"I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like"

The opening lyrics from Queen's "Bicycle Race" (1978) ring in my head whenever I think about cycling activists struggling for fewer cars, more bike lanes, or just some simple respect from motorists. A few years earlier, Queen poked fun at our motoring obsessions in the tongue-in-cheek tome, "I'm in Love With My Car". 

We have become so normalized to motorized transport that we tend to forget how recently it invaded our culture.

My neighbour is in his 80's and occasionally we chat over the fence about "the good ol' days". He's a WWII vet who was stationed all over Europe. A few days ago I asked him how prevalent cars were in the European countryside during the war. He said it was hard to say for sure (people hid their cars to keep the military from seizing them), but in most places the horse and cart were still quite common.

My father grew up at the end of that era. While the car was becoming the dominant mode of transportation, rural people continued to use the horse and buggy for daily chores and to travel to parties. Sleighs full of drunken partygoers could travel safely home on a winter night, even if they were passed out, because the horses knew their way home!

That was only 60 years ago. A lot has changed. Our car culture has literally run us over. Just thinking about it reminds me of that scene from the film The Shawshank Redemption, when character Brooks Hatlen (played by James Whitmore) is released from prison after serving more than 50 years. In a letter to his pals back at Shawshank, he muses about the new world he now faces:

"Dear Fellas. I can't believe how fast things move on the outside. I saw an automobile once when I was a kid, but now they're everywhere. The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry."

And what exactly is our hurry? We rush from the shower to the kitchen to the garage to the car to the parking lot to work and then back home to our televisions. Some of us spend more than 2 full weeks per year sitting in traffic for our daily commute.

According to Statistics Canada, 2,046,610 commuters take to the streets of Toronto every day. 28.9% of them travel less than 5 km. Of those, 70.8% commute by car. This means that 418,761 Torontonians get in a car every day to travel less than 5km. That's a whole lot of smog, noise, and aggravation - not to mention a lot of wasted energy.

Haven't these people heard of bicycles?

According to "Cycling Trends and Policies in Canadian Cities", a 2005 study by John Pucher and Ralph Buehler of Rutgers University, "bicycling accounted for an average of 1.2% of work trips in Canada in 2001".

That's embarrassing!

In Victoria, British Columbia, 4.8% of work trips are made by bicycle, the highest of any Canadian city. Toronto has a dismal 0.8%.

Despite our colder weather, Canada is still miles ahead of the United States in bicycle commuting:

"For all metropolitan areas in aggregate, the bike share of work trips in Canada was 1.2% in 2001, compared to only 0.4% in the United States (Statistics Canada, 2003; Pucher and Renne, 2003)."

In many parts of Europe and Asia, cycling is a part of every day life, so where is our bicycle culture here in North America?

Here in Toronto, cycling is more popular than ever, and with gas at $1.25/litre ($5.69/gal), it's no wonder.

A group of local activists are even launching the Toronto Cyclists Union today, a membership-driven bicycle advocacy group that will be "working together with other groups, to build our community into a strong, diverse, fun and effective network of thousands of bike riders working towards a sustainable city".

But just how popular is cycling in Toronto, compared to other cities around the world? According to an article in the Toronto Star, "cycling culture remains elusive" in Toronto, and perhaps Canada.

Why?

According to Toronto Councillor Adrian Heaps, "You don't buy a car if there's no roads.... You don't ride a bike if there's no infrastructure for it." Cycling activist Jode Roberts says "There's a culture of fear around cycling at the moment, and we need to dispel that."

Infrastructure developments will help both of these problems, but they won't overcome the hegemony of the car and the sort of hyperindividualist mindset of which it is a part.

"Yes the car is our wheelchair" --Rage Against The Machine.

The automobile is not just the wheelchair of the body, but the mind and soul as well. How much of our worldview is formed from behind the windshield?

There's a third problem here in North America. We're lazy. Sedentism has become a religious act. We go out of our way to be lazy. Think I'm wrong? How many times have you seen the driver of a car circling in a half-empty shopping mall parking lot, just so they can be closer to the entrance? My co-workers will not walk the 700 metres to the local coffee shop. I've also read that the average American will not walk more than 600 consecutive feet before getting into a car.

Growing up I watched my father drive to the corner store. It wasn't because he was lazy, he simply didn't want to take (or felt he didn't have) the time to walk or cycle there. The more we drive our cars, the more we are conditioned to keep on driving them. Our schedules and daily patterns revolve around their use, and making changes may seem painful or counter-productive.

