Day 2

Well it’s the start of a new week, and day 2 of being sans bicycle. There was an upside and downside to my recent predicament. The upside was that I got reacquainted with my gym this morning. It had been awhile, as cycling and playing on two hockey teams was about all the exercise I could schedule in.

The downside was the bus. Not that I have anything against our bus services – I generally think they do a good job – but with the Olympics on the horizon the routes and timing have all gone out of whack.

Still I’m very excited to get my new bike. And with that I’ll leave you with a few interesting links I dug up to kick off your week.

• Despite the recession, Netherlands annual spending on bikes is still rising and they are the world leader in trips made by bike
• Residents of Arlington, VA. are being challenged to go 30 days car free
• Cool t-shirt design here for bike enthusiasts
• Calgary bike shop Bike Bike is selling the Yuba Mundo – a bike that can hold almost 500lbs of cargo

 

Pedal Theft

On Thursday, my bike was stolen. I locked it up in front of The Landing, my place of work and where I have locked it up for almost 3 years. There are always other bikes locked up and tons of people walking by, so it always seemed like a safe place. I had the option of using the underground parkade’s bike storage – and I guess I will now – but it really didn’t seem like my bike was in danger of being stolen. Heck, there’s a coffee shop that my bike sits 10 feet in front of and there’s always people wandering in and out and sitting amongst the stools at the window.

But on Thursday, I came out at about 6pm to ride home and it was gone. What an empty feeling. You feel completely helpless. It’s like those scenes in a movie with the camera spinning around the subject and people whizzing by in all directions.

I’ve filed the police report but ultimately I expect it never to be recovered. Vancouver has a fairly robust thievery system, particularly for bikes. According to this CBC News article, 1666 bikes were stolen in Vancouver in 2007. That doesn’t include those that go unreported, so the number is likely much higher. Still, that’s almost 5 bikes a day, just in Vancouver! Considering that I ride to work every week day and I work in Gastown, maybe it was just a matter of time.

With that in mind, I think my only chance at reclamation is the annual police auction in May. My bike might turn up or I might find a good deal on some other poor victim’s bike.

For what it’s worth, I’m actually not as somber or angry as this post may imply. Although arriving into work yesterday, I did find myself checking out every bike that rolled by, hopeful that I’d spot my stolen friend. Should such an unlikely event have occurred, I probably would have beat the crap out of the rider – not exactly Pedal Etiquette, I concede. But overall, I’m okay. I got 3 good years out of it and it took me to where I am now – a daily commuter, an ambassador of Pedal Etiquette and someone who still doesn’t know how to do a tune up.

And in truth, the bike was never the right one for me anyway. When I bought it, I thought I’d be doing all trail riding and mountain biking. The Norco Kokanee I bought suited such an objective but it was actually very taxing as a daily commuter. It’s much slower and not as ideally equipped for those types of rides and I was starting to feel the wear on my body as a result. Had I used that bike on this year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer, I probably would’ve suffered an injury.

Fortunately, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to two people. The first is my wife. Feeling down and unhappy about my predicament on Thursday night, I returned home to tell her the bad news. To my surprise, she simply shrugged and said ‘well, we have to get you a new bike’. It wasn’t even a question. I had spent time on the bus digging through Craigslist ads for something that could last me. But this vote of confidence from my better half perked me up. Maybe there is a silver lining, in that I will now get a bike that is properly suited to how I want to use it.

The second is a friend of mine who works in the business and is getting me a fantastic deal. I won’t go into the details – maybe for a future post – but I’m really excited about this one. We met for lunch on Friday and he was able to really break down what I needed. And he recommended a lock that is far more secure, so that will give me piece of mind! As he said, it’s analogous to the famous bear anecdote – if we are being chased by a bear, I don’t have to be able to outrun the bear, just outrun you. Accordingly, when locking your bike up in public, your best bet is to ensure your bike looks like the most difficult of the bunch to steal.

So overall, I’m still a little bummed. But I’m also excited, as the incident has forced me to replace my bike with something far more suited to my needs and my health. The biggest thing the thief stole from me was the freedom to commute on my terms and the exercise, fresh air and endorphins that go with it. But I should be back on the road by the end of next week, so it won’t be ‘stolen’ for long.

