign in the city.  We cannot forget the unintended consequences of accidents or limited mobility for our vulnerable population by continuing with the status quo.  

In my mind, it should be a basic human right to be able to walk and bike safely to school without the fear of a preventable death from high speed traffic.

Yvette Tendick

Suzanne Gates, Surviving and Thriving Without a Car

Suzanne Gates, on the front page of the Guelph Tribune, Jan. 15, 2015. Photo by Ned Bekavac

Suzanne is a founding member of Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation.  She is also a car free, year round cyclist.  How has she managed, to not just survive, but actually thrive without a car?

While certainly not everyone can forgo car ownership, this committed soul has demonstrated that it can be possible.

 Suzanne is a retired teacher who volunteers at the YMCA, the organic garden at the University of  Guelph,  the Julien Project at St. Ignatius, and helps young children with their reading in a grade one class.  She has many other interests, including gardening, hiking and canoeing.

I asked her why she sold her car many years ago.  She said that when she lived in Manitoba seven years ago, she didn’t need a car. The aboriginal community in which she taught was small enough to make it easy to get around by bike.  When she moved to Guelph, she decided not to purchase a car because she had gotten so used to living without one.

What were her prime motivators for going car free?  Many of her answers were not surprising…good health, not wanting to pollute, saving money, being closer to nature, etc.   She has always been an advocate for active transportation.   I was, however, surprised to hear that, in her case, being car free enhanced her quality of life.

Most people would envision that going without a car would force them to be less social than they would like.  They might worry that they would opt to stay home rather than biking or taking the bus somewhere, because of the time and trouble involved.  In Suzanne’s case, however, cycling all over Guelph has allowed her the opportunity to meet new people who have similar interests to her own, to the point where cycling has actually expanded her social circle. 

As the above photo suggests, Suzanne doesn’t even let winter weather deter her from cycling. In both Northern Manitoba and in Guelph, she rides her bike all winter long.  She has a special beater bike with studded tires for snowy and icy conditions. The winter conditions barely even slow her down.  She even uses the bike to go to Waterdown on a regular basis to meet one of her friends.

I asked Suzanne what she misses most about not having a car.  She said that she misses going to interesting places that are a longer distance than what bike travel allows.  However, being ever resourceful, Suzanne has found ways to offset these disadvantages.  She uses the bus, train, plane, and is not afraid to carpool.  She makes a point of paying her share of gas and has enjoyed some great conversations when sharing the drive instead of everyone going to the same place in their own car.

Suzanne’s adventurous spirit and positive outlook are contagious.  I wonder if she has been that way all of her life, or if she has become happier since she has gained the health and financial freedom that have come from relying on two wheels instead of four.

Cycling in Guelph with Small Children

Profile of Richelle and daughter Hunter, 3 1/2, everyday cyclists

Richelle and daughter Hunter, 3, preparing for bike ride

Why is riding a bike important to you?

I’ve been riding my whole life and it is the easiest way to commute. It’s great exercise, it keeps me in shape and it’s affordable because it’s free. Simply put, I love riding.  There’s something magical about being lost in your own little world and feeling alive when you’re on  your bike.

You can wake up on a Monday morning feeling completely wiped out, but once you’re on the bike it changes your perspective  and suddenly you’re energized.

How has it changed your life and your relationship with your community?

Riding with my daughter is a relatively new practice for me. We moved to Guelph last winter and I really felt marooned; I was new to the city, we live in the North end where sidewalks just disappear - I couldn’t get to anything without some difficulty.

When we got the trailer in the spring, everything changed. Hunter took to it instantly and after a couple rides together, we were able to start exploring the city and getting to know our community.

What I like about bike riding is that we aren’t bound by a schedule. We don’t have to worry about transit tickets or putting the cheapest gas in a car; we just go. We can explore Guelph, coming and going from one place to another on our own time, without worrying about when we have to pack up to get to where we are going.

Where do you go on the bike?

Everywhere.  I take Hunter to the West End Community Centre, despite the hill.  I take her to the University to visit my husband, to skate at Market Square in the winter or the wading pool in the summer, Riverside Park…..  We even grocery shop with the bike.   

When do you use the car?

As soon as I become licensed, I will be using our van for long distance business travel; I am a photographer www.4cphotos.com and artist and can only get to what I want to shoot easily by car.

What is the hardest thing about using the bike for transportation?

Weather.  Bad weather.  I find the days with heavy winds the worst!  The cold is ok, because you can dress for it; but the wind is brutal, especially with the weight and wind resistance created by the trailer.

Were you fearful about bike riding in Guelph?

I wasn’t worried about cycling in Guelph because I grew up cycling in Toronto. I feel really confident here.  When we were in Toronto, my husband was uncomfortable with the idea of me cycling with our daughter; but here, it’s paradise. Other than the weeks of the transit strike last summer, the roads here are clear of traffic and more often than not, empty. 

What factors do you see determining whether these folks remain committed drivers or to give bikes a try?

It’s easy to get into a vehicle. It's contained, temperature controlled, it carries all kinds of stuff and requires little effort to use. I think having the equipment to ride; lights, helmets, a flag and when transporting kids, a well constructed trailer and ultimately the desire to ride, not just commute are the two deciding factors.

How did you come to your current bike set-up? How does it work?

I have a hybrid city bike and more recently I acquired a trail bike for riding in the snow for me and a single seat MEC trailer that is a pretty sweet ride for my daughter. The trailer is waterproof, it has a UV screen for good weather riding, windows for her to look out and a small trunk area for our stuff.