We sit in traffic 2 hours a day and then drive to the gym to run on a motorized treadmill. We certainly seem to lack a sense of irony. We say our fast-paced lifestyle leaves us little "leisure" time, yet Canadians manage to watch an average of 22 hours of television per week.

I've been trying to convince my co-workers to join me in my daily bicycle commute for years. Some of these people are less than 10 km away from work. All I ever hear from them are excuses. If it's not the lack of bike lanes, or the fear of traffic, or the lack of time, then it's health issues that people worry about.

"Health?" You say. Yes, health.

People have tried to convince me that commuting by bike is unhealthy, because of all the smog I breathe in. And the alternative is what then, to drive and create more smog for everyone? Sure, my lungs feel rough on the worst smog days (I am considering buying a ventilator), but according to Dr. David Newby, a British Heart Foundation senior lecturer in cardiology at Edinburgh University,

"Drivers face a bigger risk as car ventilation systems vacuum up pollution at ground level, which cannot then disperse, leading to concentrations inside some three times higher than on the street."

I work rotating 12-hour shifts. My commute is a 40 km, 2-hour roundtrip journey (which works out to 5000 km per year, riding from the beginning of April to the end of November). That's a long day. It's not for everyone. I don't do physical labour, so my ride provides some much needed physical activity, plus down-time for my mind and an ease for my soul. In short, it keeps me from going nuts. But I can't seem to get my fellow co-workers to understand this.

When I rode in to work yesterday, it was 36 degrees fahrenheit (2 degrees celsius) outside. Everyone was surprised to see me arrive on my bicycle, but the weather doesn't seem to affect their heroic visions of my daily "ordeal". Even when it is warm and sunny, they still want to know "how I do it". How do I get up at 5:30 in the morning? How do I get on a bicycle after 12-hours and ride home for an hour? I answer, "How do I not?" It gives me energy and helps me cope with the long day.

A cycling culture will remain "elusive" here in North America until fundamental attitudes and values begin to change.

Like my co-workers, most people I talk to tend to think I am making some sort of sacrifice by cycling to work, but I just don't see it that way. The cycling experience is just more fulfilling, more enjoyable.

About one third of my ride is on paved trails that run through parkland. I pass the same people every day and we exchange smiles and waves. The space is shared by joggers, dog walkers, tai chi classes, and people who just come to enjoy the rising and setting of the sun.  It is a wonderful place to be at 6:30 in the morning. My mind stays in the present, with the caress of the breeze on my face and the call of the red-winged black bird in my ears. During my ride, the 12 hours of work that awaits me is in another dimension. All this is a great deal more than you can get from behind the wheel of a car.

We need to start looking at where cycling culture is thriving, find out what works, and then do our best to emulate it. We need to get a good view of what is happening in urban centres where cycling is well-organized. The photo of the bicycle parking lot at a Swedish train station (above) can serve as an inspiration to us of what is possible. Similar infrastucture exists in Amsterdam (another view) and all over Europe. The Europeans have even figured out a safe way to drink and drive (above right).

If you really want inspiration, visit Amsterdam (population 750,000), the bike capital of the world. According to an article in Wired, bicycles make up 40 percent of all traffic in Amsterdam.

There are other inspirations as well. I was surprised to find that 4 of them are in the United States, the car capital of the world. Based on criteria advanced by the League of American Bicyclists, the 11 most bicycle-friendly cities in the world are:

1. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, a.k.a. the bike capital of the world, has 40% of all traffic movements by bicycle. They have created a bicycle friendly city that promotes a healthier, more active lifestyle for its residents. An extensive network of safe, fast and comfortable bicycle routes has been developed, the road safety of cyclists has been increased, a theft-prevention program was set up as well as the number of bicycle sheds increased. Amsterdam is undertaking an ambitious capital-improvement program that includes building a 10,000-bike parking garage at the main train station.

Highlights: Designated street lanes and traffic signals. Bicycle safety concerns. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Rent public bicycles. Underground sheds and outside racks, which hold thousands of bikes under guard. Large bicycle culture.