 

Just don’t use your cellphone

With all the fuss over cell phone use while driving, we have before us a far more dangerous apparatus while on the road. Behold the book holder for bicycles. It clips right onto the handlebars and allows you to ride and read with ease.

Now, you might assume this is only for stationary/exercise bikes but have a look at the picture. Digging a little deeper, the product description even says “It mounts in seconds to virtually any road, mountain or stationary bike”.

Let’s hope police add this to the list of prohibited ‘mobile devices’.

Happy Friday!

 

Just Another Mani(a)c Monday

Not a good start to the week.  I had hopped on my bike Monday morning and traveled not two blocks, before almost being hit by a delivery van.  I was in the left lane, waiting to go on through the intersection while the car in front of me was turning left.  I waited patiently, as I didn’t want to try and cut around him and possibly get myself in trouble with all the cars rushing past in the right lane.  When the vehicle in front of me made it’s turn I ventured ahead.  That’s where this white van decided to cut right into me from the right lane because the bus in front of him had stopped.  The vehicle was close enough to touch, so I smacked the side of it.  He came to a stop so I pulled up to his window.  I asked him ‘what the hell was that?’  I couldn’t fully understand his broken English, but I got enough of it to learn that he believed that I had no business being in the left lane.  Cyclists were only allowed to travel in the right lane.  I told him that this was completely untrue and we continued to argue.  Finally, I could see the traffic building up behind us so I ended what was quickly becoming a pointless conversation.

Another cyclist rode by and, having seen the entire incident unfold, told the driver off.  I can only hope the surrounding cars shared in his observation.  Or else, we have yet another incident of drivers and cyclists not seeing eye to eye on the rules of the road!

My ride home was much safer, but equally as miserable, as the rain was coming down pretty good.  I somehow lost my front fender a few weeks back and I sure felt it on Monday evening, as a nice little fountain of water was consistently shooting into my face.  To top it off, my usual rain gear was in the wash, so I was forced to wear my backups, which are hardly as waterproof.

It seemed all too fitting that it was a Monday.

Oh well, today already seems better.  The sun is out and my ride in to work was problem-free.  And every day that passes, we get more and more progress to a cycling-friendly world.  Have a look at this article, discussing how a Bulgarian architect wants to build a cycling infrastructure in the sky, trapeze-style, over the cars.  It seems like an interesting concept but from a practicality point of view, there’s much to work on.  As some of the commenters discussed, how would one get on and off?  And would you be unable to pass anyone?  Here’s my worry – what about falling off?  Sure, the bike and tire is locked into the ridge, but what about the rider?  Still, I like mind-expanding, out of the box thinking and maybe this will kick-start some more creativity in how we can better coexist.

Speaking of riding among the telephone wires, check out what Ziptrek Ecotours is doing for the Olympics.  That’s right a free ziptrek in downtown Vancouver!

 

Reign man

This week is undoubtedly testing cyclists’ resolve.  The endless rain is becoming almost unbearable – evidenced by the decreasing number of fellow commuters I saw as the week progressed.  Today, I could count the number of other cyclists I saw on one hand.  And it may be reduced by one tonight, as I’m debating whether to forgo the ride and hop on the bus.  We’ll see.

Otherwise, things are going great.  I’m finally back into a regular routine.  This blog suffered a little in the Fall, as I got heavily tied up at my day job.  By November, I had started to post a few more blogs and I was working on refining the site.  Then December hit and I basically went AWOL again.  With a trip to Mexico, the Island and Portland, plus the usual Christmas chaos – this blog never stood a chance.

On top of this, I’ve taken on two other side projects to raise my total to three.  I’m on the board of directors for the BCAMA and I’m also consulting for a comedy troupe called Weekend Leisure.  My hope is that rather than these projects overwhelm me, I hope they enact a snowball effect and push me into working hard this year.  I tend to be that way by nature – I perform better when busy and under pressure.

My goal is to write several times a week, an audacious goal given my track record here.  But I’m inspired to do something positive and I couldn’t live with myself if I just let this thing die.

