All cars are evil

My hubby started a new job on March 5. His office is in the next city and the bus connections leave something to be desired. So we bought a car. Insuring it turned out to be a big hassle and very expensive but we got it sorted. Now we got the car … and don’t drive it. Noticed that the weather has been terribly awesome recently? That’s why. My hubby is not allowed to drive on his own yet so I would have to go with him and then go to my workplace, back in the city we live in. For me, it’s much easier though to cycle to work, 20 min on a trail that avoids traffic lights and cars. I love it. Taking the car does not get me to the office any faster even though I only have to turn twice! There’s like 2 dozen traffic lights on the way and an avalanche of cars at rush hour. My husband figured that walking 15 min, taking the Express Bus and walking for another 15 minutes is, without a car, the fastest way for him to get to work. And in good weather it’s no big deal. I am terribly disappointed again anyway. I thought with the weather people would leave their cars and cycle instead. Forget about it! Not here. People have it hammered into their brain that they can’t go places without a car. A bicycle is not considered a mode of transportation but merely a sports article that needs to be driven (not ridden) to the park and then one can circle around the park for a bit. What a waste of energy. Where I come from we use bikes to run errands, commute to work and visit friends in our town or city. I love my bike even though it’s a crappy one. I wished I was not such a lonely cyclist. I miss home.

So we did drive the car last weekend to get out of town. We drove from Kitchener to Guelph Lake Conservation Area. I am disappointed again. Sure, putting a fence around a piece of countryside and calling it conservation area will prevent it from having houses built on top of it. Great! Suburbia really does not need more spreading. But, building a road right through it and having lots of camping spots along it does not necessarily protect the land or wildlife. In fact, this land is heavily used (and probably polluted to a certain degree) every summer. Call it a campground then, which also justifies the entrance fees. I am not a fan of having to pay for a picnic spot or a walk in the park. I said to my husband, let’s go and visit conservation areas outside the season. At least our daughter can roam around freely without us having to watch for vehicles and protect her from being run over. Don’t get me wrong though, we rather give money to Parks Canada (although now that they approved that Brewster theme park nonsense I like them less) or other nature conservation efforts and organisation than any other cause. And, after all we might have to pay the fee just so we can swim in a lake in summer, since most of the lakes around here seem to be part of a conservation area. Sigh.

I come back to the evilness of cars ... and litter ... and lack of community spirit.        

Nature's Gym or how to stay fit

The David Suzuki Foundation published an article the other day about joining nature's gym to hit your fitness goal's this year. Not a bad idea. Better still is to live a lifestyle that keeps you fit. I know that from experience and I happen to have proven it recently too.

On Sunday I ran the Re-Fridgee-Eighter, the first race of the year in the Waterloo Running Series. I chose the 8 km over the 8 miles. I took running up again since coming to KW but I still at the most run twice a week for half an hour. Luckily, I have a toddler and no car (and no sitting-around in the office job either (yet)) which seems to keep me on my toes very well. I finished 39. overall, as 5. woman, and 2. out of 19 in my age catergory, in just under 38 minutes (my chip time was even less but gun time counts) Re-fridgee-Eigther results. I was surprised myself. After all we had -5 C and gusts of over 20 km/h which thankfully only blew into our faces on the last mile. I never run that fast on my own but once I am in the group I can't help, got to go. By the time I crossed the finish line I was pretty much out of breath but two minutes later I was back to normal. I did not even get sore muscles! My "secret": I walk and/ or cycle every day many kilometres and I take the stairs whenever possible and stay active in whatever way possible. On a regular day you won't see me sitting around much.

The one thing that did annoy me though was the fact that the location of the run is not served by buses on Sundays! Start and finish were at a huge sports complex with at least 6 ice rinks, several indoor hockey, baseball, volleyball and other courts; and on all the courts and rinks competitions were taking place at the same time. All these people had to come by car! The closest bus stop was 4 km away which I know so well because we had run that way and km-markers showed the distance. So I walked to the bus stop afterwards but in the morning because there weren't buses to get me there early enough I had to ask a friend to drive me. Oh yes, it did piss me off a ton. I am not mad at Grand River Transit though, I am mad at all those people driving!                 

