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Bill Bean

Anywhere where people ride bicycles

I embrace the freedom of human-powered transportation

Interests: bicycle infrastructure, bicycle films, cycling culture, bicycle technology, Brooks saddles, commuter bikes, drop handlebars, Presta valves, wicker baskets with wine, Critical Mass, Share the Road, one-metre passing laws, Idaho stop, gearheads, tandem, recumbent, racks

Recent Activity

My consumer muscle twitched when I saw these

The brain says No, No, NO, but the first reaction on seeing these programmable bicycle wheelset lights was: I want them!!! Continue reading

Posted Nov 28, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Take the City of Waterloo streetscape survey — Do it!

The headline says it all. The deadline for taking the City of Waterloo's streetscape survey is Friday, Nov. 30. You have a little more than a week to take the survey. So do it, do it, do it! Continue reading

Posted Nov 22, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Some good thoughts on wearing bicycle helmets

This National Post video and Ottawa Citizen story make some good points about why one might want to wear a bicycle helmet. Continue reading

Posted Nov 2, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Bill's Bicycle Basics: This tip could save your life

This cycling tip could save your life: Look over your left shoulder before you change your position on the road. You can be turning left, or turning right. You can be changing position in the road to go around a parked delivery truck or other obstacle. You can be changing... Continue reading

Posted Oct 15, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Too-funny public service announcement for cycling safety

Trust the Transport For London authority to have fun with a PSA for cycling safety. Continue reading

Posted Oct 9, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Park your car in the road, not in the bike lane

I am totally impressed with the management of Newport Towers at 550 Strasburg Road in Kitchener, whom (I believe) we are to thank for the three signs advising motorists not to park in the street's bicycle lane, presumably while the rehabilitation of the building's parking lot is ongoing. I've been... Continue reading

Posted Oct 3, 2018 at Take The Lane

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The Swiss REALLY take cycling seriously

The Swiss have decided to do something that might sound almost astonishing to a North American audience: they've voted to enshrine cycling in their constitution. (Just imagine the National Rifle Association and the League of American Bicyclists sharing time making their points with Congresspersons and Senators...) In a Sunday referendum,... Continue reading

Posted Sep 25, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Cycling infrastructure vs. riding on roads

It's not often that The Waterloo Region Record devotes this much space to cycling. In Saturday's paper and on the website are a front page photo and story opening, turning inside to almost three full pages of main story, photos, sidebar articles and graphics about our network of bicycle infrastructure,... Continue reading

Posted Sep 23, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Waterloo Region Record eyes our cycling infrastructure

Here's a teaser video to this Saturday's feature in the Waterloo Region Record that looks at the area's cycling infrastructure, and the interactions between cyclists and motorists. It's written by Catherine Thompson, who puts her seat in the saddle to get up close and personal with the cycling scene. And... Continue reading

Posted Sep 20, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Use your head and get a bicycle light

This is probably the worst time of year for cyclists, for accidents and near-accidents. It can get so dark, so quickly, and so many cyclists I see on the roads, trails and sidewalks (!) are riding without a bike light. It's the law in Ontario, under the Highway Traffic Act.... Continue reading

Posted Sep 20, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Bill's Bicycle Basics: You need a bell

It is apparently not widely known that cyclists MUST have an alarm bell on their bicycle. In the past few days, I've seen seasoned adult cyclists and young adult riders, cruising trails, roadways and parking lots without a bell. Actually, you need not restrict yourself to a bell. The Ontario... Continue reading

Posted Sep 8, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Taking a stand on protected bike lanes

About four dozen people interested in safe urban cycling infrastructure lined the west side of King Street between Princess and Dupont streets in Waterloo tonight, to make a point about protected bicycle lanes. The point is that the new bicycle lanes in Uptown Waterloo aren't protected. At least, not on... Continue reading

Posted Sep 6, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Standing up for bicycle lanes

Cyclists from Waterloo Region will join forces to create a people-protected bike lane tonight in Waterloo. Waterloo resident, cyclist, parent and community voice Scott Weldon is hosting the event tonight from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on King Street in Uptown Waterloo to raise awareness about the value of protected... Continue reading