Speaking of inspired, I was down in Portland this past weekend and I continue to be impressed with that city.  I’m not telling you anything new by saying that bikes are abundant there.  But it was the range of bikes that really piqued my interest.  In Vancouver – at least this time of year – it seems the majority of cyclists are pretty dedicated ‘cycling is my life’ types.  They ride expensive bikes and have all the gear.  This isn’t a judgment, just an observation.  But in Portland I only saw a few of these types.  Most of the bikes I saw chained up on sidewalks were of the type you’d find at a garage sale.  They were basic, utilitarian and full of character.  They were the bikes you’d hop on to meet some friends for coffee or to get you to Powell’s Books.  Short, whimsical commutes.  Even those I saw riding by seemed to move along more slowly and deliberately than what you see here.  And the astonishing this was that the drivers didn’t seem to mind.

It probably wasn’t something everyone would notice, but it caught my eye.  Cycling is truly embedded in their culture.  It’s socks and underwear as opposed to flashy new top.  It’s just there, in all forms and in complete rawness.  I really hope Vancouver gets there.  I think we’re on our way, but not fully.

By the way, I was down in Portland to watch some NBA games with some friends.  Portland have a good young team, but it wasn’t long ago that Shawn Kemp (the Reign Man) and the Sonics were engaged in Northwest warfare.  See, the title comes around full circle, in my own twisted way.

 

Moving Day – archived blog posts from previous site

The breakup

11/19/2009

I’m switching to WordPress.  Sorry Weebly, it’s not you, it’s me.  You’ve been great.  Very supportive, right there from the start.  I just feel like I’m missing out on something.  I’ve had a few flings with WordPress and I must say, I’ve been pretty happy.  Plus, I can use it on the go – with my iPhone – and that’s just the sort of high maintenance I’m looking for.

So thank you, thank you, thank you, Weebly.  You really have been great and I’ll be happy to recommend you to others.  I hope we can still be friends.

Crush It: Part Deux

11/19/2009

One more comment I couldn’t fit in about Crush It: the one aspect of Gary’s book that I found challenging for my situation is how he was suggesting that you need to really go all in if you want to be successful.  You have to be willing to leave your job and spend 60 hours a week on developing your brand.  Now, I don’t disagree with any of this; in fact, I appreciate his forthrightness.  I would’ve been very disappointed, in fact, if he didn’t talk about this and instead falsely raised the hopes of his readers that it can be done in a few hours a week.

But the problem with me, is that I’m just not looking to leave my job and make this my full time gig.  I love my job, I really do.  I’m not looking to go anywhere, at least for the time being.  Pedal Etiquette is a side project.  It’s something I care a lot about and I really want to effect positive change out there.  But I just can’t devote everything to it.

And maybe that’s ok.  I mean, I’m really not looking to make a million dollars or anything.  I’m sincerely just trying to make a difference out there, in my small way.  I’d like to make a bit of money to at least cover the costs and allow me to grow a bit, but financial is way way down on the list of motivations here.  So maybe Gary’s message still fits.  With modest goals come modest expectations and modest output.

Crushing P.E.

11/15/2009

I just finished reading Gary Vaynerchuck’s book ‘Crush It’.  It was definitely an inspiring read.  In all honesty, I typically don’t like this style of writing.  I have a lot of respect for Seth Godin, for example, but I just don’t like his writing style.  It’s too all over the place and random.  I finished reading his book Tribes while in Jamaica and didn’t remember a single point he made afterward.  It felt more like I was reading one of those daily calendars where you tear off each day’s message.

Anyway, I didn’t even intend of reading Crush It.  I had requested a few books from the library and don’t recall actually asking for this one.  But when I picked up another book that I had put on hold, I saw Crush It sitting next to it with my name on it.  So I thought ‘what the hell’ and signed it out.

When I started reading the first few pages, I thought ‘oh great, another Godin-style book’.  But because it’s such a quick and easy read, I plugged on.  And I’m really glad I did.  Amidst his obvious passion and enthusiasm behind his message, there’s also a lot of tangible, practical advise.  He really believes that anyone can take something they are passionate about and create a business around it, primarily online and using social media.  He suggests some very simple tools to use and a concise set of do’s to kick start anyone that may be hesitant to take the plunge.  Of course, he’s also very realistic and talks a lot about the level of commitment and time required to really be successful.  I definitely recommend it to anyone.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.  Considering that I had neglected Pedal Etiquette for the last 10 weeks, I needed a kick in the ass.  Not only did it give me one, but also opened my eyes to more ideas.  In effect, I think it’s helped me envision a more well-rounded and broader Pedal Etiquette.  Originally, I envisioned a very simple system.  Develop a code of conduct, have people become members and send them the armband.  With some PR and word of mouth, maybe we could get hundreds of Vancouverites on board, all behaving in a manner befitting P.E. and spreading the message on their arm.

