Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

The Toronto Cyclists Union is a member-based organization working to create a city where anyone can ride a bike safely and enjoyably, regardless of age, ability or location. We envision a transportation system where an 80 year old man in Etobicoke can bike with his grandchild to the park, where a mother in Parkdale with 3 kids can run errands, get to work, and buy groceries all by bicycle, where a morning commute is no longer gridlock and frustration, but a swift and safe bike ride from St. Clair to Bay Street. Getting more people using bicycle transportation for trips under 3 km is the fastest, cheapest and healthiest solution to the real challenges of congestion, pollution and rising energy prices, particularly as we experience population increase. The city developed an excellent bike plan – unfortunately, the chain fell off. The Toronto Cyclists Union is the citizen’s tool for getting the city tuned up and shifted into high gear, through discussion, education and advocacy.

History of Organization

In the fall of 2007, community leader Dave Meslin gathered over 70 bicycle advocates and organizers from more than 20 organizations to share his vision for a cycling advocacy strategy. He had recently traveled North America to study successful membership-funded bike advocacy groups and was inspired by the great successes achieved by these groups such as separated bike lanes, clear and easy signage, traffic lights to allow cyclists to flow through intersections easily, and even integrated suburban infrastructure. Momentum built quickly as everyone recognized the need for an advocacy arm to articulate the every-day experience of cycling in Toronto. That winter, the Toronto Cyclists Union incorporated, formed a board, held several advisory meetings across the city, and signed up hundreds of volunteers. We launched on May 20, 2008, with a public press conference at the Peace Garden in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. Community and political support was strong, with guest speakers Mayor David Miller, Councillor Adrian Heaps, Metrolinx Chair Rob MacIsaac, Walk & Bike for Life ED Gil Peñalosa and CultureLink ED Ibrahim Absiye. In a mere two years, the bike union has mainstreamed the conversation about the importance of cycling transportation, and we are quickly growing our capacity to improve Toronto’s cycling culture and infrastructure.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Accomplishments

• 1000 members strong and growing; about to expand to 2 full-time staff, 1 partner staff & 1 full-time intern
• Over 300 media hits since our launch; known as the main source for media on cycling-related matters
• Convened and led a working group to create cycling and pedestrian specific amendments to the Ontario Drivers Handbook
• Achieved bike-specific additions to Toronto’s new comprehensive zoning bylaw
• Rescued Toronto’s public bike share program through membership engagement, media relations and behind-the-scenes advocacy

Awards

• Innovation in Advocacy Award for our Newcomer Cycling Outreach Program, in partnership with CultureLink Settlement Services, 2010 -- Alliance for Biking and Walking, Washington DC
• Vital People Award, Yvonne Bambrick, ED, 2009 – Toronto Community Foundation 

Grants

• Trillium Foundation, 2010 – 2 Year Operational Funding Grant
• LiveGreen Toronto, 2010 – Grant for the Bicycle Service Station (see in “Programs”)
• Trillium Foundation, 2009 – 3 Year Grant to fund our Newcomer Cycling Outreach Program & full-time staff person via CultureLink
• Toronto Community Foundation, 2008/9 and 2009/10 – Transportation Grant for Toronto Cyclists Handbook to be created in 17 languages (CultureLink Partnership)
• Bicycle Trade Association of Canada, 2009 – Grant towards CultureLink Partnership and Cyclists Handbook

Programs

>Newcomer Cycling Outreach Program

Newcomer Cycling Outreach - We are educating newcomers on the advantages of cycling in Toronto and encouraging daily cycling through training and workshops. A unique, award-winning partnership with CultureLink Settlement Services.

Ward Advocacy - We are building cycling advocacy at the local level with 10 ward groups actively outlining problems and solutions for their own neighbourhoods. With our new Advocacy and Operations Director set to come on board, this program will be expanded in advance of the municipal election.

Paint the Plan - We are motivating the political will and public support for the complete implementation of the Toronto Bike Plan and beyond. In 9 years, only 23% of the promised 495km of bike lanes have been painted.