Grand River Transit will improve

Grand River Transit is regularly in the news here in the region and recently I read this opinion piece
Higher Bus fares are entirely fair about the fare hike that will be spread out over the next couple of years. I also found a related article Transit's long ride to value  that compares the transit system in K-W & Cambridge with 8 other transit systems in Ontario. 

First of all I learned that GRT was only established in 2000 and has since seen growing numbers of riders. The introduction of a mandatory term-long transit ticket for students surely plays a role in this as does the fact the the connections have improved by coordinating the services provided in three cities instead of letting them each do their own thing. And service is bound to get better, yeah: more express buses, more routes, and a light rail train. The latter one apparently is planned for K-W only at this point which upsets some Cambridge residents but I hope once the train is running and becomes a success (I can't imagine it doesn't) the connection to Cambridge will be made. After all it would simplify the commute between K-W and Cambridge a lot compared to hopping on a bus half way there.     

The main issue in these articles is the fare and how little it covers of the cost of running the transit system. GRT recovers only 38% of the cost! Politicians want to make it 50% in 4 years. For me that's the value that matters more than the average fare because once you use the average fare you need to take in consideration the ratio of student riders to other riders for each transit system. The term pass here is cheaper than the monthly adult pass which seems wrong. I don't care how many students ride the bus; I actually find it shocking how many students have a car - how do they afford that on top of living costs and tuition? If they can afford that car they can afford to pay more for the bus too, even if they don't use it. They most likely don't pay taxes so might as well do something for the transit.
   
As always taxpayers shoulder the rest of the bill which I don't think is wrong either. I can't help it that the federal government spends my taxes on oil sands subsidies. People who drive gas guzzlers might as well suck up to support an environmentally friendly way of travelling! Granted that GRT is deemed not as good yet as other systems in Ontario it still makes sense to raise the fare. After all, we want the Light Rail Train. "We" that's people like friend's of us who want to buy a house close to Uptown Waterloo so that once the train is there they live in walking distance and can get rid of their car. "We" that's members of the hiking group I'm out and about with almost every weekend. I'm not the only one without a car there and asking for a ride is not unusual.  We do need rides since the bus does not take us everywhere yet. Frankly, when we met at the Grand river yesterday I cycled in the snow because there was no decent connection to travel from the West to the East of the city. And  I'm glad to see that people here in K-W think better of public transit than in Edmonton.     

There was no green thing back then

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page and I thought it's great. Read it even if you are not 35, or unable to admit it.

Food for thought!! Anyone over the age of 35 should read this, as I copied this from a friend ..

Checking out at the supermarket recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my... earlier days". The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations". She was right about one thing--our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day. So what did we have back then?After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have.... Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Wales. In the kitchen, we blended & stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then? Please post this on your Facebook profile so another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smarty-pants young person can add to this.

The problem is obviously that too many people changed towards something that was supposed to be better but turned out worse for the environment. I figured I actually do quite a few things the way they were done in the "earlier days". So if I can survive the old fashioned way, why can not every else too, no matter their age?

My map, my best friend

We have had some nice autumn days recently, they do come as a surprise still. Used to the Edmonton weather I feel like the weather in K-W changes a lot faster and surely overnight. This brought me already to the conclusion that I have to go for a bike ride when it looks sunny now as later might be too late. I mean, unless I have to, I don't fancy cycling in the rain. 

Cycling in K-W shrinks the city. Suddenly I am at the end of our city map. Yeah! That would not have happened in Edmonton where even the longest bike ride moved us barely within the city limits. On Sunday, a crisp sunny morning, oh it was so beautiful, I cycled north past the university and around Laurel Creek Conservation Area. To my disappointment there is an entrance fee to use this area and the picnic tables at the lake. That does not make my picnic any cheaper than going down the road (any road as a matter of fact from where we live) to Tim Hortons and having lunch there. Boo! Any way, cycling around the fence of the conservation area gave me wonderful views of the lake as well. Today I cycled in the same direction but ended up criss-crossing residential areas that look like part of Waterloo but once you are there you feel like out of town. That's because they are need-a-car  bed communities, people only come there to sleep since there's no stores, no offices, no nothing else, apart from the lovely parks for walks and bike rides. That's worth a lot to me but I would not move there. The older neighbourhoods have more charm. Our ugly apartment building is surrounded by them. Old brick buildings with treed gardens and trees along the side walks.  I love it. The newest neighbourhoods look like in Edmonton, wider roads and without trees. Bah!

