Toronto Cyclists Union
Photography: Toronto Cyclists Union
Illustration by Toronto Cyclists Union
A team of volunteers is developing a new organization to provide advocacy and services for Toronto cyclists. When asked why the Union is being formed, organizer Dave Meslin explained that cyclists are unrepresented or often misrepresented in the media and at City Hall. “It’s pretty common for communities to form a union to make sure that their voices are being heard.” The volunteers intend to launch the Toronto Cyclists Union in June 2008 and, as Meslin puts it, “We want to launch with a really loud voice.”
They may need that loud voice to get the attention of Toronto’s City Hall. The City produced a Bike Plan in 2001, with the objective of doubling the number of bicycle trips and reducing the number of bike collisions and injuries. To achieve this, the plan called for the creation of over 1,000 kilometres of new bikeways by 2011. To date, only 300 kilometres of bikeways have been created. So far this year, just eight kilometres have been created. Meslin feels that when the City sets budgets, “We cyclists get shut out again and again.”
There are a number of existing organized groups for cyclists in Toronto. The objective of the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (TCAT) is to give a unified voice to groups working for a better cycling and pedestrian environment in Toronto. Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) lobbies for cyclists’ rights, provides legal defence and advice, and performs direct action aimed at changing society’s dependence on the automobile. Dave Meslin was asked how the Toronto Bike Union would be different from existing organizations.
“It’s a sign of the number of cyclists that there are so many groups approaching it from different angles. TCAT has been around for one year, and they focus on pedestrians and bikes. The Union would just focus on bikes. The ARC has done great work protecting rights and doing legal challenges. But they operate on a shoestring budget. This is admirable but not sustainable. Staff can burn out.
“The Union would be membership funded. Cities like San Francisco, New York, and Chicago have bike advocacy groups with the majority of their money coming from memberships. This is effective because the objective is not to fulfill the requirements of grants, but to fulfill the requirements of their members.”
Meslin clarified that over 80 percent of the Union’s funding would come from membership fees. The balance would come from individual donations and fundraising events. Membership fees haven’t yet been set, but there will likely be different rates for different packages of services. The lowest package will probably be around $30 and will include a subscription to the new magazine, discounts at select stores, and access to the Union’s bike trailer fleet.
“The Union would be modeled after the Canadian Automobile Association, and would provide services to its members.” In addition to the magazine, discounts, and trailers, services are to include performing roadside repairs, hosting events, organizing rides, and providing insurance.
Regarding the insurance, Meslin explained that countries like the UK and Australia have companies that provide insurance for cyclists. If you crash and are injured and there is no car involved, the benefits provided by Ontario’s provincial health insurance plan are limited. One aspect of the insurance would be to extend the help available to injured cyclists.
The plans for the Union are ambitious. Meslin hopes that there will be two full-time paid staff to make sure that it all happens. For now, there are a number of volunteers working on making the Union a reality and keeping potential members apprised of progress. Their latest newsletter can be found at: www.bikeunion.to
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