April 6/07 11:10 am - Velolove News

Posted by Editor on 04/6/07
 

Velolove News

Vancouver-Point Grey 'Wake Up' to Gateway

HELP WANTED: 30 Volunteers

Following on the heals of the well attended Delta rally against the Gateway Project is the door-to-door distribution of Gateway to Global Warming newspaper in the Premier's riding. Campbell only won this seat (as an incumbent) by 2200 votes. Volunteers are needed for Saturday, April 14, 9 am to 10:30 am. We will meet at 8:45 am in the parking lot of Kits Beach and give out street assignments and newspapers.

The Gateway 30 Network wants to cover the riding and still make it to the Step It Up Rally at 11 am later that day. After we do the Premier's riding we'll be doing other cabinet ministers' ridings.

To volunteer, please contact Donna Passmore (Transportation Campaigner, Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition and Coordinator, Gateway 30 Network) at 604-536-2790 or email donna8@telus.net


Volunteer for BEST at Earth Day

Earth Day on April 22 is one of the world's largest celebrations of our planet and environment. This year, with the importance of the environment rising to the forefront of the global consciousness, Earth Day Vancouver has the opportunity to blossom as one of the city's landmark events. Volunteer for BEST Valet Bike Parking at Earth Day!

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) will be providing free valet bike parking at this year's celebration at Jericho Beach. We need volunteers to help us park bikes! It's a fun and easy way to become involved with Earth Day and is much appreciated by the many cyclists who attend the event. Volunteers who help out for 2.5 hours will receive a free BEST T-shirt and water bottle.

The Earth Day Vancouver Celebration takes place Saturday April 21 from 11am to 5pm at Jericho Beach. Help BEST and the environment this Earth Day by volunteering with valet bike parking.

BEST will also be providing valet bike parking at events throughout the summer, including:

- The Alcan Dragon Boat Festival - June 16 and 17
- The Commercial Drive Festivals - June 17, July 22, and August 19

Contact Sarah at sarah@best.bc.ca or call 604-669-2860 to sign up!


Bike to Work Week - Register Today!

Now recruiting -- Workplace Champions (aka Team Leaders)

Bike to work week is May 28 to June 3. Take the initiative at your workplace and become a team leader. Spread the word to encourage your co-workers to register and bike to work during BTWW and reap the rewards. Encourage your company to become an Employer Partner. And if you have a tent and some people power, we can guide you on how to build a commuter station in your community.

We need volunteers. If you have some time and enthusiasm to share we would love to hear from you.

Visit www.vacc.bc.ca/biketowork and follow the step-by-step guide to make Bike to Work Week a success. It's easy, and it's free. The first fifty people to register a team in the Lower Mainland will get a free Bike to Work Week T-shirt!

For more information, contact Mia Kohout, VACC Bike to Work Week Program Director, at 778-833-3773 or biketowork@vacc.bc.ca


Basic Bike Repair Workshop

Thursday, April 5

Offered by PEDAL (Pedal Energy Development Alternatives), an organization that develops and promotes the use of pedal powered technology, on the first Thursday of every month from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The course covers drivetrain maintenance, brake and gear adjustment and flat tire repair. Courses are held at Our Community Bikes, 3283 Main Street near 17th Avenue.

Cost is $40 plus tax. Bring your bike and a snack.

For more info or to register, phone 604-879-BIKE (604-879-2453), email learn@pedalpower.org, or visit www.pedalpower.org


Radiant City

Friday, April 6 to Thursday, April 12

Radiant City, a documentary about suburban sprawl, opens in Vancouver on April 6 for one week only!

Sprawl is eating the planet. Across the continent the landscape is being levelled -- blasted clean of distinctive features and overlaid with a zombie-like monoculture. Politicians call it growth. Developers call it business. The Moss family calls it home. Welcome to Radiant City.

Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street near Davie
April 6-11, 7:15 & 9:00pm
April 12, 1:45 & 4:00pm

"Suburbs are the greatest misallocation of resources in the history of the world." - James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency and The Geography of Nowhere

"Suburbia is cheap and easy. Housing developers can bulldoze every tree and throw up hundreds of single-family homes, cover them with vinyl siding and sell them - and they can do it all outside of the existing city infrastructure, without considering public transport." - Jim Brown, co-director/writer, Radiant City

View the trailer at: www.radiantcitymovie.com


Mini Bike Monday

Monday, April 9

This Monday, April 9 2007, is a holiday... the perfect time for Mini Bike Monday! Meet at noon at the Science World gazebo and go on a mini-bike ride of the seawall and downtown. We will distract shoppers, confuse tourists, annoy drivers... generally act like fools. Ride leaves at 12:30 pm.