K-W does not have a grid system and the residential areas have (like in Edmonton) terribly windy and curving streets. No surprise people need GPS to go anywhere. I prefer the good old map and out on explorations we always carry one with us. You can tell by the look of the map it's survived a lot during the last couple of weeks. I taped it today to keep it from falling apart. Did I mention yet I like the bike lanes in K-W. Travelling North-South and vice versa by bike is pretty comfortable here, going East-West and vice versa has not quite so good options of off-road and on-road bike paths. In order to get to the Grand River and its park system we'll have to one day suck it up and cycle bike-lane-free roads. It's going to be a Sunday. Two days ago I cycled on busy roads south to drop off an application. I could have mailed it but for the added benefit of exercise and getting to know more of Kitchener I cycled and was all proud when I made it there and back safely, without getting lost.

Just a comment on plugging your ears

With reference to my last post I must say that even in cities it annoys me to see everyone walking around with their ears plugged listening to something from their ipods or talking on the phone. As a cyclist I have to pass pedestrians frequently and a bell often will not do the job of warning them of my approach. Yelling at the pedestrian does work mostly but that does not make me a pleasant companion on the trails. Admittedly, I had a time where I'd go jogging with plugs in my ears but I eventually came to the conclusion that it is much nicer to just listen to nature. Sure, walking around a city and even on some of the river valley trails in Edmonton there is not much nature to hear because the road is right there along the trail or sidewalk. Still, for safety's sake it's no good to pull yourself out of your immediate environment by listening to music while walking, or worse cycling.         

Increase in bikes requires change in people's thinking

Montreal (in Quebec!) has Bixi bikes though which have proven to be very popular and will now be offered in Toronto, too. For some reason, the Toronto Bicycle Union thinks that would be great for tourists to go sightseeing. Personally, I don't think any sane tourist will go on a bike ride unless they see a certain number of local cyclists, for me an indicator for how

safe and convenient cycling in this location is. 

I do love cycling and I enjoy cycling even in Edmonton, although I mostly cycle in the river valley where I hit no roads. But the comments I hear are surprising, as I would not get those in Europe where walking and cycling is far more wide-spread. Some people just admire me (for being "brave" and fit), others are scared especially about baby's safety in the trailer (what if a car bumps into it? - I know you are poor driver, is that why you freak at the sight of a cyclist on the road?), some people think I'm enduring a lot of hardship living with alternatives to driving a car.Actually, you should feel sorry for yourself for depending on that fossil fuel consuming metal box so much.

An acquaintance reported from her daughter who studies in the Netherlands that she really enjoys it. She can hop on a bike or train and go places so easily. She went to some event by train recently and got all caught up in the festive atmosphere on the train. Surely, that's not going to happen to car drivers stuck in a traffic jam wanting to attend that event.                

On the bike now

We got a second second-hand bicycle today. That means we can go on bike trips together now! My better half started cycling to work this week but it lasted only two days until winter returned. We really hope it's been the last snow for this winter. Last year at this time we had a BBQ outside without jackets on. Anyway, we took our first bike ride today and baby is fine in the trailer being pulled along. The hills in and out the river valley will be a little pain but hopefully the muscles grow quickly. The river valley is still the best way to get around by foot or bike, although somewhat limited in where one can go. Cycling on the road with the worst drivers of all of Canada on the wheels is still a bit of a scary thought but we'll get around it some day soon and fingers crossed it does not turn out suicidal. It just confirms to me why I want to move to a smaller city - hopefully safer, hopefully more cyclist, hopefully more sensible drivers (that's probably a challenge). 
Checking out the Edmonton bike map today also made me realize how few designated bike lanes there are actually outside of the river valley. It's terrible. I'm also waiting for the building management to complain about where we lock the bikes up outside. These people with their stupid "strict rules" are even more terrible. We live in a "family building" with no provisions for strollers and bikes. Assuming we are all driving a car because there's one parking spot for each apartment and that's what one does here. Still getting stupid looks when I mention we don't have a car. Wonder why I don't like the people here?  

