The Toronto Cyclists Union is being honoured in Washington, DC today, they have been awarded the 2010 “innovation of the year” award from the US-based Alliance for Cycling and Walking. The award is in honour of their partnership with Culturelink Settlement Services to promote cycling amongst newcomers to the city.
The program, known as the Partnership for Integration and Sustainable Transportation, includes posters, a cycling handbook and workshops. All material has been made available in sixteen of Toronto’s most commonly spoken languages.
The award recognizes that the program not only brings better transportation options to the city’s newcomers but also promotes an inclusive cyclist movement. Culturelink Executive Director Ibrahim Absiye explains, “In Toronto, 52% of people 15 and older are newcomers to Canada, and green initiatives must speak directly to them to be effective.”
The Bike Union has made a priority of working with other groups in the city to spread the promotion of cycling and bring a more diverse group on board. Kristen Steele, of the Alliance for Biking and Walking cites this a primary reason for the recognition. “We need an inclusive movement if we’re going to be successful in making our communities more friendly to bicyclists and pedestrians. The partnership between the Toronto Cyclists Union and CultureLink is a great example of how to bring people together.”
Photo by Shaun Merritt
2 comments
Good. Now the union needs to get Bixi on the street, because until then there won’t be enough cyclists out there for the city to find it impossible to ignore.
Yes – what is the status with Bixi? Toronto would be such a better city for having it!!!