in the bc section 100 kilowatts coast to coast no gateway bailout lifecycle michael eckford reading, writing, wrenching bikes at school bicycalendar bandidas taqueria legal brief
100 Kilowatts
coast
to coast by chris keam
justin lemire-elmore at the parliament buildings. photo by by doug sutherland . above right: justin in montreal. photo by chee fong editor Terry Lowe editor@momentumplanet.com bicycalendar Amy Walker & Tania Lo bicycalendar@momentumplanet.com writers Omar Bhimji, Suzane Comerford, Eric Doherty, Martin Hauck, David Hay, Tara Irwin, Chris Keam, Amy Walker photographers Clancy Dennehy, Chee Fong, Elizabeth Hiebert, David Niddrie, Polly Nomial, Doug Sutherland, Amy Walker advertising sales Talia Fanning talia@momentumplanet.com please send your story ideas and or photos for future British Columbia sections to editor@momentumplanet.com
as with all cross-country rides, it was quite a bike trip – 7110 kilometres. From Pacific to Atlantic. Two months on the road. Six weeks in the saddle. And – 100.7 kilowatts used? When Justin Lemire-Elmore left Vancouver late last summer, to ride across Canada on an electric-assist bicycle, he was traveling in search of some answers as well as a memorable journey. Are e-bikes capable of long-distance touring? Could the components be reliable enough for a 7,000 kilometre trip? Could he make it to the Maritimes on less than $10 worth of electricity? The answer in every instance: Yes! He knew what he needed to pull it off: lots of battery power and plenty of cargo capacity. Lemire-Elmore also wanted the comfort of a recumbent, but his recumbent lacked the storage capacity needed for the usual touring necessities, spare parts, and four times more batteries than a regular e-bike. Ever the inventor, Justin attached a recumbent seat to the long cargo deck of a Xtracycle extension, rigged up a second set of handlebars to the seat post, installed a large Crystalyte hub
motor on the front, and linked it all together with homemade electronics and lighting systems. By the time all his gear was strapped on, this electro-touring machine weighed nearly 180 pounds. But it could still be ridden by pedal power alone if necessary. With motor assistance, it was capable of an average speed of 35 km/h and daily distances of 200 kilometres (with a midday charging break). “From the back, it looked like a loaded donkey,” says Lemire-Elmore. The mutant bike definitely drew attention. But riding a conversation starter had been a part of the plan, too. Wherever he went, the bike and his journey were fodder for questions and a chance for Lemire-Elmore to share his knowledge of electric-assist technology. He also wrote about the trip in an online e-bike forum. Canada’s e-bike community responded with enthusiasm, offering places to stay, warm meals, and charging outlets all across the country. They were retirees, young gear-heads, people with physical disabilities, working professionals, and business owners, all sharing enthusiasm for the future of e-bikes and Justin’s excellent electric adventure. He did face some setbacks. Perpetual spoke breakage due to the heavy weight load on the rear wheel. A fried battery pack. But, nothing bad enough to end his trip and all of the homemade components held up. Justin arrived in Halifax on September 28th, the exact same time Hurricane Kyle also hit the Atlantic coast. But, a final dousing of torrential rain couldn’t stop the motor and he rolled up to a friend’s house, drenched to the bone, and ready for one last charging cycle. Just how much did he spend on electricity? A whopping $8.57. Although, he admits that if it weren’t for Quebec’s cheap hydro rates, he might have broken his budget by a small margin. Nonetheless, it’s hard to fault a man who can cross a continent for roughly the same cost as two pints of beer.
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$3.3 Billion Gateway Freeway a SuperSized Mistake That Can Be Corrected:
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global warming by eric doherty
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in early february, Premier Gordon Campbell and Minister of Highways Kevin Falcon posed for photographs in front of what was supposedly the beginning of work on a massive freeway bridge across the Fraser River from Surrey to Coquitlam. They smiled broadly, despite knowing that the headlines would be about the estimated cost having doubling to $3.3 billion in only a few months. But buried well below the headlines was the information that this work was done without a final contract being signed or having financing confirmed. “Adding more freeway lanes to deal with traffic congestion is like loosening your belt to deal with obesity: it just doesn’t work. If this project is allowed to proceed, it will make traffic congestion even worse within a short period of time, and in the process also increase pollution, sprawl, and global warming emissions,” said Wilderness Committee campaigner Ben West. A few weeks earlier, Metro Vancouver sustainable transportation activists handed out hundreds of ‘bailout bucks’ in front of the troubled Macquarie investment bank to demand that the Gateway freeway expansion program be allowed to die a natural death. Macquarie had flopped in its attempt to secure financing for the project, partly due to the spectacular failure of the BrisConnect P3 (Public Private Partnership) freeway scheme which saw share values drop to 1/1000th of their initial price. Unfortunately, the government decided to bail out Macquarie to the tune of $1.15-billion instead of reallocating funds to transit as Metro Vancouver has proposed.
