Every time I hear about bicycle enthusiasts getting together, my ears perk up.
There are loads of bike groups in the Windsor area. And there are great online bicycle resources, such as Bike Windsor and Spin Adrift. Some of them are associated specifically with bicycle shops, some are completely rogue, and some are official groups that shape city policy for bike lanes and other bike issues. Unless you’re on one of these boards, or a part of one of these groups, one doesn’t really know what these groups offer to the average cyclist.
Today, I heard about a new emerging bike group forming in the downtown.
This post is my initial foray into investigating bicycle groups, and their impacts on how people move around downtown. If you spend any time downtown, you’ll notice that bicycles are a regular fixture. They were locked to telephone poles and other heavy items for a while, until more of the city-installed bike racks started showing up in heavier bike-traffic areas. With the incredible waterfront paths, cycling into downtown is a wonderful prospect if you know you can lock your bike up safely in the core. And it seems as though bicycles are experiencing a rebirth in recent years. Even weekend late-night youngsters are opting for two wheels instead of a cab or a car of their own.
But this Bike Friendly Windsor group, so new that it’s name is in flux (their Facebook group is titled “Windsor Cycling Syndicate“) is looking to advocate for cyclists and be a connection between the very official Windsor Bicycling Committee and Windsor cyclists.
The Windsor Bicycling Committee descibes themselves on the City of Windsor website as:
“The WBC acts as an advocate for the growth of bicycling as a form of recreation and transportation, and also advises Council and City departments on matters relating to bicycling in Windsor. Some goals of the WBC include:
Increase public awareness of cycling, promote internal / external cycling facilities and programs, develop cycling education courses, recruit skilled volunteers, develop fundraising strategies, promote events utilizing the local media, maintain liaison with related groups / organization, gathering feedback from citizens.”
Bike Friendly Windsor (Windsor Cycling Syndicate) describe their group on their Facebook group with the following:
“The Windsor Cycling Syndicate is a new advocacy group in Windsor, ON, dedicated to promoting bicycling on our area’s streets, trails, tracks and hills.
We hope to collaborate and bring together the various cycling groups in Windsor-Essex.
We’ll promote safe cycling in the city/county.
We plan on building up a volunteer pool that can be used by Windsor Bicycling Committee (WBC) events and other cycling events in the city.
We’ll also strive to ensure the WBC is using its resources effectively, and to act as a liaison between the WBC and the city’s cyclists.”
So, it looks like there’s some cross-over.
Kari Gignac, one of the organizers of this bike group messaged me saying, “Basically, we’re in brainstorm mode. If anyone out there has any ideas on how to make Windsor a more bike-friendly city, we’d love to see them come out and join in the discussion.”
So it’s an opportunity to have a voice. If you cycle, and you have something to share, someone is willing to listen.
The group has plans to hold some bike-related events this summer, particularly during June (Bicycle Month). Bike To Work Week is in June, which would be a major challenge to downtown employees and owners. Bike-specific film nights at the Windsor Workers Action Centre (328 Pelissier Street) are planned, with other endless event possibilities on the horizon.
This cycle-happy crew wants to know what it’s going to take to get more people out on two wheels, and how to keep them using this underused travel option.
If you wish to go to this meeting, which will be the groups third, you can check the details on their Facebook event, 4pm – 7pm at Windsor Workers Action Centre. Bring your bike!
