Report from Ottawa and the Ontario Bike Summit

Ottawa, Canada

I just returned from a whirlwind trip, this time to the beautiful and bike-friendly city of Ottawa, Canada, for the Ontario Bike Summit hosted by the Share the Road Coalition.

I hit the ground running, spending Sunday evening learning about the new master bike plan developed for southern Ontario from two Essex counsillors (who ran a presentation with me the following day). The plan calls for the completion of a bike trail along the Lake Erie shoreline, a welcome amenity for the local community -- and an added benefit for our developing Underground Railroad Bicycle Route Detroit Alternate. Counsillors John Scott and Bill Baker recognize the potential benefits of attracting bike tourism, and the region has much to offer in return: 17 wineries, temperate weather, shoreline vistas, and friendly, rural communities. In order to improve accommodations along the trail, the Essex Council has loosened restrictions governing the opening of bed and breakfasts. They are also planning to promote bike and water events as a draw. John and Bill are a very enthused and empowered duo.


Bixi Bikes in downtown Ottawa

The city itself inspired me with its clearly devoted relationship to bicycling. I was amazed at the number of cyclists I saw throughout Ottawa over the course of my 3-day stay. They came in all shapes and sizes, ages, and on all types of bikes. And now that the city has a Bixi bike share program, bikes are more accessible to both locals and visitors alike, and ridership has clearly increased within the city as a result. To accommodate the increase of riders and bicycle traffic, there are bike lanes throughout the city, and a new, separated cycle track along Laurier Avenue which, scheduled to open in late July, was already in use!

Considering Ottawa's extensive work to promote bicycling and bicycle-friendly conditions, I felt the city deserved some distinction for their efforts.

Since Ontario has recently joined the League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly Community program, cities within Ontario, like Ottawa can apply for bicycle-friendly recognition and status (platinum, gold, silver, etc.). So it didn't surprise me when conference organizers announced Ottawa had been awarded a silver designation! Congratulations to the Ottawa city staff, cycling advocates and enthusiasts, you certainly impressed me with your growing network and commitment to increased ridership.

During my three days in Ottawa, inspiring speakers and tales of local successes dominated the Ontario Bike Summit. We also learned some stunning statistics concerning the critical health crisis spurred by sedentary lifestyles. I was surprised to learn from Dr. Rodney Tolley of Walk 21 that for every pedestrian or cyclist killed, an estimated 56 people die due to diseases caused by lack of exercise. What an interesting way to frame the concept of safety. Tolley also mentioned the new statistics that signal what he calls, 'Peak Car'. Downward trends in car sales and vehicle miles traveled over the past two years mean that engineering models predicting growth and vehicular congestion need to be re-calibrated. While the suburbs aren't necessarily going away, growth and development is -- the new normal is urbanization, access, and livability. While I've heard all these trends before, it was a good reminder.

Ginny Sullivan, the Honorable Kathleen Wynne, and Eleanor McMahon

The highlight of the conference for me had to be when the Honorable Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Transportation (pictured center above) spoke of her commitment to growing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across the province. One of her main goals is the development of Ontario's version of a La Route Verte (or our version of the U.S. Bicycle Route System). So, being the brash American that I am, I asked her for a meeting so we can leverage our efforts and make sure the U.S. Bike Routes (USBR) developing in New York, Ohio, and Michigan match up with the trails and routes yet to be defined for their system. She agreed to the meeting-- to audience applause. I must also give credit for this clever set-up to Eleanor McMahon, CEO of Share the Road Coalition (pictured right above) and chief organizer of the summit. She understood that if the Minister and I were brought together, things would happen.

I later spoke to Michael Canzi of the Ministry of Transportation about the vision and process we use for the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and we are due to have a meeting in the near future. For USBR 20, designated in May and USBR 35 being developed in Michigan, this link into the province will be a great attribute.

Councillor Rainer Bloess, Ginny Sullivan, and Angus Brown

Summit aside, no trip is ever complete without a visit with local adventure cyclists. With the help of Angus Brown, long time Adventure Cycling member (pictured right above) and Ottawa City Councillor Rainer Bloess (pictured left), we held a gathering for Adventure Cycling members and other cyclists interested in bicycle travel. It was inspiring to hear about the trips people had made -- to Cuba, France, the Pacific Coast, and more. It was humbling to hear their praise of Adventure Cycling. Most of all, it was fun to connect with people who have a passion for bike travel. I always learn so much from these get-togethers. My kindest regards go out to Angus and Councillor Bloess, without their help, I would never have had the opportunity to meet these wonderful people.