Posted Sep 6, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Turning our faces to the river

I've always been interested in why some people in the Waterloo Region turn their faces to the river, while others turn their backs to it. I'm a "face-to-the-river" person. So I was happy to be among a dozen or so others who participated in Water Cycle on Thursday night, riding... Continue reading

Posted Aug 30, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Waterloo cyclist counter just the beginning of bike data collection

Today's story in The Record about the new bicycle counter on King Street in Waterloo could be just the beginning of cycling infrastructure data collection in the region. One has to look no further than this article in the European Cyclists' Federation newsletter, which discusses the first year of a... Continue reading

Posted Aug 29, 2018 at Take The Lane

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A Grand cycling opportunity

It is surprising how many people in Waterloo Region under-value the Grand River. I have heard people refer rather mockingly to "the mighty" Grand, or complain about the inconvenience it poses in getting around the region. But the 280-kilometre-long Grand River is a grand river. It's the backdrop for cultural... Continue reading

Posted Aug 22, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Making music on your ride

I was totally enthralled on Friday at the Open Ears Festival of Music and Sound as the Austrian sessional group Studio Dan performed legendary counter-culture artist Frank Zappa's "Improvised Concerto for Bicycle, Pre-recorded Tape and Instrumental Ensemble." Here's the bike as played by percussionist Hubert Brundlmayer. It's a well-used Surly... Continue reading

Posted Jun 2, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Great advice on advice not to take

I love this "seven tips" that cyclist shouldn't believe, from Lizard Head Cycling Guides. Maybe because I do wear gloves, I do eat while riding, I do use the "granny gear", etc. Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2018 at Take The Lane

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Fatbike event is for crazy people (so?)

A lot of my motoring friends think winter cycling is for crazy people. Well, yes. When you think about some of the road hazards facing cyclists, even ordinary cycling is for crazy people. But it's a NICE kind of crazy. But if you are also crazy enough to count a... Continue reading

Posted Jan 17, 2018 at Take The Lane

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These postal delivery vehicles belong in bicycle lanes

I thought it was amusing to read the Toronto Star story that ran earlier this year, about how Canada Post vehicles are the worst offender for those ticketed for parking in Toronto bicycle lanes. While my partner and I were in France this fall, I was delighted to see postal... Continue reading

Posted Dec 7, 2017 at Take The Lane

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Share your cycling love: become a cycling instructor

Are you a cycle commuter, a touring cyclist, a club rider, an off-road enthusiast or just someone who enjoys the sound of bicycle tires on pavement? Do you want to share that love of cycling? Do you want to earn some money doing it? If you think you would enjoy... Continue reading

Posted Dec 3, 2017 at Take The Lane

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You read it here first: new CAN-BIKE classes for 2018

I have in my hands — hot off the presses — a bundle of brochures for the Spring 2018 CAN-BIKE Course Offerings from the City of Waterloo. At the moment, the City of Waterloo (a Silver Level City under the national Bicycle Friendly Community program) is the only municipality in... Continue reading

Posted Nov 30, 2017 at Take The Lane

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The World is coming to Milton and hardly anyone knows

Here's a secret known largely only to people in competitive cycling: world-class athletes and Olympic medal holders will be in competition this weekend in Milton. The Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 1-3) at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre (aka, the Milton... Continue reading

Posted Nov 30, 2017 at Take The Lane

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I love it when a new cyclist "gets it"

As a CAN-BIKE instructor, there's no better feeling than the one you get when a student "gets it." Suddenly, the balance is there, they're pedalling in a straight line and they realize, "I can ride a bike!" So cool Continue reading

Posted Jul 6, 2017 at Take The Lane

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The "WoW" factor in getting women on bicycles

I’m all “wow” about WoW. Women on Wheels is an initiative created in 2015 by Bicycle Nova Scotia, the province’s non-profit bicycle advocacy group. I saw a poster about the project while in Pictou, N.S. last month, and after some chats with Pictou people and an email connection with Lynne... Continue reading

Posted Jul 3, 2017 at Take The Lane

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