How would you respond to people who feel a car is just safer?

There are bad cyclists and bad drivers. A vehicle doesn’t make you safe, it’s all on the operator of the vehicle, be it a bike or a car.

What needs to happen in Canada to make the culture, and eventually the roads, more bike friendly?

The way to normalize cycling is to make room for cyclists on the road.  I love what the Dutch have, with their separated bike lanes.

But, cyclists too, have to do their part and follow the rules of the road. Ultimately, if we make room for each other, it will get easier.

Describe your commute.

As self-employed, stay at home mom, I don’t have a regular route. I prefer to take the TransCanada trail to get downtown and beyond. I only have to take Speedvale for a couple minutes to just East of Woolwich to get on it.  

When we ride to the West End Community Centre we take Dawson to Willow and then zigzag the side streets to Paisley Road.  I’m not crazy about crossing over the Hanlon, it’s a bit sketchy crossing the highway with my daughter. I try to stay off the busy roads when I have my daughter in tow. If I’m on my own, I go where curiosity takes me.

What is the worst part of your commute?


The enormous hill in the middle of the city on a hot day is the worst part of getting to the pool.  I’m also not fond of the Gordon Street hill either; but I tell myself, I can do it in one go and persevere to get us to the top!

What infrastructure change would make your commute better?


Bike lanes.  Bike lanes tell drivers where I am going to be and where they are going to be. If I was given my preference, I’d go with separated lanes.

How did you come to transport your child by bike?

I have always commuted by bike and as an until-recently-non-driver, there has been no other way for me to get around. It was easy for me to add a the trailer to my bike until such time my daughter can ride by herself.

And I loathe being held hostage to a transit schedule. Transit is tough to schedule around in Guelph. It’s just much easier to get around on a bike. I have control over my time and the freedom to enjoy it.

What do you think you and your daughter get out of riding as a family? How does it affect the emotional tone of your time together?

My daughter absolutely loves riding in the trailer. It’s a low stress way of getting around.  I think she finds it meditative.  When we’re moving quickly, there is a vibration in the trailer that I think might simulate what it might be like to travel in a womb.  

I sprained my foot this past summer.  So there were couple of weeks when we couldn’t ride and it was hard on her. We each have our alone time when we  bike and I think she missed it as much as I did.  I noticed a big difference when we had to use transit to get around, so I adjusted my bike and rode with my aircast!  

What is challenging about riding with kids?

Nothing. Bike trailers are designed for safety.

Even when we go on a bike ride together as a family, and she  insists on riding her bike instead of in the trailer, it is still fun.  We just take our time because, it’s our time to be together.

6)Tell a story or two about special moments (funny, exciting, blissful, enlightening, frightening--somehow moving) related to riding with your kids.

We bought Hunter her first bike last summer for her birthday. And although she asked for the bike, had tried a couple out in the bike shops and loved them there, she found it terrifying to even sit on the hers when it arrived.

It was so disappointing. We had done a ton of research and ordered her a brand new, lightweight, balance bike in the requested pink with basket and she wanted nothing to do with it!

But my husband got her on it a few weeks later and within a couple days of that she insisted she and I both ride our bikes to go to Riverside Park! So we did.

And it was amazing to see her confidently ride on the sidewalk, the dirt road that leads up to and winds around the Woodlawn Memorial Park maintenance building and over the tracks to the cemetery. I forgot she was only 3 and on her first big ride and I think she did too. As we descended the small sloped hill into the cemetery, she started going too fast, lost control of her bike and flew over the handle bars.

I was on my bike and couldn’t stop or catch her. It was awful. She had a road rash on her hands and knees and obviously didn’t want to ride anymore. And because we were riding together, I didn't have the trailer to take her home or even bike locks to leave our bikes behind.

A couple lovely women who work at Woodlawn Memorial Park arrived a few minutes later with bandages and Polysporin. (They were amazing; and my daughter reminds me of their kindness and bandages every time we pass through the park). After a big pep talk with Hunter that included a demonstration that I couldn't carry her, her bike and mine, we started walking home with her bike precariously balanced in my crate.

I was so sure while we were walking slowly home that she was off riding for the rest of the summer. But she surprised me. I think it was on the last block that she decided to get back on the bike and ride home because it was "faster than walking." she said.

Have you ever felt judged by those who think you are irresponsible for transporting your kids by bike?

No.  

What do you suppose your daughter has learned from this part of your lifestyle?

First, a love of cycling. Hunter wants to be just like me and ride her bike.  Right now she rides a balance bike, but has told me many times she wants a pedal bike that has a basket just like mine to get around.

Second, an ingrained commitment to healthy living.  People have been commuting on bicycles forever.  I’ve always gotten around by bike, I’ve been doing it since I was probably 4 or 5 it’s a great way to stay in shape.  As she gets older and can ride independent of me, cycling will be a normal part of her life and she’ll be stronger and healthier because she rides.

Thirdly, that cycling gives you freedom. We live in a car culture community, with limited transit options. Kids can’t start driving independently until they are 18. Cycling changes that. You can choose your destination and how you will get there.

And lastly, because we ride we get out, a lot. We do experienced based activities together;  skating, swimming, going to a park etc. and we use the bike to get there. I think Hunter sees it as a normal way to get around, not just weekend activity at the park. 

What bit of advice would you like to share with new bike commuters? 
Get a comfortable ride.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money but make sure you’re comfortable and get a crate or a basket for your bag, purse, purchases etc.