The North Okanagan Coalition for Active Transportation (NOCAT) together with Sun Country Cycle and the Okanagan Regional Library in Vernon present, the “Ride Thru Winter Workshop” on Saturday December 3, 2016 between 10 AM until Noon at the Vernon Library; admission is free. The Ride Thru Winter Workshop will feature presentations to encourage and educate participants on all aspects of winter bicycling. Laura Medcalf, NCCP Coach and TREK Women’s Cycling Advocate, will make two presentations: Winter fitness for Bicyclists, and Visibility; clothing and equipment to improve visibility. John Szeliga, mechanic at Sun Country Cycle, will discuss winter bike maintenance, types of equipment and winter apparel. Bruce Mol, NOCAT member and CAN-BIKE cycling instructor, will discuss winter cycling route selection. Following the presentations there will be an open forum for participants to ask questions. The workshop concludes with draw prizes courtesy of Vernon businesses.
The goal of the North Okanagan Coalition for Active Transportation’s is to see more people walking and riding bicycles more often by encouraging citizens to support infrastructure development that will enhance safe and active transportation and connect to the upcoming Okanagan Rail Trail.
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11/10/2016 0 Comments Save the date for RIDE THRU WINTERSAVE THE DATE! We're putting together a great program to help you get more out of winter, on the roads, rail trail and to help you make your Christmas wish list. We'll have tips, tricks and more info in our next newsletter - email [email protected] to joinAphorisms; the bane of my existence! Trying to describe my disappointment with some of the bicycling infrastructure in the North Okanagan, I am challenged with aphorisms such as, ‘Something is better than nothing’ and ‘be thankful for what you have.’ What I really want to say about walking and bicycling infrastructure is, ‘Don’t hang onto that mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.’ When I first saw the object on 43rd Ave, and the remedial action of painting it yellow, I made a video denouncing the facility and showing an excellent solution across the street on the North side of the intersection. Since that video the NOCAT mail box has received some excellent comments such as, ‘How will that be cleaned with a street sweeper and snow plough?’ Another mentioned a point I had completely missed, the hazard sign indicates road users should go to the left and, obviously, most cyclists will go to the right, except if the road has debris, or snow or pedestrians. Apologies in advance to motorists who think bicyclists are unpredictable. BTW, motorists won’t be able to see debris. (continued after image comparing the north side to the south side of the intersection) Since that video even more ‘remedial’ action has been taken to clarify (?) the route for bicyclists. Once again, with the aid of yellow paint, a route around the object on the right is clearly outlined. I guess we’ll deal with debris and snow when the need arises.
So as an Advocate should I be happy to have ‘something?’ Is anything better than nothing? Is this object and subsequent treatments of yellow paint better than nothing? This is the 3rd instance in Vernon that I know of, where the hazard sign indicates left and where the cyclist route is on the right. Is this a new thing in traffic sign demarcation? Aphorisms where are you in my hour of need? 11/1/2016 0 Comments Jane's RideJane, a new NOCAT member, responded to our open invitation to send an image of a challenging walking or bicycling facility so that we may create a list of troubling areas and forward them to whoever plans that area, Coldstream, Vernon, RDNO, and ask they be fixed. Today's highlighted facility came about a few years ago when Alexis Park Drive was widened, but it couldn't be widened all the way to 30th Ave so...well, the result was that the new (at the time) bike lane didn't connect with the 30th Ave bike lane. You might think the complaint is that there isn't enough warning - that's not the problem. The problem is that there is enough room for the bike lane down at the 30 Ave end if motorists queue up... see Suggestion 2 below. Apologies to Marshall Mcluhan, in this case, 'the facility is the message.'
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Kerry CarlsonKerry is happiest when she's out of her car and on her bicycle. As a community physiotherapist, she'd love to see more people of all ages engaging in an active lifestyle by walking and bicycling to where they need to go! Bruce MolBruce keeps active by walking and running in the Vernon area. When not on foot you can often see him on bicycle, with his trailer, shopping locally or taking his recycling to the depot. Bruce has also been a CAN-BIKE bicycling skills instructor for over 20 years. See www.gonecycling.com |