Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Beautiful Fredericton

I almost forgot what the sun looked like! Today was a lovely 21 degrees and no humidity, and everyone seemed to be out! The young and old were conversing on the trails and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. No wonder Fredericton is one of the friendliest cities in Canada! Except for some of the aggressive drivers... I spent my afternoon in Officers Square reading a book and enjoying the warm spring breeze whilst people watching and listening to the sounds of the city. I also counted 246 cyclists in a three hour time span along Queen Street! Is this a start of a cycling revolution for Fredericton? Or is this just a phase due to the Princess Margaret Bridge closure? It is nice to see the leaves finally coming out and people doing their thing. It's almost as if time slows down when you're on the trails. I will let the pictures do the talking.

The Park and Ride parking lot is full! I'm glad people are taking initiative. 

As you can see, the bridge is rather crowded today!

This is a typical section of trail from Brunswick Street to Biggs Street

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While sitting in Officers Square, I even found a cat enjoying the weather.

A beautiful sun set to end a perfect day!

Summer in Fredericton

With summer fast approaching on our heels, it’s hard to find an excuse not be outside! Nothing is more pleasant than riding your bike through the old elm and maple trees that reach over your head, scratching at the sky. When you live in a city, there are areas that you never really venture in to. For example, I hardly ever go to Marysville or Barker’s Point, all because I have no reason to go there. I encourage you this summer to just go for a leisurely ride and explore areas you do not often think about.

My favourite thing to do in the summer is catch a bus to Kings Place, and cycle to the Boyce Farmer’s Market every Saturday. It is a great way to meet the locals and it encourages to buy local products. From sausages to falafels and clothes to souvenirs, you can find anything here! Another one of my favourite activities is to spend an afternoon people watching or reading a book in Officers Square or Odell Park. It’s a great way to cool off in the shade while listening to the rushing river or a babbling brook.

The walking bridge seems to be getting a lot of attention this year, and with good reason! It’s the best way to get from the Southside to the Northside when walking or cycling. It offers amazing views of the city skyline and connections to the downtown core, and Carleton Park on the Northside. Here are some typical views you can see from the walking bridge (taken last summer).




You may even see a rower or two!

So, get off your butt and enjoy this summer in the "City of Stately Elms".

Also check out the Tourism New Brunswick website!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Fredericton Bike Lanes and Princess Margaret Bridge Closure

I would like to start off today’s blog that google maps has finally added Douglas Avenue as a bike lane! I’m still working with google to get them to include York Street and Crocket Street/Brown Boulevard. You can see some of bicycle lanes and routes here. Once they have all of the bicycle lanes and paths listed, it will be much easier for locals and tourists to find the best routes to get around our fair city.

Note that not all of the multi-use paths are listed, and the city centre routes can be viewed here. I cycled the Douglas Avenue route a few days ago, and it is in excellent shape and gets four out of five stars! It loses only one star because there are a few areas where there is gravel on the road and parked cars. I should not have to remind motorists that it is illegal to park in a bike lane.

Now that the Princess Margaret Bridge closure is in full swing, the city is still trying to get motorists to find alternate ways of getting to work. I have said this before, but I will remind you of the Brookside Mall park and go shuttle bus that runs to downtown and vies versa. Also, it is entirely FREE!



Our neighbouring city of Saint John has also done something similar, calling their system the “Parcobus”. Link here. If the City of Fredericton advertised a little more, they may even get increased demand. I would not be surprised if they offered a park and go site from Kingswood Entertainment Centre to downtown in the distant future. 

Frederictonians are also preparing the impending construction season this year. More than ever the city is urging citizens to use alternatives. The full article by the Daily Gleaner can be found here. As noted in the article, Brookside Drive is getting an overhaul from Summerhill Row to Heron Drive, which will include continuing the widening of the road. I keep hearing rumours of a bicycle lane from Reynolds Street to St. Mary's Street. Knowing the city, it will not happen any time soon, but it is foreseeable in the future.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Cycling Tips for Fredericton

