29 posts tagged “vancouver”
Yes it a bit of and oversimplification say that persons who chose to come same public event as you do are your friends. It would also a great disservice to say that at least I have something in common with the 2011 other cyclists who took part in yesterdays Critical Mass.
Acknowledging the power of the bicycle it like a core belief of nearly Critical Mass rider.
I have ridden my current bicycle for nearly three years it take me to many places to work, to stores and places of recreation. It also worth to mention my bicycle also take to some hard and scary places collisions with car doors and the sound of my helmet hitting the asphalt as I was falling to the ground.
I am sure if you asked the 2011 people who rode on yesterday Critical Mass if they shared any of the above experiences the would very likely said yes they did. Bicycle represents freedom to the people who ride them often and the act of riding you bicycle itself can become as fairly joyous experience.
Yesterday Mass bought so many fun riders in one place. I know that there were as least 2011 riders because one my friends on the ride counted everyone that went by him as corked and intersection he said he saw 2011 bicycles pass by him. When I stopped for a bit of a break and corked near Denam and Robson it took more then 20 minutes for all the bicycles to pass by my intersection. Critical Mass Vancouver was so colorful yesterday the are bicycles in every shape and color some with matching wheels and seats. There were riders in bright colored Aloha Shirts Girls in wigs, Guys bathing suits it just a moving party on wheels. I'm glad I was able to ride in my third consecutive June Critical Mass Ride yesterday it was great fun
Last Friday Critical Mass snaked around Vancouver like a cobra ready to strike. It was a well attended rally of at 500 to 600 bikes at the Art Gallery Starting Point. Instead of the Ride going thought a major down town streets mass meet up was a Small Group of Politico Bikes Who Were having a Bike to Work Week BBQ. This was all bad news for the Ride now 600 riders needed to get through a very narrow bike lane that would at most free three bikes across. This slowed the ride down and this issue just kept building throughout the ride. Even with this Problem it was a really great mass the Vibe was good. There were aggressive bikes that taunted dives at Intersections. When I was corking a guy in a Mimi on 4th and Burrard Street Two Young Guys Road Up to Him with Camera and Make Some Stupid Comments. I had to tell the bikes to move on and that moment I felt that I was protecting the driver from the bikers as I was protecting bikers from the drivers.
Here is the Ride Route As Posted By Dragon from a Internet form
Super long ride though.
* Art gallery to Helmekan
* Around Science World
* 2nd to Cambie
* Up the side street to Broadway
* Over the Burrard Street Bridge To Georgia
* Over the Viaduct
* Through Chinatown to Gastown
* Through Gastown
* Up Howe to Robson
* Down Robson to Denman
* Over to Georgia
* Onto the Lionsgate Bridge.
* Turn around and to the ultimate downhill through Stanley Park
* Then we lost the route....
No Joke super intense.
I think there were over a thousand people at one point.
My favorite was sitting in the middle of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Totally silent.
It was a Really Great Mass I love to see how the light changed during the ride
Regards
Brian
On a side note about the Auction a contact of mine wanted to go Auction on Friday but you needed to pay $10.00 to get in a view the bikes.
Able Auctions may have made more then $5000 of their income from entrance fees. What a Scam.
Things need to Change around this Bike Theft Issue or Urban Bike Commuting will only be effective transport for the elite few that can trip plan very carefully far in advance for the best lock up locations, or have off street bike parking or have can use the most elitists solution yet proposed the Bike Locker on Public Property.
Originally uploaded by Brian of Vancouver.
This morning Shelley and I walked down the street to watch the Vancouver Marathon. I took this photo of Women Race Leaders at about 5 miles into the race. Women on the Right California's Mary Akor won the race with a time of finishing in 2:37:52
Vancouver Police Bike Auction Celebrates the Failure of Law Enforcement to control the Bicycle Theft problem. Although nearly every media source in the city promotes the Auction as Bargain event of the year It really just a place to buy a Cheap Stolen Bicycles for deal seeks and second hand dealers. Many of the Bicycles have been recovered by Vancouver Polices but because there
is no good way to find the rightful owners of the bicycles. The Police do what is easy and sell the stolen bicycles at auction and keep the profits. Many Bicycles are stolen in Vancouver by Biners/Recyclers that break bike racks off there anchor bolts.
Vancouver can address the problem of Bicycle Theft if it wants to
We could have a Lower Mainland database that logs/registers the rightful owners of the bicycles and uses a tag system that would allow the Police track and ID stolen bicycles and parts when the bicycles are disassembled.
Bike Theft is a Crime and the thefts need to do time for possession of stolen property.
Building Owners and City Agencies must do a better job maintaining bicycle racks in our community see photo of a broken bike race. If you cant secure your bike they you not going to use your bicycle and that means you need to use a carbon adding form of transportion. photo by redbike606
CBC has reported that the Thieves swipe cash from VanDusen plant sale. So here how the Story Goes Down. A 78 year old man collects that receipts from annual plant sale (My Wife and I have went to at least 5 of the last 8 plant sales and we always pay cash because the lines are shorter)
A Tall Slim White Thug knocks down the 78 year old volunteer and takes the bag with cash from the afternoon tills. Police say the Thug got away with about $1000.00.
I bet it was a lot more then that. Always under report the amount stolen this is supposed to discourage other thief's.
But this misses the Point of Why I decided to post on this story. Where was the VPD?
Have you ever every been to a Protest in the City of Vancouver there are at least 1/2 dozen Offices milling around do what Police do which is a lot of well milling around. Cop Milling Around Discorage "Thugs" from knocking over 78 year old men that are trying to do some to make there community a better place to live just my thought of the day.
April's Critical Mass Vancouver had a very large turn out of about 600 bikes. This there was also a Police escort which overall I felt was a net positive. As the Mass approched The Lions Gate Bridge Motorcycle Cops held back Traffic entering the bridge which I feel protected both riders and auto drivers. I did seetwo or three rides take falls off their bikes but they did not seem to get hurt badly. On guy in older Tercel tried to jump a medium and was confronted by the rides. Overall the ride went well with few incidents.
I am not really sure what happened to this building but while on a recent walk to the video store I noticed the building looks like it was a victim of a hit and run.
I am just wondering if this building became the victim of bad luck hit and run
Do you know the story behind the photos please share?
If you don't its ok make a comment up!
Photo by Luton.
I understand the Sky Train Line to UBC will not being going down Broadway but will be underground line that will underground like that will under 10th West. This does not sound like a good idea to me not only will ruin the best bike street in Vancouver but displace lot of good rental housing that is currently on 10 Ave West. Just thought you want to know.
Funny thing this item was left our of Georgia Straignt Urban Cycling which feels the big issue in Vancouver Bike is Burrard Bridge Upgarde which is a non issue for me.
Originally uploaded by Brian of Vancouver.
this past week I went the Langara College Gang Violence Reduction Forum.
Photo is a Reaction shoot of Vancouver Police Cheif Jim Chu and West Vancouver Police Cheif Kash Heed listening to questions from the audience
