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Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead The Gazette talks to house DJ duo Zeds Dead about their upcoming show >> pg. 4
thegazette Run by sith lords since 1906
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
today high 21 low 4
canada’s only Daily Student Newspaper • founded 1906
tomorrow high 22 low 8 Volume 107, issue 13
Londoners rally for detained Canadians Peaceful rally demands release of Western prof
Logan Ly GAZETTE
IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE. Supporters gathered yesterday at Victoria Park calling on the Egyptian government for the immediate release of Tarek Loubani and John Greyson, two professors who have been held without charge for 40 days. Loubani teaches at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, and has been on a hunger strike since last week. Read the full story on page 3.
London cyclists push for committee Proposed group would advocate for cyclists Richard Raycraft News Editor A group of London cyclists is campaigning to have their own committee at city council. The effort is being led by Mike Marsman, a member of London’s Transportation Advisory Committee and a cyclist, who is requesting permission from the City to set up a citizen-led committee that would speak and advocate for cyclists. Marsman explained cyclists do not have enough of a voice on the current committee. “One of my concerns is that I am the ‘cycling representative,’ so really it’s the voice of one cyclist at that table, which I really don’t think is appropriate or sufficient,” Marsman said about his role at TAC. “Whether the cycling committee is something that sits parallel to the [transportation advisory committee] or sits under it or has
some input into it,” he continued. “I’m not sure I really care too much about the ‘how.’ What I care more about is the what, and that there’s more of a conversation happening and that it’s focused on those issues and those issues aren’t being diluted by other things.” The proposed committee would function similarly to the Bike Advisory Committee, which was dissolved 10 years ago. Marsman explained with new infrastructure and transit plans coming to London, now is a good time to ensure cyclists have an outlet to express their concerns. “Frankly, I was flying somewhat under the radar. I didn’t want to create a need if there wasn’t a need,” he said. “It’s not like it’s just one or two people — when I sent out an e-mail to one or two people and they forwarded it to five or 10 others, and within three days we got a dozen people who want to meet for lunch
and talk about it, then okay, there’s a need, there’s a desire.” Purple Bikes of Western is on board with the initiative, along with the London Cycle Group. Kevin Yaraskavitch, Purple Bikes’ liaison with the TAC, explained Purple Bikes’ support is largely to advocate for more biker-friendly infrastructure projects. “We are just trying to start conversations about cycling at city hall,” he said. “So what this committee is looking to do is to support those community initiatives with infrastructure in the city to get things done.” “Cyclists are very much underrepresented on the Transportation Advisory Committee,” Yaraskavitch said. “So now with the London Cycle Group and with Purple Bikes there hasn’t been so much momentum for cycling in the city in a very long time.” Logan Ly Gazette