Fake car survey on Dunsmuir Viaduct?

(the part about the survey may have been debunked... stay tuned)

The people who oppose bike lanes are doing a bit of a dirty tricks campaign... maybe.



These folks in the video were out pretending to be working for the city, acted a little shady when questioned, and yesterday were suggesting that "the city is thinking of getting rid of the bike lanes."
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Velopalooza 2010

The people at the Velolove list are moving towards this:

Velopalooza

June 4 to June 13, 2010

Put more community fun into Bike Month. Check out the velopalooza website.

Love Ride 15th, People's Prom tonight

Hey, I don't know much about this but it sounds fun:

Says it aims to be between Midnight Mass and CM in style. Not sure what that means? I do hope people put some thought into being slightly organised. (Here follows my pro-corking tirade, I have no reason to think the organisers don't already know this, I just like repeating myself ;-)) It may seem a hassle to be pro-active about corking but it is really really worthwhile, doesn't take a lot of effort, and corking is fun anyway because you get to talk to strangers who are 95% of the time nice or interesting. And it keeps the ride together which is SO important for safety. If the choice is between being a total individualist and have to be super vigilant about every car/danger and riding together and having some look out for each other so you can have some spare attention to pay to other riders/the city --- I'd choose riding together every time.

Also, drinking and riding is a fun idea (ie I'd rather be a drunken cyclist than a designated driver) but not a safe or bright idea - especially when some people are not familiar with each other ---such as in this kind of publically announced ride. People in our community have been seriously injured riding drunk! Yes, you are not the danger to others that driving a car is - but I don't want to see cyclists hurt either. So please be sensible and maybe wait until the end of the ride for libation. Watch out for each other and all will be well.

That time of year again, the People's Prom is tonight. The funraising is for anti-olympic efforts this time. Haven't heard too much about it because it always sells out so I think they don't bother with much advertising. I don't know if tickets are left. They were sold at OCB as well as places on the drive but maybe not on this day of the event? Go early if you want to get in then.

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Great Women's March today.

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Hey, check out this new blog I only just discovered. Kinda pixelated graphics? A nifty blog nonetheless. They aren't taking sides on the o'lympdics -- but they are posting good information you don't find elsewhere. New blog for the blogroll :)

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Hey, did you notice that Micheal Bluejay's worldwide Critical Mass hub has ended. :-( Too bad, it was a great resource and he did a lot of good work for 10 years. Makes me feel old that I remember CM blogging when his site first existed. Thanks Micheal! So the wikia is the global resource now I guess. C'mon people the Vancouver page is blank! I'll get a start on that today but please sign up for wikia and add to it!

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Police agreed to a 45ft Banner Drop from Cambie Bridge. Good for them and everyone, maybe the issue of Homelessness will make the Sports TV news ;-p

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I must confess: I am drawn to this Olympic attraction: free zip line over robson.

So much so that I hesitated posting it here selfishly because I don't want to increase the length of the lineup. Has anyone tried this? Is there a lineup? Is it worth it? (free) Can anyone go? (ie, my senior citizen dad? my baby?) Grrr... Olympics. At least its free. I guess I just like heights and to get that unique perspective of the city. Maybe I'll unfurl an anti-olympic banner as I zip down ;-)

More 'Lymp-ics Links

This is an important video to watch given the overwhelming spin on these events in the mass media:So I guess RIOT 2010 happened this morning after all? I guess you've got to take the writing on the wall seriously then.



Anyway, here are some links to up to date news, I've found the main Olympic Resistance website pretty slow to update. Also, a favourite magazine of mine (when it was still printed) Only has some pretty decent coverage (actually that is where I saw some of the opening ceremonies) I will admit to being impressed that they recruited Shane Koyczan. That's a more locally connected performer than I would have expected. Rowan who actually made the first Vancouver Critical Mass web page that I took over knows? Shane. I've seen him preform at the W.I.S.E. hall and maybe Cafe Duex Soleil - I wouldn't be surprised if the WISE hall event was one of Rowan's Living Closet or an Artists Against War events... though I can't remember - does any other veteran of post-CM events know?