But now I think I can take it further by producing content and facilitating a community of cycling enthusiasts.  I had already planned to continue the blog, but now I’d like to add a Flickr album and post videos.  With the album, maybe I can get people to post their best commuting photos as well.  And for the videos, I’d like to record my commutes and post them online.  I’d also like to film other things, like my attempts to fix my bike.  I don’t know, we’ll see where it goes, but I think I’ll have a lot of fun with it.

Finally, I think I’d like to focus this all on commuting.  There’s enough websites out there that showcase great trail rides and bike excursions.  People post photos and videos on them and chat via their message boards.  But I don’t think there’s a place solely devoted to commuting, and maybe that’s where I can fit in.

Well as you can you see, I’m still working my way through this thing.  It’s a piece of clay and I’m still figuring out the exact shape I want it to be, poking and prodding along the way.  But it’s starting to come together for me and over the next 6 weeks, I’ll be able to add a lot of the elements that I’ve mentioned above.  Stay tuned!

I am back

11/15/2009

Alright, that was waayyyy too long of a break from my blog.  I intended to put it somewhat on the back burner, as my job was starting to get pretty busy (Whitecaps playoffs always is a little frantic).  I also signed up for an 8-week course and between that, work and two hockey teams I play on, it was just getting a little much.  But even still, I certainly didn’t expect to take this long getting back to it.  I think it’s one of those things that if you take something out of your routine, it’s that much harder to get back into it.  Case in point: over the last few weeks, I’ve had thoughts and stuff I wanted to write, but I’d always make an excuse to do it later.

Well, no more excuses.  I apologize to those of you that were following my blog and were disappointed.  Time to move forward!

Some updates:

• I’m still out there riding to work each day.  There aren’t a ton of us out there anymore and boy is it getting chilly!  I’m also discovering that I’m a little lacking in proper clothing.  I have one pair of waterproof pants and jacket from MEC, but I probably need a second set so I can rotate them through.  My running shoes aren’t doing the job either – I definitely need to look into some waterproof boots or covers or something.
• I received the armbands a few weeks ago.  They are black with fluorescent green on them and the Pedal Etiquette logo.  Now I just got to sell them!  I only ordered 100, which made the cost per unit fairly high, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.  If I can get 100 members in the next 6 months, I’ll be happy.
• My bike is starting to break down a bit.  I think one of the brakes needs to be tightened (I had it fixed just two months ago, so it can’t need a new pad) and my shifter is starting to act funny.  I bought a bike repair book from MEC, so I’m going to try and fix it myself, especially if they are just a matter of tightening and cleaning.
• Despite my absence, I’ve still managed to receive a number of supportive emails and comments.  Thank you to everyone that has contacted me.  It really assures me that there is a need for Pedal Etiquette.
• Speaking of getting members, I just finished reading Gary Vaynerchuck’s book ‘Crush It’.  It was definitely an inspiring read.  In all honesty, I typically don’t like this style of writing.  I have a lot of respect for Seth Godin, for example, but I just don’t like his writing style.

Pre-Labor Day Linkage

09/03/2009

Just passing along some interesting news/events about cycling in Vancouver.  There sure is a movement a brewing!

• Velo-city Vancouver: Vancouver & The Bicycle Revolution concludes it’s 3-month exhibit at the Vancouver Museum this Monday.
• Also at the Vancouver Museum (tonight) is a free speaker event entitled ‘Is Vancouver the Next Great Cycling City?‘
• Interesting article on last Saturday’s Mud Run Ride in North Vancouver.  Definitely something for me to keep in my mental calendar for next year!
• Finally, an article on Granville Online entitled, ‘Does Critical Mass Still Matter?‘.  I loved the writer’s point of view and I think she is bang on with her assessment of where this city needs to get to.

Alright, I’m off for a ride home along the seawall.  Have a great long weekend!

Back to Normality

09/01/2009

Well, I had a bit of time off the last few weeks and then it took me several days to get back into the swing of things.  But with things back to normal, I’m back at the helm of this Pedal Etiquette vision.