There are many reasons to oppose Gateway, but the biggest one is the carbon emissions that are pushing our planet towards a disastrous global warming tipping point. In BC, transportation is the largest and most rapidly increasing source of these carbon emissions. The simple fact is that the government’s commitment to reduce emissions by 33 per cent in 11 years cannot be met unless the Gateway program is scrapped and the funding reallocated to transit. Al Gore has urged people in the US to physically block the construction of new coal-fired power plants, the biggest source of carbon emissions in many US states. Gateway is the closest thing we have to a coal-fired power plant and our biggest threat to climate stability. It is the obvious target for anyone who wants to do what Gore says, or write a letter to the editor , or anything in between. Many freeway projects have been stopped even after real construction has been started, as illustrated by the Georgia Viaduct, which was originally intended to be four miles long. We can and must stop this one, but it requires that everyone who opposes this project speak up now so that our voices may be heard. Find out how you can stop the Gateway to Global Warming at www.gatewaysucks.org, www.livableregion.ca or www.wildernesscommittee.org/gateway 604-683-8220 top of the page: these “bailout bucks” were created by protesters before the bc government bailed out macquarie bank for $1.15-billion mar/apr 09 ı #38
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on Power m De and
lifecycle by tara irwin
in 1999, lynne Mutrie of Bike Smarts walked into Martin Prestage’s bike shop in Vancouver and asked if “anyone would like to run a bike rodeo” for her at a Westside school. After confirming that there would be no Stetsons involved, Martin agreed. One year later, that first “bike rodeo” had turned into nearly full-time work, and, soon after, the LifeCycle organization was born. Today Prestage and staff can be found throughout the Lower Mainland slinging bike skills to elementary age students on almost every school day between March and June. LifeCycle offers three unique programs: CycleSmarts, Bikewise Interactive, and Youth Adventures by Bike. CycleSmarts is based in the classroom and concentrates on cycling safety and basic cycling skills. The North Shore Safety Council helped create the foundation for the CycleSmarts program in 2001 when they sponsored the program in all West and North Vancouver schools. BikeWise Interactive is LifeCycle’s own programme of safety training. It was created for children in Grades 3, 4, and 5 and combines obstacle courses, bike safety checks, props, exercises, parent volunteers and a wellorganized plan to result in a full cycling immersion – preparing the students to take all their practiced skills into real life. As Prestage suggests, the best way to prepare children for cycling is to expose them to all possible scenarios. “Imagine taking a regular city commute and dissecting it into little chunks, double-checking each little hazard. Whether it’s a snarling dog, the busy four-way stops, a difficult shoulder-check or the opening car door, there is an endless list of challenges to watch for.” The BikeWise Interactive objective is to have the children look at each scenario repeatedly until, as Prestage states,
left: prestage. photo by tara irwin. above: prestage and the kids. photo courtesy of lifecycle.
“safety becomes habitual.” The Youth Adventures by Bike Program is a natural extension of LifeCycle’s safety work: guided multi-day adventures for Grade 7 students to locales such as the Gulf Islands, the Kettle Valley, or the Sunshine Coast. As always, the motto is “Safety First, Adventure Second.” The 24,000 elementary age students reached by LifeCycle since the first bike rodeo represent a mere fraction of the students who pass through school without any exposure to cycling education. However, the future of cycling education in the Lower Mainland appears positive. A recent arrangement between the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition and LifeCycle will mean an expansion of the programmes into more schools. LifeCycle will act in the coordinating role and will provide training for new instructors to meet increasing demand.
YOUR
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LifeCycle is clearly a blend of cycling education and advocacy; Prestage’s passion for cycling as a way of life is apparent. However, he acknowledges that one day of training will not ignite a cultural shift in how young people move around in their community. He stresses a need for buy-in from teachers and parents and would like to see cycling as a mandatory part of the curriculum. “It is necessary to start making the connection between cycling, transportation, and our impact on the earth. Teachers need to start having the footprint conversation.” This years’ session for instructors is set for March 28th and 29th at Up The Creek in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast. www.lifecycle.ca The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) is a volunteer-run non-profit society, whose members work to improve conditions for cycling in the Lower Mainland. www.vacc.bc.ca
DEALER
www.momentumplanet.com
alive a little bit more than sitting in a car being passive and just using one foot. You see neighbourhoods differently, you see houses being built and houses for sale, you see how long they’re for sale for. I love the smell. This is a very, very good smelling city. It’s very fresh and it smells wet. It smells green, and it smells fresh.