Bicycle Service Station(BSS) - The BSS is a bright orange branded tent that will rotate through various high traffic cycling areas across the city. It is our key outreach strategy for the 2010 cycling season, with volunteers engaging passersby and a mechanic to perform quick safety checks. The BSS will engage the community in cycling advocacy, increase ridership by directly promoting cycling as an efficient and healthy transportation option, increase the visibility of the bike union and grow our membership.

Good Roads Campaign - In collaboration with the city, we are encouraging cyclists to phone in road hazards to the new 311 hotline. The goal is to ensure a rapid response for road repairs that are essential to keeping cyclists safe.

Thank You – A Driver Appreciation Campaign - We often forget the thousands of commuters who travel safely, and without incident, every day. The bike union wants to encourage positive behaviour and to reward those who use Toronto’s roads with respect. With pro bono support last fall from a local ad agency, we developed a Thank-You Card to be delivered to conscientious drivers, right before the fall/winter season with it’s danger of shorter daylight hours.

Newcomer Cycling Outreach Program

This program is a unique partnership between CultureLink Settlement Services and the Toronto Cyclists Union. Many newcomers to Toronto have migrated from countries where cycling is a major form of transportation, but many leave cycling behind due to different road conditions, traffic and perception. Since cycling is affordable, healthy and convenient -- three areas many newcomers struggle with -- CultureLink saw an opportunity to ease the migration transition, and so approached the bike union about developing a co-ordinated outreach plan. 

This program:

• produced posters in 2009 promoting cycling in Toronto’s top 16 languages. 60 community resource hubs that serve newcomers agreed to display them
• will soon unveil the Toronto Cyclists Handbook in Toronto’s top 17 languages
• is developing the Bike Host program where a volunteer will learn about the settlement process and then be matched to a newcomer who has an interest in cycling. Together they can explore Toronto by bike. 
• will deliver 25 interactive workshops this year at ESL and LINC classes, to discuss cycling safety and local rules of the road.
• will train community animators who speak the same languages as newcomers, to deliver workshops, CAN-BIKE classes and participate in cycling advocacy throughout Toronto.

Program Impact

In the 3 months since the full-time coordinator began, we:

• are launching the Toronto Cyclists Handbook in Toronto’s top 17 languages
• have been approved to hire two newcomer youth paid interns
• recruited one university graduate student for a summer co-op placement

By the end of November, we will have tabled at various community events, delivered 25 workshops and signed up 50 people for our Bike Host program. 

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Toronto continues to offer newcomers a poor quality of life. Immigrants generally arrive in Canada in good health, yet 45% of them become overweight or obese after being here for 10 years.”

“A study of 9 neighbourhoods in Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke with concentrations of high rises along major arterial routes and large populations of newcomers, seniors, youth and young families (those least likely to own a car) has found that most residents rely on walking, in an urban environment designed for cars.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Social integration and pride in the community is stimulated in neighbourhoods where active transportation (i.e. biking and walking) is easy and safe.

Participant Vignette

Yu Li immigrated to Canada with his wife in 2000. “We quickly set out to fulfill the stereotypical North American suburban dream,” says the 37- year old computer programmer. They bought a car, then a house. The high cost, frustration and stress of his daily commute to work soon took their toll. “I seemed to be more impatient and irritable while driving,” he says. “Then I rediscovered my old friend, the bicycle.” Yu began biking to the GO station. Eventually he and his wife moved closer to their places of employment. “Now I ride to the office, to my children’s daycare, and to run all sort of errands,” he says. He encourages newcomers to join him in advocating for improved cycling infrastructure. “This partnership between the Toronto Cyclists Union and CultureLink is so important,” he says. “It speaks directly to newcomers in their own languages. Its success will be a win for everybody: healthier, more fulfilling lives for newcomers, a stronger cycling community, and a more vibrant city for every Torontonian.”