With the long weekend approaching, I should have a little more time to set up the next phase of this site.  My first order of business is establishing the Code of Conduct that Pedal Etiquette members will follow.  I don’t feel particularly astute enough to simply make them up on my own.  So I plan to take on of the Streetwise Cycling courses offered through VACC.  I’m sure there are a bunch of rules and laws that I’m not even aware of, so it should be immensely helpful.  However, I’m not looking to simply repeat the course in codified form.  In fact, just the opposite: I want to build a Code of Conduct that is simple to remember and follow.  We have a long way to go before relations between driver, cyclist and pedestrians improve so I think it’s important to start simple.  Perhaps 4 pledges per group (ie. 4 for cyclists, 4 for drivers, 4 for pedestrians).

As for the merchandise, I still believe this is the key cog of it all.  It’s the visual identity of the Code.  It communicates to all around you that you want to lead by example in creating a safer and more peaceful commute.  As a result, I’m sticking with only one item – the arm band.  I originally thought about a window decal for cars, but then that sort of leaves the pedestrians out.  More importantly, it doesn’t unify everyone, which is what makes this group unique.

So, I’m going with the simple arm band.  Cyclists can wear it on their arm or around their handlebars.  Pedestrians can attach it to a backpack or piece of clothing.  And drivers can hang it from a rear view mirror or dangle it on their antenna.

Finally, the price point.  I’m going with $10.  $10 seems like a good number.  It’s not too much that it turns people off, but it’s enough that someone has to think about it and want to become a member.  I don’t know if that makes sense, but it’s sort of the pocket change principle – anything that can be purchased with pocket change (ie. under $5) can result in low ‘buy-in’ of the product.  So I wanted the price to be above the ‘pocket change principle’ but not too high to turn people off.  Ultimately I want people that care about this initiative and are going to demonstrate leadership on our streets.

The arm bands aren’t cheap, especially since I can probably only afford to buy the first 100 or so until the membership grows.  But the $10 fee will cover the cost and give me a little bit to put towards events, advertising, admin, etc.  As I’ve said all along, I’m not looking to make money, I just want to start a bit of a movement here.

Intermission

08/21/2009

Sorry for the recent non-posting, but you can expect another couple days until my next communiuque.  I’m off for a little camping trip until Wednesday.  But I assure you, things are progressing and I should have more details for you next week.  Thank you to everyone who has left comments.  Have a great weekend.

WestEnder

08/13/2009

Just a few quick comments tonight:

• If you are interested in reading my interview in the WestEnder, you can find it here with a big shiny picture of me.
• Critical Manners ride is tomorrow.  I’m really going to try and make it (bit of a scheduling conflict), at least for the first half or so.  If you are participating, come say hi!
• The plan for this group is starting to take shape.  I’m close to completing the membership package portion of it and will have it ready (hopefully) by the end of next week
• Starting to figure out what to do for the next Critical Mass event in two weeks.  Any guerrila marketing ideas to help me spread the word?
• The support has been amazing!  Thanks so much for everyone that has sent me an email, comment or just listened to what I’ve had to say.  The revolution starts with just one revolution of the pedal!
• That last line was cheesy.

You take the good, you take the bad

08/12/2009

Interesting morning to start the day off.  I awoke to hear Kid Carson, Nira Arora and Amy Beeman talking about Critical Mass and Critical Manners on The Beat 94.5.  Two points really stuck out for me.

First, Kid was talking about how it’s interesting when you have a mass of people, you become immune to laws.  Critical Mass is an example of this, as the cops do nothing to the horde of cyclists cruising the streets without helmets or regard for traffic lights.  4/20 is another good example.  The old adage ‘there’s power in numbers’ has stood the test of time.  Thankfully, the power of the internet and social networking has allowed this to happen much quicker and extend much further than ever before.  Of course, how you use this power is the key.

Second, Kid, Neera and Amy seemed perplexed as to what the Critical Massers’ message actually was?  And what issues are cyclists in general trying to communicate?  And why do cyclists behave as they do, picking and choosing the laws that apply to them.  I really sympathized with them on this and it gets to the heart of the issue in this city (and what Pedal Etiquette is trying to change).  Most drivers are stuck in a situation where they don’t know exactly what it is cyclists want, while at the same time, they see behaviour exhibited that causes them to be frustrated wth cyclists in general.  I’m no psychologist, but confusion plus frustration cannot equal happy times on the streets.