urban cycling
Michael Eckford Gets his Rush from
by amy walker
photo by david niddrie
michael eckford is half of the energetic duo (along with Fiona Forbes) who host Vancouver’s Urban Rush afternoon talk show. Eckford and Forbes have been a fixture of the city’s entertainment world for 12 years and have interviewed everyone from chefs to celebrities including Ed Begley Jr., Grace Park, and Gene Simmons. Eckford, orginally from the Sunshine coast, has been using his bicycle as his main mode of transportation to work for almost two years. Eckford, who lives with his wife and two kids (and one more on the way) in Point Grey finds that riding one of his two bikes to work (he has an Opus Stella cyclocross bike and a Specialized hybrid) helps integrate exercise into his daily life, which is more of a challenge as a parent. Although his job places extra attention on his appearance, he finds cycling to work simplifies his life rather than making it more complicated. See Urban Rush at 12pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 11pm on Shaw TV (5pm in Victoria)
Do you do other types of exercise? Exercise has always been a huge part of my life. I’m a really distractible person and I usually find that if I’m a little bit tired, I can focus on things. My father-in-law is the fittest man, I think. He’s 60 this year and if I had someone who is my “fitness mentor,” he would be it. He told me, “You have to figure out a way to fit it into your life so that there isn’t an excuse. About five years ago, I got fired from CityTV. It was the first time I’d ever been fired from a job and I was talking to everybody and saying: “What do I do?” He sat me down and he said: “Exercise. Every single day, as hard as you possibly can, and get that out of the way, and then you can focus on everything else.”
Why did you start cycling to work? Parking downtown is such a complete rip-off. It’s $17 a day to park down here. I’m frugal and that just drove me crazy every time I did it. Also, I just turned 40 this year and now that I’m not playing organized sports, if I’m going to maintain my fitness I had to find a way to incorporate it in my everyday life. And I love urban riding, it’s so much fun when you get downtown.
Does anyone else on the show ride? Two of our producers and our sound guy. A lot of people live in the downtown core so a lot of them walk. We have a crew of 10 people, I’d say five of them are either walking or biking. One guy’s just gotten into it because he saw myself and our producers Lisa and Mike. He had a little bit of extra money and he researched it really well and he found the right bike for him. He’s loving it.
What route do you ride? I ride the bike route all the way. So I come from my place, which is out by Blanca and I go down 8th to Kits, and then down to 7th and over the Burrard Bridge. I used to take Howe, but now I just bomb down Burrard.
So, if you weren’t hosting Urban Rush, is there another career that you would be doing? I’d be a carpenter. It was my profession for 10 years. Construction, building, and working with my hands is a nice juxtaposition to the work that I do. It’s a really nice combination of art and practicality.
What do you notice, and what do you love about riding? When you’re in a car, you don’t pay as much attention to whether it’s raining or not, but when you’re on your bike, you know quite intimately whether it’s raining, windy, or warm. Sometimes it’s really invigorating to be slightly uncomfortable. It makes you feel like you’re
What does “being self-propelled” mean to you? Independence. I remember how I felt the first time I was allowed to ride to a friend’s house by myself. From there we spent the day just wheeling around the neighborhood. No parents, no route, no schedule, just us and our bikes. I still feel a bit of that whenever I ride. I pick the route, the speed, the destination and then it’s all up to me. mar/apr 09 ı #38
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“Sometimes it’s really invigorating to be slightly uncomfortable.”
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Reading, Writing, Wrenching bike culture in victoria’s school system by suzane comerford
photos by elizabeth hiebert binders, pencil, calculator? Check! Lockers, teen angst, boring teachers? Check! Spokes, chain wheel, multi tool? Check! Since 2005, do-it-yourself bike culture has been infiltrating high schools in Victoria, BC – thanks to the Bike Lab Society staffed by Adelle Woodyard, Triane Tambay, Lauren Warbeck, and a rotating group of volunteers. Fitting smoothly into the Power Mechanics 9 curriculum and seamlessly into a space once used to fix cars, Bike Lab is the poster child for the changing face of education. Combining DIY culture with ethics to provide real-world experience to local youth seemed like a natural progression for Bike Lab’s founding members. Both Woodyard and Tambay had just returned from cycling across Canada with Otesha, a program that uses bikes as a focal point to educate and empower young people. Growing rapidly in popularity, the non-profit organization was getting such community awareness that by the second year of the project, Bike Lab was forced to turn some workshops down. “Bike Lab caught on easily because of the nature of the program,” says Tambay. “The reputation of something fresh and age-appropriate spreads itself.” The relationship between The Bike Lab Society and the public school system is refreshing. “Bike Lab brings a level of coolness
triane tambay (left) and lauren warbeck (right) with two students (centre) at bike lab.
to the classroom. These people are at the start of their careers, whereas I’m at the end of mine,” says Victoria High School mechanics teacher Mike Grew, who gave up his classroom to self-described “bike punks who got our shit together.” Half of the school’s large auto garage has been transformed into a bike mechanic’s paradise. Polo bikes and mallets hang from the ceiling. The counters are littered with tires, rims, and chain wheels. A final sweep of poetic justice: a carburetor sits ignored in a corner. Despite their success, none of the members of the Bike Lab Society are registered teachers. With the exception of one volunteer who has now begun training to be a shop teacher, most don’t see it as their chosen career path at all. While not being registered may be an issue when dealing with school district bureaucracy, it is an immeasurable benefit when interacting with students. “We’ve distanced ourselves from the
BIKE ACCIDENT? It’s a Matter of Rights.
