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Floating Bicycle Commuters 8

Floating Bicycle Commuters
“Floating” series – by Zhao Huasen (photos posted with permission) Riding a bicycle after a couple glasses of wine might make you feel as though you are floating. But until now I had never imagined what it might look like to actually float while riding a bicycle. Chinese photographer/artist Zhao Huasen’s “Floating” exhibit shows exactly ...

PedalPub: Bringing the Bar to the Bike 16

PedalPub: Bringing the Bar to the Bike
PedalPub Twin Cities – photo by Matt Johnson Why bring the bike to the bar when you can bring the bar to the bike? PedalPub is a human-powered mobile pub which was recently spotted in Minneapolis, Minnesota by our friend George who was visiting the Twin Cities for a conference. Known as “the bike with ...

Dear Bicycle Helmet 50

Dear Bicycle Helmet
Duo enjoying life – photo by EcoBicycle via RateMyVelo.com Dear Bicycle Helmet I know it has been a very long time since we went on a  ride together. It may sound cruel, but I honestly don’t miss you at all. I never liked how you messed up my hair on my way to work. It’s ...

Watch For Bikes Initiative 4

Watch For Bikes Initiative
CAA’s “Watch For Bikes”initiative / from CAA handout In lieu of proper bike infrastructure, how can drivers and cyclists better co-exist on our streets? This is a question that is pondered frequently on this website and was the basis for our ‘i share the road’ campaign. An annual initiative called “Watch For Bikes” also attempts ...

Toronto Taxi Drivers Resort To Victim Blaming 24

Toronto Taxi Drivers Resort To Victim Blaming
Toronto taxi line – photo by Gabriel Perez Last week a Toronto taxi driver was charged with second degree murder after 28-year-old Ralph Bissonette was killed on a longboard (a surfboard-style skateboard) in what appears to be a result of road rage. As reported by the Toronto Star: “What occurred is still under investigation, but ...

Urban Car-Free Camping 17

Urban Car-Free Camping
Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country Growing up in Canada, camping in the outdoors has always been a significant part of my life. Camping can bring us closer to nature and allow us to appreciate the simple conveniences of modern life. Before now, I had always relied on a car to go camping. ...

Children & Bicycles in China 11

Children & Bicycles in China
Bicycling in China – Photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country In a country with 1.4 billion people all coveting for a shiny new automobile, it is refreshing to see children enjoying the simple pleasure of a bicycle. While living in China, I had the unique opportunity to spend time bicycling with some children ...

Traffic Congestion & Optimal Efficiency 17

Traffic Congestion & Optimal Efficiency
Beijing traffic – photo by James Schwartz / The Urban Country Beijing’s traffic congestion nightmare is perhaps best attributed to the much hailed Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s “socialist market economy” – which opened China up to foreign investment and brought significant wealth to the people of China over the past 30 years. Xiaoping ...

The Unconventional Urban Citizen Bicyclist 15

The Unconventional Urban Citizen Bicyclist
Dirk Eys – a resident of Amsterdam and converted bike commuter – Photo by Dirk Eys for The Urban Country There is something about bicycling in Amsterdam. Visitors who would never consider bicycling around their home cities often feel compelled to explore Amsterdam by bike simply because they see other people just like themselves pedalling ...

Motorist Convenience Trumps Safety 43

Motorist Convenience Trumps Safety
“Driving the Volvo” – Photo by Thomas Anderson Toronto’s chief medical officer made headlines in the Toronto media for recommending that the city reduce its speed limits to 30km/h on residential streets, and 40km/h on other city streets to “support the increased use and safety of walking and cycling”. The Doctor’s recommendations were mocked by ...