Night Lights Bike Lights Workshop

Come decorate your bike for night riding in style! On June 21, we'll be going on a midnight moonlight mystery ride, so take advantage of this chance to light it up. Most of the lights available at this workshop require no electronics skill/work whatsoever (essentially, insert batteries and they work). Some require very minor soldering/wiring. You will work under the guidance of someone experienced in electrical engineering.

Please register ahead of time by e-mailing [email protected], as parts are limited. This workshop will on June 21 (moved to Friday, before the ride), from 6pm-8:30pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave, entrance in rear lane).

The workshop is free, but materials/parts are extra (and very reasonable). Click on the photos below for prices.

31-Hour Bike Repair-a-thon and Paint-Your-Bike Day

In case our regular hours never work for you, or in case you just need to do a marathon session at the shop to finally get your bike built up or repaired, BikeWorks South is open from Saturday, June 8 from 10am until 5pm on Sunday, June 9. Shop time is by donation! (Regular prices apply on bikes and parts.) Come at 1pm. Come at 6pm. Come at midnight. Come at 5am! We'll be open, and ready to help you.

(We might be a little bit groggy by 4am... you may wish to bring your marvellous volunteers treats and a hot drink when they're helping you with your bike.)

We're going to set up racks and hangers outside for you to paint your bike! EBC members get a 10% discount at The Paint Spot (a block away). No painting in our shop proper (fumes!), but we'll have space out back. Please bring your own safety equipment (air masks, eye protection) and be considerate of others.

Strip your bike, paint it, go for dinner, come back and put it back together. Woo!*

(*If you paint your bike this quickly, it's probably going to be kind of sloppy. If that's all you want/you don't care about the fine details, then do it! But please don't expect to be able to fully strip your bike, do a professional paint job, and rebuild your bike in 31 hours. You might have to finish a different day.)

Bike to the Symphony 2013

In case you hadn't noticed, June is Bike Month! Join us for this year's 4th annual Bike to the Symphony ride, Tuesday, June 4. We meet at Rosso Pizzeria (formerly Da Capo in Garneau) at 8738 109 St at 5pm. Rosso will be providing complimentary Da Capo-brand espresso to riders.

Full details of the ride are available on the Bike to the Symphony page.

Bike Month 2013 Calendar

West Downtown Complete Streets at Oliver Community Festival

Join the West Downtown Complete Streets (WDCS) coalition this Saturday, June 1 from 10am-3pm at the Oliver Community Festival (102 Ave, between 121-123 St) for free bike tune-ups from EBC, as well as to chat about ideas for making safe and comfortable bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure in the west downtown area. We’ll have photos, videos, information sheets, and WDCS reps available to talk with you and listen to your ideas and desires.

Ride of Silence

In 2009 Edmonton took part in the International Ride of Silence. We cycled past the majority of Ghost Bike Memorials that had been erected over previous years. It is time we had another Ride of Silence to remember the people that have died over the years and the people who continue to be injured on our streets.

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

We will meet at 7pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave) and ride to the site of Isaak Kornelsen's memorial. If you cannot ride with us for the route, please join us at 102 St and 82 Ave (Isaak's memorial) when we stop here for a moment of reflection.

We will then continue to the ghost bike we installed on Tuesday, located at 127 St and 107 Ave.

From there, we will head to City Hall, where the ride will conclude (around 8:30pm).

Please come out to support this ride and send a visible message to the city.

This ride is done in silence and is to show our respect for those people that have died on our streets.

The ride of silence will not be quiet.

http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

On May 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 20 km/h, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during the US National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to safe use of the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

View Ride of Silence in a larger map

Sweeping in 1 minute

It is the City of Edmonton's responsibility to maintain bike lanes so that they are safe and functional year-round. They currently prioritize bike lanes at the same level as alleyways.

Despite repeated requests from many citizens via 311, bike lane and multi-use trail maintenance in 2013 has been dismal, and several weeks after making requests many routes continue to be dangerous or unusable.

We at EBC couldn't wait any longer for the contra-flow bike lane at the curve around Victoria Promenade, which has been covered with a thick layer of sand, gravel and glass. Avoiding those hazards means veering out into the outside bend of (often fast moving) oncoming traffic.

So we took a broom from home and swept up.

Ghost bike installation

A Ghost Bike memorial will be placed this morning at 11am to mark the death of a cyclist following a collision with a pickup truck on Friday, May 3rd, 2013. This is the first traffic fatality of 2013 that involves a cyclist. The Ghost Bike will be placed at 107th Avenue and 127th Street. "This will be the first Ghost Bike that we have installed this year — unfortunately, based on past years, this won't be the last one. In 2008 three Ghost Bikes were installed and in 2009 and 2010 there were 2 in each year. One was placed in each of the past two years. There are many more cyclists on our roadways than 10 years ago," says Ghost Bike coordinator Michael Kalmanovitch. "Many cyclist deaths could be avoided if the city and provincial government would provide better cycling infrastructure and education — for cyclists and motor vehicle drivers. We need to implement the Bicycle Transportation Plan and save lives," adds Mr. Kalmanovitch.