conventional teacher-student model and act as a conduit for students to discover the joy of riding bikes, the empowerment of fixing bikes, and the enrichment bikes can bring to life,” says Warbeck, whose own experiences with collective education shaped her belief in the ways in which schooling can be approached. “It sucks being in high school,” she jokes. “Having older people who are living alternative lifestyles come into your classroom and show you that it’s possible – that’s huge.” With an even wider variety of workshops in store for 2009, the Bike Lab Society continues to make high school a little less painful, one gear at a time. www.recyclistas.ca/bikelab
Zan Comerford is a member of Victoria’s Velo Vixens and a freelance writer. www.zansyourman.blogspot.com
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My Bicycle Takes Me Places…
and one of those places is school by omar bhimji
the role of the bicycle in schools could start before classes do – with the morning commute – but these days, it seldom does. In 1971, close to 80 per cent of elementary school students walked or rode their bikes to schools. Now, that number is closer to 30 per cent. Parents and educators cite personal safety, lack of appropriate infrastructure, insufficient time, inconvenience, and fear of theft as deterrents keeping kids from cycling to school. Some schools even prohibit students from arriving by bicycle. But with growing concerns about children’s activity levels and the environmental impacts of motor vehicles, many schools and municipalities have begun implementing bike-to-school programs and events. In BC, the regional district of Kelowna had 22 out of 29 schools participate in the first annual Bike to School week event in 2008. Staff members of the Vancouver school board are seeing an uptick in demand for bicycle racks after decades of removing more than they were installing. And the provincial government recently committed $200,000 towards providing incentives to support programs that encourage kids to bike to school.
Max-Michel Andrien, a newly appointed vice
principal at David Thompson Secondary, has already installed a new bike rack and secure storage facility at his school. Listening to staff and students, and inspired by a “build it and they will come” philosophy, Andrien is looking for ways to further enhance end of trip facilities and make cycling a real option for to-and-from school transportation.
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“A bicycle is a great tool to teach simple science and physics concepts: tires rely on traction, gears on leverage, brakes on friction, and bearing systems on lubrication; and, the movement of a bicycle is a study in inertia and applied force.”
You’re even less likely to find a bicycle inside a classroom, but there’s growing interest and activity there, too. A bicycle is a great tool to teach simple science and physics concepts: tires rely on traction, gears on leverage, brakes on friction, and bearing systems on lubrication; and, the movement of a bicycle is a study in inertia and applied force. The fact that it is also an accessible, elegant, and simple machine makes it an excellent medium through which to study these concepts. The utilitarian function and the personal connections many kids forge with their bicycles lends these concepts a practical relevance that cannot
Martin Hauck, an English teacher at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, got a grant to buy some bike tools and wrestled the school’s indoor bike storage facility back from its engineers. Now, Hauck and a group of enthusiastic students regularly meet to repair their own bikes and those of the school’s burgeoning bike fleet.
british columbia
be achieved through conceptual or lab-based learning. Beyond the world of mechanics, the recently enhanced cultural status of bicycles is seeing them brought into classroom discussions about geography and land-use planning. Some schools have begun using bicycles as the basis for self-propelled field trips or incorporating them into physical education classes. And as a number of high schools are forced to shut down their auto-mechanics programs due to funding shortfalls, the Technology Teacher Education Program at BCIT has begun incorporating bicycle mechanics into its curriculum. Bicycles are an even better fit in afterschool and extracurricular programs. At the impetus of a passionate teacher or group of students, some high schools are setting up bicycle repair workshops where volunteers teach students to repair and maintain their own bicycles; teaching cycling skills in an after-school setting gives students a chance to have fun and blow off steam in a structured environment while they acquire the experience and modelling necessary to ride safely and confidently. Rides can be organized on any level from an ad-hoc bike club to a racing team. In California, the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League organizes complete mountain bike riding and racing program for any interested school or student. Finally, bicycles are also truly relevant in the roles and lives of school staff. All too often, unable to afford living in the neighbourhoods where they work, teachers are well represented among bike commuters.
The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition’s Cycling for the School Community program offers cycling skills training for teachers and school staff, hosts a “bikers breakfast” that helps school communities identify the challenges to and opportunities for increasing cycling levels, and offers a workshop to help teachers introduce cycling and bicycles into instruction.
Since as much of what kids learn comes from example as from teaching itself, teacher-cyclists have an important role to play in keeping bicycles relevant in their schools and to their students. And, when it comes to pushing for better bicycle infrastructure, educational institutions – which are often willing to wait out student advocates – have a harder time ignoring requests arising from long-tenured staff, especially if said staff members are continually inspiring new waves of student cyclists. It is often observed that true social change
For five fun and fruitful years working for PEDAL, a Vancouver based non-profit, Omar was privileged to learn about, help out with, and work on a number of programmes designed to bring bicycles into schools.