However, his poem was far too Nationalistic for my tastes. It isn't inherently different from those the Molson "I am Canadian" ads. Slightly better, but that may be negated if it catches on and gets oft-repeated the way the Molson ad did.

There is a new thing called Vancouver Media Coop which is quite exciting. I don't know the story of it. Maybe fill the hole left by Vancouver Indymedia? Looks like a pretty radical group, of maybe that's just the submissions. Its seems at first glance a lot better put together front page than IMC was - I think people expect more of the web nowadays. I wonder if this group will continue after the Olympics - boy howdy do we ever need more of that here in gentrified Vancouver!

This guy lost his job just for knowing Chris Shaw!

There was a flashmob on Robson that was threatening to be a great unpermitted street party - but sadly it was far too depoliticised and the red mittens hadn't much irony to them. Ah well, fun was had.

And the ubiquitous twitter feeds. I'll admit to being pretty naive about twitter, facebook and all the newfangled big brother web 2.umm whatever stuff. I've been avoiding it. Please write me some better links if you know better on that topic.

#onlympics
#no2010
#report2010
@Dave_Eby
surprisingly this isn't bad:
@24hoursvan

The stuff that has a sense of humour to it is what keeps me going. Bitter but funny. Funny sarcastic comments at Vancouver Sun website.

PS you don't have to loath the Olympics like I do to enjoy Critical Mass. CM has all sorts of people on it. (Including those who haven't paid enough attention to this 8 Billion dollar boondoggle that will bite us for many, many more years) I'm just sayin' that because I know my posts are slightly off topic technically. But hey, start your own CM blog! I'll link to you too ;-)

VANcouver OCcupation

Well, I am told that Critical Mass this month is to be pretty Olympics themed. So, I'll give in and post my personal thoughts:

^my impression on the Little Mountain Housing squatted tent city

Here are some links, I'm pretty out of the loop these days (trying to stay out of the 5 loops! ;-) Keep in touch and make us proud!

• olympicresistance.net
• no2010.com
• 2010welcoming.wordpress.com
  
• gatewaysucks.org
• straight.../calendar-protests-2010-olympics
• thefiveringcircus.com
• ainfos.ca
• rabble...olympic-resistance-network-presents-case
• facebook.group
• resist.ca/~orn/blog
• my-calm.info

Dance in the Olympic Streets!

• youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
• Then an incredible mashup at London’s Liverpool Street Station
• youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM
• vimeo.com/8822567
• vimeo.com/8825140
• facebook.com/imagine1day

Please update or add corrections in the comments. Thanks.

News and my comments:

• The biggest weapon for the VANcouver OCupation against us is fear and intimidation... They want us depressed so we don't show up to make our own voice heard in our own city! that's pretty weak for them
  
• Take heart, they are more vulnerable than us, even if they have all the money. They rely on a potent MYTH of Olympic popular support and Olympic Idealism. We know this to be lies, we only have to reveal the truth. Don't be afraid or believe all their hype. Our police are not monsters, they are often very reasonable human beings and even helpful at Critical Mass. They will be under pressure to do stupid things now - but not by us or most people. Always the violence at mass protests is overemphasized (or just plain made up) by mainstream media - all to scare us away because they know that corporate control is very fragile. We can simply refuse. Maybe that refusal will spread to Olympic volunteers and workers aka peaceful sabotage. I know more than a few people who are roped into helping out this 5 ring circus who don't support it and would gladly join the opposition if a viable useful way for them to help is offered. Be creative, possibilities are endless. Could this be the year the Olympics gets shut down and cancelled and the whole con game falls apart - local accountability prevails? :-) Olympics Fail?
  
• Wow, the Olympics are literally nazi apologists covering up history!?!
• Did you know VANOC, for their "greenest" Olmpics decided to "invest" in thousands of White SUVs to drive VIP Olympic Family (VISA, Coke, etc) around? Why not use trains, bikes, or heck even smaller cars? Well, they aren't carrying skies or any equipment, just a sort of limo service. For that you need SUV fleets. Like the police commanders in their luxury black SUVs calling the shots of a riot...(I digress) So what happens to the SUVs after the 'lympdics get out of town? They get auctioned off. I know there are over 300 under the Burrard bridge, and there are several other lots... so thousands. Most of these SUVs will likely be sold locally. So the most visible, everyday significant Olympic Legacy in Vancouver will be a thousand White SUVs on the street! This is the kind of cynicism we have come to expect from those corporatists occupying our city. And a pretty good reason for a cyclist (or any rational being) to take a stand against it all.
  