Participants must be riding a disproportionately small bike... usually 16" wheels or smaller but up to 20" is fine too. Pass this on to mini bike lovers!

Form more information, visit minibikearmy.blogspot.com


Intro to Bike Mechanics for Women

Monday, April 9

Empowering women one bike at a time! Jett Grrl Bike Studio offers intro classes, covering flat fix, drivetrain maintenance, and basic brake adjustments. Advanced classes offered as well, plus a full service repair shop. All classes are hands on, 5 people max, w/ detailed written handout provided. Cost is $40/class.

Boys are welcome too :o)

Time: 6:30 to 9:00 pm
Place: 1925 Adanac Street near Victoria Drive (back door)

Check out www.jettgrrl.com for more details and to sign-up. Or call 604-255-5097 / email jett_grrl@hotmail.com to reserve a space.


Pedal Revolutionary Bike Radio!

Thursday, April 12

And every other Thursday, from 5:00 to 6:00pm, on CiTR 101.9 FM

News about bike civic politics, chopper bikes, legal issues, bike maintenance, culture, fun and of course Critical Mass! Your hosts: Ifny, iamlachance@gmail.com, and Conrad Schmidt, ninemonkeys@blaze.ca, 604-537-2044.

Pedal Revolutionary Bike Radio needs to hear from you! If you have a bike related event or announcement, email pedalrevolutionary@gmail.com or during the show phone 604-UBC-CiTR (604-822-2487).

Web site: www.bikesexual.org/cm/radio
Listen live over the Internet: www.citr.ca/default.asp?id=19&mnu=19


Midnight Mass Bike Ride

Thursday, April 12

Do you have a bike? Do you like riding it? At night? Wear some warm socks, dig up some bike lights, and pack yourself a nice hot beverage -- the next midnight ride is tonight, the night before Critical Mass.

Meet 11:45 pm at Grandview Park (Commercial Drive at Charles Street -- across from the Havana and Turks) and ride at midnight.

The ride happens the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month, so mark your calendars. Tell your bike loving friends, and hope to see you there!

For more information and videos:
www.midnight-mass.blogspot.com


Margaret Charles Chopper Collective Ride

Friday, April 13

On the Second Friday of every month, Vancouver's freak art bike collective invites you to ride with this post-apocalyptic gang of delimitation riders.

Meet 6:30 pm at the Science World Gazebo (1455 Quebec Street) and ride at 7:00 pm or so.

For more information, visit mcthree.blogspot.com


Vancouver Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 18

On the third Wednesday of every month (except August) the Vancouver Bicycle Advisory Committee meets 5:30pm in Committee Room 2 (on the third floor) at Vancouver City Hall (453 West 12th at Cambie) to address cycling-related issues in the city of Vancouver and advises City Council on those issues.

Guests are welcome. If you'd like to speak to the committee, please contact Nicole Ludwig at 604-871-6399 or nicole.ludwig@vancouver.ca

For more info, see www.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/civicagencies/bicycle


WEEKLY AND ONGOING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Tuesday Fixie Ride. Meet 7:00 p.m. at the Science World Gazebo (1455 Quebec Street). Info heyfixie@gmail.com
sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/fixedvancouver/

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Wednesday night Pedal Play Bike Fix and Skill Share. 6:30 til 9:30pm at Pedal Metal Studios, 194 West 3rd (alley entrance). Open to all Pedal volunteers -- if you aren't one already we'll make you one. Expect to join the bike polo folk truing wheels and building mallets.

Stand time is by donation, $5 per hour suggested. A small stock of used parts available for rummaging futilely through. For details, phone 604-875-8679.

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Fast Night Thursdays! Every Thursday, 9pm at Grandview Park. Ride fast & hard. See you there.
fixedvancouver.com/Forums/forums/12/ShowForum.aspx

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Saturday EastVan Bike Polo. Hot bike polo action every Saturday on the tennis courts at Grandview Park around 1:00 pm (we go elsewhere in bad weather, but usually meet at Grandview first or send someone by to grab stragglers). Bring your own bike (but not your pretty one -- the game is a little rough on bikes). Mallets are supplied (though if you get hooked, as many of us have, you'll likely want to build your own).

www.myspace.com/vanbikepolo