Options for School’s Re-C.Y.C.L.E Project is a shining example of community collaboration. Currently, the program is offered at one high school, but a workshop has just been secured through the assistance of the local Rotary Club and a local bike shop is sending one of its staff to teach bicycle mechanics to students. A permanent space, a fun program, and a dedicated youth outreach worker should guarantee Re-C.Y.C.L.E.’s ability to provide at-risk students with a viable and engaging option to traditional educational offerings.
With an increase of interest in their summer rides program, Trips for Kids Vancouver recently extended its season and started offering free after-school mountain bike trips to local elementary schools, giving more inner city kids the chance to experience riding bicycles in the woods.
Vagner Castilho, a teacher at Windermere
Secondary, has fostered his students’ interest in bicycles by turning the school into a cyclist’s dream – with a full set of bike tools, a dedicated on site storage container, a school bicycle fleet used on field trips, and an enthusiastic group of students who not only maintain the fleet but also teach bicycle skills to students at nearby elementary schools. Led by Kevin Chan and Ann Dao, two former students, the program flourished last year and currently continues to seek innovative ways to inspire a new generation of young riders.
comes from the grassroots. If we are to see a meaningful shift towards transportation and utilitarian cycling in our communities, we would do well to nurture the grass when it’s still a shoot.
Leanne Kavanaugh, the coordinator for PEDAL’s After School Bikes!, credits a focus on fun and inclusion for the program’s success. They organize community rides and teach bicycle mechanics and riding skills to students once a week. The program is in five schools this year and will expand to 10 from 2009 to 2010, with a number of schools already clamouring to be involved.
Due to the programme’s popularity, success, and unique ability to guarantee attendance among at-risk students, the staff and volunteers of the Bike Lab have managed to make bike repair an accredited program at S.J. Willis Secondary.
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april
sunday 1 march 10 am Start: Moscrop Secondary School, NW corner of Willingdon & Moscrop, Burnaby. North over Second Narrows, west along the low level road to Park Royal and south over Lions Gate Bridge. Pitstop @ Starbucks, Denman & Davie. East to Science World and Central Valley Greenway route back to the start. Contact: Chris Siggers 604-2911018, cell: 778-686-3125, email: siggers@shaw.ca
sunday april 5, 9 am Riley Park Community Centre (30th and Ontario) Vancouver. The focus of this event has been to encourage participation by all cyclists regardless of fitness level, cycling experience, or age. Riders show up and choose a distance (25, 50, or 100 km) and receive the appropriate map with a detailed route sheet. $15 -$25 registration / $10- for 18 and under. It’s a fun event. Danelle Laidlaw 604-421-1717 www.randonneurs.bc.ca
two bridges tour, 50km
international women’s day ride
sunday, march 8, 11:45 am Gazebo at Science World, Vancouver. Celebrate the strength and accomplishments of women on a leisurely ride with women friends. You are invited to dress up for the ride (fem, frilly, or fancy finery). Ride will finish at Rhizome Café (317 East Broadway) for tea, cakes, cocktails, brunch. Contact: Jennifer Campagnolo jenvirtual@yahoo.com 778-928-9697
seattle bike expo
march 14 - 15, 2009 Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle. Seattle International Bicycle Expo is a complete celebration of cycling, with exhibits and presentations from all aspects of cycling. $8 /$10 two-day pass, kids under 15 are free. secure bike parking provided www.cascade.org/EandR/expo
surrey – fort langley tour, 50 km
sunday 15 march, 10 am Start: Tim Hortons, NE corner of 160th Street and 108th Avenue in Surrey. Route will take us east and north into Fort Langley. Pitstop @ Spill The Beans bistro on Glover Road. West along 88th Avenue to 160th and north to our start. Contact Chris Siggers 604-291-1018, cell: 778-686-3125, email: siggers@shaw.ca
momentum #38 launch party, vancouver friday, march 20, 8 pm – midnight location TBA Contact 604-669-9850 for info.
mud bay park – tsawwassen tour
sunday 29 march, 10 pm Start: Mud Bay Park, SW corner of Hwy. 99 and BNR right-of-way in Surrey. Route will follow the urban trail, compact gravel, west around Boundary Bay into Beach Grove, thence west along 12th Avenue to Petra’s for coffee, etc., cash only, no plastic. Returning via the same route, lots of bald eagles, we hope, bring your field glasses, etc.
The Bicycalendar is a listing of rides, parties, bike-friendly and self-propelled events. Culture happens when we get together. Send your one-time or recurring events listings to
pacific populaire
bike the blossoms
saturday, april 18, 9 am – 4 pm Register in the parking lot at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Slow Food Vancouver present this fun and foodie tour of the city. Route maps highlight cherry blossom viewing and selected Slow Food refueling stops. Connect with local food and local farmers at locations along the route. Register: 9am-12pm Registration at www.slowfoodvancouver.com.