Tips When Cycling in Fredericton 

- You may see cyclists on the sidewalk, but this is actually illegal. Bike on the road and keep to the right or take control of your lane.
- When there is a segregated bicycle lane near by, use it! Nothing frustrates or irritates motorists more than a cyclist not in a proper lane.
- Always wear your helmet. Not only is there a $172.25 fine, it increases your chance of survival in case of an accident.
- When on a cycling path (i.e. The Green or Walking Bridge), use the same rules of the road and keep right, except to pass. The same rule exists for walkers and runners.
- When using the bicycle rack on a bus, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It is annoying for other passengers when you take several minutes to load/unload a bike.
- Add a red flashing light to the back of your bike. While you’re at it, add a white light to the front so cars in the opposite direction can see you. I have almost hit fellow cyclists at night because I can’t see them.
- Never ever wear dark colours at night. It is hard to see black on black.
- Add a bell, so you can notify when passing so people don’t move into your lane.
- Believe it or not, it is still illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk of the Westmorland Bridge. Walk your bike across. A sidewalk is a sidewalk!
- Use hand signals when doing manoeuvres. I have passed cyclists who hit me because they did not use hand signals. It is also helpful to motorists, because cyclists can be unpredictable. Remember, be predictable to everyone!



- Use the provided parking stations if there is one near by. If not, use a tree or lamp post. Do not use a gate (unless it is stationary), parking metre or gas metres. It is also advised to not park close to fire hydrants.
- Make sure you know how to ride your bike first, before moving into traffic. A wobbly or unstable cyclist makes others nervous.
- Stay hydrated and nourished- no one likes a grumpy cyclist!
- Install fenders for your rear and front wheels. It rains... a lot, here in Fredericton. Though, July and August are usually our dry season.
- Always, always, always carry a tube repair kit and tools. With the pot holes around here, you can get a flat tire if you’re not paying attention.
- Stay at least a metre from parked cars. People do not pay attention, and swing their doors open at cyclists. I’ve been “doored” before, and it is not pleasant!
- Do not stop beside a car at a red light, unless you have your own lane. If the driver decides to turn right or left, you could be squished! Stop behind the car, so you’re not in their blind spot.
- “Filtering” is illegal in New Brunswick. Weaving in between cars during grid lock is illegal and asking to be hit.
- Make eye contact with motorists to make sure they see you.
- Study maps to make sure you know where you’re going. An uncertain cyclist is nervous and unpredictable.
- Fredericton has 85km of trails, the majority being paved and segregated! Take time this summer to explore the trail system and enjoy close encounters with nature :)

Sorry I do not have any pictures of my bicycle tonight! I am finally getting my tension adjusted and other minor tuning up. 

Monday, May 16, 2011

Shopping Local in Fredericton

Tonight is a simple blog, about shopping local. It helps keep money in the community and fights big box store chains like Wal Mart. I will let my favourite local book store do the talking. Please check out their website! http://www.westminsterbooks.com/welcome


To stay on the topic of buying local, here is a list of my favourite stores and restaurants in Fredericton:
1. The Radical Edge (Bike shop on Westmorland Street)
4. Victory Meat Market
6. Pita Pit (yes it is a chain, but it plays a role in the local community)
8. Snooty Fox Pub
9. Cultures Boutique
12. Luna Pizza (Best pizza in town!)
13. Room 2 Remember
14. Last but not least, Harvey Studios, for my photographic needs.

Sorry I did not upload any pictures of my bicycle and accessories, but my camera is on the fritz. All I need to do is fix my lens, and it will be good to go! Thanks for staying patient! :)

Fredericton Bicycle Infrastructure and Brookside Park and Go

The weather here has been miserable and I have not had a chance to cycle around the city much. When it rains in Fredericton, it most definitely rains. Most people in this city depend on their cars to get around when the weather is bad, but fail to see the advantages of public transit or using their own body. The environmental benefits are obvious, as it reduces CO2 emissions other than the emissions required to actually build the bicycle. Social benefits are also obvious, as you are not surrounded by plastic, steel and glass, thus exposed to the people around you. How often do people pass each other in their cars and flip them off, honk and act like an idiot? On a bicycle, you can reach out and say hello. I suppose one could say it would be a better place?

Fredericton does not invest heavily in street cycling infrastructure, at least not evidently. Yes, there are many places to lock your bike, use the washroom, get a drink and have a smooth surface to ride on, but there is little to accommodate the cyclists on city streets. Downtown, the streets are narrower and many motorists become impatient travelling behind a slow cyclist. Frankly, I do not feel safe with an impatient motorist a few inches behind me. I understand it’s hard to accommodate cyclists downtown with it’s current plans in an old city, but I urge the city to think of the future when building new streets. I will admit, our downtown is beautiful and full of unique little shops run by excellent entrepreneurs.

