Western Canada - The Vancouver Thread

Bring an umbrella. ;)

Don't say that, our family is planning a picnic!

I think the Stanley Park seawall is pretty much the mandatory tourist ride. If you're more adventurous, do the bridge loop, across the Lions Gate and Second Narrows.

Trip got postponed to November.

I guess that means bring an even bigger umbrella?

naw just wear a wetsuit

I'll post wherever, whenever, and however I want, kid. If that offends you, there's an ignore button.
Sure, you can post what you like, but you were incorrect about the VACC -- that was just being pointed out to you. VACC has done an enormous amount of good in Vancouver -- in fact, most of the cycling infrastructure in the city was accomplished with and because of their input.

On a vaguely related note, does anyone know what the deal is with that new bike co-op on Ontario and 3rd-ish? A friend told me about it, and said it's pretty cool, but I haven't made it by yet.
It is the Pedal Depot.
It is an extension of Our Community Bikes up on Main, and 17th.
Shop is open to the Public from 3-6pm.
The rest of the day is spent fixing bikes for sale, and as freebies for outreach/recovery/school programs.
I just started volunteering there a couple of weeks ago.
Great bunch of Folks that work for OCB.

Sure, you can post what you like, but you were incorrect about the VACC -- that was just being pointed out to you. VACC has done an enormous amount of good in Vancouver -- in fact, most of the cycling infrastructure in the city was accomplished with and because of their input.
Agreed.
Whether those that are members of what they might deem as some sort of "elite" cycling group or not is beside the point.
The VACC has done more positive work for the local cycling community in recent years than ANY other.
BEST has become a lobby group with little interest in "the trenches" imo...

In all, are there two community bike shops?

Is pedal depot volunteer staff with free servicing on bikes? Or is there a cost per hour?

What are the most popular bike makes commuting on the streets?
(eg. mtb with 1.75-2" tires? road bikes?)

Is there most hardcore cyclist year round? (all terrains, road, mtn)

I only know and have experience with Our Community Bikes. They had an hourly charge, depending on the service. Before I had my own bike mechanics stand and tools, I often rented a work area and tools to repair my rides. The cost was reasonable and the profit went to help those in need in Nicaragua (if memory serves me well). Our Community Bikes http://www.pedalpower.org/?q=our_community_bikes

So far as the kind and style of rides down here, it is a mixed bag. I'm riding a high end hybrid, carbon fiber forked, 29" wheel, etc, hybrid and see many similar rides. I also see many folk commuting on road bikes. I also see a lot of mountain bikes with slicks. I also see some cruisers in the downtown area. There are, of course, plenty of people trying to get by with out right junk, but by and large I see way nicer rides in Vancouver compared to cities such as Toronto or Montreal. Though the summer is busier, folks ride all year round.

There are plenty of hard core riders. I mountain bike as well (cross country) and I am not unique in using a bicycle to commute and a mountain bike for recreation. Many of my younger friends commute by road bike during the week and have a downhill mountain bike for their weekends.

There are many good commercial bike shops all around the lower mainland. One shop I have had a good experience with is Mighty Riders, which is close to Our Community Bikes. http://www.mightyriders.ca. Mountain Equipment Coop is also a good bet - http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp

Hello Vancouverites,

I am looking into a shaft-driven bicycle, but can't seem to find any here in lower mainland. Any ideas?

Saw one on craigslist a few weeks ago.

Hello Vancouverites,

I am looking into a shaft-driven bicycle, but can't seem to find any here in lower mainland. Any ideas?

Try Rain City Bikes on Manitoba and Broadway. I remember seeing Biomega bikes on their website a while ago.

Try Rain City Bikes on Manitoba and Broadway. I remember seeing Biomega bikes on their website a while ago.

thanks!

North Surrey.......

Formerly of Vancouver but out in Tsawwassen since 07.

I'm in Vancouver, around Cambie and 49. I'm new to biking, I'm just here to learn a few things and lower my chances of getting run over in traffic. It's not nearly as scary as I thought it would be!

I want to check out the "Introduction to Mechanics/Maintenance" course at Our Community Bikes, anyone know what it's like?