• If all of this seems unduly negative, go checkout railforthevalley and get something more useful happening. Please. Bombardier is trying to push their Olympic line train. I don't like those Arms Manufacturers (and seriously, the Olympic torches look like a Millenium Line lighting fixture - pug fugly) but it proves there is a lot of possibility there.
• Proof there is a God and he answers the prayers of the righteous ;-p I know this is old news but you have to smile. Maybe our dreams of housing price collapse (aka affordable housing in Vancouver) will be answered too!
  

Yes, big fun troublemaking peaceful ride, 5:30pm at the VAG downtown, Feb 26. Ride together, we are strong in one another. Think positive thoughts. Positive warm El Nino thoughts!

Urban Repair

This is a neat blog documenting DIY pedestrian/bike friendly street improvements and interventions in increasing public space:

Urban Repair Squad (URS) || Toronto || Archive

Inspiring video from Copenhagen and World's Fastest Bike

This is a kind of tourist advertising video but it has a nice simple positive message.

And here is a nice documentary of the worlds fastest land speed record:

Car Free Vancouver Sunday

Celebrate the future of your city!

Major fest sites include Kitsilano, Main Street, West End, and Commercial Drive. This event is volunteer-organized and produced. It's your party, so please contribute, join a crew or volunteer on June 14th to make it happen! (I know the Main St party needs some extra help, they've put up tear away posters on bike racks up and down main. Help them, cyclists.)

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June 14th Sunday. Yay! Family fun on fathers day. And also adult fun.

Hey, It's Bike Month. I know, it has been a for a while already. YOU should be posting these things here, not me. (email me and I'll let you post to the blog! spam AT bikesexual DOOT org)



Lots of fun. Noteworthy event tommorrow, is the always special lantern ride! Tomorrow a lantern ride leaves David Lam park 9pm ish (arrive at 7:30 for lantern making)

And besides that there are tons of other great events. Even tommorrow, besides the latern and naked rides. Check out the calendar for most events. (not the nude ride for some reason?)

Support the English Bay Ciclovia

Please support the English Bay Ciclovia proposed by the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) for several Sundays this summer.

Video of last year's landmark success Ciclovia in Portland:

The Ciclovia will provide the missing connections between Burrard Bridge and the Seawall providing a wonderful, safe cycling and walking experience for people of all ages. The 'ciclovia' concept was pioneered in Bogota, Columbia in the 1980s to promote active recreation and social interaction on car-free streets. Generally, a ciclovia involves opening kilometres of city streets to non-automobile traffic to provide a safe space for cycling, walking, aerobics, and other similar activities.

Ciclovia-style car-free events are becoming increasingly popular in many cities, including New York, Ottawa, Chicago, Portland, and Guadalajara. The proposed route is from Denman at Beach (English Bay Beach Park), along Beach Avenue, Pacific Street, Burrard Bridge, Cornwall Avenue, Point Grey Road, to Jericho Beach Park. The ciclovia would thus be approximately 6 km and would provide opportunities for walking, running, cycling, rollerblading, and other forms of active recreation, while connecting parks and public spaces along the English Bay waterfront. The Ciclovia will encourage people to cycle and walk over the Burrard Bridge during the trial increasing the likelihood of success of the trial and a two lane reallocation as the long-term solution. The Ciclovia is being put forth as a consideration to council this Tuesday at the Traffic and Transportation meeting. It seems to have received a favourable review by staff but it wasn't included in the recommendations as it was not in exactly in the scope of activities that where defined for the Summer Spaces program. It would be great if you could send a message to council supporting this.

