Author Archives: Padraic

Ottawa > Toronto

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Padraic

The Ottawa Citizen offers a short piece describing the positions of mayoral candidates on cycling policy. Mike described this as “why Ottawa’s mayoral race is better than Toronto’s”; given that the Toronto candidate who once said “it’s their own fault” … Continue reading →

Recent cycling links

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Padraic

1. Cycling in Ottawa contributor appears on CTV News to discuss bike safety in the wake of recent cycling deaths. 2. The New York Times’ ethics columnist goes for a bike ride around New York City and discusses cycling ethics. … Continue reading →

Posted in bike lanes , New York , Ottawa , provincial government , safety , Toronto , video | Leave a comment

Want to know if that bicycle is stolen?

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Padraic

The Canadian Police Information Centre is the agency in Canada which maintains criminal and police records. It also maintains a database of stolen vehicles – including bicycles – which is searchable online. One can enter the serial number for any … Continue reading →

Posted in law , safety | 3 Comments

Winter cycling and the increasing ranks of the hardcore

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Padraic

The Citizen has an article today on winter cycling, which looks at an apparent increase in numbers. The key quote: “When I first started in the winter, occasionally I would see bike tracks in the snow on the bridge, so … Continue reading →

Posted in winter | 1 Comment

City Cycling Safety/Lane study?

Posted on January 6, 2010 by Padraic

News out of transportation committee today: a motion from Clive Doucet calls for a city-wide study of cycling safety hazards and whether or not segregated lanes might be a solution. The Citizen and CBC have it covered. Doucet, quoted in … Continue reading →

Posted in bike lanes , city council | 4 Comments

Spacing Ottawa

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Padraic

We’ve been quite fond in the past of linking to articles from Spacing, the fantastic Toronto-based urbanism magazine. Now, CiO readers should be sure to subscribe to their new Ottawa blog, where they cover such issues as Lansdowne, pedestrian bridges … Continue reading →

Posted in design , online , organizations , Ottawa , Toronto | 1 Comment

Confirmed: MEC launching bikes in bigger cities

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Padraic

So, it looks like this will be another arrow in the quiver of those explaining why Toronto is better than Ottawa. According to the employees I spoke with on Tuesday, MEC has started selling bicycles at it’s locations in downtown … Continue reading →

Posted in MEC | 1 Comment

MEC rolls out bikes?

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Padraic

From the comments on a post that is still getting new comments, which is worth highlighting 0n the main page: I just dropped by the MEC downtown Toronto and… I see the bikes! They have some really nice models, I … Continue reading →

Posted in MEC | 4 Comments

Selective Enforcement

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Padraic

Slate has a good piece up on the nature of traffic laws and cyclists (as a group we tend to break them). It has as good a breakdown as any on the tension between vehicular and facilitator cyclists, which essentially … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Citizen talks cycling

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Padraic

The Ottawa Citizen will be having an online cycling discussion today at noon. I’ll try to poke by but, alas, suspect that work might get in the way.