The Bicycle Mayor & Virtuous Cycles

                                          Cyclist on the Magog Loop (not one of us) 

Were you aware that there is a Bicycle Mayor in the city of Toronto? This was new to me as well but I heard an interview with Lanrick Bennett Jr. who was appointed to this position three years ago. He is also an Urbanist-in-Residence with the University of Toronto School of Cities. Two great titles!

Lanrick was engaging and articulate and talked about cycling as though it made sense for TO or any other urban setting, one mode of transportation among many. He supported the development of infrastructure for cycling and while the discussion wasn't about bike lanes I'm sure he would like to see more rather than less.  I think this is true, everywhere, even though Premier Doug Ford recently teed off on a court decision declaring his law to remove three Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional, calling it the "most ridiculous" ruling he has ever seen. Chairman Dougie is a progressive thinker, isn't he? 

A few weeks ago friends kindly invited us to join them near Magog, Quebec, a town of about 30,000 people. There are cycling paths everywhere  and we explored one in town and another along a river that took us to the Vermont border, a round trip of 44 kilometres. On our way in the morning there were few people out and about but on the way back the trail was busy and the parking lot had a Hunger Games feel to it. 

There were thousands of tourists availing themselves of the cycling paths of various degrees of challenge and the trails are excellent. We loved the experience and wished we didn't need to drive hundreds of kilometres to do what could happen in Ontario, although the scenery was worth the drive. Not long after our return I cycled 20+ km across Belleville with our 12-year old grandson but the trails are not well connected and I felt some grandfatherly apprehension at points. 

I've said before that while Jesus and the disciples didn't ride bicycles they probably would have if they'd been invented. Can you imagine the squabbles though? As a Christian I want to whatever I can to lessen my environmental footprint, to "live with respect in Creation" and I'd like to think that when I head out in the morning for a ride I'm making a modest effort.  

Apparently Lanrick was wearing the tee-shirt pictured below during the interview. What a great logo!