Ottawa is a multi-modal transit island. If you want to combine using a train or bus to get you out of the city with a standard roll-on / roll-off service you are out of luck. This is where having a folding bike comes in handy.
I’m planning a short-ish bike-camping trip around Quebec’s Eastern Townships and I wanted to give my set-up a test-run before the big outing. (Hey, it’s big trip for me.
30 Days of biking 2016 edition: “the commuting myth
I took meticulous notes about where I traveled using my bike in April and how much I spent. And my results show that we may want to reconsider the importance of “Bike to Work” months, when the majority of my trips were not to my workplace.
77% of my biking destinations were not my workplace.
77% So, where did I travel in April? Mostly within a 5km distance with a few exceptions.
Biking PEI: Charlottetown to Stanhope and Dalvay by the Sea
I really wanted to ride to the beach during my PEI vacation. It seemed like the quintessential bike trip outing. From my starting point in Winsloe (just outside of Charlottetown) to Brackley Beach, it’s is a mere 20km. A piece of cake distance. The biggest challenge was finding a comfortable route to get there. When I flew into the Charlottetown airport, I noticed a segregated pathway that follows the main road to get to Brackley Beach.
Here a pole, there a pole, everywhere a pole pole.
Ottawa. Let’s talk. Bollards are the new “it” accessory for marking the beginning or end of your bike path. They are the stiletto heels of bike path design. Sure, stiletto shoes look nice to a certain segment of the population, but mostly a stiletto heel is just a hard metallic wedge that impedes being able to walk like a human. And Ottawa has gone totally gung-ho on sticking these stilettos at the ends of new pathways.
Complete streets in Ottawa: test driving the proposed policy on Main Street
Main Street is one of the first major street reconstructions in Ottawa where the preferred design includes a segregated cycletrack, an upgrade to standard width sidewalks and a reduced vehicle lane capacity in the rush hours to prevent rampant speeding in the off-peak hours. Who could argue with any of these things? The project (if approved) will put Ottawa on the map much like our Laurier Segregated Bike Lane did.
A look at the Arkel handlebar bag
When I planned my bike to Montreal, I was going to ride my sporty bike. It seemed like the best bike for the job (it probably still is in many ways). However, my sporty bike has no racks to attach a bag (nor mounts to add one), so a front handlebar mounted bag seemed like a good solution for carrying snacks, maps, money and my camera.
(Yes, I know, seat post bags are good too.
Family bike options in Ottawa
There are lots of ways to tweak a bike that you currently own to transport your kids and there’s a growing number of complete bikes that can do double duty for kid hauling and grocery getting. I’ve tried to assemble a complete list of family biking options and where you can find them in Ottawa. (If I’ve missed anything, just let me know.) Bike seats – Young – Under 1 to 3 For the early years, many people use a bike seat that attaches to the front or rear of the bike.
Cycle chicly
Apparently there’s a bit of foofa going on about Cycle Chic. Some are complaining that the “Cycle Chic” movement is too sexist – using imagery of svelte 20-somethings to promote cycling. Now, the line between the “movement” and the person behind the movement is getting a little blurry. And the Twitter insults are flying like fur at a cat fight. Of course, if you look at the original Cycle Chic website (and companion Copenhagenize website that deals with the nitty gritty of advocacy) – you’ll see a wide range of citizens, both men and women, riding bikes.