Hi everyone!  How was your first BikeFriday?


MEDIA COVERAGE

The News media went a little crazy for the story (I find it a little sad that cyclists riding together makes for a news story), but I guess it's good that cycling issues are front and center in the news these days.

I mentioned the Star article  in last week's newsletter, and the other place that a lot of people saw BikeFriday on was CTV news  (there's a video link  on that site, too.)


HOW FRIDAY WENT

One reporter asked me how many people I expected to come out to BikeFriday - and I hadn't really expected a specific number, so they followed up with what I hoped for, so I was honest - I hoped that people found others to bike with.

While the turnout wasn't huge (and I didn't expect it to be... after all, this was the first BikeFriday), and the prospect of rain on friday morning may have hurt people gathering for the group commute - we had 3-4 people in each group converging at Yonge & Charles (just south of Bloor), and about a dozen of us rode down Yonge Street to Queen and City Hall together.

Critical Mass , was, as always, a lot of fun.  I'd guess about 130-150 people were there. 

The Bikers Breakfast  at Grassroots on Danforth was cool too - lots of muffins, danishes and coffee for us two-wheelers.

Oh, I almost forgot!  Chris Farley Ratcliffe (who lives near Yonge & Davisville) won the $25 gift certificate to grassrootsstore.com !  Congrats Chris! 

I'm donating another $25 gift certificate  for September 29th - and being subscribed to this newsletter means you're already entered!  Lucky you!



SEPTEMBER 29th

I've already started thinking about the next BikeFriday on September 29th... how to involve politicians more, how to involve businesses more, how to get a lot of media covering it... how to get more commutes from more places and more times.

If you'd like to email your councilperson and ask them to support BikeFriday by taking part in a commute, or maybe having an event, like providing breakfast for cyclists in their ward, you can find their contact info on the City website .

I've switched the website over to September 29th, but have archived the August 25th page , if you're interested in it still.  The new site is a little more organized, with different sections on different pages.  Feel free to explore .

Have an idea for BikeFriday on September 29th?  I'd love to hear from you  .



WHAT YOU CAN DO

Here's some ideas for you to take part in and maybe spread the word
about BikeFriday:

1. Take Part - come on out and enjoy your bike every BikeFriday!

2. Commute  - Join a ride  or start a ride  - it doesn't have to go downtown... not everyone works downtown, after all.  It can be at any time too!  Not everyone starts at 9 AM.

3. Tell Your Friends - forward this email to your buddies. Even if they don't bike presently... they may be thinking about it.

4. Add Events  - Know of a bike-related event happening on a BikeFriday? Let us know  - we'll add it to the schedule.

5. Share Ideas - Have an idea to make BikeFriday better/stronger/bigger?   We'd love to hear from you  .


All the best,

Joe.