Also, to anyone from Fredericton who cares to read my blog- Apparently the shuttle bus from Brookside Mall to Downtown is doing excellent! Need I remind you, it is FREE. During the Princess Margaret Bridge closure, don’t hesitate to park your car at Carleton Park and walk/cycle downtown or carpool with a buddy. On Wednesday mornings, you can even walk with the mayor on the walking bridge. It’s a great way to appreciate your city and meet new people. On random dates, there were also be prizes awarding citizens using alternative ways to get around.

Here is a beautiful picture of Fredericton's downtown during the winter, courtesy of Caveat.Doctor via flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveatdoctor/4368588677

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Stick around for tomorrow, and I will share what kind of bicycle I use, tips and ideas.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Fredericton Hills Troublesome for Cyclists

Ahh, after a few hours, blogger is finally back online and my last two days were saved!

When cycling in Fredericton, there is an obvious obstacle- hills. Downtown, Devon and Barker’s Point all have a major advantage of being flat. Whereas, if you want to go uptown to the Regent Mall for example, you would have to face a thirty degree incline going up Regent, York or Smythe Street. The same goes in Nashwaaksis from Main Street to Brookside Mall or Killarney Lake. I provided a map, which is an easier way to get to Brookside Mall from Main Street. Solid Green is the suggested route and the dashed green is optional. Whatever floats your boat!

There are some people that try to cycle up York Street’s bicycle lane, but not many succeed and just walk their bike up the hill. On the way back down the hill, it is not that hard to hit 40 or even 50km/h. Of course, there is always the option to take the bus which has a bicycle rack on the front to uptown. The bus drivers are always very patient and very considerate with or without a bicycle, plus they’re always willing to help if you’ve never used the rack before.

For any of you living in the city, you already know of the Princess Margaret Bridge closure. The city is urging to people to use alternative modes of transportation. My favourite being the bicycle. The walking bridge has seen a dramatic increase of pedestrians and cyclists since the closure. It may add a few minutes to your commute, but at least you do not need to worry about parking downtown and you get a little exercise first thing in the morning! Might I add, it’s only a 2km walk from Carleton Park to Kings Place or an eight minute bike ride. Anyone living near the Brookside Mall also has the option of a FREE park and ride from Zellers to the Officer’s Barracks on Queen Street. Operating every half hour from 7am-9am and 4pm-6pm. Why pass up a free ride, for gas you don't have to pay for?! 

Sorry if today's blog is a little choppy. I did not have much time to edit or add too many pictures.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Reminiscing Fredericton




No adventurous pictures today, as I have come down with a cold. I learned my lesson after cycling in the cold rain last night! Instead, I have spent some of my morning researching the city's maps, pictures and culture. First, let me start with a picture from the past.





This photo was taken back in the late 1800's on the intersection of Queen and St. John Street looking west. On the bottom left corner, you can see someones bicycle propped up on the curb as they shop in a general store. Also note, the big oak (elm trees?) in the background. Today the park, Officers Square is there today. Also, who thought you could bring a cow downtown?
Fast forward to 2011, I found the following article on the active transportation page on the city website. Apparently, the city has a "Secured Bike Parking Facility". You can rent out a locker for 10$ from April until December. Honestly, I had no idea it existed! :(

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/recleisure/BikeParking2009.asp
The Green is a very popular tourist attraction, as it follows the St. John River. The trail is paved from the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge (a converted train bridge), all the way to the light house. They did not finish paving from the light house to Smythe Street last year because of the rainy weather and trail upgrades. This trail is also the fastest way to get from one end of the city to the other without a single worry of being in danger of motorists. Not to mention ATVs and dirt bikes are banned on most of the trails.








Finally, here is a map of the trail system in the city centre. Much of the trail system uses abandoned railway bed. The converted train bridge (Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge) is a major access route to downtown. It is also a great place to meet locals, tourists and if you're lucky around election time- the MPs. Carleton Park, adjacent of the walking bridge is a fantastic place to view the city skyline. With it's proximity to the river and old trees, it is a wonderful place to have a picnic when the weather is nice. If you have a bladder the size of a grape, there are also many washroom facilities along the trails (see map).