By the way, if you are ever in Ottawa, I strongly encourage you to visit Councillor Bloess at City Hall. Not only is the building a wonderful place to visit, with big, open spaces, a wonderful layout on city grounds and city park across the street, but the Councillor is the king of SWAG (stuff we all get). I came home with no less than seven "Ottawa" t-shirts to present to co-workers and family members. Thanks Councillor, and thank you Ottawa. I'll definitely be back.

Photos by Ginny Sullivan

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BUILDING THE U.S. BICYCLE ROUTE SYSTEM (USBRS) is posted by Ginny Sullivan, USBRS coordinator at Adventure Cycling, and features news and updates related to the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System. The USBRS project is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by a task force under the auspices of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Members of the task force include officials and staff from state DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration, and nonprofits like the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Mississippi River Trail, Inc.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/07/report-from-ottawa-and-ontario-bike.html

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Route Creator Hits the Great Divide

Yesterday was a first. I received a subscription pitch in the mail from Sunset magazine, with ?Senior Citizen Special? emblazoned across the front of the envelope.

Okay, I do turn 60 this summer, which in itself is quite unthinkable. But Senior Citizen? Balderdash!

After all, as you read this I should be into day three of my planned two-summer ride ? one month this summer and one month next ? of the U.S. Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. (I plan to put the Canadian extension on hold for an even later adventure.) It?s a route I mapped out for Adventure Cycling back in the 1990s, but I did most of the research in a Jeep. So far I?ve ridden approximately 20 percent of the route, and I want to up that percentage to 100 before I truly am too old to do it. I feel that I deserve it ? deserve both the joys associated with riding the world's longest mountain-bike route, that is, and deserve experiencing the pain and suffering that I have in a sense dished out to hundreds of other cyclists.

This summer I plan to pedal the northern half of the Great Divide in two stages, sometimes solo and at other times with companions. Stage one goes from Bannack, Montana, to Steamboat Springs, Colorado; stage two, from Port of Roosville, Montana/British Columbia, back to Bannack. The reason for this hopscotching approach is the inordinately high snowpack the northern Rockies have experienced this winter (and spring, and summer). If you?ve been following the Tour Divide at all, you?ll know that racers were forced to follow several snowpack-induced alternates on pavement in Montana and Wyoming. The snow is starting to melt out, although late last week Justin Simoni ? the only racer sticking entirely to the mapped route ? called in to MTBcast, reporting that he?d walked and pushed through nine miles of snow between Ashton, Idaho, and Flagg Ranch, Wyoming, at the northern end of the Teton Range.

I'll be aboard a most excellent ride for the summer: a dropped-bar, front-shock, 29er Salsa Fargo off-road adventure bike. Jason Boucher (aka "Gnat") over at Salsa had some nice things to say in a recent blog post about my ride as well as those of some others, including my neighbor, endurance racer Jay Petervary. Jay has embarked upon an incredibly ambitious three-stage adventure this year in his No Idle Tour 2011. For him, the entire Great Divide is just one piece of a very long puzzle.

Please wish me luck in my efforts to avoid the bears, lightning, and physical or mechanical breakdown, and become a Great Divide ?through-biker.? Watch for an update later this summer.


Photo by Michael McCoy.

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BIKING WITHOUT BORDERS is posted every Monday by Michael McCoy, Adventure Cycling?s field editor, and highlights a little bit of this or a little bit of that ? just about anything, as long as it?s related to traveling by bicycle. Mac also compiles the organization's twice-monthly e-newsletter Bike Bits, which goes free-of-charge to more than 40,000 readers worldwide.

Source: http://blog.adventurecycling.org/2011/06/route-creator-hits-great-divide.html

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Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/poll-team-radioshack-riders-in-tour-de-france-2011/

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Tamada Georgian Restaurant Awarded Hungry Cyclist Wheel of Approval

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Team RadioShack in Scheldeprijs and Grand Prix Cerami

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Tour de France 2011, Stage 1 Report

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Andreas Klöden Finishes 2nd at Paris-Nice 2011

Team RadioShack’s Andreas Klöden added to his long and impressive list of palmaires today, finishing in 2nd place in the overall general classification of the 8 days of the storied Paris-Nice race. On a cold and rainy day, on some very slick roads in the south of France, the experienced 35-year old finished the [...]

Source: http://www.teamradioshack.us/andreas-kloden-finishes-2nd-at-paris-nice-2011/

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Team RadioShack Line-up in Denain and Amstel Gold Race

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