How did you get into unicycling?

I have been riding a unicycle for 20 years. I got my first unicycle at age 13, which was made for me by my neighbour. He asked if I wanted him to build me a Go-Kart or a unicycle and I opted for the unicycle, which I don’t regret. I practiced riding my uni everyday for an hour at least. After a week of this I was really riding.

I had a brief foray into circus and street performance with my unicycle and even used a giraffe (tall) uni for a while. I skateboarded for a time as well, but eventually gave this up because I discovered extreme unicycling and found it more appealing.

One last “bunny hop” for the day at the skatepark in Rimbey, Alberta
(photo by F. Scotty Aitken)

What kind of extreme unicycling do you do?

I practice MUni (mountain/trails), Trials, and Freestyle unicycling. I also like unicycle grinds — it’s a great rush! [Note: descriptions of these riding styles are available from the Unicyclopedia or the Unicycle entry on Wikipedia.] I like extreme unicycling so much that it contributed to me moving to Vancouver — for the fact that you can ride all year round and to have the opportunity to ride along with Kris Holm whom I greatly admire.

You mentioned when I initially contacted you that you gave up your car three years ago. How do you get around most of the time?

Cars are expensive so I decided to give mine up and I now get around primarily on my unicycle and on transit. I ride my 29-inch uni in any weather and I have a fender affixed to the seat post. On rainy days my only concern is that I have to be more careful on some surfaces, such as wood and metal, which can get slippery.

Unicycling is very convenient and definitely less of a hassle than using a bicycle. I never need to lock my uni because I can always take it indoors. Some stores are picky about the wheel being on the floor so occasionally I need to carry the unicycle instead of rolling it, but it’s still fairly easy to take it wherever I go.

Riding with a furry friend in Kapuskasing, Ontario
(photo by Marie Blais)

Is it easy to take your unicycle on transit?

Transit is inconsistent about allowing unicycles on buses. They can go in the bike rack or be carried on board but some drivers don’t allow one or both of these options, which can be very frustrating. I plan to meet with someone at TransLink in the near future about this, which I hope will lead to better training for bus drivers on how to better accommodate unicyclists.

What is your commuting experience on a unicycle?

I currently ride 60 blocks most days on my uni. Being on a unicycle lets me travel easily on different terrain, including pavement, grass and gravel. I normally travel on the sidewalk because I find this much safer and I can easily weave around pedestrians. I’ve had some trouble from the police for peacefully riding on the sidewalk and without a helmet. Unicycling is a little slower than bicycling but it’s great core exercise.

When I travel on my bicycle, I use a pannier or basket to carry what I need. How do you carry things on a unicycle?

Carrying things is no problem. I usually wear a backpack, which leaves my hands free to carry other things, like a bottle of wine for a dinner party!

Are there any challenges you face as a unicyclist?

The access issue with TransLink is an ongoing challenge, which I hope can be resolved with better training for TransLink employees. Going uphill is another challenge — there are lots of hills in Vancouver and surrounding areas!

What do you love about unicycling?

It’s a big social tool. People strike up conversations with me all the time about it, particularly when I’m on transit with my uni.

I unicycled for about 17 years on my own, but now I like that I’m part of a unicycling group here in Vancouver. I try to attend the Vancouver Unicycling Club meet-ups as frequently as possible because it’s great to ride with other people with the same interest. Some of us go on long distance rides together; the rides include 29-inch unis along with 36-inch unis as well. I can ride for about three hours until the seat gets uncomfortable. The group also goes on special MUni rides on occasion, to places like Mt. Seymour and Mt. Fromme.

Enjoying a VanUni Wednesday indoors
(photo by Karen Colleen Stoneberg)

What would you say to someone interested in trying unicycling?

You don’t know what it will be like until you actually try it — so try it! It’s pretty amazing. You don’t have enough time in a lifetime to do it all because unicycling isn’t just a one-trick circus kind of thing. There are many riding styles to try on a unicycle, including Trials, Freestyle, commuting, MUni, and more. Unicycling can keep you healthy, too. Anyone who wants to learn how to ride a unicycle should drop by the Vancouver Unicycling Club’s weekly unicycling meet-ups. We meet under Cambie Bridge on the downtown side near the basketball court on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (7:00 p.m. when the days get longer). There are always unicycles to try and once you get going on them it’s such a reward and an exciting moment!

Marine Gateway Presentation Centre

Bluetree Homes, Main Street

999 Seymour Presentation Centre

Wall Centre Central Park

Pinnacle Living False Creek

I feel conflicted about the use of bicycles and cyclists in Vancouver’s real estate marketing.

On the positive side, I see the message: “You can live here and bike everywhere. You don’t need a car!” The ads are somewhat flattering, too, because they suggest cycling is youthful, hip and sustainable. One-bedroom units in a few of these developments were actually priced within reach of some first-time home buyers who have a strong desire to live in the city in walkable neighbourhoods, near bike routes, and next door to excellent transit. The other message here is that bikes sell and given all the drama over Vancouver’s separated bike lanes, this isn’t a bad message to convey to businesses and the public.