As it is Vancouver thread, please, read my thread about JV bike shop.
Very bad customer practicies.
If somebody wants to buy something from your shop and you issue invoice to him - is it what you are going to charge him when he comes to your shop to pick up what he ordered - according to JV bike shop they can charge more than on invoice due to what ever, because supplier increased price , blah, blah -VERY BAD PRACTICE.
In my case it was petty 50 dollars on my over 3000 dollars order !!!!!!
Just think about it.
sHOP like JV bikes cannot absorb 50 dollars to keep customer happy.
BTW I happy with product they sold, it is not about product.
CM
Shop like JV could not absorb 50 bucks

according to JV bike shop they can charge more than on invoice due to what ever, because supplier increased price , blah, blah -VERY BAD PRACTICE.
In my case it was petty 50 dollars on my over 3000 dollars order !!!!!!


Bad practice and a breach of contract especially if you made a deposit on the original invoice which would demonstrate offer, acceptance, intent, and consideration by all parties. If the invoice and final purchase were executed in a reasonable time frame then the shop was IMO in breach.

A better practice would have been to let you know of the price increase before you came back to pick up your order and work out an agreement acceptable to both. I would expect that the price increase would be a result of increased shipping costs from higher fuels costs.

If it made you unhappy enough to post here, why didn't you walk? It's not like they are the only shop in Vancouver.

I forgot to mention - I made 500 dollars deposit, I could not walk away from the deal.
Invoice is a promise to sell for what it is stated.
Small detail - I drove over 1000 kilometers to pick up my order from another province..
Only this shop sells this kit.
CMC

Anyone know of a Felt dealer in Vancouver?

If you're looking for a Felt road bike, Fort Langley Cyclery (http://www.cyclery.ca) is probably your best bet.

I forgot to mention - I made 500 dollars deposit, I could not walk away from the deal.
Invoice is a promise to sell for what it is stated.
Small detail - I drove over 1000 kilometers to pick up my order from another province..
Only this shop sells this kit.
CMC

I see your point. Holding customers for ransom is rarely a good way to keep them. My LBS is a 500km round trip and I ask for a quote before I make a trip in on anything major. For me it has been a good way to do business.

Looks like LV wants more customers to shop online.

JV bikes
offered me money back to me after I drove over 1000/thousend/kilometers to his shop!!!!
Breach of contract I would say exactely.
In my case it was more than a quote, I put depost down , he sent me detailed invoice with exact amount.
CMC

miro13car, you drove 1000 kms to a Vancouver store to buy something?

I'm curious, why couldn't you get the product sent those 1000 kms to you? Are you living in a remote location?

I see your point. Holding customers for ransom is rarely a good way to keep them. My LBS is a 500km round trip and I ask for a quote before I make a trip in on anything major. For me it has been a good way to do business.

Looks like LV wants more customers to shop online.

We were alerted about this post by another customer. Here is our reply:

A short one – the customer was offered to get the full refund because of the price change but he refused.

… and the complete story:
The customer ordered a bicycle, and an electric system from us. The bicycle was in stock but the electric system was not which we had to order. The same bike could be also ordered with the same system pre-installed and that would cost less. The customer did not want that for some reason. He also did not want us to install the system, which would be done at no extra charge. Another ‘slightly strange’ fact was that the customer did not want his order to be shipped which would probably cost less than traveling 1000km from Calgary, particularly taking into the account that items shipped from our store to Alberta are taxed only the GST (5%) while when they are sold at the store they are taxed at 12%, BC HST rate. Anyway, when the order was placed with the supplier we were informed that there is an additional cost for the longer cables (the particular bike required longer cables). An email was sent to the customer with that information and asking if he is okay with that. We never got an email response to the particular mail but we assumed that everything is okay because there were few emails (from the same account) and few phone calls asking if we received the electric system. When the customer came to pick-up his order he said that he was never informed about the price difference and he was insisted to get the price from the original sales order. Staff is not in the position to give discretionary discounts on finalised sales orders. They can only issue a full refund and keep the product, or sell the product with the balance paid in full. I, the owner was not there at that time and I got to the store when the Customer was ready to leave. When I heard what happened, and how he made quite a situation at the store upsetting and yelling at my staff I was insisting to provide the full refund and to not have any business. Unfortunately he just ran away screaming that we will be sorry for this.

Let me make one thing absolutely clear: when the price is quoted from JV Bike we stay behind it for 30 days. If the deposit is placed the price is guaranteed again for 30 days, or longer if there is a delay in the delivery and the customer still wants to wait for the product. There are all kind of unforeseen circumstances for which we may not be able to deliver at all or at the required price. For that reason we reserve the right to cancel the order or to change the price quote in which case the customer gets FULL REFUND OF THE DEPOSIT.

THE CUSTOMER IS NEVER FORCED INTO THE AGREEMENT THAT HE/SHE DID NOT SIGN FOR.

