More Work on the E&N Rail Trail!

Great news from the Capital Regional District of Greater Victoria. Parts of the E&N Rail Trail are now open! This path is being created to follow the route of the E&N Rail line from downtown Victoria through Esquimalt, all the way to Langford.
Check out this link to see some photos of the Trail being constructed beside the railway line in Esquimalt. I was down there yesterday and saw people walking on the nice smooth blacktop trail!
The route is already taking some of the traffic from the Galloping Goose trail, which sees a lot of commuters on bike and foot during the summer months. Even in winter, both trails are expected to see a lot of use. Recreational users as well as commuters are looking forward to the expected completion of the new trail. Here's the latest press release from The CRD on the new trail:


CRD Media Release

For Immediate Release
November 14, 2011

E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector Closed from Esquimalt Rd. to Admirals/Colville Rd.

Victoria, BC – Construction of a section of the E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector from the
intersection of Admirals and Colville Roads in Esquimalt to Esquimalt Road in Victoria is
underway. Due to requirements by rail operator for public safety, this section of trail must be
closed until the intersection upgrades are complete. These upgrades are on hold until the future
of the railway is determined by the rail operator and other parties.

The first portion of work including construction of 2.3 kilometre of trail surface is nearing
completion. However, the second portion involving improvements to five road intersections,
including upgrades to rail signals and pedestrian crossing infrastructure is delayed due to
circumstances beyond the CRD’s control.

“While there is currently no passenger service running on the line, it is still considered an active
railway and therefore subject to all safety requirements to which the CRD must adhere,” says
Lloyd Rushton, General Manager of CRD Parks and Community Services. “We ask for the
public’s patience and cooperation as we work to construct our next regional trail.”

The E&N Rail Trail-Humpback Connector is a commuter cycling and recreation trail that is being
built largely within the rail corridor in Victoria, Esquimalt, View Royal and Langford. The trail is
being built in phases. Phase one is underway. It will provide a 14.3 kilometre contiguous route
from Esquimalt Road in Victoria to Jacklin Road in Langford. Eventually this multi-use path will
stretch from the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria to Humpback Road in Langford. It will be an
important multi-use transportation link between Victoria and the Westshore. It will also form a
key part of the trail network managed by the Capital Regional District, which includes the
popular Galloping Goose and Lochside regional trails.

You can find additional information at http://www.crd.bc.ca/parks/e_n_railtrail.htm (including a map of the Galloping Goose and E&N Rail Trails).
Attachment: Rail Trail Bulletin

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For further information, please contact:
Laurie Sthamann, Communications Coordinator
CRD Regional Parks
Tel: 250.360.3332 | cell: 250.889.8030
lsthamann@crd.bc.ca | www.crd.bc.ca/parks

Bicycle Kitchen for Walker Repairs

Bicycle Kitchens Rock!
Well, we knew that. We knew that for certain when a Bike Kitchen was set up at the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria. We've been on the UVic campus, scooting around with a friend and her kids on bikes, and made darn sure to get everybody over to the SUB. There's the Bike Kitchen, with clamps and pressurized air, and all sorts of tools tethered to the posts.
Today we found another use for the Bike Kitchen: doing maintenance on a walker. Nope, not a pedestrian -- the wheeling frame that some people use for support when walking. Celu's walker had developed an annoying squeak in the front wheels after the December snowfall. When she mentioned it, Bernie's talents at tuning up bicycles got mentioned also. Could he possibly oil the squeak? He turned up on campus to meet her for tea, with some tools and a couple kinds of bike chain oil (I'm not sure what all was in his knapsack).
It was great, to see him take each of the four wheels off Celu's walker, clean them, lube them, and put them back. Who would have thought that walkers could get maintenance as simply as bikes? Hot damn! Three cheers for human powered transportation, in yet another form!

Two-Wheel Triumph!

From the Guardian:

Armed with a netbook, medical supplies and a bicycle, Bangladesh's InfoLadies are giving millions of poor people access to crucial information on their doorsteps that will improve their chances in life.

Seriously, check out the article.

Shweeb is Shweet!

You jump into an aerodynamic capsule and race like a bullet for three laps. With seven gears to play with it’s easy to get up to your top speed.

Feel the adrenalin kick in as you fly around curves swinging out 60 degrees! You soar 4m above the pond and then miss the ground by inches!

Your seat adjusts to your exact height and is as comfortable as a hammock. The highly efficient vehicles let you go much faster than a bicycle.

The above comes from the Shweeb website. Now check out the promo video....



Sure, Shweeb is only available inNew Zealand, but the simplicity of construction makes me think that there might actually be a role for Shweeb in mass transit. I could see myself cranking one of these home from work each day. The pods would be the expensive bit, and mass production could minimize that expense. Just one more option for a varied transit system.