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Flooding in Fredericton and Bicycle Parking

Not much change in the weather here, other than a horrible headwind that almost knocks you over. Whoever lives in a valley can understand the wind channels through and gusts almost to 50km/h. Along with the rain, comes flooding. Much of the multi-use infrastructure along the river is under water during this time of year and occasionally in autumn. With the recent upgrades such as asphalt and rocks on the multi-use paths, this has stopped the erosion that comes with the St. John River's powerful currents. Here are some photos of what happens behind the Beaverbrook Art Gallery all the way to the Westmorland Street Bridge.

(I have no idea why the city laid sod in autumn. Most of it has floated out to sea by now.) 


The flooding usually only lasts for two weeks once the freshet has flowed through the river system, thus forcing cyclists onto the street. Luckily when the water recedes, the path is still there. I do not dare venture into the water, as it is usually two to even five feet deep in places. (I find this odd, but the flooding often brings many tourists to the river front. Ya know, it is only 8 metres of water...) 

As for the bicycle parking facilities, I thought I would share a picture in the new parking garage on King Street. Walking or driving by, you would never know it's there- but it is. The key thing I like, is that it keeps your bicycle away from the elements, so your bicycle will stay dry and keep from rusting. Not to mention there is security and cameras! If only work was closer, I would park here. I just hope this is year-round parking, as the city takes away many of the facilities before the first snowfall. 


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Bicycle Paths on The Green

Oooh, what's this? Two posts in one day! Just thought I would share a picture of a typical cycling path. Nice, smooth and divided pavement. Greetings to my recent American viewers!


This picture was taken last fall by yours truly :)

Bicycle Parking in Downtown Fredericton

Today was a rainy and windy day here in Fredericton, but surprisingly a lot of cyclists decided to brave the weather. Living in Atlantic Canada, you grow custom to strange weather and temperature extremes all in one day. One minute it is pleasantly warm and sunny, then the next it's 4ÂșC and pouring rain. If you are a person like me that cycles on different terrain, you most definitely do not want a road or racing bike. In this city, there are paved cycling paths, but all eventually turn into rough gravel. Though, you can venture onto the streets and risk getting a flat on your thin road bicycle tire in the pot holes. I for one, depend on my mountain bike, since it does have to endure rough terrain. It is also great for when it's snowing or raining when there is little traction. In the end, it does wear down the studs on my tires. Better than replacing a tube for 30$ every other day.

I have noticed lately, now that the "warm" weather has arrived, motorists are becoming more considerate of cyclists! I actually had a full lane to myself on Queen Street. I hope to see more cyclists when the temperatures start to climb and tourists start to arrive. After all, this is Fredericton- Canada's Green City. Fredericton is a beautiful city in the summer and I really hope people take advantage of being outside instead of being cooped up watching tv or... blogging all day.

Gee, I'm jumping all over the place today. There is a rumour floating around about the city building a bicycle lane on Brookside Drive. This street is very busy, and not the safest for cyclists. Not to mention steep inclines at times. With the booming housing development in Heron Heights and other subdivisions in the area, there is an increasing number of people driving cars and people cycling down to the park and ride at Brookside Mall to catch a "Freddy Fast Bus" to downtown. Building a cycle lane on this street would ease the anxiety of cyclists who fear of getting hit.

I, being true to my word made a map of all the bicycle parking stations in the downtown that I found. I feel like I'm blogging to a ghost audience right now, but if any of you know where there are bicycle parking stations downtown, please comment and let me know where and I will update the map.

Again, this is my first time blogging, so give me some slack! :)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Day 1

     There are not many cyclists here in Fredericton. I think it may be due to the increase of bad drivers in this city. Whether it be merging improperly, not stopping/looking or hell, just not giving a damn if you hit something. Many days, I avoid the main streets during busy hours, due to aggressive drivers who think I should be driving a hummer. I suppose this would be the right time to tell you that yes, I am an environmentalist. 
     I love this city and I enjoy living here. Many aspects of this city are green. Such as the many maple trees that line old streets downtown blowing softly in the summer breeze, the new Fredericton Convention Centre, which is completely energy efficient and of course, the many empty bicycle racks downtown. Though, I love cycling around on The Green, passing people with a smile and hello. After all, this is Canada- politest nation.
     Alas, this is my first blog (and first post) ever online, and it's been a while since I have done some informative writing. So bare with me if I make grammatical errors. I hope you like what I post and share the same interests as I do. I will do my best to take as many pictures as possible to show you how people enjoy the lifestyle here. Tomorrow I will work on uploading a map of all the bicycle rack locations in the downtown for anyone who cares to use them.