I went for a walk on the weekend with some visitors from Windsor and, as usually happens with visitors to Toronto, they remarked on the sheer amount of cyclists riding around the city. What also strikes visitors is the diversity of the riders in terms of age, gender and perceived social and economic class — in some cities, biking is still thought of as either a kids-thing or, as I wrote in Spacing’s car issue, something people do when their license is suspended for a DUI. Not so in Toronto. The Toronto Cyclists Union is taking a survey of its members and Toronto cyclists in general to get a picture of biking conditions in the city — the more representative it is of all riders, the better the results:
Participate in the bike union’s first ever online survey of Toronto cyclists. Spend 5 minutes to complete the survey and you will help the Toronto Cyclists Union improve conditions for cycling in Toronto.
This survey will help us know more about your commute, understand your thoughts on how to make city streets safer and learn how to better serve you and other supporters. You will also have an opportunity to share any views you may have.
12 comments
grrr. upon completion one is returned to this:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/Home_Landing.aspx
whois surveymonkey.com:
Registrant:
SURVEYMONKEY.COM
ATTN: SURVEYMONKEY.COM
c/o Network Solutions
P.O. Box 447
Herndon, VA. 20172-0447
ok. I’ll remove my tinfoil hat now. But that does say VA as in Virginia as in Yes, there is no Santa Clause. Such tends to lead one to question things like what else this data may be used for and what assurance of integrity TCU had in placing it there.
That said TCU is prudent in seeking the input of members and the broader bicycling community.
Are you really worried about that Geoffrey? Don’t you think all the posts and comments you make are more worrisome than anonymous answers on a cycling survey? (I’m not suggesting you say/write anything bad, just that its ingenuous to pick a survey to be concerned about with the amount of ‘on-the-record’ info about us on the internet is already in circulation).
I hope we can accomplish this type of bicycle advocacy and number of bicyclists in Houston. All in all, Houston should be able to create a more bicycle friendly environment than Toronto. There’s never ice on the road here for example. But we seem to be decades away from what you are describing.
^Though I bet the humidity is a hot analogue to our snow. That can’t be so much fun to ride in.
There’s nothing private being asked in the survey. The closest they ask for is your postal code and date of birth and income (for demographics) and that’s optional.
I don’t think anyone has to worry about homeland security agents abducting them in their sleep.
Provided that the road is properly cleared and its not really windy, cycling in the winter isn’t that bad as many might think.
A.R. is right: apart from road conditions, winter road riding is little different than winter running, or nordic skiing in terms of preparation or fortitude required. Winter’s a season we’ve all seen every year, for god’s sake.
The riding is fine — but if you don’t want to look like a fleece or MEC monster, riding in the winter is difficult.
I’m sorry. Evidently I was not sufficiently clear in stating “Such tends to lead one to question things like what else this data may be used for and what assurance of integrity TCU had in placing it there.”
Hello. Raise your hand if the name Diebold means anything to you. What assurance does TCU have that survey results will be forwarded intact free of munging?
Network Solutions was once a respected internet entity. That went out the window some years ago. They have since been witnessed to commit manipulated surveys in their interest.
On another note IP addresses are very much like telephone numbers. If I trust a party I may provide them my number. Granted, many Spacing readers are content to use internet “providers” that forbid subscribers running servers, some of us choose the full deal as it can enhance communication. In these cases static IPs are a little less anonymous. That said those sufficiently educated can probably trace down Rogers netblocks within a few doors and identify specific subscribers with a warrant. I’ve no problem leaving this with TCU. Network Solutions on the other hand attached to a survey asking a number of personal questions is quite another.
So excuse me for questioning why I’m feeding a party I personally disdain when I subscribed to something I feel strongly for. TCU data for Network Solutions makes me want to wretch.
geoffrey> How do you even get through the day? I don’t mean to sound like I’m flaming you, but really, how do you mange modern society with worries like these?
Other than to the bike union, the information i shared on the survey is completely, and utterly, boring. Whoever wants it can have it. But I don’t think anybody wants it. I am as boring and the same as most people on the planet. When I realized that, my worries about most of “information” disappeared.
“Fleece monster?” It’s just winter clothes. I suppose going outside in general can be hard for dedicated fashion slaves, but if you don’t mind making some minor concessions to Canadian weather, MEC now carries Patagonia and other designer mountainwear, Louis Garneau makes some vintage looking wool cycling jerseys, and for Russell Smith and his posse there’s always reflective tweed from http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk/
I can’t access the survey, since it (probably?) uses javascript or other background-image changing magic. Would it be possible to have it use more standard objects like *real* checkboxes, etc? :\
Either way, many thanks for promoting cycling awareness!