November 22, 2004

To: Members of the Standing Committee on Social Policy
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
c/o Ann Stokes, Clerk (anne_stokes@ontla.ola.org)

Dear Committee Members,

I am writing on behalf of the Community Bicycle Network Board of Directors
regarding Bill 129, An Act to amend the Highway Traffic Act, titled
"Helmets, vehicles powered by muscular power."

The Community Bicycle Network, established in 1993, works to stimulate,
support and link together a wide range of community-based bicycle
initiatives in the city of Toronto. CBN's core mission is to make
sustainable, community-friendly transportation accessible to all in the city
of Toronto. By promoting technologically simple, clean-air transportation in
Canada's largest city, the Community Bicycle Network helps to enhance the
stability of our climate and is addressing some of the systemic problems
related to automobile-reliant urban transportation.

BikeShare, a community bicycle-lending program, is one of our core programs.
Bikes are utilized for short trips in a system analogous to a public library
book lending system. BikeShare's distinctive yellow bicycles are used by
between 350-400 users each year for the affordable cost of $25 or four hours
of volunteer service for a season's pass. The program attracts a wide
variety of people who otherwise may not use a bike for transportation or
recreation. This award-winning program is Canada's largest and most
comprehensive bike sharing project.

By making reliable bikes available, visible and inexpensive, BikeShare makes
cycling a more realistic personal transportation option for Torontonians and
helps them make a healthy, environmentally friendly choice. One of the
program's key strengths is its ease of use. A fleet of well-maintained
bicycles is provided at any of 14 downtown hubs for citizens to use on an
occasional basis for errands or short trips.

BikeShare has a policy of encouraging safe cycling and the use of helmets.
However, due to health and sizing issues, helmets are for individual use
only and we cannot provide helmets to be shared amongst BikeShare members.
If Bill 129 were to be enacted the BikeShare program would be required to
find, within its very limited financial resources, a way to purchase, store
and make available a minimum of 500 helmets of various sizes, one for each
member. This would represent a considerable financial and administrative
burden to CBN and could represent a barrier to the casual use of bicycles.

Please consider seriously the impact of Bill 129 on programs like BikeShare.
We urge you to consult with cycling organizations such as CBN before
enacting this or any other cycling related bill. We have extensive knowledge
of the best practices worldwide that lead to the adoption of sustainable
transportation by the general public. We also have first-hand, day-to-day
information about the needs and requirements of potential cyclists.

We know that you share our goal to encourage as many Ontarians as possible
to incorporate safe, sustainable transportation into their everyday lives.
We would appreciate the opportunity to share with you the many ways in which
the Ontario government could encourage and support sustainable
transportation.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Arlene Clement,
President, Community Bicycle Network

c.c. Rosario Marchese, MPP Trinity--Spadina (rmarchese@ndp.on.ca)
John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre (jmilloy.mpp@liberal.ola.org)
Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (arc@respect.to)
Canadian Cycling Association (general@canadian-cycling.com)
Community Bicycle Network (CBNNews)
Ontario Cycling Association (info@ontariocycling.org,
smerker@ontariocycling.org)
Toronto Bicycling Network (tbn@tbn.ca)
Toronto Cycling Committee (fbalda@toronto.ca)
Velo Ontario Cycling Alliance (Info@VeloOntario.ca)