On the other hand, however, I’m skeptical about the use of bike culture in real estate advertising. In my (admittedly narrow) view, bike culture is largely about community. Consider Critical Mass (whatever you think of it), collective bike shops like Our Community Bikes, free grassroots festivals like Velopalooza and Car Free Vancouver Day, the free bike program and Womyn on Wheels fix-your-bike nights organized by PEDAL, bike sharing (hopefully coming soon to Vancouver!), and more. Perhaps the message in the advertising is that you will find a community of like-minded cyclists in Vancouver’s condo developments. The reality, as we all know, is that Vancouver’s housing remains severely unaffordable.

Many Vancouverites, particularly 20- and 30-somethings, can’t afford to stay in this city long-term even though many already belong to communities and neighbourhoods they love. Take Luke Brocki’s Priced Out Series in the Tyee, for example. He says he doesn’t want to leave Vancouver for the suburbs because: “I lament the lack of tool libraries and community bike shops, protests and assemblies, fringe cultural programming, late-night pizza joints and live music options.” Vancouver’s real estate market remains exclusive and it’s probably no surprise that someone scrawled “another fucking condo” on the Bluetree Homes advertisement. We have an affordability crisis in this city that forces young Vancouverites and young families, in particular, to ask themselves whether they will be able to put down roots here as owners or renters. I support dense urban development (not only in the form of towers), but when it is priced beyond the means of most, it threatens communities that already exist.

Today I had the privilege of going on the Yukon Ho! walking tour by Neil Salmond, who led our group along Yukon Street, one of Vancouver’s bikeways, from West 10th Avenue to King Edward Avenue.

We talked about and looked closely at the following:

• Cyclist and pedestrian crossings
• “Stroads” (West 12th Avenue is an excellent example of a route that doesn’t function well for pedestrians or drivers)
• Intersections (e.g. traffic circles and curb bulges)
• Laneway housing and garages
• Zoning and how it has created a lack of density and an absence of commercial properties on and around Yukon Street
• Sidewalks and missing sidewalks
• Street parking
• The transformation of a transit corridor

Here are some highlights I captured along the walk:

Yukon Street bike path at West 16th Avenue. Note how it intersects with the sidewalk.

Golden Retrievers lounging in the sunshine (not an official tour stop, but a lovely addition particularly on account of the bicycle in the background!)

We detoured to Columbia Street and West 18th Avenue to see a defunct corner store. We lamented the lack of corner stores and neighbourhood pubs outside of Vancouver’s main streets.

One of the many locations between West 16th & King Edward Avenues where there is no sidewalk

Huge setbacks on properties near Yukon Street south of 16th Avenue. Do we need this much space on front lawns?

Entire block for sale on King Edward Avenue between Yukon and Cambie Streets. Imagine all the activity in this area when density increases near the King Edward Canada Line Station and all along the Cambie Corridor.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s Jane’s Walk! If you went on a walk this year I would love to hear all about it in the comments on this post.

Bike to School Week (May 14-18) celebrates cycling to school and provides a good opportunity for families to explore a fun and active transportation option for travelling between home and school. Registration is now open on the Bike to School Week website.

Bike to School Week is the perfect time for parents and children to start or join a Bicycle Train in their neighbourhoods.

For families that prefer to walk rather than cycle, a Walking School Bus is a great way to transport children to school.

Hub for Action on School Transportation Emissions (HASTE) offers many resources for families that want to organize safe and active transportation to school, including detailed information on how to start a Walking School Bus or Bike Train.

Bring your bike downtown and enjoy family-friendly bike fun! Daytime (1:00-4:00 p.m) activities include a bike rodeo, face painting, a unicycle station, bike mechanics, bike decorating and prizes. Dress in your fancy clothes in the evening (5:00-7:00 p.m.) for a reception with beer and wine, Momentum Magazine’s photo booth and music (possibly with dancing). Prizes will be awarded in the evening for the best dressed.

Wondering about the VACC’s name change? Read all about it on the HUB website and in this Georgia Straight article.

The Vancouver Sun recently reviewed the book. The first excerpt, published Tuesday on Spacing Vancouver, is: STRAPHANGER: Vancouverism and Smart Transit Planning.

The SkyTrain Sketch Group is informal and anyone can participate. Jason recently made some calling cards to promote the Sunday sketching outings and to provide more information to potential participants:

The group meets under the blue T (or at the nearby benches) at Waterfront Station at 4:00 p.m. most Sundays and then rides the SkyTrain together to sketch people on transit. Check the website to find the next meet-up dates (note that Apr. 22 is cancelled due to Fan Expo Vancouver).

Waterfront Station sketch by Jason Chau

Jason posts some of the group’s sketches on the SkyTrain Sketch Group blog. Here are some sketches he made on a recent Sunday SkyTrain ride:

SkyTrain Passengers, April 1, 2012 by Jason Chau

The program-at-a-glance for the upcoming international cycling conference, Velo-city Global 2012, is now available online. Hopefully the full program will be posted very soon, including details about the many concurrent sessions that appear on the schedule.

OpenFile Vancouver and Momentum Magazine have commented on the release of the program overview.

Our bicycles are our vehicles and it’s frustrating that Kevin won’t be able to ride his until he finds time to buy a new helmet, and neither of us can ride at night until we pick up new bike lights.

Yet we think we’re lucky because at least we still have our bikes. I feel great compassion today for anyone who has ever had the experience of having their bicycle stolen.