"The story about newcomers coming to Canada is all about their skills not being recognized," said Peter Dorfman of Toronto Public Health yesterday. "In a small way, what this campaign does is it recognizes that one of the strengths that newcomers bring is their cycling skills and their transit-friendly skills." The campaign Dorfman is referring to, From Back Home to Our New Home, a collaboration between CultureLink Settlement Services and the Toronto Cyclists Union, celebrated it's launch yesterday at CultureLink's brand new facility at Dundas and Bloor. The ...

Just three days into this year's Bike Month, a damp May 28th was host to Bike Summit 2009, a day-long conference on cycling policy co-hosted by the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT) and the Clean Air Partnership.  International and local presenters covered everything from bike parking to economic and health improvements, sharing perspectives and recommendations that could greatly improve our city's cycling potential. Spacing will revisit and follow up on some of these ideas, perspectives, and words of two-wheeled wisdom, in hopes of continuing this momentum and encouraging Toronto to actually reach some of the best practices presented at the summit. In light of recent victories such as the Jarvis bike lane and last year's 37-3 City Council vote in favour of the 5-year capital budget, the $70 million dollar question remains: how do we go about increasing and diversifying the number of people who will actually take advantage of a more bike-friendly Toronto?  The summit's panel of experts have all sorts of answers, all agreeing that broadening the discussion in order to make space for more voices and less polarization is the way to go. Adolfo Hernandez of Chicago's Active Transportation Alliance presented at the summit in a session titled Cycling Advocacy and Community Engagement. Hernandez brings cycling awareness straight to its target audience.  Specifically focusing on Chicago's Latino and African American communities, he directs his energy into building meaningful partnerships with community centres, places of worship, and public service and community organizations, emphasizing the importance of genuine community collaboration.  According to the Complete Streets initiative, "a street is not complete until everyone is accommodated."  The ATA sends transportation experts to schools, community events, and neighbourhood festivities such as block parties, creating dialogue right where the action starts.

June will see a number of opportunities to learn about, contribute to, and/or rally against Metrolinx's plans for the Georgetown South Service Expansion (GSSE) and the Union-Pearson Rail Link (UPRL).  Metrolinx will host six public open houses in communities all along the rail corridor over the course of the month, starting in Weston on June 8th.  Can't make it to a public meeting?  Check out and comment on Metrolinx's online consultation portal. And if you've had your fill of Metrolinx's 'Big Move,' you can check out the Clean ...