tulip town tour
Sunday april 19, 10 am Start: Cappucino bar & bookstore on main drag in Mt. Vernon, WA. Valid passport required. Route will take us west to Der Rosengarde, etc. and some of the best sites in Skagit Valley for the annual Tulip Festival. Pitstop in La Connor for lunch, etc. returning via Dodge Valley Road south and east to Conway and via the Dyke Road back to Mt. Vernon, for a ride of about 60 km. Contact: Chris Siggers 604-291-1018, cell: 778-686-3125, email: siggers@shaw.ca
lecture: sam adams – active transportation in portland
april 24, 7 pm UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver. As the Mayor of Portland, Sam Adams represents a city that encourages physical activity, especially for transportation. In other words: a walking and bike-friendly city, well served by transit, that also addresses issues such as climate change and peak oil. As a Cascadian neighbour, he can explain Portland’s special culture, what they’re planning and what lessons we can learn from what they’re doing, and would do differently. Reservations required: Call 778-782-5100 or email: cstudies@sfu.ca
galiano island tour
saturday/sunday march 25/26 8 am departure Tsawwassen ferry terminal. This is a new tour, overnight stay @ Sally/John Pankratz bungalow on Galiano Island. Sally says expect lots of hills and probably 50-80 km of cycling. Contact: Chris Siggers 604-291-1018, cell: 778-686-3125, email: siggers@shaw.ca
bicycalendar@momentumplanet.com
#38 ı mar/apr 09
first & third tuesday of every month, 6:30pm - 9:30pm Our Community Bikes, 3283 Main Street, Vancouver. Ladies fix your bike night at Our Community Bikes. $5-$10/hour. This is a trans-inclusive space. Contact 604-879-BIKE for more information.
wednesday pie rides
wednesday, every week, 5:30pm Canada Place (west side), Vancouver. The ride: Around Stanley Park, over to Canada Place, across to Kits, and out around UBC (if desired). Afterward, we usually go for a bite at Calhoun’s on West Broadway. Distance: About 20-50km. Multipaced; please wait at pre-determined spots for others. Contact Henry at hulbert@vcn.bc.ca; www.vbc.bc.ca
d.i.y. classes
thursdays, 4pm-7pm and saturdays, 1pm-4pm Recyclistas, 25 Crease Avenue, Victoria. Learn to fix your own bike. $20 for adult; $13 for youth. Call 250-418-8867 to register! www.recyclistas.ca/recyclistas/
introduction to bicycle repair workshop
first thursday of each month, 6:30pm-9:30pm Our Community Bikes, 3283 Main Street, Vancouver An introduction to bicycle mechanics course taught by an OCB staff member. Bring your bike and a snack. The only way to register is by putting down a $10 deposit at Our Community Bikes. Contact 604-879-BIKE for info.
midnight mass
second and fourth thursday of each month, 11:45pm Grandview Park, Commercial Drive, Vancouver. www.midnight-mass.blogspot.com
pedal revolutionary radio show
last Friday of every month 10:30am to noon (Mar 27, Apr 24) listen at 102.9FM, or live streaming at coopradio.org Through the magic of moving parts, we transform RUSH HOUR death metal to TUSH HOUR in the free air. Get on the highway byway ididitmyway! Viva la velorution! pedalrevolutionary.blogspot.com
margaret charles chopper collection (mc3) ride
second friday of the month, 6:30pm Science World Gazebo, Quebec Street and Terminal Avenue, Vancouver. Formerly a chopper-centric event, this ride has become a diverse collection of people and bicycles rolling and socializing for a good time, if not a long time.
midnight mystery ride
second friday of every month, 10pm Centennial Square, Victoria, BC.
critical mass vancouver / victoria
last friday of every month, 5:30pm Vancouver Art Gallery, Georgia Street, Vancouver. Centennial Square, Victoria.
velofusion
last friday of the month following critical mass Anza Club, 8th Avenue at Ontario, Vancouver. Admission: $5 if you arrive with the Mass; $10 general. For more information, contact andrea@worklessparty.org
east van bike polo
or register as a momentumplanet.com user to list your event on our website. Priority is given to events that are free and involve selfpropelled transportation. 10
womyn on wheels
saturdays at 1pm Tennis courts, Grandview Park, Commercial Dr and Charles St., Vancouver. www.myspace.com/vanbikepolo
www.momentumplanet.com
photo by ben johnson
bicycalendar
recurring
vacc events Come meet and work with other cyclists to help improve cycling facilities in committees throughout greater Vancouver. All are welcome. Visit www.vacc. bc.ca for monthly meeting dates and times.
