Ward 30 Bikes Spring 2017 Newsletter

Our spring newsletter is out.  Contact us if you would like to get on the email list. Enjoy! ****

Ward 30 Bikes Spring 2017 News  The Ward30 Bikes Newsletter is back! We've been super busy, but the much loved newsletter is here! Join our next meeting  Tuesday, June 13. 7:00 - 9:00 pm Ralph Thornton Centre (765 Queen St. E.) Join us at the Ralph Thornton Centre to find out more about bike projects and events in your community, and how you can contribute. See you there! Danforth Loves Bikes Campaign Update Door to Door Canvassing Has Begun! The Danforth Loves Bikes Campaign is in full swing!  In April last year the volunteers of the campaign hosted an amazing Bikes Mean Business Event.   Volunteers also canvassed local businesses, and supporters for Danforth Bike Lanes put stickers up in their windows - you can check out the full map here - please shop and give a thanks to our amazing business supporters!  In June Council approved the 10 year bike plan which included the recommendation to study bike lanes on Danforth in the third quarter of 2017! Big thanks to Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon who with our other east end councillors championed this. In September Open Streets came to the Danforth for the first time ever so we put together a pop-up bike lane - right here on the Danforth! Awesome right? Then in October Cycle Toronto did their big Bloor Danforth Fundraiser and safety awareness ride which was a huge success! And now in Spring... the momentum continues as we just kicked off door to door canvassing. Interested in helping out with canvassing?  Contact us asap! We'd love your help! Bike Month is on! Now - June 30th Bike to Work Day was on Monday.  People from all corners of the city rode into City Hall to officially kick off Bike Month. For the 2nd year in a row the Mayor rode in to join the festivities. Here's a pic of some east side people heading to city hall with our Councillor Paula Fletcher. It's also Bike to School Week! Today students and teachers from 6 schools gathered for a press conference at Bloor and Christie urging the city to make the Bloor Bike Lanes permanent - the next generation of Toronto wants safer streets! We thank them for their civic action! For full Bike Month listings, check out the event page there is so much cool stuff every day! Withrow Farmers Market - Opening Day  Saturday, June 3. 10:30am  Bring your bike to the Withrow Park Farmers' Market this weekend and get a FREE safety check/tune-up from our volunteers.  Cycling maps and Danforth campaign materials will be available. You can also ask us about Bells on Danforth! And ... new this year, as the market coincides with the councillors compost day, our volunteers will be offering a FREE compost delivery service by bike! Bells on Danforth Saturday, June 24. 10:30am  The pedal powered parade to celebrate cycling is back! The 2017 edition of Bells on Danforth is set for Saturday, June 24. More details will be posted on the ride page as we get closer to the big day. Also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   Other upcoming events Riverside Eats n Beats - June 3rd & 4th We couldn't make it this year to help out, but it's on and better than ever! Plus our good friends at Switchback Cyclery are doing their thing for a bike themed block party Saturday June 3rd 1pm onwards.  Full event list here Leslieville Tree Festival - June 17th Back again! 12pm - 4pm we'll be there! East York Canada Day Parade - July 1st Ward 29 Bikes is organizing a bike parade as part of the annual East York Canada Day Parade: //www.eycdc.ca/.

Bike to Thrill of the Grill this weekend!

Thrill of the Grill is on this weekend and in addition to the delicious BBQ festival, this year Ward 30 Bikes and Ward 29 Bikes are jointly running a Bike Fun Zone!




We'll be there from  12pm-4pm this Saturday where the Bike Zone will have::

* Slowest Bike Races
* Bike Decorating thanks to lovely sponsors: FRESH Florals, Leaf & Bloom Florists, and Midoco
* Safety Check and Mini Tune Ups
* Lots of sidewalk chalk fun

And coming by bike you can enjoy the lovely FREE Bike Valet located at the east end of the festival!  Let's just say it... it is SO exciting to have bike valet on the Danforth!!

Bike Directions:
The Danforth will be closed to cars from Broadview to Jackman for Thrill.

If you're coming from the west you can either ride slowly along the Danforth (it's closed to cars, but it is open to walking and biking) or you can detour up Broadview to Erindale to Jackman.

From the east you can ride through Greektown until you see the road closure where the lovely Orange Cycle Toronto Bike Valet tents will be waiting.

Bike Share!
Freshly installed, there are now 3 bike share stations within stumbling distance to Thrill of the Grill!

See you there!

Bike Share has made it to Ward 30

Bike Share has made it to the east side!

Looking good in Riverdale Park East

At the end of June bike share expansion was rolled out across the east side, there are docking stations now along Broadview, the Danforth and Queen Street East.

Green P lot Ellerbeck just north of Danforth behind the Shoppers Drug Mart

Gough St and Danforth, Greektown gets Bike Share!

So exciting!

Danforth East public meeting on Monday - help make bike lanes on the Danforth a reality!

There's a public meeting coming up next week for the section of the Danforth east of us. Not Ward30, but very close to us.  Below is Cycle Toronto's action alert, if you can make it out to the public meeting please do!

City Council recently reinstated the Danforth Corridor Study to determine the feasibility of bike lanes on the Danforth. This Monday, planners at the City are hosting a community meeting for a separate Danforth Avenue Planning Study, and we need you to remind them how important bike lanes are to the vitality, economy, and growth of the Danforth. This meeting is especially important as the study area intersects with Woodbine Ave, which is also being considered for future bike lanes.

The consultation will take place Monday, June 27th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, at the Hope United Church (2550 Danforth Ave).

If you live, work, or play along the Danforth, this meeting is an essential opportunity to share your comments and concerns about cycling infrastructure with City staff. We urge you to go and have your voice heard.

Learn more about the project on the City's website.

Cycle Toronto is your voice at City Hall. We fought for bike lanes on Richmond, Adelaide, and Bloor, and the Danforth is next. Support our work by joining our more than 3,000 members or donate now.

We hope we can count on you. 

Jared Kolb

Cycle Toronto