Sounds like the shop was being more than reasonable.

I know their explanation of the situation was far more articulate and understandable.

" all kind of unforeseen"???
I never got any email informing me about increased price , that is not true.
You know my tel number ,vey well.
What you are saying is that you guarantee price on invoice for 30 days.
The fact is plain and simple - you increased price which you put on invoice when customer showed up in your shop to pick up order, customer expected to pay that amount.
You try to justify ...

there are at least 2 people here who agree that you breached contract of invoice - invoice is a contract you see. No matter what cicumstances, if I drove or walk .
BOTTOM LINE : I did not expect no way in the world to pay more than on invoice.
BOTTOM LINE: I put 500 dollars deposit.
Now you have a business which accept deposit and when customer come to pick up what he ordered business increases price.
Leave other details out
CMC

Want to know what the real bottom line is?

You can't please all of the people, all of the time.

Sad fact.

jeez this jv thing has seeped through into here too? wow that guy is really mad!!

I'm glad that I have not unsubscribed from this thread a few days ago.

I read JV's reply and I find it to be very logical and I do believe they did what they could to keep the customer happy, short of just absorbing the price difference had the owner of the business returned in time.

I am a customer and I don't think I am God. JV has displayed enough maturity so far for me to be a future customer. While the customer raging on forum is something I do not like. Sure, you are entitled to your opinion.

JVBike has been an excellent parts and knowledge base. The crew at JVB helped this obvious noob with the expertise and patience required to help me build my pusher trailer.
And recently I had a problem with my Cycle Analyst cutting out, a connector in the batt separated, turns out it was still under warranty....No charge
I would recommend JVBike for all your E-Bike needs

rukawa,
They do what they can to keep customer happy?
are you for real
EXCEPT they increased price stated on invoice!!
It is for you normal business practice to increase amount on invoice before 30 days even if customer put 500 dollars down on purchase which is stated black on white on paper invoice??
If I should have this, if I should have that....
You do not do it if your are solid business in bicycles or in other ...That's 50 dollars we are talking about.
Absorb it as a business , you don't have enough revenue for that?? at such a prime location in Vancouver?

rukawa,
They do what they can to keep customer happy?
are you for real
EXCEPT they increased price stated on invoice!!
It is for you normal business practice to increase amount on invoice before 30 days even if customer put 500 dollars down on purchase which is stated black on white on paper invoice??
If I should have this, if I should have that....
You do not do it if your are solid business in bicycles or in other ...That's 50 dollars we are talking about.
Absorb it as a business , you don't have enough revenue for that?? at such a prime location in Vancouver?

With the way you type english on an internet forum, your credibility is slowly sinking.

I just spent a week in Vancouver and I'm blown away by all the bike lanes and bike routes everywhere. I'm really impressed. I've never been to any other city where the planners make it so easy to get around by bike.

The city has made getting around by bike a priority but has fallen short of it's goal of a 10% of all trips by bicycle by 2010.

Vancouver has only about 4% of trips taken by bicycle but with the new segregated lanes downtown and a public bike share system to be implemented within a year, council is hopeful.

Its speculated that one of the reasons Vancouver hasn't yet reached this 10% goal is the provincial, all ages helmet law. The city supports it, and will not even seek an exemption from it for the PBS despite the experiences of the only PBS systems in the world that require helmet use.

The world will watch to see if Vancouver falls in step with Melbourne, or Montreal.

Yes, Vancouver has good cycling infrastructure.

I'm dreading the PBS with mandatory helmet mix. The last thing we need is for the Vancouver PBS to fail and be ridiculed as a result of the helmet law.

Closetbiker, are you aware of any jurisdictions that have actually repealed helmet laws? Always with laws, it's easier to make them than abolish them.

Mexico City did. They did so for their PBS. I've heard Israel was going to, but don't know if they actually have done it yet.

I think Vancouver's PBS will underperform, but the authorities who are responsible for the helmet law won't admit it. If Vancouver's performance doesn't match Montreal's or Toronto's they'll say it won't be the law that's causing it, it'll be some other reason, any other reason than the helmet requirement.

I doubt very much the law will be repealed, or the PBS be granted an exemption because supporters of the law have wrapped up too much of their credibility in it to admit the law has been an impediment to cycling.

Always with laws, it's easier to make them than abolish them.

The solution is easy then. Make a mandatory helmet law for all people in all public spaces. Once everyone is wearing a helmet all the time there will be no reason to not ride a bike. In fact, such a law would probably take trips by bicycle into the 95% range as it would be the only way to not look and feel like a dork.