commuter cycling skills courses
These cycling skills courses are a fun, safe, and effective way to gain city cycling skills. Includes both in-class and on-road segments. Please go to www.vacc.bc.ca for more information. Email bikeskills@vacc.bc.ca or schools@vacc.bc.ca or phone 604-878-8222. * indicates course that is open to school personnel only *april 14, 9 am to 4:30 pm Eric Hamber Secondary School 5025 Willow St. Vancouver april 18, 9 am to 5 pm Dunbar Community Centre 4747 Dunbar St. Vancouver april 19, 9 am to 5 pm Bonsor Recreation Complex 6550 Bonsor Ave. Burnaby *april 22, 9 am to 4:30 pm Gladstone Secondary 4105 Gladstone St. Vancouver *april 23, 9 am to 4:30 pm Churchill Secondary 7055 Heather St. Vancouver april 25, 9 am to 5 pm Brittania Community Centre 1661 Napier St. Vancouver april 26, 9 am to 5 pm Riley Park Community Centre 50 East 30th Ave. Vancouver *april 27, 9 am to 4:30 pm Vancouver Technical Secondary 2600 East Broadway Ave. Vancouver
velo-city exhibition the vancouver cycling community is beginning to whisper about Velo-City, a new exhibition being prepared by Propeller Design and the Vancouver Museum, which will run from June 3 to September 7, 2009. Vancouver is a city of cyclists (growing in numbers every year) who use bikes for a wide variety of recreational and utilitarian reasons, but are united by their passion for the simple pleasure of riding. This exhibit will explore the collective passion fueling a quiet, human-powered revolution changing the way we perceive and relate to our city, our communities, and ourselves. The exhibition’s organizers will look into the future of Vancouver’s bicycle revolution, with the help of a diverse group of local designers, planners, thinkers, activists, artists, and citizens. Currently, Velo-City is looking for contributions from the bicycling community in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Send in your best portrait of you and your bike in flight, at rest, in your favourite place, with your favorite people,
vancouver museum staff and the members of propeller design are working together to present the velo-city exhibition. l to r: exhibit technician sandy blair; propellor curator/ designer nik rust; exhibit technician chris friesen; propellor curator/designer pamela goddard; director of audience engagement amanda gibbs; director of collections and exhibitions joan seidl; and propellor curator/ designer toby barratt. photo by clancy dennehy
or however you please, and it will be included in a large photographic installation that will be a major feature of the Velo-City exhibition. Help portray Vancouver’s love affair with all things bicycle. Velo-City would also like to invite you to answer a few questions about your passion for riding your bike… answer one question or answer them all, Velo-City wants to hear from you. Stay tuned for more on this exciting exhibit. www.velocityvancouver.ca www.vanmuseum.bc.ca www.propellor.ca
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british columbia
vancouver area cycling coalition committee meetings
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www.momentumplanet.com
bandidas taqueria reviewed by martin hauck
there was a movie a few years ago about two female bank robbers who, in true Robin Hood fashion, stole from the rich and gave to the poor. The film was called Bandidas. New to Vancouver is a restaurant where the proprietors “give back” in other ways. Bandidas Taqueria is a place where traditional Mexican dishes have a vegan/ vegetarian bent, and where the two owners are as concerned about the well-being of their community as they are about the quality of their food. Jackie Rae Avery and Aiyana Kane are two educators (see “Fixie Chicks” – momentum #22), and best friends, who did a lot of research to fill what they saw as a void in their community. Not only did the two travel to Mexico to research the local cuisine, they also wanted to create a business with an ethos close to their hearts. “Having cyclists here is what we want,” claims Avery. Avid bikers themselves, the Bandidas petitioned both the city and the local business association to install a bike rack in front of their establishment. “It’s the only one on the block.” The two also have a cargo trailer that they solely use for their pickups. And since they buy local, they don’t require large moving vans. Almost all of their food is local, their beer supplier is local, and their packaging is both environmentally friendly and local. Oh, and those Starbucks coffee cups we generally see strewn on the ground? The ladies at Bandidas won’t give you a coffee unless it’s in a mug – so bring your own if it’s to go! The restaurant offers a wide array of burritos and tacos – the tacos are on homemade tortillas! – as well as a variety of nachos, soups and salads. Bandidas brunch menu includes three types of bennys, omelets, oatmeal, French
british columbia
photos by polly nomial
above: aiyana kane and jackie rae avery, bandidas owners. right: a few of their tacos.
toast and their deadly delicious “Mexican Breakfast.” The restaurant is fully licensed and I recommend the red sangria (although my head didn’t thank me the following morning!). Of course, an endeavor such as this doesn’t get off the ground without a lot of support. “Everyone tried to dissuade us in the beginning,” laughs Kane. But once their family and friends saw the two were not going to compromise on their ideals, the support flooded in. From hammering to painting, from donating bikes to biking by to help, from designing a washroom to washing dishes, friends have been there to lend a hand. Indeed, it’s all about the community. Come on down to list your event on their calendar, swap a book, or – in the near future – take in a movie or DJ. Savour the homemade, fresh food, or just come by to chat with a biker and share a laugh.
2781 Commercial Drive, Vancouver 604-568-8224 Hours: Monday-Thursday noon-10pm Friday noon-midnight Saturday 10am-midnight Sunday 10am-9pm www.bandidastaqueria.com
DROP IN TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW 2009 BIKES AND GEAR - ARRIVING DAILY
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It’s Never Too Early To Start.
Spring is in the air in Metro Vancouver. Make the most of the longer days by sharing the fun and benefits of cycling with the whole family. Get your Regional Bike Map and get riding. Visit www.translink.bc.ca/bikes for a list of retailers nearest you.
