Edmonton Bicycle Commuters Society

Our Cycle Edmonton municipal election site launches today. If you want your future councillors to care about cycling infrastructure, and commit to building those bikeways in the next 10 years, now is the time to act. If you want school trustees to recognize cycling and accessibility as a critical part of our school system, then join in our advocacy work.

Help us by contacting all of your candidates with questions about cycling. Ask them to address broader issues of cycling, such as funding the Bicycle Transportation Plan, as well as issues local to your ward. Ask them questions at forums and at your doorstep.  Send us the responses you receive and we’ll present them on the Cycle Edmonton website. For more information, including details about our campaign, the Bicycle Transportation Plan, and the issues, please head to http://cycleedmonton.ca/.

Election day is Monday, October 18, but we’re starting now and we’ll keep pushing even after the voting is done.

Once you’re satisfied with your advocacy for the day, check out another, less-serious campaign we launched last week: dingding.ca.  It’s a fun little “match-making” site designed to raise awareness of EBC and cycling culture in Edmonton.  We’ll be expanding the site and campaign later this fall, but you can play with it now!

The 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society (EBC) will take place on October 3, 2010 from 1pm-3pm at Parkallen Community League Hall (11104 65 Ave). Door prizes provided by MEC and EBC will be awarded. Food and drink will be served.

If you’d like to be involved in setting the future direction of EBC, whether as a volunteer, non-board committee member, or board member, or just want to hear what’s going on with the organization and meet some of its volunteers, please attend this AGM.  We’re in need of several new board members who wish to seeing cycling issues advanced in this city and ensuring that EBC continues to thrive. It’s a great way to contribute to the society and to the community at large, and great experience in management, event organization, advocacy, governance, and whatever else you choose to focus on.  You don’t need previous board experience; we just want dedicated individuals that want to work on cycling issues and help steer the society.  If you’re considering running for the board and have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call Chris at 780-756-7560.

We also need individuals to help with committee work. This doesn’t require you to be on the board—in fact, we rely on non-board members to help in these activities! Whether you’re passionate about the advocacy work we do, education, outreach, or BikeWorks activities, or you have your own project that you’d like to work on through EBC, come talk to us about it at the AGM, or e-mail us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Dear friends and fellow cyclists,

Our election advocacy meeting is tonight at the Original Joe’s at 8404 109 St from 530-630PM on Thursday, August 26th.  If you’re not able to attend, do take a look at our lobby document here.  Give us your feedback about it.  What do you want to see happen with the city’s bicycle future?  Give your election candidates feedback about it.  They need to know Edmonton wants more and better cycling infrastructure and programs!  Find more info about EBC’s election lobbying here.

The EBC Advocacy Committee has been developing an election strategy to help make cycling a major issue the upcoming municipal election. With your help, a new council will be elected with many members who will invest in cycling infrastructure and programs.

EBC has been involved with the spoke by helping with volunteer mechanics as well as resources and expertise.  Alex, EBC’s BikeWorks Coordinator, has been working closely with Kris, the spoke coordinator, to develop the program, determine and acquire the necessary parts and tools, and facilitating the actual workshops.

The spoke fosters a sense of belonging and self worth for inner city youth by providing a positive and engaging community space and hands on work experience. Volunteer mechanics work with youth, providing mentorship and skill sharing. Youth are given the opportunity to build relationships with peers and volunteers in a safe and positive environment centered on the values of cooperation, mutual respect, and the love of bikes! 

One last course on Basic Bike Maintenance for August - this Friday, August 20.  Just in time for you to fix any little squeaks or bumps before your join the bike tour of 7 community gardens on Saturday, August 21.  It’s like we planned it or something

Once again, due to high demand, we’ll be offering another Basics Mechanics course on Sunday, August 15th from 6 until 9 PM.  Please see Basics Mechanics Courseas the information is the same (except the date of course!).  Register by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

There will be a Canadian Cycling Association CanBike 2 Course offered in September

Friday August 13
6:30-9:30pm
BikeWorks 10047 80th Ave - Entrance through back alley.
Cost: $10 for EBC Members, $20 for non-members
Register by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

If you want to start learning about working on your own bike but aren’t sure where to start, this course is for you!

BikeWorks recyles all unuseable bikes and scrap metal as well as all old tires and inner tubes.  So far in 2010 alone we’ve diverted over 7000 pounds of scrap metal and over 1500 pounds of tires and tubes from the landfill!

A tidal wave of demand has forced us to offer another basic bike maintenance class this week, to be held on Sunday the 25th from 6:00 until 9:00.  This class is the same as the one offered this Thursday (see earlier post: http://edmontonbikes.ca/home/more/get_to_know_your_bicycle-introduction_to_bicycle_maintenance/)

In order to be a good neighbour and comply with City bylaws (Bylaw 5590) we are asking that visitors to BikeWorks no longer park in or along the alley.  If you are loading or unloading bikes, passengers, etc. you may briefly park outside our gate.  Otherwise, ample parking is available nearby along both 101 Street and 79 Avenue, as can be seen marked in green on the above map.  Thank you for your cooperation!

Friday July 23
6:30-9:30pm
BikeWorks 10047 80th Ave - Entrance through back alley.
Cost: $10 for EBC Members, $20 for non-members
Register by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

If you want to start learning about working on your own bike but aren’t sure where to start, this course is for you!