2014 Toronto Election, Scarborough Councillor/School Trustee Candidate Survey

The following letter was sent to all Scarborough Councillors/School Trustee Candidates running in Scarborough Southwest (i.e., Wards 35 and 36).

The survey questions were edited collectively by members of Ward 36 Cyclists and TO35Cycles.

The deadline to complete the survey is Monday September 29, 2014. All responses received will be posted verbatim on this website.

If you are a candidate running in another ward and you would like to complete the survey, contact us at 36cyclists@gmail.com
and we will send you one.

Stay safe!

Marvin Macaraig

Bells on Danforth, Sun. Sept. 14

Ward 36 Cyclists invites you to join us for the Scarborough leg of the Bells on Danforth ride this Sunday, September 14 at 11:45 am.

This is a great opportunity to get to know some of the ways cars, cyclists, and pedestrians can all share our public space, and some of the people who are actively working to make Scarborough Southwest a better community.

For the second year in a row we have our very own starting point at the Crossroads of the Danforth for the Bells on Danforth ride to celebrate cycling.

Last year's event was one of the most successful on our calendar.

Ride to the Wheels on the Danforth, Sat. Aug. 16

Like last year, there is a recreational ride to join all the fun at the Wheels on the Danforth festival.

Ward 36 Cyclists will be hosting this ride on Saturday August 16.

The ride should last about an hour and will end at the festival.

Ride Start Time: 10:00 am

Start Place: Taylor Memorial Library

Warden & Kingston Road

See you there!

Ward 36 Cyclists

Scarborough Southwest Bike Rodeo, Pics

A fantastic turnout for the Bike Rodeo this year. The local community participation was amazing and the event is definitely growing.

Special thanks to members of TO35Cycles for planning and executing the event.

Stay safe out there. 

Ward 36 Cyclists

Ward 36 Historical Cycling Tour Part 2, 4 pm Sun. Jun. 8

Building on the success of our first tour, Ward 36 Cyclists will be hosting their second Historical Cycling Tour on Sunday June 8.

We will be meeting at the Scarborough Cenotaph at 4 pm, Kingston Rd. and Danforth Ave.

Cheers!

Ward 36 Cyclists

Ward 36 Historical Cycling Tour, Pics

Simply a 'picture perfect' day of cycling in Ward 36.

It was also really encouraging to meet several new cyclists from Scarborough.

Stops included; Scarborough Fire Museum and Historical Building, several Birch Cliff murals, and the R. C. Harris Water Treatment Plant.

A Note About Doors Open Toronto May 24-25

Part 1 of our Historical Bike Tour on Sunday May 25 coincides with Doors Open Toronto, a special day when many buildings and establishments are open to the public which ordinarily are not. In Ward 36 Doors Open Toronto includes the Harris Water Filtration Plant, the 'Fool’s Paradise', home of the late artist Doris McCarthy, and the Cornell-Campbell pioneer home.

Tour participants might wish to visit the Fool’s Paradise and the Cornell-Campbell Home on Saturday May 24. The time of last admittance to both sites is 4:30 pm. The Fool’s Paradise is at 1 Meadowcliffe Drive, in the Kingston Rd.-Bellamy Rd. area.

Turn off at Pine Ridge, just west of Bellamy. The Cornell-Campbell home is on Kingston Rd. just east of Markham Rd. For the Harris Filtration Plant the time of last admittance is 3:30 pm.

Thank you for your interest in our Tour.

Happy cycling!

Ward 36 Cyclists

Ward 36 Historical Cycling Tour, 12 pm Sun. May 25

Ward 36 Cyclists will be hosting a Historical Cycling Tour on Sunday May 25.

We will be meeting at the Scarborough Fire Museum and Historical Building at 12pm (351 Birchmount Rd.)

Our event coincides with 'Open Doors Toronto' and the ride will culminate at the R. C. Harris Treatment Plant.

See you there!

