Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
What will #biking in #toronto look like by 2015? [#PanAm #green]
[/caption]There are interesting things happening in Toronto if you're a cyclist. I'm hoping in this case, "Interesting" means good, and not bad.
So let's begin! Speculation on George Smitherman's possible Toronto mayoral candidacy has been a hot topic since mayor David Miller announced he would be stepping down. Today George Smitherman made it official.
That's one interesting thing. Even if Mr. Smitherman doesn't make it all the way to mayor, the ripple and excitement his running has created hints at (hopefully) a push towards a more progressive and dynamic future for Toronto.
I don't know how strong an advocate of bicycling George Smitherman is, but as a senior Liberal party member, and the former Ontario minister of Energy and Infrastructure he has had exposure to what the energy landscape is going to look like in the coming decades. If you do some research on this topic it can range from slightly depressing to panic inducing. With his working background on the provincial level, I'm going to assume he's a progressive when it comes to transportation matters.
The next interesting thing? Look at this article on the 2010 City Budget [Toronto Star].
The city's total capital spending for 2010 will be $2.4 billion - expected to rise to $2.5 billion in each of the next two years.
...Among the items on the city's shopping list:
- Next year Toronto will spend $217.6 million on new subway cars that will hold more passengers - the beginning of a 10-year program to buy a total of 360 new subway cars;
- The city will spend $72 million on new buses, part of a 10-year program to buy 390 new buses.
- Construction of the Sheppard East light rail line will gather speed, with spending of $163 million.
- Plans call for $22.6 million of spending next year on new bike lanes and paths.
- A new radio communications system for police, fire and ambulance services will get $28 million, the first stage of a three-year, $69-million upgrade.
My personal obsession of course is with improved bicycle infrastructure, and as highlighted by Joe at BikingToronto, the budget for bike lanes and paths is more than double that of 2009, and eclipses previous years! Right on. I'm very eager to see how that pans out.
One last interesting thing; The upcoming Pan American (Pan Am) Games in 2015 will be hosted in Toronto. It's a decent sized multi-sport event - and yet another turbo boost to Toronto tourism and international exposure. As a city, we have five years to further shape our metropolis into a progressive showcase for sustainable living.
Bicycle infrastructure projects from places like New York City, Portland, Chicago, and Copenhagen (where the UN climate change conference is going to be held in December) might give us some pointers as to where we should be headed.
To give you some ideas of what is possible; recently, Roger Geller, Bicycle Coordinator in Portland's Office of Transportation came to town to overview what Portland Oregon did to become a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community. The PDF of this presentation is here, and it is well worth the read. (via, again, Joe at BikingToronto)
I expect European cities to be progressive and open towards bicycle transit but places like New York City and Chicago, putting Toronto's (arguably weak) bicycle infrastructure to shame? Amazing. Considering we Canadians are supposed to be the big progressive socialists in North America, I'm very surprised at how stuffy and resistant Toronto has been towards expanding bicycle infrastructure in the last decade.
It doesn't help that some of our local councillors have been shamefully characterizing extending our bicycling infrastructure as a "war on the car". These flames have been fanned by goofy, sensational editorial pieces in our local newspapers as well.
Hopefully, with what I'm seeing on the horizon, we'll witness an even more bike-friendly turn around in 2010, and we'll make some amazing changes in the next decade. I love this city, and watching it evolve into a progressive and future-proof human transit leader would make Toronto complete for me.
Points of Interest
- George Smitherman at Wikipedia
- Tory and Smitherman set the stage for battle to come and Tory V. Smitherman (video)
- 'Furious George' Smitherman has to form a campaign identity
- The Toronto PanAm Games 2015 site and the Ministry of Health Promotion site
- Complete Streets Update Public Meeting - Mon, Nov 23
- New York City lessons and Toronto’s fairy tale War on the Car
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Rogers (finally) Introduces the New BlackBerry Bold 9700 Smartphone
Yay! After weeks of teasing us, Rogers is about to drop the BlackBerry Bold 9700 on it's users.I'm looking forward to getting one of these at work to replace my now rancid (but faithful) 8700r.
Via PRNewsWire, quote the Raven...
