UPDATE: There are important discussions going on here and here concerning the union name change
UPDATE 2: As of May 2nd the TCU will indeed be known as Cycle Toronto. Members voted at their AGM 71% to 29% in favour of the name change.
The Toronto Cyclists Union — a five-year-old organization that lobbies for a healthier cycling environment in Canada’s largest city — proclaims in its most recent newsletter that, while it has doubled its membership in a year, from 1,018 to 2,100, the city in the same period has reduced the number of bike lanes. Thus, says the newsletter, “Toronto has not shown the will to respect us as taxpayers, as road users, and as valuable citizens.”
Analyzing what roadbocks may be in the path of the Toronto Cyclists Union becoming more muscular, strident and effective, its board of directors has identified the organization’s name as a significant obstacle. We quote the directors in full:
“Over the past years, we have run into unexpected pockets of resistance when applying for grants as well as in recruiting business members and individual donors. There is a large group of cyclists in Toronto that don’t feel connected to our organization, and they have often expressed that our current name is largely responsible for that disconnect. Considering all of the positive impacts that we want to have as an organization, the Board of Directors does not want our name to prevent a single cyclist from joining our organization. Our strategy and trajectory demands that we be accessible and essential for everyone who rides in Toronto, and we feel that now – as we are poised for record growth – is the time to address this issue.”
They propose to change the name to Cycle Toronto. Perhaps they can do even better and sell off corporate naming rights. Scotiabank Cycle Toronto.
This is so interesting.