Marvin Macaraig

The Trouble With Kingston Rd.-Danforth Ave. Intersection

This intersection, built before WWII, was designed without a thought for cyclists or pedestrians. It is like a freeway interchange.

Cyclists heading westbound who wish to continue down Kingston Rd. must cross two lanes of traffic. When car traffic is heavy, a cyclist might have to wait for a few minutes for a safe gap.

Cyclists heading eastbound on Danforth Ave. find that Danforth ends in a merging with Kingston Rd. , and must also cross two lanes to reach the curb lane on Kingston Rd., again having to wait for a safe gap in car traffic.

2014 Winter Wheelie, Pics

Another fantastic day of Saturday cycling in Scarborough, which was made even better with sunny weather!

The route included several stops at notable sites like Dawes Crossing, and other 'interesting' homes in both Ward 35 and 36.

It was also great to see more participation from cyclists from other east-end wards.

New Bike Lane Proposal for the Beach

The City is considering a new contraflow bike lane for Dixon Avenue in Ward 32 Beaches-East York.

This bike lane would potentially offer cyclists another alternative to the always busy Kingston Road.

Utility Cycling and the Evergreen Garden Market Christmas Tree Party

On Tuesday November 19, members of Ward 36 Cyclists and TO35Cycles volunteered at the Evergreen Garden Market Christmas Tree Party.

Working alongside approximately 25 other volunteers from other community organizations, we helped unload two truckloads of Christmas trees.

Some Reflections on BIXI

I work near the Avenue Road and Bloor intersection in downtown Toronto. Many tourists visit that area. The Royal Ontario Museum and '5th Avenue of Toronto' are located there, as well as the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Nearby is a BIXI Bicycle Station with 20 bicycle slots. On a daily basis I see tourists and others gravitating to the BIXI bikes. Obviously, they see it as an easy way to take in the sights. The University campus especially lends itself to bicycle tourism, as does the Kensington Market and Queen St. West.

Things I Learned at the Complete Streets Forum and the Ontario Bike Summit

I was fortunate to be able to attend both the Complete Streets Forum hosted by the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) and the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, Ontario Bike Summit earlier this year.

It was inspirational, with success stories from cities that had improved their quality of life by encouraging transit and active transportation.

Bicycling Tour of Historic Ward 35, Pics

A great Saturday morning of cycling and learning about our local community in Scarborough Southwest.

Bicycling Tour of Historic Ward 35, Sat. Oct. 19

This Saturday October 19, TO35Cycles will be leading a Bicycling Tour visiting some historic sites in Ward 35 and more broadly Scarborough Southwest.

See and learn about early First Nation settlements and other notable historical and cultural features in Scarborough and their links to railways and the transportation infrastructure we see today.

Warden Hilltop C.C. Fall Fair, Sat. Sept. 28

Our good friends at TO35Cycles will be offering free bike tune-ups at the Warden Hilltop Community Centre Fall Fair from 10am-2pm.

The event will also have a BBQ and several family friendly activities.

See you there!

Marvin Macaraig

Saturday Morning Social Ride, August 10

For this social ride we will be coordinating our efforts with the always fantastic TO35Cycles and their Wheels on the Danforth Ride.

We will meet at 10:30am Saturday August 10 at Warden Hilltop Community Centre.

The ride will be family friendly and accommodate all fitness and skill levels.

So save the date, and start your weekend with some great cycling camaraderie.

Friday Evening Social Ride, July 26

Come out for another summer social ride.

We will meet in front of Taylor Memorial Library at 6:30 pm. (Rain or shine)

This ride will be about 1.5 hours and we will loop back to our starting point.

The route will include both streets and paved trails.

Friday Evening Social Ride, July 5

Come join us this Friday July 5, for another social ride. This ride will be about 1.5 hours and we will
loop back to our starting point.

The route will include both streets and paved trails.

We will meet in front of Taylor Memorial Library at 6:30 pm. (Rain or shine)