gregor.robertson@vancouver.ca, clranton@vancouver.ca,
clrcadman@vancouver.ca, clrchow@vancouver.ca, clrdeal@vancouver.ca,
clrjang@vancouver.ca, clrlouie@vancouver.ca, clrmeggs@vancouver.ca,
clrreimer@vancouver.ca, clrstevenson@vancouver.ca,
clrwoodsworth@vancouver.ca

Here is the VACC's proposal:

• vacc.bc.ca/pdf/SummerSpacesCallForProposals-VACC.pdf Here

is the staff report:

• vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20090602/documents/ttra4.pdf And
  

the link to the Traffic and Transportation council meeting:

• vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20090602/ttra20090602ag.htm

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discuss@lists.velolove.bc.ca
http://lists.velolove.bc.ca/mailman/listinfo/discuss
-------------------------------------- Velo Love for All! ----

Dear Supporters of Little Mountain Housing:

To start off the New Year, you're invited to join us at the Little Mountain Outdoor Art Gallery to make a strong statement for affordable housing.

If we speak with one voice, government will have to listen.

In fact, their hearing is already improving.

What: Little Mountain Art-In, 2nd Edition

When: Sunday, January 11th, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Why: The Art-In at Little Mountain on December 7 was a resounding success. Fifty-some artists participated and many said they'd like to come back. Their art made powerful statements, caused BC Housing to attempt censorship, and resulted in a remarkable 12 television, radio and newspaper stories.

With the provincial election less than five months away, a deepening housing crisis and a downturn in the economy, the government can be pressured into action. The need for affordable housing is urgent - let's get the homes at Little Mountain re-opened!

Where: Little Mountain Housing complex at 33rd & Ontario and, if you wish to paint indoors, at a hall nearby.

Who: Artists and community members who want to stop the demolition of the 224 homes at Little Mountain and have them re-opened for families in need of affordable housing.

How: The Outdoor Gallery at Little Mountain has numerous open places where new work will make an impact. All supplies provided, although you are welcome to bring your own.

Details on the exact location will be sent soon. For more information, go to www.my-calm.info or call 604=325+7209.

We are voicing the urgent need to preserve current social and affordable housing and to build much more. Let's keep the momentum going.

All the best and Homes for All in 2009!

CALM (Community Advocates for Little Mountain)

NEWS COVERAGE OF THE ART-IN ON DECEMBER 7TH

• Vancouver Sun Gallery, Dec 7th
• The Straight, Dec 7th
• 24hrs, Dec 8th
• Metro, Dec 8th
• The Province, Dec 8th
• The Straight, Dec 15th
• The Province, Dec 15th
• Between the Cracks Magazine
• 24hrs, Dec 16th

There has also been good coverage on CBC tv (news at 6), CTV, City TV (Breakfast Television), and CBC radio (the Early Edition).

Artwork that was censored by BC Housing following the Art-In.... link

Last Minute Vision Vancouver Nomination

Hey, if you have a Vision Membership you should go Vote Today at Tupper School before 7 pm.

I'm not going to get into all the politics -- except I'm very glad to say that COPE/Green/Vision formed an alliance. CM is of course not a formal organisation and these recommendations are in no way representative of anything but my own (Rusl's) opinion. If people have voting recommendations for COPE or Green or even the NPA please write comments or possibly submit a whole post. I'm not really up to date on everything around the city but I have been following the Vision race a bit through some people I know. Also if you have more Vision suggestions/disagreements please make them in the comments. Politics is messy business, and it requires lots of discussion/being wrong/mess!

OK, apparently you have to vote for an entire Vision Slate otherwise your ballot (for the nomination) is considered spoiled. I disagree with that policy but anyway...

I don't know enough about everyone to make a full slate recommendation. If you do - make it!

OK finally: I've got 4 specific recommendations to make and will let you choose the rest. These are all based on bike/car-free thinking:


Rusl thinks it would behoove you to vote for (nominate) these people:

City Council:
David Eby - PIVOT Legal (Homelessness, DTES issues) guy, he helped arrange our use of their space for the Bicycle Bee event and also has publically said he thinks that things like CM are good and important for our city.
Andrea Reimer - famously Green, and Carmen Mills, the queen of Vancouver Car-Free Commercial Drive festival/ Momentum founder/ longtime bike community engine, is her campaign manager.

