The OBC is a cycling organization not an advocacy organization, (nor for that matter an environmental or anti-car organization). We deliver cycling services to cyclists. That is, we primarily organize cyclists to do what they love doing - riding their bicycles together, where the rubber hits the road, so to speak. Despite this, article three of our constitution requires us to defend cyclist interests. "Defend" means monitoring the cycling and transportaion world around us and acting when we the Board deems it appropriate. It includes when cyclist access to roads, highways and bridges are threatened, where facilities are planned and implemented which negatively affect our enjoyment and safety, and when cyclists are treated unfairly by the authorities. Recent examples are ensuring access to the Champlain and Portage bridges, removal of dangerous bike lanes in Lebreton Flats, rescinding of a ban on two abreast cycling, access to Airport Parkway, addition of "cycling exempt" tabs on City turn restriction signs, assistance to cyclists ticketed in the Gatineau Park last year, and meetings with police. These are are but just a few successful initiatives we have either led or played a significant role in. The club also submitted comments to the City of Ottawa Transition Board on what we thought the focus of a new advisory committee should be. This followed a request for feedback from on it in June 2000's edition of the Spokesperson. (Only OBC members would know their views were solicited.) Only a couple of comments were received - members apparently aren't interested in advisory groups and leave it to the Board to represent them appropriately. We do not advocate special facilities, such as bike lanes and bike paths, or special rules of the road. There is no concensus on these items and they don't necessarily have anything to do with defending cyclists interests. What we have said is if there is an issue affecting cyclists it should be addressed by following a standard problem-solving procedure. A problem should be defined, and various solutions considered before any action is taken. The "paint-bike-lane strping" approach is completely inapproprate where no apparent problem has been defined. We do advocate strongly for cyclist skills development, and in my opinion insufficient attention is accorded to skills development in advocating on behalf of cyclists. Many problems can be solved by training cyclists and giving them opportunities to ride skilfully. Our programs include the delivery skills instruction through free clinics to which the public is invited. We also provide actual on-road experience to cyclists through our group rides. Our track record of real achievement on behalf of cyclists in Ottawa is second to none. Avery Burdett President -- Avery Burdett Ottawa, Ontario ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.aVHtMM Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 ==^================================================================
