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WFP: Speed limit proposed for bike paths (Oct6'23)
by Beth McKechnie 06 Oct '23

06 Oct '23

Speed limit proposed for bike paths https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/10/05/speed-limit-propo… A WINNIPEG councillor’s bid to create a speed limit for bicycles, electric bikes and scooters on active- transportation pathways is raising questions of whether such a restriction would be adequately enforced. Coun. Shawn Dobson argued a speed limit is necessary for the safety for all path users. “I’m trying to be proactive on our pathways because we have a number of bicycles, e-bikes, etc., that are going too fast,” the St. James councillor said Thursday. “I could see this getting much worse.” The potential for collisions increases with speed, he said, noting the growing use of e-bikes and scooters. A motion raised by Dobson at city council’s Sept. 29 meeting asks city staff to study the matter and report back. The motion was referred to the public works committee’s Oct. 10 meeting for consideration. “I just thought it made sense. We can’t turn them into raceways,” he said. Dobson wants staff to look at what other cities are doing. Calgary has a speed limit of 20 km/h for its paths and sidewalks. Fines range between $100 and $400. Dobson’s motion doesn’t recommend a specific speed limit or fine for Winnipeg. “It could be 10, 20 km/h,” he said. The limit would apply to bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices, according to the motion, which states many Winnipeggers are afraid to use pathways because they fear being in a collision. Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act sets a restriction of 32 km/h when power-assisted bicycles are using an electric motor of up to 500 watts. The minimum driving age is 14. Helmets are required. Only bicycles with a rear wheel diameter of 410 millimetres or less are allowed on sidewalks. Enforcement of a city-imposed speed limit on pathways could be an issue, according to some cyclists and e-bike users, as well as public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes. “The police have more important things to do,” said Jeff Bowes, manager of retailer EBike Winnipeg. He thinks a speed limit is a good idea. Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Cohoe said a speed restriction shouldn’t be viewed as the only solution for matters such as safety. “It’s something we have to consider, but we have to consider carefully,” he said. “We have to look for solutions that are going to work for us and be enforceable and manageable and fair.” He would like cities to consider ways to integrate e-bikes into current and future active-transportation networks. The bikes exploded in popularity when many of Winnipeg’s paths were already in place or designed. Bowes agreed Winnipeg must be more bike-friendly. He and Cohoe said a majority of people who would be affected by a speed limit ride responsibly. Ian Walker, an e-bike user and spokesman for Safe Speeds Winnipeg, believes the increase in electric bicycles, coupled with limited space on paths, is leading to more complaints about speed. There is a need for wider and more pathways, he said. “Our paths are small. There is not a lot of space for passing, which is a problem,” said Walker. He encouraged people to slow down when passing. Lukes, who supports a speed limit on paths, recently discussed e-bikes with police after some residents contacted her with questions. “It is definitely time to take a look at this and make a decision on what we’re going to do,” the deputy mayor said. Whatever the city chooses to do, it must not discourage people from using bicycles or e-bikes, she said. Lukes believes an effective education campaign would encourage a large majority of people to comply with a speed limit. “I think, sometimes, things can self-enforce,” she said. Safe Speeds Winnipeg has lobbied city council to reduce the speed limit for vehicles to 30 km/h on all residential streets. Doing so would reduce the risk of fatal or serious injury collisions, while encouraging more cyclists or e-bike riders to use the roads, it argues. That proposal should be a higher priority for council than speed restrictions on paths, Walker said. Dobson does not support lowering the speed limit for all residential streets. “There’s no way people would follow that,” he said. Last March, the city turned four streets into 30- or 40-km/h zones as part of a pilot project. chris.kitching(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @chriskitching

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WFP: Assiniboine Avenue closure considered (Oct5'23)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Oct '23

