Cycling great way to exercise

Nice to see this article about cycling in the Maple Ridge News by columnist and local kynesiologist Kerry Senchyna:

Published: March 29, 2013 

Riding a bicycle is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to exercise.

In some ways, it’s like walking – the only cost involved is a pair of good shoes, or in the case of cycling, a reliable bicycle and helmet.

Cycling can be done almost anywhere, at almost any time of the year, and with little outlay of cash.

For those who do not enjoy sports because of the high level of skill required, the lack of opportunity, or perhaps because they don’t enjoy the competitiveness of sport, cycling is a great way to exercise.

Read more...

Column The News: Teach your children to ride safely

Latest column in the Maple Ridge News by Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Chapter of HUB:

Studies show bike commuting is one of the best ways to stay healthy

From http://www.resilience.org (formerly the Energy Bulletin)

by Jay Walljasper, originally published by peopleforbikes.org

It’s always a pleasure when scientific studies confirm your own long-held opinions, especially when what you think flies in the face of all conventional wisdom.

For instance, who knew that chocolate éclairs and triple fudge caramel brownies actually contain fewer calories than a 12-ounce glass of skim milk? Or that every $1000 you spend on lavish vacations before the age of 65 will, over the long run, provide you with more retirement income than if you’d stashed that same $1000 in a savings account?

Well, to be honest, I made up the fact about the éclairs. And the one about vacations too.

But here’s bona fide scholarly research that excites me in the same way: Biking for transportation appears more helpful in losing weight and promoting health than working out at the gym.

Read more...

Advocacy groups call for focus on cycling ahead of B.C. election

The last few years have been amazing, seeing the rapid growth in cycling for transportation in communities in North America and all over the world. Things don't move quite so fast in suburbs like Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. But the momentum is there and we need to step up our efforts. While about 60% of the population would be interested in cycling more if conditions were safer, it's always difficult to make change happen and, with the provincial elections coming up, we need your help. Please ask the candidates what they intend to do for cycling in B.C., and tell them what you would like to see happen.

Presently we have the following candidates:

Maple Ridge/Mission:

• Marc Dalton - BC Liberal http://www.marcdalton.ca/ - Facebook: Marc Dalton - Twitter: @MarcDalton – E-mail: marc.dalton.mla@leg.bc.ca 
• Mike Bocking - BC NDP – http://mikebocking.bcndp.ca/ – Facebook: Mike Bocking – Twitter: n.a. – Email: mike@mikebocking.ca. See blog post with some of Mike Bocking's views on BCCC's cycling strategy).
• Alex Pope - Green Party of BC - Website: http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/alexpope - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteAlexPope - Twitter: @mapleridgealex - E-mail: alex@alexpope.com See blog post with some of Mike Bocking's views on BCCC's cycling strategy).
• Chad Thompson - BC Conservative http://www.bcconservative.ca/team/chad-thompson-maple-ridge-mission/ - Facebook: n.a. - Twitter: n.a. - E-mail: n.a.  

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows:

• Elizabeth Rosenau - BC NDP http://elizabethrosenau.bcndp.ca/ - Facebook: Elizabeth Rosenau - Twitter: @ejrosenau - E-mail: ejrosenau@hotmail.com
• Doug Bing - BC Liberal http://www.dougbing.ca/doug_bing/ - Facebook: Doug Bing  - Twitter @douglasbing  - Email:  doug@dougbing.ca
• Manuel Pratas - BC Conservative http://www.bcconservative.ca/team/manuel-paras-maple-ridge-pitt-meadows/  - Twitter: @mikepratas - Email: mfpratas@telus.net
• Michael Patterson - Green Party of BC - http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/candidates (then Michael Patterson Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows) - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.patterson.9237 - Twitter  @seabroland - E-mail: michael.patterson@greenparty.bc.ca

Below is a message from Richard Campbell of the British Columbia Cycling Coalition:

The first media coverage of the Cycling Strategy and efforts to move cycling forward during the election that the BCCC and our member groups have been working on:http://www.straight.com/news/360826/advocacy-groups-call-focus-cycling-ahead-bc-election

Our election page including links to our Cycling Strategy, Candidate brief and how you can help build support for cycling during the election:
http://bccc.bc.ca/election/

Please check it out and get involved!

Thanks

Richard Campbell
President
British Columbia Cycling Coalition

A Cycling Adventure in Pitt Meadows - Spring Break camp!

Hey kids! Parks and Leisure is offering a Spring Break cycling camp this year. You can learn more about bike safety and have fun touring Pitt Meadows, seeing all the sites, and picnicking along the way. The program is offered during two weeks: March 18-22 and March 25-28. You can sign up for just a day, or for the whole week. Check out the details here.

Design multi-use cycle track Lougheed Highway between 216 & Laity

If you didn't have a chance to visit the Open House last week, you can see the drawing of the project here and the display boards here. 

The Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Committee sent the letter below to the Maple Ridge Engineering Dept.:

Mr. Pollock,

Thank you to you and the other engineering team members for taking the time to talk to members of our Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Committee at the Open House on the multi-use cycle track along Lougheed Highway last Thursday. 

We have discussed the design of the cycle track, and are hoping that you will consider the following suggestions:

• Driveway drops: it would be preferable to have the drop starting at the southern edge of the multi-use track, so that the surface of the cycle track stays level, and drivers crossing the cycle track are more likely to do so slowly and cautiously. Painted surface needs to clearly indicate to any crossing traffic that cyclists/pedestrian s have the right of way.
• Visibility of any bollards used on the multi-use path on either side of driveways is very important, so these should have bright, contrasting colours, and warning centerlines/ profiled markings could be used, especially where there are curves in the cycle track. (see 5.2 Recommendations for practitioners in http://www.fietsber aad.nl/library/ repository/ bestanden/ 121107_schepers_ What-do-cyclists -need-to- see-to-avoid- single-bicycle- crashes.pdf ) 
• With the high volumes of car traffic on Lougheed Highway, visibility for cyclists at night can be a big problem because of the glare of headlights, especially heading east. Edge lines may help to prevent cyclists from riding off the path. 
• Push buttons for crossing at both intersections should be easily accessible for cyclists (there should be no need to climb curbs etc.).
• Cyclists should not be required to dismount anywhere along the track. 
• Landscaping along the track: where appropriate, a variety of robust, yet easily maintained trees and shrubs would improve esthetics as well as feeling of subjective safety and comfort, since they would serve as natural bollards. These would also help to reduce the headlamp glare for those moving east. Where the width of the space is insufficient for landscaping, a barrier would be preferable. If you would like examples of the different types of barriers that can suit this context, please let us know. 

Thank you for considering these suggestions.

Kind regards,

Ivan Chow, co-chair
HUB: Your Cycling Connection
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Chapter