Maurice Ali
Joined: 14 Nov 2003
Posts: 7685
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject: Ordinary Citizens Take Back The Streets! |
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Ordinary Citizens Take Back The Streets!
By Maurice Ali, Journalist
Toronto, Canada - Yes; ordinary citizens did take back the streets! The event was the "Becel Ride For Heart," a one day bike-a-thon that travels along Toronto's major expressways on behalf of fund raising for life-saving research. The ride is an annual occurence as it was this day, June4, 2006 and is popular by virtue of the strange sight of seeing bicycles on major freeways.
I was an avid cyclist in my university days and also did some rather serious licenced bicycle racing for two of those years. So it is nostalgia that keeps bringing me back to this event to report each year. As you can see from the photos here, we had the regular mix of bicycles, but also recumbents (where you are riding basically on your back) and the tandem and "piggy-back" versions for the kids.
The ride was a well prepared event and paramedics were stationed at regular intervals just in case anyone fell ill at the event. This year, the weather was with us with a slightly overcast sky and moderate temperatures; perfect for cycling!
I should also add that as a motorist of this particular freeway, I nevertheless was surprised at how quiet and peaceful the area was when the cars are gone. There is even a small stream that runs along the freeway that I never even knew existed at this point in the freeway, only revealed by the sound of the rushing water...
So why are we covering this mundane event? We cover it because Fortress Of Freedom is the voice of the ordinary citizen. Look at the photos and you will see what I mean. Just ordinary people without an axe to grind, making a statement about our dependence on the automobile, good health, exercise, and a worthy cause!
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