Ghost Bikes, bicycles painted all-white and placed at the site where a cyclist has been killed, are small and sombre memorials for cyclists killed by automobiles. The installations are meant as reminders of the tragedy that took place, and as quiet statements in support of the right of cyclists and pedestrians to safe travel. They are reminders that we need to cooperate when we are sharing the space on the roadways so that we can all get safely to our destination.

"The death of another cyclist highlights the need for us to move forward on the city's bike route network. Simple bike lanes reduce collisions by 50% by providing a space where cyclists can feel comfortable and ride safely, allowing motorists and cyclists to get to their destinations with less conflict. Over the past decade, experience and research from cities across North America has converged on the same conclusion: the best way to improve public health, save lives, and prevent collisions is to build high-quality dedicated cycling infrastructure. Until we genuinely prioritize safety for all road users, including the ever-increasing numbers of pedestrians and cyclists, we'll continue seeing these tragedies," says EBC Executive Director Christopher Chan.

"If you look at where we have installed ghost bikes across the city you will find that quite a lot of the deaths have occurred in the same area as the one that we are installing today", observes Mr. Kalmanovitch (see http://ghostbikes.org/ghostbikemap/Edmonton)

Adapted Bicycle Rodeo & Loan Pool Launch

Children with special needs can now borrow a bike designed to give them their first taste of the freedom of cycling thanks to a unique Edmonton program. We will launch our borrow-an-adapted bike program with a bike rodeo:

• Date: Saturday May 11, 2013
• Time: 11 am to 3 pm
• Location: Elves Special Needs Society, 10419 159 Street

You Can Ride Two is an Edmonton-based partnership between pediatric physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters’ Society (EBC). The program, initially developed to teach children with special needs to ride a two-wheeler, has expanded to all forms of cycling thanks to several bike and monetary donations and partnerships with other community agencies.

From wheelchair to the trails

You Can Bike Too works to increase access to cycling for children unable to ride a standard bicycle. Children are matched with bicycles in our loan pool and modifications are made as needed to ensure the bike is best suited to each child.

Edmonton Bike Swap 2013

Want to enjoy the fine weather, but you need a bike? Or do you have bikes that you no longer need, and want to turn them into a bit of cash (without the hassle of having to handle the sale yourself)?

The Edmonton Bike Swap, an annual one day bike buy & sell, is happening this Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Glengarry Arena (13340 85 St)!

Bring your bike to sell it. Or come buy a bike if you don’t have one! Or both.

Want first pick? Volunteer! No mechanical or bike experience is necessary.

All bikes in the swap should be able to be safely ridden away, so they will be checked by EBC’s volunteer mechanics for safety.

For full details, please see our swap page or visit the Alberta Bike Swap site. They also have an FAQ.

Hands-on Bike Maintenance Courses: Brakes, shifting and tire changing/flat repairs

This post is from 2013. For all current classes, please visit our events page. We are now offering hands-on workshops on the first Friday of each month. If you want to learn how to start working on your own bike but don't know where to start, this class is for you! Learn how to fix a flat at home or on the street, keep your brakes and shifters working smoothly & safely, and learn how to prevent and detect small problems that can turn into large problems.

In this 3-hour, hands-on course, you will learn how to save money by doing simple repairs yourself as well as preventing expensive parts from wearing out. Bring your bicycle so you can learn techniques specific to your components, or you can work on one of EBC's bikes.

 

Schedule: First Friday of each month. (Now with some additional classes added due to demand)

Choose any single clinic.

• Friday, May 3, 2013 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave, entrance through rear lane)
• Friday, May 17, 2013 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave, entrance through rear lane)
• Friday, June 7, 2013 from 6pm-9pm at BikeWorks North (9305 111 Ave, entrance through west parking lot)
• Friday, June 14, 2013 from 6pm-9pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave)
• Friday, July 5, 2013 from 6pm-9pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave)
• Friday, August 2, 2013 from 6pm-9pm at BikeWorks North (9305 111 Ave)
• Friday, September 6, 2013 from 6pm-9pm at BikeWorks South (10047 80 Ave)

Cost:

• $20 for EBC members
• $25 for non-members

Register by emailing [email protected] or by calling 780-757-9100 after-hours and leaving a message. Include the date of the hands-on clinic you'd like to register for. Pre-registration is required. These classes fill up quickly, register early to reserve your spot.