2. Portland, Oregon, USA

Portland has a varied bicycle network that connects all parts of the city. This network has proven successful in dramatically increasing bicycle use. Portland also has a strong bicycle culture where all types of cyclists can find opportunities to enjoy riding a bicycle. Portland's Create-a-Commuter program is the first project in the United States that provides low-income adults with commuter bicycles as well as a session on commuter safety. The bikes come outfitted with lights, a lock, a helmet, a pump, tool kits, maps and rainwear. Portland’s bicycle network has grown from 60 to 260 miles since the early 1990s. Bicycle use has quadrupled over the same period without any increase in crashes. The city still has 38 miles of bike lanes left in order to achieve its master plan. But in some neighborhoods bike commuters are as high as 9%.

Highlights: Extensive on/off road trails, designated street lanes, and traffic signals. Bicycle culture with Community Cycling Center that offers education and encouragement.

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

The city with the sixth-highest quality of life in the world is also home to the world's most successful community bicycle program. In Denmark practically everybody has a bike, and for many years Copenhagen has been known as 'the city of bikes'. The city of Copenhagen plans to double its spending on biking infrastructure over the next three years. Currently 32% of workers bicycle to work and 50 percent say they cycle to work because it is fast and easy. The city's bicycle paths are extensive and well-used. Bicycle paths are often separated from the main traffic lanes and sometimes have their own signal systems. Already one city neighborhood, the notorious commune Christiania, is completely car-free. The city provides public bicycles which can be found throughout the downtown area and used with a returnable deposit of 20 kroner, your money is refunded when you return the bike to one of many racks.

Highlights: Free public bicycles. Streets with dedicated lanes, paths and routes that are either clearly marked or separated from vehicular traffic by curbs. Bike paths and other bike-friendly facilities are a part of the planning of every new or rebuilt road. Large bicycle culture.

4. Boulder, Colorado, USA

Great public programs that help promote safe biking and encourage its use such as Boulder Safe Routes to School pilot program. One school reported that 75 percent of their students walked or biked to school — a 620 percent increase from before the pilot. More than 4,000 people participate in Boulder’s Bike to Work Day. At least 95 percent of arterials have bike lanes or trails on them. They recently completed two major underpasses, and offer online bike mapping. Boulder has spent an average 15% of its transportation budget on building and maintaining bicycle traffic over the past five years.

Highlights: Designated street lanes, traffic signals, and an in depth local bike map. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Boulder’s Bike to Work Day. Education and encouragement.

5. Davis, California, USA

This small city of 65,000 people has over 100 miles of bike lanes and bike paths. 17% of Davis residents commute to work on bicycles. Davis was one of the first cities in the U.S. to actively start planning for and incorporating the bicycle into its transportation infrastructure. Davis residents enjoy an extensive network of bike lanes, bike paths, and grade-separated bicycle crossings. The flat terrain and temperate climate are also conducive to bicycling. City residents voted to get rid of public school busses many years ago, so many children walk or bike to school. Davis has a comprehensive local bike map with tips and resources on the back. This map is multi-colored, it is free, and it is distributed through the city, university, and local bike shops. Bicycling is so core to this community’s identity that the city’s logo is a bike. The City of Davis and UC Davis are in the process of establishing a west coast bicycle museum. Davis has more bikes than cars and is the only place to earn platinum status on Bicycle Friendly Community's list of top cities. The city is about to build a $1.7 million bike-only tunnel under a major road.

Highlights: Designated street lanes, traffic signals, and an in depth local bike map. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Month-long celebration of the bicycle called Cyclebration in May. The university, UC Davis, bans almost all car traffic. Major development funding. Vigorously Enforced Laws and regulations regarding bicycle use on both bicycles and motorized vehicles.

6. Sandnes, Norway

In 1990 the government decided to start a 4-year pilot bicycle project in order to reduce car traffic and Sandnes was chosen to be one of two pilot towns. The two main goals of the project were to make the town more friendly for cyclists as well as to make more people use the bicycle. The campaign has continued well past the 4 year mark and Today Sandnes has the best facilities for cyclists in Norway. The public bike system in Sandnes starting in June 1996 as the first city in Norway were you are able to subscribe to a plan of use.

Highlights: Designated street lanes. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Rent or subscribe to public bicycles. Great bicycle parking. Large bicycle culture.

7. Trondheim, Norway

Yes, Norway is 6th and 7th on the list! They have invented the worlds first Bicycle Lift (Trampe) which actually has become one of Trondheims most popular tourist attractions and has become a success. The bicycle lift carries cyclists uphill. Inspired by the ski lift technology, the cyclists could be pushed uphill without having to get off of the bicycle. Taking into account the topography of Trondheim, it is no surprise that the idea of a bicycle lift was conceived here. Trondheim is an environmental friendly city that promotes cycling. It has a public bike project were you can rent bikes. 18% of the population of Trondheim is using their bike as a daily means if transport to work or school. Norway aims to raise bicycle traffic to at least 8% of all travel by 2015.