Newest 3G BlackBerry smartphone will arrive at Rogers in the coming weeks
TORONTO, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Rogers Wireless today announced that it will be offering the BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM) 9700, the latest 3G smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM), in the coming weeks.
Running on Canada's most reliable network, the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi(R), 3.2MP camera and sharp, dazzling display. Cutting edge engineering and premium finishes extend to the exterior of the handset as well. The new model integrates a touch-sensitive trackpad and the highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard found in RIM's premium full-QWERTY handsets. Chrome highlights and a leatherette back add to the new smartphone's sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch frame allow it to sit comfortably in one hand.
"The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is certainly a sight to behold," said John Boynton, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Rogers Communications. "Rogers is pleased to add this stylish, high performing device to our lineup of leading-edge smartphones, just in time for the holiday season."
"The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 delivers state-of-the-art features and performance in a compact and beautifully designed handset," said Don Morrison, Chief Operating Officer at Research In Motion. "This sleek and powerful 3G smartphone offers an incredibly refined mobile experience that is ideal for both personal and professional use."
Features of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone from Rogers include:
- Sleek design measuring 109 mm x 60 mm x 14.1 mm and weighing only 122
grams
- Sharp and dazzling 2.44" light-sensing display (480 x 360 resolution
at 245 ppi)
- Highly tactile, full QWERTY keyboard - with finely sculpted keys and
chrome frets - for fast, accurate typing
- Innovative touch-sensitive trackpad that allows intuitive and
responsive navigation
- Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g)
- Access to applications including TeleNav GPS Navigator, SalesNOW
Mobile Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Momentem Time and
Expense Tracker, and the unique to Rogers Name Display and WhoCalled
features
- BlackBerry(R) Internet Service and BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server
support, with customers having dedicated access to Rogers 24/7
technical support in Canada and worldwide
- Access to Tier 2 Enterprise Support Centre for Rogers BlackBerry
Enterprise Server customers
- Access to the Rogers urMusic application, which allows users to
sideload music for free and discover, browse and download songs.
urMusic also gives access to the best LiveNation(R) concerts with
Wireless Box Office(TM), a mobile ticketing service where Rogers pays
the service charges
- 3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video
recording
- Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well
as photo geotagging
- 256 MB of Flash memory
- microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today
and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available; a 2GB card is
included
- Media player for videos, pictures and music, plus support for
BlackBerry Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs, and BlackBerry(R)
Media Sync for easily syncing iTunes(R) and Windows Media(R) Player
music with the smartphone*
- A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, dedicated volume controls, Lock and
Mute keys seamlessly integrated across the top of the handset
- Access to BlackBerry App World(TM), featuring a broad and growing
catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry
smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social
networking, news, weather, productivity and more.
- Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise
suppression technology and high quality speakerphone
- Bluetooth(R) (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free
headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
- HSDPA and quad-band EDGE support for global roaming
- BlackBerry(R) OS 5.0, offering users email management and calendar
enhancements** as well as a better browsing experience with faster
JavaScript and CSS processing
- BlackBerry(R) Internet Service and BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server
support
- Removable, rechargeable 1500 mAhr battery that provides approximately
6 hours of talk time and 17 days of standby time in 3G modePricing & Availability
The new BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone will be available from Rogers in the coming weeks for $299.99 on a three-year voice and data activation with a minimum monthly service plan of $45.
Check www.rogers.com for availability or www.blackberry.com/Bold9700 for product information.
* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that
contain digital rights management technologies.
** Some features require BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0About Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services across Canada to more than 8.2 million customers under both the Rogers Wireless and Fido brands. Proven to operate Canada's fastest mobile data network as well as the most reliable network for voice with the clearest reception and fewest dropped calls, Rogers Wireless isCanada's largest wireless provider and the only carrier operating on the global standard GSM and highly advanced HSPA technology platforms. In addition to providing seamless roaming in more than 200 countries/areas with its GSM based services, Rogers Wireless also provides wireless broadband services across Canada utilizing its 2.5GHz fixed wireless spectrum. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian communications and media company. For further information, please visit www.rogers.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.
SOURCE Rogers Wireless