Parks Board:
Rob Wynen - longtime CM activist (since the 90s) and solid car-free advocate as part of West End Residence Association.
Sarah Blyth - Skateboard advocate and Momentum Magazine contributer.

Of course there are tons of good people I've missed including also in other parties, please write comments if you have ideas.

The Car of the Future

The future of the car is the past. It's over. All this nonsense is desperation. Cars are a trap - environmentally and socially.

In the future there will still be people marketing garbage you don't need that will only do what you don't want... But it won't be cars anymore.

What are cars for anyway? We need transportation - not public masturbation. Cars don't move people around, they move steel, oil, plastic and dollars. Why would anyone own a car in the city? Just to have a big financial burden than is too big and slow and destructive to get you anywhere?

Oh yes, social status. Cars use bicycle and train technology but are considered to be horseless carriages - the stage coach limousine. Social status is the reason for cars. Cars in the city are needed in order to fit in. But that is changing - and the whole sham of an industry will disappear just as quickly as it rose up.

Bye bye and good riddance.

Vancouver goes CAR FREE!

Please post and forward far and wide!

Come celebrate the future of our City

CAR-FREE VANCOUVER DAY
Sunday June 15

Car-Free Vancouver Day, this Sunday June 15 (Fathers Day), will feature FOUR simultaneous car-free festivals. Come out and play, and help change EVERYTHING!

We are expecting over 100,000 people to come out to party in streets, and let the world know that Vancouver is ready for car-free days, car-free streets, and car-free districts. Other cities in Canada and around the world are doing it. It's high time for Vancouver to catch the wave, and join the car-free revolution.

Kits will boast a tapestry of over 20 block parties all day, with street "living rooms", dances, performers and potlucks. The West End will shut down Denman Street from noon to 6 for Parades, salsa and merengue lessons, skateboard demos, community tables, and that special W. End bohemian flavour. Commercial Drive will rock car-free from noon to six, with Tribal Harmonix/Burn BC revelry, Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling the Healing Garden, and the usual mix of joyful chaos. And Main Street (between 12th and 16th) will rock out late from 4 to 10pm, with a farmers' market, street hockey, fire show, Burlesque and Skateboard demos, Happy Bats film fest, an
all-bassoon orchestra, and much more madness.This event is 100% volunteer organized and produced. We encourage everyone to come out and contribute their gifts today...for tha love, not for tha bux!

All Fests will feature Bike Valet Parking. Ride, walk, skate or transit from Fest to Fest -- but don't drive, parking will be crazy!

Info, schedules and route maps are www.carfreevancouver.org

And YES Main Street, Commercial Drive and West End still need VOLUNTEERS!! Be a superhero, person a barricade (or teardown, setup, infobooth, photography, etc. for only a couple of hours or a chore or two and you'll get treated like a rockstar, and invited to the very special Work Less Party Afterparty...DO IT NOW!...email info@$@carfreevancouver .*org and tell us what crew you want to join. Or just show up at an Info Table or Tent on the day-of and offer to lend a hand. Make it your party, because...it is!

Thanks to all of you for making this dream come true.

****************************************

p.s...special note from Carmen, delete in forwards as you wish...I know this is tricky, but if you are a member of Vision Vancouver, try to drop by the Croation Cultural Center at 3250 Commercial Drive (16th and Commercial Drive) between 8am and 5pm to cast your vote in the Mayoral nomination race. If you're on a bike it's less than 10 minutes from the party, so you should be able to get there, vote, and be back on the Drive within half an hour. It's a very tight race. I am supporting Gregor Robertson and will be trying my best to get down there and cast my vote. I know that if Gregor wasn't trying to get elected, he'd be out there with us partying for car-free streets.

City of Vancouver Cycling Route Survey

Hi guys,
You may have seen this survey already. I filled it out and mentioned the safety on the bridges, the use of bike routes by cars and having bike racks on the roads (like car parking stalls) rather than sidewalks as important priorities.

~j

The City wants feedback about its cycling routes. Here is a link to their survey:

vancouver.ca/engsvcs/transport/cycling/