West Downtown Complete Streets Meeting

Please attend tonight's West Downtown Complete Streets meeting if you are interested in more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly streets through Oliver and Downtown. The meeting is tonight at 7pm, Thursday, May 2, 2013.

Agenda

• Attendance
• Introductions
• Call to order
• Announcements
• Update on visioning/sticky note session from last meeting
• Proposed block party instead of open house
• Varia
• Adjournment

Location

Tonight's WDCS meeting is at MacEwan University's University Service Centre (USC) LEED silver space.

The meeting is in the University Service Centre (USC) 10-600, on top of the West Parkade on the 6th floor. The parkade is located north of 104 Avenue on 109 street. You can view a map here.

If you are planning to use public transport, Corona LRT station is 10 minutes walk away and many bus route can take you here if you are using google maps the closest building to use as a reference is the Robbins Health Learning Centre : 110 St NW, T5K 2Y9.

Secure bike parking is available in the West Parkade and in the Robbins Health Learning Centre parkade.

Bike Day & Barbecue at Earth's General Store

Come to Earth's General Store (9605 82 Avenue) on Sunday, May 5 for free bike tune-ups by EBC from 11am-3pm. A barbecue will be held in the parking lot from 12-4pm. Current EBC members and renewing members receive 10% off all purchases at Earth's General Store (all day: from 10am-6pm)!

New EBC members will receive 15% off.

Discounts include sale items!

EBC memberships, including a complete list of member benefits, are available online.

BikeWorks North Closed April 25

BikeWorks North will be closed tonight for the SPARK Community Engagement Evening. If you need to fix your bike today, please visit BikeWorks South!

You are invited to SPARK's Community Engagement Evening - an event to engage members and future members across Alberta!

On Thursday, April 25 at 7pm, SPARK will be hosting an event for SPARK members, customers and the general public to engage in conversations about SPARK's initiatives and green projects in Alberta. RSVP at http://sparkengagement.eventbrite.ca/

SPARK is a 100% member-owned retail electrical power co-operative focused on green energy and renewable energy reinvestment, and has great rates. For each EBC member that makes the switch to SPARK as their electrical services provider, SPARK directs $1.50 per month to The Spoke.

The engagement evening will take place at two venues: one in Calgary and the other at BikeWorks North (9305 111 Ave). Content will be streamed between the two venues and live online for remote viewership.

Event Highlights Include:

• Presentation from sustainability leader, Bob Hawkesworth, Coordinator of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. Bib's presentation is titled 'Caring for the Environment, Caring for Your Pocket Book' and deals with financing renewables through retrofit
• Updates on SPARK initiatives presented by the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society and SkyFire Energy Inc.
• A great opportunity to network with other SPARK members and customers and to introduce our co-op to your friends and family - bring guests along, all are welcome!

Join us at 7PM for light refreshments and great conversation. In addition, SPARK is interested in hearing YOUR ideas! Where do you see SPARK going in the future? What sort of projects are you interested in seeing the cooperative invest in?

Bike Routes Meeting

On Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 5pm to 8pm, the City of Edmonton is hosting a meeting regarding the bike lanes planned for 2013. Further consultation on bike routes for 76 Avenue and 132 Avenue will take place in the coming months. The meeting is at the Central Lions Recreation Centre (11113 113 St). For more information, please visit the City of Edmonton's website.

Spring Bake & Bike Sale

To celebrate the return of spring, we're hosting Spring Bake & Bike sales at both of our locations on Saturday April 27, from 1-5pm. We'll have plenty of refurbished bikes and fresh-baked treats for sale. The sales are open to all! BikeWorks North will be open for regular shop use, while BikeWorks South will be devoted solely to baking and bikes for sale (and, while normally open from 10am-5pm on Saturdays, on the bike sale day we will only be open from 1-5pm). No public bike repair will be available at BikeWorks South on April 27.

Please head to BikeWorks North for any bike repair needs on this day.

We will be back to regular 10am-5pm hours for next Saturday.

If you'd like to bake something to donate, please contact us.

Spring & Summer Hours begin April 17

BikeWorks is open year-round, but in the winter we scaled back to being open only 5 days a week (between the two shops) due to reduced demand. Well bring that bike out of hibernation and come get it tuned-up! Both locations will be extending their hours beginning April 17.

Note that BikeWorks North will be closed to bike repairs on April 25 for a special SPARK Community Engagement Evening. Everyone is welcome to attend (please RSVP), but there won't be any bike fixing or sales. SPARK supports EBC's The Spoke program by donating a portion of its admin fees towards The Spoke. Learn more about how you can have your electricity bill contribute to EBC, while saving money at the same time!

BikeWorks South use will be limited to the Spring Bake & Bike Sale on Saturday, April 27, from 1pm-5pm. No public repair will be available on this day at BikeWorks South (and we will not be open from 10am-1pm). Please stop in to buy a bike or some baked goods, but you won't be able to work on your own bike.