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#38 Äą mar/apr 09
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legal
brief
david hay
No Fault Insurance
canada’s insurance industry has long harboured a secret desire to push for no fault insurance. No fault insurance programs presently exist in four provinces. These programmes eliminate a tort liability system and prevent accident victims from suing for pain and suffering and limit recovery for income loss and future care costs. Insurance companies argue this is a good thing. By treating everyone involved in an accident the same way, regardless of fault, insurance companies pitch no fault insurance as a system which produces more predictability and therefore (somehow) equity. The typical justification for no fault is that insurance rates are skyrocketing as a result of excessive personal injury awards in which opportunistic lawyers are usually involved. The US experience is often cited in support of this concern. However, this concern was addressed in Canada long ago. In fact, in the late 1970s, the Supreme Court of Canada capped damage awards for pain and suffering in catastrophic cases at $100,000. Indexed for inflation, the present value of the maximum award for pain and suffering in this country is $310,000. That is the maximum amount for which an insurance company is liable in respect of pain and suffering for quadriplegia, catastrophic brain injury, and any other nightmare scenario. Hardly unjust enrichment. In BC, where drivers have the lowest rates in Canada, the provincial government has not adopted the controversial no fault insurance system. Glen Clark’s NDP government tried it in 1997. However, that proposal was widely discredited and eventually abandoned. If cyclists are superheroes, no fault insurance is their Kryptonite. By removing the right of a cyclist to seek recovery from a motorist through the civil justice system for losses occasioned by motorists, no fault insurance robs the cycling community of a vital legal remedy. This means that reckless or negligent drivers are not punished, other than by increased premiums and a higher risk rating. Drivers at the top of the claims rate scale can actually seriously injure or kill a cyclist and still manage to avoid facing a rate increase in certain circumstances. Legitimate victims of automobile negligence intuitively seek tort compensation. Money is a barren substitute for health and happiness, but studies show that compensation for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment is psychologically restorative and often necessary to moving on with one’s life. One can readily appreciate the solace compensation can provide by considering the flip side: the feeling that would come from laying in a hospital bed next to the negligent driver who caused one’s injuries and knowing his or her legal rights are the same as yours. In relation to the purpose of damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life (non-pecuniary damages), the Supreme Court of Canada stated:
“Money is awarded, because it will serve a useful function in making up what has been lost in the only way possible, accepting that what has been lost is incapable of being replaced in any direct way.” One aspect of theoretical benefit of no fault insurance is that damages for injuries are pursued through one’s own insurance company as opposed to waiting for the wrongdoer’s insurance company to buck up. As a cyclist you may be asking yourself: “Where does that leave me?” My answer is that in a no fault world it leaves you in a very cold and isolated place – perhaps not immediately, but eventually. Your struggle will be more difficult in a no fault world, rest assured. Cyclists depend on a strong tort system in this province. Unlike fully restrained drivers, cyclists are clearly physically more vulnerable, and generally more likely to suffer crushing and disabling injuries in an accident. One of the greatest losses often suffered by a cyclist involved in accidents with cars is the loss of enjoyment of cycling for some time thereafter. In a no fault system, this loss would go completely uncompensated. This type of tort “reform” (I use that word loosely) would eliminate the loss of enjoyment of cycling as a compensable loss. In effect, such a system would discriminate against cyclists, at least to this extent. No fault insurance is inconsistent with modern cyclist community values. Cyclists place a great premium on the ability to ride a bicycle and the commensurate gain of health, social, and environmental benefits. Several US states have had enough of their no fault insurance schemes. Between 1970 and 1975 some 24 states implemented a no fault legal system. Those states have all repealed their no fault laws for reasons ranging from increased costs to increased fraud. The latter is usually associated with bogus medical bills. The only apparent proven advantage of no fault insurance is it has the potential of putting more profits into the hands of insurance companies. Rather than focus on removing civil rights from cyclists, the insurance industry should dedicate itself to the creation of better traffic safety laws, better cycling infrastructure, and accident prevention. Much of this is underway – we don’t need another distraction. It may be the foregoing is simply an exercise in shadow boxing. There is presently no serious campaign in the province to marshall a no fault system. But that may change with the political wind, and as a cyclist, it seems to me one must remain vigilant and guard against the possibility of no fault insurance.
“Drivers at the top of the claims rate scale can actually seriously injure or kill a cyclist and still manage to avoid facing a rate increase.”
David Hay is a litigation lawyer and partner at Richard Buell Sutton LLP. He has a special interest in bike injury law and can be contacted at 604-661-9250 or dhay@rbs.ca
mar/apr 09 ı #38
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british columbia
cycling’s kryptonite
defending YOUR rights (and lefts)
call David
Hay 604.661.9250 16
#38 覺 mar/apr 09
rbs.ca
phone 604.682.3664
fax 604.688.3830
Personal Injury Advocacy | Litigation | Education www.momentumplanet.com