... Closetbiker, are you aware of any jurisdictions that have actually repealed helmet laws? .

I forgot that Austin, Texas repealed theirs and the Northern Territory in Australia provided an exemption for cyclists not using a roadway.

I think their may be a couple of other, small jurisdictions (like Seymour, Connecticut who overturned their law in a referendum) but not too many. It is, as you say, much harder to revoke a law than pass one.

Hey guys/girls,

Just wanted to say hey and introduce myself - I'm a recently converted bike commuter from North Van to Downtown core. Right now I'm riding a beat up no name mountain bike with front suspension, but hopefully within the next month I'll be getting a new road bike as I want to get into racing and as my route is well-paved etc. Anyway, hit me up if you wanna ride around this beautiful city!

Hello hello. I've just moved back to Vancouver (where I grew up) after spending a while in Toronto. I love this city and biking in it is a pleasure - whether it's grinding up a North Shore mountain or taking a spin from downtown out to Iona Beach or whatever else. I'm looking to ride with other enthusiastic people - what can the thread inhabitants tell me about clubs or regularly attended group rides in the city? I know that various LBS tend to hold them but my knowledge of the city still needs brushing up a bit.

Check the Vancouver Bicycle Meetup Group. Wide variety of rides that go to many different places. No-drop rides.

Mexico City did. They did so for their PBS. I've heard Israel was going to, but don't know if they actually have done it yet.

I think Vancouver's PBS will underperform, but the authorities who are responsible for the helmet law won't admit it. If Vancouver's performance doesn't match Montreal's or Toronto's they'll say it won't be the law that's causing it, it'll be some other reason, any other reason than the helmet requirement.

I doubt very much the law will be repealed, or the PBS be granted an exemption because supporters of the law have wrapped up too much of their credibility in it to admit the law has been an impediment to cycling.

That said, there are more than a few laws on the books that are only selectively enforced...I can think of at least one that gives this city a moniker indicating affinities with a certain low-lying European one. It will be interesting to see how all concerned choose to conduct themselves under these circumstances. Will users flock en masse without regard for the helmet law? I suspect you might be quite right that the system will underperform on the basis of uncertainty.

But if they do, does the VPD respond with any serious attempt at enforcement, just stick with their current haphazard method (generally can't be bothered, but if bored or annoyed...), or take into consideration that simple discretion would indicate that there's no gain in doing anything more than shrugging in a situation in which the rider could hardly be reasonably expected to have a handy helmet in her/his wallet or purse? I really don't know, but it'll be something to see.

On a related note, I for one welcome the flocks of novice or out-of-practice riders weaving the new ungainly hulks across the much-ballyhooed bike lanes at low speed - my experience of the Bixi program in Montreal since its inception. Don't get me wrong - this is one of those unhappy paradoxes, a dark side to something with myriad obvious advantages. It's just a simple fact that if a lone rider (or worse, a pair) is singlehandedly padding several minutes onto dozens of others' morning commute on the bike path on Ontario Street in Montreal, you can bet you brifters that they're on a Bixi.

p.s. relatively new to BF, just really picking up here as I try to figure out some specs, do's and don'ts as I try to put a really nice 80s-and-after road bike up on two wheels. Just discovered this regional forum - and its Vancouver streak. Cheers!

I suspect the VPD will do as they have done after the BSB and Hornby lanes opened (not sure if they did this along Dunsmuir), that is set up some traps to ticket the helmetless.

If the ticketed decide to stop riding because of the risk of getting another fine, the hoped for increase in ridership will fail to materialize and the city will be stuck with a White Elephant (as has happened in Aukland, Melbourne, and Brisbane).

I for one welcome the flocks of novice or out-of-practice riders weaving the new ungainly hulks across the much-ballyhooed bike lanes at low speed - my experience of the Bixi program in Montreal since its inception. Don't get me wrong - this is one of those unhappy paradoxes, a dark side to something with myriad obvious advantages. It's just a simple fact that if a lone rider (or worse, a pair) is singlehandedly padding several minutes onto dozens of others' morning commute on the bike path on Ontario Street in Montreal, you can bet you brifters that they're on a Bixi.

Totally agree - I love seeing new cyclists on the road. Gives me hope. Just hope the really awkward-looking ones stick with it!

Seems odd that someone would drive all the way from Calgary to pick up a bike and with all the other points raised by the bike shop would be concerned about a $50 difference. Having said that, an extra $50 for longer cables? Sounds like a lot to me.