BikeWorks North will be open to public repairs, as well as also hosting a Bake & Bike Sale from 1-5pm on April 27. If you need to fix your bike (or buy one) on that day, please head to BikeWorks North!

BikeWorks South Hours

10047 80 Ave (entrance in rear lane)
Phone: 780.433.2453
(Hours effective April 17, 2013)

1. Monday:
   6pm - 9pm
2. Tuesday:
   Closed *
3. Wednesday:
   2pm - 9pm
4. Thursday:
   6pm - 9pm
5. Friday:
   Closed ****
6. Saturday:
   10am - 5pm
7. Sunday:
   1pm - 5pm **
8. Holidays:
   Closed holidays unless otherwise noted.

1. *
   Reserved for bike building, 6pm - 9pm
2. **
   1^st, 3^rd & 5^th Sundays of the month reserved for Women and Transgender persons only. 2^nd, 4^th Sundays of the month open to the general public
3. ****
   Reserved for courses and seminars. Contact us for space bookings

BikeWorks North Hours

9305 111 Ave (SW corner of building)
Phone: 780.757.9100
(Hours effective April 17, 2013)

1. Monday:
   Closed *
2. Tuesday:
   6pm - 9pm
3. Wednesday:
   Closed ***
4. Thursday:
   6pm - 9pm
5. Friday:
   Closed ****
6. Saturday:
   1pm - 5pm
7. Sunday:
   1pm - 5pm
8. Holidays:
   Closed holidays unless otherwise noted.

1. ***
   Reserved for The Spoke, 6pm - 9pmReserved for The Spoke, 6pm - 9pm
2. ****
   Reserved for courses and seminars. Contact us for space bookings

SPARK Community Engagement Evening

You are invited to SPARK's Community Engagement Evening - an event to engage members and future members across Alberta! On Thursday, April 25 at 7pm, SPARK will be hosting an event for SPARK members, customers and the general public to engage in conversations about SPARK's initiatives and green projects in Alberta. RSVP at http://sparkengagement.eventbrite.ca/

SPARK is a 100% member-owned retail electrical power co-operative focused on green energy and renewable energy reinvestment. For each EBC member that makes the switch to SPARK as their electrical services provider, SPARK directs $1.50 per month to The Spoke.

The engagement evening will take place at two venues: one in Calgary and the other at BikeWorks North (9305 111 Ave). Content will be streamed between the two venues and live online for remote viewership.

Event Highlights Include:

• Presentation from sustainability leader, Bob Hawkesworth, Coordinator of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre. Bib's presentation is titled 'Caring for the Environment, Caring for Your Pocket Book' and deals with financing renewables through retrofit
• Updates on SPARK initiatives presented by the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society and SkyFire Energy Inc.
• A great opportunity to network with other SPARK members and customers and to introduce our co-op to your friends and family - bring guests along, all are welcome!

Join us at 7PM for light refreshments and great conversation. In addition, SPARK is interested in hearing YOUR ideas! Where do you see SPARK going in the future? What sort of projects are you interested in seeing the cooperative invest in?

CAN-BIKE 2 Course

Register now for our CAN-BIKE 2 class! CAN-BIKE 2 is an advanced course in defensive cycling for commuters and recreational cyclists who already ride in traffic. This is an adult course for cyclists aged 14 and up with experience riding in traffic. This course will improve your confidence and skill in riding in challenging traffic situations. This course is quite often a requirement for jobs that involve cycling. CAN-BIKE 1 is not a pre-requisite for CAN-BIKE 2.

CAN-BIKE is Canada's premier, nationally certified traffic cycling course! Covers bicycle care, repairs, riding techniques, detecting and avoiding hazards, and practising emergency manoeuvres. Combination of classroom and on-bike instruction helps you cycle with greater skill and confidence and more safely in traffic. Essential skills for the recreational or commuting cyclist.

Cost: $80.00 for EBC members ($100.00 for non-members)

Dates (this is a single course in 4 parts):

• Thursday, April 18: 6:30pm-9:30pm
• Saturday, April 20: 9am-4pm
• Wednesday, April 24: 6:30pm-9:30pm
• Sunday, April 28: 9am-4pm

Registration:

• E-mail John Collier to register.

The Care and Feeding of English 3 Speeds

Curious about how Sturney Archer 3 speeds work? Maybe you have one of these wonderful inventions and would like to learn how to keep it working for a lifetime? On Monday, April 15th, 6:30-9:30PM, EBC will present this in depth class that will cover everything you ever wanted to know about Sturmey Archer 3 speed hubs and old school English bicycles. Your host will be 3 speed expert Keith Hallgren. This class costs $20 for EBC members & $25 for non-members. Current EBC volunteers can take this class for free. To reserve your spot, pre-register by emailing [email protected].