Upon listening to this, I called in and briefly talked about what Pedal Etiquette is and my sympathies toward drivers and pedestrians.  Being still a little groggy (hey, I played hockey late last night!), I probably could have formulated my thoughts and responses better, but it was a good exercise nonetheless.  And if anything, it reaffirmed my intuition that if we are to share the road, leadership is needed in order to bridge the gap between four wheeler, two wheeler and two footer.

Now you’re probably wondering what the title of this post has to do with a morning radio show (or you’re not wondering at all, and rather wondering when this post ends).  Well, The Beat was the good.  The bad occured about 45 minutes later when I hopped on my bike and ventured off to work.  I was cruising along Cornwall in the right lane, ready to change lanes to prepare for a left turn into the Kits Beach bike paths.  I checked my mirror, shoulder checked and signaled with my hand (promise!).  There was a car further back but I had ample time to move over.  Evidently, he had decided to step on the gas and so when I moved over to the left lane, he was now right on my tail.  He honked at me, swerved into the right lane and yelled at me.  I was yelling back but I won’t give you the play-by-play.  The next car behind him zipped by me and honked as well.  Somehow this was all my fault, yet methinks if I was a little Honda Civic, there would’ve been no issue whatsoever.

To say I was frustrated was an understatement.  It took me about two hours at work to cool off.  Here I am trying to abide by all the laws and sometimes it just doesn’t matter anyway.  Cyclists are an annoyance to drivers, law-abiding or not.  Which in turn, probably explains why many cyclists discard common courtesy altogether.  Or maybe it’s the other way around – a chicken-and-egg conundrum if you will.  Bottom line is, you can become quite jaded on the road and I think that’s going to be my biggest challenge. Can I really change people’s behaviours or is it too entrenched?  How am I going to make a difference when the tension on the roads seems untenable?  I had a hard time keeping my own cool this morning and this type of thing happens every couple days.

And the underlying issue amongst all of this is safety.  Let’s not even look at major collisions, how many car drivers have gotten into a fender-bender?  60%?  75%?  90%?  I don’t know what the stats are, but I’m sure that virtually everyone will be involved in at least one minor car accident in their lifetime.  Now that represents an issue unto itself, but it seems to be a generally accepted norm of our society.

The problem with this, is that as our streets become more and more packed with cyclists, we are filling our streets with more and more people that have a miniscule margin of error.  I can’t get into a fender bender on my bike.  One fender bender likely means a broken arm, fractured leg, concussion, or much worse.

Which brings me to the point of all of this.  The stakes are much too high not to do this.  Critical Mass may rely on the ‘strength of numbers’ axiom during their monthly event.  But for the other 29 days of the month, those cyclists are riding alone on the street amongst another critical mass – one of tension, obscurity and hostility.  They are susceptible to an accident or a fit of road rage at any moment and there is no immunity from that.

Taking shape

08/10/2009

As my step-dad Les would say, ‘hey, round is a shape!’  And in that same vein, my plan for Pedal Etiquette is beginning to take some shape, albeit not yet precise and defined.  Here is my update:

• The first Vancouver Critical Manners event takes place this Friday.  I encourage you to participate.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like I will be able to make it, but I’m going to try really hard to at least stop in.  But I wish the group all the best and I thank them for being a part of the change we all want to see.
• Speaking of Critical Manners, it sounds like they will have be conducting a ride similar to Critical Mass, but not so much mass.  The group will communicate their route, ride single file and follow every law along the way.  As I said, I’m very happy for this group and love the philosophy behind it.  But I wonder just how successful this can be.  The ‘one-day’ event thing will certainly garner a lot of PR, but is it sustainable?  For example, if it were to grow into several hundred participants, how is the single file bike ride going to work?  The frequent traffic lights will serve to split up the group over the course of the route and then you just have a whole bunch of cyclists riding a common route.  How will that differentiate between normal commuters?  I’m not trying to criticize, but I wonder about the staying power of something like this.
• This line of thinking is leading me to better formulate my own strategy.  For me, it’s more about a code of conduct displayed day in and day out.  It’s about taking ownership over your behaviours and leading by example to effect change.  That’s why I think Pedal Etiquette is less about a specific day, although I still want to incorporate that somehow, since events always help bring people together.  But it’s more about a way of life.  So I’m leaning more toward a membership program of sorts.
• So how is this membership going to work?  Well, establishing a Code of Conduct is key.  I’d also like to talk to the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition.  They offer a few different courses on cycling and I wonder if there is some symmetry there.  Perhaps our members get a discount on the course, or perhaps I can simply incorporate some of the best practices into my code.  Again, round is a shape!

