Tag Archives: bixi

to bixi, with love

03 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in bike, gear

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Shhh! Don’t tell her I’ve been cheating. I (sheepishly) admit I’ve been cheating on my hybrid, Trixie, with my bike share, Bixi. She’s cute, no? It’s all because I’ve been derailed from B-icicling by this darn rotator cuff injury (heed my winter riding dos and don’ts). Trixie has sat immobile since I was thrown from it and landed on my shoulder, and I only just got round to cleaning off the salt from that night (bad Jen! salt is the death of a bike). But, alas, Trixie’s handlebar and front wheel are still askew, and I’m not yet pain-free to ride comfortably – or safely.

So to get to or from physio, I’ve taken to hopping on Bixi now and then. And I do love how she handles in this non-winter: fat tires that can get through snow just fine. I’d shelled out $95 for a membership in October 2010 to support the Toronto bike share program that was short the 1,000 subscribers needed to get funding so the wheels could start rolling in May 2011.

A Bixi devotee, I use it whenever I visit Montreal, where it started, but with two bikes of my own, I only use Bixi Toronto maybe once a month, the odd time I’m out without my bike. But I must say, it’s been superconvenient being able to hop on and off it as needed. I just might keep using Bixi once I’m able to ride Trixie – it’s handy having a bike on demand!

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live green toronto

11 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by in bike, eco, food

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As much as I adore travelling, I love living in Toronto. And I love living green. That’s why I like Live Green Toronto, a program launched in 2007 as part of the city’s Climate Change, Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Action Plan to encourage Torontonians to live green and reduce energy use at home, at work and on the go. The website shares energy- and water-saving resources, rebates and incentives, plus tips to help residents and businesses reduce emissions and green their lives. It’s chock full of gardening info, from maintaining a low-water lawn to backyard composting and container gardening for balconies. There’s even advice on eating local, such as growing your own food, finding farmers’ markets and sourcing restaurants that serve local food. And the On The Go section is has info on cycling, bikes routes and the city’s newest bikeshare program, Bixi Toronto. (One caveat: the site fails to mention Zipcar and AutoShare, which are excellent autoshare programs for urbanites who go carless day to day but need a vehicle for day-long or weekend trips.)

And if you like to shop (who doesn’t?), it pays to get a free Live Green Toronto Membership card. It’s easy to sign up online, and members get discounts and exclusive offers on eco-friendly products and services from 336 (and growing!) local businesses. I reap membership rewards at restos like Fresh, a vegan hotspot with three locations, but you can also get discounts on home and garden items, clothes, health and beauty products, even exhibits at the Royal Ontario Museum! I never leave home without my card. Neither should you!

xoxo
jen

P.S. Recently received an e about a sweet new deal from Evergreen Brick Works: until Dec. 23, Live Green Toronto members get 10% off sustainably harvested, local Christmas trees, gift baskets of local food treats, and clean-air plants. Plus, members get 2-for-1 skate rentals at the Brick Works ice rink, starting Dec. 17!

b-icicle: bring it on!

07 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in bike

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I’m always up for a challenge, especially when it’s on my bike. Bike touring? Yup. Duathlon racing? You betcha. Winter riding? Of course! That’s why I’m ringing my beautiful bell in support of the B-icicle challenge. Emily D’Ath and Monica Tan, two Americans living in Beijing, have challenged cyclists around the world to continue riding through winter. They’ve even set up a blog and a Facebook page so you can follow their winter-riding adventures and post your own stories, tips and photos to share with all-season cyclists worldwide.

I love riding too much to put my commuter in storage just because the temperature drops. Sure, there’s the odd time when it’s too icy to be safe, but that’s when Bixi comes to the rescue (I’m lucky to live near a docking station, and Bixi Toronto recently relocated some stations outside the original zone, which will make reaching Little Italy and The Distillery much easier by bike share). And true, there are times when I’ll use public transportation to travel to the suburbs to visit Mom. But for the most part, I’ll be leaving my apartment on bike this winter because riding is a part of me – it feels unnatural to not be clipped in. Even in the middle of a snowstorm!