Curbside hosts the new Toronto Cyclists Union
While we’re busy putting people on dedicated city bikes we appreciate people like Dave Meslin, who is helping create dedicated cycling infastructure for Toronto cyclists. This is why Curbside is providing the new Toronto Cyclists Union with free office space on the second floor gallery of Curbside Cycle. After enviously observing Velo Quebec’s office in Montreal – which features a bike shop, advocacy offices, and coffeeshop in one building – we became convinced that one way to help Dave with his new initiative was to provide a high-traffic public environment that at-once serves the Toronto cyclist with better bikes and better cities for bikes – a kind of hub for Toronto bicycle culture. The new office space should be ready in time for the launch of the Toronto Cyclists Union in May.
We are all about the Toronto Cyclists Union
At Curbside we sell bikes to everyone, but the greatest part of our business is the bicycle commuter. As far as bike stores go, we’re odd that way. For a long time we have been waiting for an advocacy group that we can stand behind, and the Toronto Cyclists Union. is it. See, here’s the thing. Most of our customers would never join bicycle advocacy groups because bicycle advocacy was too exclusive, too ideological, and too black and white about things. The Toronto Cyclists Union is the first group we have seen that seeks the widest inclusive membership possible, is willing to work with business, especially the bicycle business, and has a practically oriented means-ends political lobby that any cycle commuter would stand behind. Membership driven – for a small fee – the Toronto Cyclists Union can focus in on issues that are ward specific since it will database its members by ward. This is a powerful tool. In other words, The TCU never loses sight of the ‘big issues’ (bike lanes, safety, etc.) but channels them up the political process in the most politically local way possible. It’s real bicycle lobby – and we’re right behind it. Moreover, the TCU will offer roadside repairs and a magazine to boot. The TCU received a nice little review in this weekends Globe and Mail, read the story here.
bells on bloor
We weren’t sure what to call bells on bloor, a rally, a protest, a ride? We still aren’t sure. What we knew is that we sell bikes to everybody, everday, and that most of these people would not want to be part of a rally or protest, but a ride – sure. But it wasn’t just a ride – it was political, after all – but not in any niche sort of sense. The goal was to create a ride that took anyone and everyone who rides on Bloor to show the fact that there is a lot of us, and that we want bike lanes. And, there sure was a lot of us! Despite a mere five weeks to organize the ride, the turnout was anywhere from 700 to 900 people – estimates vary. But the great thing is that everyone showed up, from the usual critical mass bunch to the moms, dads, kids, and urban professionals that ride their bikes daily. Of course we grabbed about twenty Batavus bikes and showed the world that good bicycle infastructure is one thing, but good bicycles are quite another. Bike lanes get people to work safely, but good bikes? That’s something we’re still all learning!