  From there, I want to create something that visually connects the group.  The program I keep thinking about is Block Parent.  Remember being a kid and seeing those Block Parent logos in people’s windows?  That was an indication to children that if they were ever in trouble, they could seek assistance at a house with this symbol.  I know it’s not the clearest comparison, but it keeps sticking out in my mind.  I feel that in a similar way, the Pedal Etiquette logo/merchandise will be synonymous with proper conduct on the streets.

  As for merchandise, I realized while riding to work last week, that a t-shirt isn’t particularly practical.  After all, it might be covered by a backpack, a jacket or simply not comfortable enough for people to wear.  That’s why I’m going with an armband.  Far more functional and something that nobody else is really doing.  These armbands will be worn by cyclists and will be reflective so as to make them a safety device as well.  But most importantly, they will serve as the symbol of what Pedal Etiquette stands for.

• And don’t think I have forgotten about the other groups – drivers and pedestrians.  They are crucial to this movement as it will not be successful if only cyclists are involved.  Judging by this article in the WestEnder, clearly pedestrians are feeling a little left out of the conversation as well.  I think a car decal or sticker would be great for drivers to display, while pedestrians can probably wear either one as a sign of solidarity.

  But with that said, the onus is first on us cyclists to lead by example.  That’s why my plan is less focused on drivers and pedestrians initially.  Cyclists need to take the reins to start and then I think we look at reaching out.

Peddling Etiquette

08/06/2009

Since I’ve taken on this new project, I tried my best to follow the rules of the road.  And boy has it been tough!  I had no idea how many laws I break, and I don’t consider myself a reckless biker either.  For example, forcing myself to come to a standstill at every stop sign was particularly challenging.  As a cyclist, you usually aren’t going that fast, so you can sort of coast through an intersection, stopping only if other traffic is around.  Ditto for street lights.  The majority of Vancouver pedestrians think nothing of jaywalking and I think that has carried over to cyclists.  So when I would approach a traffic light with nary a vehicle in sight, I just carried on through.

Now what is most interesting about this whole abiding by the law approach is that it demonstrates so clearly how many cyclists DON’T follow the rules.  At every stop sign and traffic light I reached, as I came to a complete stop, other cyclists came whizzing by me.  I even found myself shaking my head at these people – and trust me, I do not want to become a traffic laws snob!  This worries me a little, but I’m sure I’ll find a happy medium.

Love Your City; Live Your City

08/04/2009

One of the things I love most about riding my bike to work is the time I have to think about random things.  Most of the time, it’s about things I should blog about (but usually forget to actually blog about).  What struck me today was how amazing of a place Vancouver is to live.

I’m not talking about the physical beauty.  I am constantly reminded of that as I meander around the seawall.  But the diversity of the people and sharing of cultures adds a unique vibrancy to the city.  I know we get criticized as a ‘no-fun city’ but over the last few years, that sentiment seems to be changing.  Take this weekend as an example.  We had the World Police & Fire Games kick off and the Pride Parade as the two major events of the BC Day weekend.  But in addition to that, we had the final fireworks evening on Saturday, countless street festivals and a few fantastic concerts (most notably for me, the Rock the Bells concert at Deer Lake Park).  Add in the well-attended Critical Mass event and Vancouverites were one active bunch these past few days!  This is yet another reason why I think this idea will fly – residents just don’t sit around.  I came to work today and every person in the office did something different.  Some went boating, some camping, some had a bbq, some went to a festival – the list goes on and on.  Regardless of what people chose to do, they were active and contributed to the life of their city.

