Update

The Better Biking Brainstorming Meeting had an excellent turn out tonight! There were approximately 25 enthusiastic cyclists who attended, with lots of great ideas, criticisms and spirit!

Our next meeting is slated for Thursday, August 14th, 7pm, location TBA. Check back here on the Derailleurs facebook page for more information.

I may post a synopsis of our meeting minutes on here as well, or at least an overview of the larger issues discussed at the meetings.

And because I know a few newbies to The Derailleurs are going to be looking at this blog in the coming weeks...here is some information about our cycling group.

The Derailleurs have four main goals (in no particular order):

1. To have fun! - This includes but is not limited to ringing bells, singing Muppet songs, putting hockey cards in our spokes, wearing faux biker outfits and waving at our neighbours as we pass by.

2. To stay fit - The number of Canadians who are overweight or obese has increased dramatically over the last 25 years. Basically, there's also no denying that our level of physical activity has greatly decreased. Stay fit and have fun with cycling friends!

3. To reclaim our streets - A recent article in the Leader-Post reports that nearly three-quarters of Regina residents are afraid to set foot in some of the city's less-fortunate neighbourhoods.
We refuse to recognize the racial and economic lines that divide our city. As a group we will ride through every part of Regina to show that we are not afraid of our neighbours.

4. To promote sustainable living - According to the CBC, G8 leaders recently pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by the year 2050. Waiting 40 years to solve an immediate environmental crisis is completely illogical and betrays our government's indifference to the problem.

5. To promote safe cycling: We try our best to follow the rules of the road to promote respect between cyclists and driver's.

Join the Derailleurs:
The Derailleurs don't care how old you are, where you live or how you look. If you have a bicycle and would like to join us then you're more than welcome.

Simple rules we like to follow:
1. signaling at intersections, stop signs etc. to alert driver's where we are going.
2. stopping at intersections and stop signs
3. If there is a 2 lane road we take up 1 lane to ourselves, it is a 1 lane road we go single-file to allow vehicles to pass us by unobstructed.
4. Ring your bells!
5. Stopping for ice cream

We ride every Sunday at 3pm. Meet in Victoria Park in front of the Cenotaph. Rides usually last anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the wishes of the members and the pace is fairly casual.