Highlights: Bicycle lift. Designated street lanes. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Rent or subscribe to public bicycles.

8. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the U.S, so a core bicycle system is key here and it also is consistently ranked by Bicycling Magazine as a top city for cycling. Bicycling is a popular mode of transportation in San Francisco, with about 40,000 residents commuting to work regularly by bicycle. There are 63 miles of bicycle lanes and paths throughout the city. The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition endorsed eight candidates for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and all were elected. The board, which is the transportation authority for the city and county, puts highest priority on pedestrian and cycling needs, followed by mass transit. With the number of commuters growing, all public transportation has been equipped to carry bicycles, and driving lanes are being converted into bike lanes.

Highlights: Designated street lanes and traffic signals. Biking is core to its transportation infrastructure. Large bicycle culture with some political influence.

9. Berlin, Germany

Berlin is the country's largest city, and the second most populous city in the European Union. In Berlin where less than half of residents own a car, it has become downright common to ride a bike every day. City officials pledged to work toward bikes comprising 15% of the city’s traffic by the year 2010. After devoting 2.5 million Euros last year to expanding on the bike lane system they are on track. The city already has 80 kilometers of bike lanes in the wide streets and 50 kilometers of lanes on sidewalks. Cycling has doubled in the past decade, and now the city’s 400,000 riders each day account for 12% of total street traffic. Online bicycle router BBBike determines the best bike route between two points in Berlin. Just enter your origin and destination point.

Highlights: Designated street lanes, independent bike paths, traffic signals and bike maps. Bike rentals. Events, education and encouragement. Online bike router. Large bike culture.

10. Barcelona, Spain

On March 22, 2007, Barcelona's City Council started the Bicing service, a bicycle service for public transport. Once the user has their card, they can take a bicycle from any of the 100 stations spread around the city and use it anywhere the urban area of the city, and then leave it at another station. Barcelona City Council is working day and night to expand, rationalize and improve the network of routes and cycle paths in the city. The city has created a 'green ring' that surrounds the metropolitan area of Barcelona with a bike path. There are currently 3,250 parking spaces for bikes at street level. Barcelona City Council is constructing a new underground car park for bicycles; this forms part of a pilot program to prevent theft and provide security for bicycle users. In September, deliberately aimed to coincide with Car Free Day, the Sustainable and Safe Mobility Week takes place, in which a whole day is dedicated to the bicycle. Bike Week was held for the first time between May 21 and 26 in 2002. It's another step forward along the same path that was started by the Festival of the Bicycle , which is integrated into Bike Week. Apart from the festive and leisure activities or the presentation of various projects that are centered around the bicycle, it is a call to use pedal power to get around.

Highlights: Designated street lanes, independent bike paths, traffic signals and bike maps. Activities and events that raise awareness and education for bike safety. Ample bike parking.

11. Basel, Switzerland

The City of Basel is surrounded by a rich agricultural region where fruit trees and grapevines are cultivated and cattle are raised making for beautiful countryside bike tours with clearly-marked networks of bicycle routes and paths that criss-cross both the city as well as the surrounding region. Basel is a very bicycle-friendly city, with many well-marked bicycle lanes throughout the city, and even traffic signals and left-hand turn lanes for bikes. Special route maps are also available for cyclists. Bikes can be rented locally from the Rent-a-Bike underground bike park. Besides local commuter bike lanes, there are specific bike trails that connect to other parts of Switzerland. These bike trails are indicated by signs at some intersections.

Highlights: Designated street lanes, independent bike paths, traffic signals and bike maps. Bike rentals. Events, education and encouragement.

A bicycle friendly city is judged in five categories often referred to as the Five Es. Created by The Bicycle Friendly Communities Campaign as an award program to recognize cities that actively support bicycling.

What are the Five E’s?

1. Engineering (bike parking, designated lanes, etc.)
2. Encouragement (events and campaigns)
3. Evaluation and Planning (ongoing political bodies that make changes to existing laws and plan for the future)
4. Education (bike maps and awareness campaigns)
5. Enforcement (making motorists heel)

For official City of Toronto information on cycling infrastructure, visit the websites for City of Toronto Cycling, the Toronto Cycling Committee, and read about the Cycling Master Plan, and the Bikeway Network.