Lessons Learned

08/04/2009

Well after a nice long weekend, it’s now back to reality.  Not just my day job – Whitecaps have a home game on Friday – but this new Pedal Etiquette thingee too.  Here are some random musings I have thought of over the weekend:

• There’s another group that has started up as an alternative to Critical Mass.  It is called Critical Manners – the name originating from a group in San Francisco that formed with the same objective in mind.  Jen Watkiss founded the site and has received some pretty good publicity for it via The Province and several corresponding message board posts.  I emailed her over the weekend, as it ultimately makes more sense to combine our efforts rather than compete.  I’ll keep you posted as this develops, but I must say it’s refreshing to see someone else passionate about this.
• If we do combine our efforts, it will be interesting to see what name we settle on.  Critical Manners has already received publicity, plus it has a better foundation in that there are Critical Manners groups all around the world.  However, I came up with Pedal Etiquette primarily because I wanted something unique to Vancouverites – similar to Ride Civil in Seattle.  I’m a big branding guy and I thus I wanted to create something new and unique.  But regardless, I’m not overly tied to it.  Ultimately, I just want to grow and see positive change in this city, so whatever is deemed the most suitable is fine with me.
• Thank you to everyone that has signed up to the Facebook group and Twitter updates.  Please spread the word, as I can’t possibly reach the number of people you can.
• Overall, I’m amazed at how many people have passionate feelings about this.  It really seems to be an issue that is only going to get larger if we don’t address it.  Many of the people I’ve talked to that drive to work have said that they want to support cyclists and ensure their safety, but they constantly encounter cyclists that make a bad name for the rest of us.  There seems to be a lot of frustration, but a lot of level-headedness as well.  That’s why I’m so optimistic for this.

Welcome to Pedal Etiquette

07/31/2009

My goal is to create a group of like-minded cyclists, drivers and pedestrians that wish to peacefully coexist on our streets and eliminate frustration and hostility among these groups.

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful places to live in the world.  The stunning landscape, eclectic neighbourhoods and diverse people make it a haven for freedom of expression and leisurely enjoyment.  The city is considered one of the most fit and active cities in North America, and cycling is a major part of it.  With the number of cyclists – both recreational and commuter – growing, the city has taken steps to ensuring their safety and mobility.

Recently, an increasing level of tension has developed in our city between drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.  Customs and courtesies between driver and pedestrian have normalized over decades of cohabitation – even the errant jaywalker gets little more than a disapproving look from a braking driver.  But bicycles are relatively new on our streets – at least in this abundance – and they pose unique challenges.  And because of this, frustration and antagonism amongst the groups has never been higher.  We are at risk of not only endangering eachother, but sullying all that we have worked for to make this city what it is.

That’s where Pedal Etiquette comes in.  Arising out of the need to unite cyclists, drivers and pedestrians, our members will lead by example on our streets, creating the framework for all others to follow.  We are not Critical Mass and thus will not use demonstrations that only serve to increase tension and hostility between these groups.

This is all very new so check back often for updates.  But this what you can expect from Pedal Etiquette:

• A leader that is accountable and representative of the goals of Pedal Etiquette.  Critical Mass has been criticized for lacking a leader and thus facilitating a ‘mob mentality’ approach to social expression.  Not here.  My name is Ryan McKee and you can contact me anytime
• A Code of Conduct that all our members will abide by.  This will outline the key elements of conduct and etiquette that cyclists, drivers and pedestrians are to exhibit
• Meetings, message boards, a Facebook group and Twitter updates – in short, lots of ways to stay updated and stay connected
• Pedal Etiquette Day – once a month, we will demonstrate our message to Vancouverites.  No, we will not be riding en masse through the streets, halting traffic, disobeying rules of the road and pissing off the public.  Instead, the third Friday of every month will be our day – chosen to represent the 3 distinct groups (cyclists, drivers and pedestrians).  More specifics HERE.

As you can tell, I’m purposely including drivers and pedestrians in this group.  That’s the point.  We need to work together and share ideas.  It bothers me that drivers get a bad rep in this battle, often because cyclists can take the ‘holier than thou’ stance.  I sympathize with drivers, as not everybody is able to ride to work.  Family considerations, length of commute, physical limitations, workplace hygiene – there are countless reasons why commuting by pedal isn’t practical for many.  Even in my life, I commute because it’s a short distance and I have a shower facility at work; meanwhile, my wife drives because she has to go to multiple places throughout the day due to her work.  But that doesn’t mean it has to be an us vs. them.  We can all work together to gaining a better understanding of eachother and showing solidarity.

Ok, that’s my ramble.  This was literally created on Friday, July 31, 2009.  The day of the Critical Mass demonstration and what I feel, the tipping point of public anger on this issue.  It’s time for change.