Imagine cycling was safe any where in the city

Last year Peace Officers cracked down on cyclists riding their bikes on sidewalks along White Avenue, a very busy road in Edmonton. I shook my head and write to our mayor, also in connection with the jaywalking, and get an interesting reply. Mayor Stephen Mandel told me the roads here were too narrow to accommodate cyclists as well as cars. I suspect he does not know the width of European streets! Those streets still fit cyclists and the cyclists don’t even get run over by inconsiderate drivers. The fact that Edmonton has a city cycling map has two meanings to me. Yes, it’s nice to help cyclists get around. But no, it’s nonsense to tell cyclists where to go, which roads to stay off and to expect them to be polite enough to adhere to the maps. Imagine we’d do the same for drivers; channel them all onto the same route while keeping them off other routes so that different forms of transportation receive priority. In Europe we call that for example pedestrian zone, bike lane and bus lane. In Edinburgh, Scotland, one major road in the city centre is completely closed for cars and used as bus hub instead. In London, UK you pay to drive in the city centre and it’s not little money. But a price tag is totally fine when “education” & similar soft measures have failed.  Call it, learning the hard way. Those who wait longer to change for the better might get hit even harder ... one fine day.   

Enters the motorcycle

Some genius staff member at Edmonton's city hall had the idea to provide free parking spots for motorcyclists in downtown Edmonton. The reasons are that motorbikes blow out fewer emissions than cars, need less parking space, get along better with bicycles (as if anybody cycles in downtown) and there's already a bylaw in place that makes sure motorcycles are only so noisy, ah quiet. Great you may think but I'm still sighing in a little disbelief and it's not because certainly nobody will ride a motorbike in winter in Ed - it's too cold and the road conditions too dangerous. No it is because this idea might seem innovative for a city like Edmonton, but seriously, when do they come up with bike lanes  and bike racks all throughout downtown and a bylaw for apartment buildings that requires to have bike storage spaces? Or why not adopt a program like in Paris and other European cities where bikes are provided all over town for a small flat-fee per day, week or year. There's no need to return the bike to the station where it was picked up. Stations are fairly close and bikes plenty. The city also made sure to provide plenty of bike paths. Check out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19685323/ns/travel-destination_travel/ (or the official website in French http://www.velib.paris.fr/ ) for details on the program that took off in 2007, thanks to Paris' city hall.
 
And if you are interested punch into Google "Paris bike". You will get lots of websites offering bike tours in Paris and announcing cycling as the best way to get around the city. Punch "Edmonton bike" into Google and you reach the websites of Edmonton's major bike stores and the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters. The latter one has a page called ghost bikes, a project dedicated to the memory of cyclists killed on Edmonton's roads. http://edmontonbikes.ca/projects/more/ghost_bikes/ 

One more word  on Google. Google maps now has a function to show bike routes between selected destinations, just like it used to show routes  for cars, public transit and walking. Although I am fairly happy with Googles advice on Edmonton's buses the bike routing mapping leaves much to be desired. The routes shown seem to pretty much ignore the official bike paths that currently exist in Edmonton but maybe that's because the paths are not well connected and therefore of limited use.
                     

Walking & cycling versus driving - part 3

My boss at school comes sometimes by bike to work. It’s a 3.5 km ride and she does it purely for the exercise. Another lunch lady was shocked how somebody could possibly cycle so far. Far? I could not help but say ‘that’s the attitude of somebody who never walks or cycles!’ She also said that she’d be a lot less busy if she did not have a car. And she is the one that freaks out having to walk from her doorstep to the car in -30 degree C – because it’s freezing cold. I’m afraid there’s too many people like her in this city, in this province, in this country, in some other countries such as the USA. Persons like her have weird opinions about very simple things in life.   

Obviously, if she hopped on a bike now or walked for 3.5 km she’d be pretty exhausted because her body does not have those muscles. People like her don’t seem to understand that all things are difficult before they get easy. But people like her are also the ones that complain about the bad bus service even though they never take the bus. Oooh, I wished people like her would wake up, give it a try for a month or so and realize it’s not that bad. Not to say it’s better than living in your damn car.          

There’s been a very interesting article on David Suzuki’s website bout Vancouver showing that change is possible – but the more pitch in the better. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/science-matters/2010/10/making-cities-more-livable-may-save-the-world/