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Above: York cyclists review bike maps and other information with the Toronto Cycling Ambassadors, over bagels and juice
Cycling to Keele campus. Bicycle lanes. Bikeshare. Safety. Recreation. Exercise. These were just some of the stimulating topics that were discussed at Smart Commute-Black Creek’s (SC-BC) 3rd Annual "Bike Brunch and Ride". Tuesday, June 2, marked the date for this innovative organization’s contribution to the City of Toronto’s Bike Week calendar of events.
Seasoned cyclists and curious novices gathered over bagels and juice to share their queries, concerns, and love of cycling as a reasonable means of transportation. Halfway through the event, Fred Sztabinski, program coordinator with SC-BC, led the group on a 45-minute cycle tour through campus, highlighting some of the recent and future developments for the lands that comprise and surround York University.
Some key points of interest on the cycling tour were the construction site of the Accolade Project, as well as the Seymour Schulich Building and the combined parking structure/office buildings of Student Services and the William Small Centre. Tribute Communities’ 500-unit residential development, Tennis Canada’s new 12,000-seat stadium and some transportation infrastructure developments, such as subway extension plans and bus-only areas, were also topics covered on the bike tour.
Over 50 participants attended the event, which also featured Toronto’s Cycling Ambassadors. The group was on hand to provide valuable information on cycling in Toronto and gave a bicycle safety talk prior to the cycle tour’s departure.
Members of SC-BC hope this event will lead to the formation of a strong core group of cyclists who will work together to increase the number of cyclists and cycling trips to York and around the campuses. Attendees had the opportunity to sign up to use the two new indoor bike cages on Keele campus, and to form a Bicycle User Group (BUG). A BUG is group of people in a workplace, school, community or neighbourhood who come together to improve conditions for commuter cycling or to enjoy cycling together.
SC-BC typically holds two cycling events at York: one during Bike Week in the spring and one in the fall to welcome new students. To keep up to date on what SC-BC is doing, click here, call ext. 70690 or e-mail info@sc-bc.ca.
Fred Sztabinski, program coordinator with Smart Commute-Black Creek, sent this article to YFile.
Below: Participants in SC-BC's cycle tour learn about York's Student Services parking structure design, which incorporates usable office space, and its secure bike cage
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