05 Oct '23

ASSINIBOINE AVENUE CLOSURE CONSIDERED VEHICLE traffic may lose access to a key section of Assiniboine Avenue if a proposed pilot project to enhance the area for pedestrians is approved. On Oct. 10, council’s public works committee will consider a call to order a report on a pedestrian-prioritized pilot project that would close Assiniboine Avenue to vehicle traffic between Fort and Main streets. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said shutting down vehicle access at this stretch of Assiniboine Avenue would improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. “Vehicles would not have a right or left turn onto Assiniboine Avenue (from Main Street), basically closing Assiniboine Avenue,” said Lukes. A pilot project could help determine how best to use the space and to study its impact on traffic and safety. Lukes suggested the area could include more green space and/or a plaza in the future. The motion also calls for options to eliminate the right turn lane at River Avenue and Osborne Street and consider adding a pedestrian scramble in that area. At a pedestrian scramble, all vehicle traffic has a red light at the same time in order to let pedestrians cross in all directions at once.

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WFP: City spring cleanup crews to make on-road active-transportation routes a priority (Oct4'23)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Oct '23

04 Oct '23

City spring cleanup crews to make on-road active-transportation routes a priority https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/10/04/city-spring-cleanup-crew… Starting next spring, some Winnipeg active transportation routes will be cleared of winter sand and grit before other roads, with the goal of making them accessible sooner. A new city staff report notes the city’s on-road active transportation network will be prioritized for cleaning first in the spring. The prioritized routes include bike paths, active transportation priority routes, seasonal bike routes and neighbourhood greenways. (The city defines neighbourhood greenways as on-street routes that typically use reduced speeds and traffic-calming measures to safely move cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles.) The off-road network of sidewalks and pathways will continue to be cleared based on the priority level of associated streets. “It is anticipated that the on-road active transportation network can be cleaned within two weeks (as opposed to the larger network’s five to six weeks), providing a safer environment to users earlier in the season,” Michael Cantor, city manager of streets maintenance, writes in the report. An active transportation advocate welcomed the change Wednesday, suggesting it will reduce the risk of injuries on routes where cyclists travel at higher speeds. “What it means is that if you’re on your bike, there’s less risk that you’re going to be crashing because there’s loose gravel out on the roadway,” said Mark Cohoe, executive director of Bike Winnipeg. Since Winnipeg tends to have lengthy, snowy winters that require the repeated spreading of sand to improve traction, Bike Winnipeg has advocated for the change in the past. Cohoe said the on-road routes tend to collect more sand than other active transportation ones, partly because nearby motor vehicle tires can push excess debris into curbside spaces designated for bikes. He would like the city to also prioritize spring cleanup for separated sidewalks and paths, in order to encourage more people to use active transportation routes. Coun. Janice Lukes, head of council’s public works committee, said she would also like to see all active transportation routes prioritized for spring cleanup, but considers this change an important first step. “We’re starting with the roads for the vulnerable road user… It’s just to try and get more people to use active transportation and to have it presented to them (earlier in the year) and in a safe manner,” said Lukes. Since the change mainly adjusts the schedule of existing spring cleanup efforts, the city councillor said it’s not expected to cost more money. Street sweeping typically starts in mid-April, weather permitting. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP: Speed limits sought for active pathways (Sep30'23)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Sep '23

30 Sep '23

SPEED LIMITS SOUGHT FOR ACTIVE PATHWAYS https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/09/29/councillor-suggests-spee… THE City of Winnipeg should study the merits of imposing a speed limit for bikes, electric bikes, scooters and other devices on active transportation pathways, according to one councillor. Coun. Shawn Dobson raised a motion at Friday’s council meeting that seeks a staff report on the potential change, which states collisions and injuries are more likely when speed increases. “Many residents are afraid to use our pathways for fear of being struck and injured by speeding bikes, e-bikes, scooters and other devices,” the motion states. The matter was referred to council’s public works committee, which will consider it next month.

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WFP: Cyclist injured in apparent road rage incident with truck (Sep20'23)
by Beth McKechnie 20 Sep '23

20 Sep '23

Cyclist injured in apparent road rage incident with truck https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/09/20/cyclist-injured-i… A cyclist is recovering after an alleged road rage incident in which a motorist attempted to ram him with his truck, severely damaging his bike and sending him sprawling to the pavement. “I’m still processing this in a really big way,” Elliot Long said, describing how a seemingly innocent interaction with a motorist allegedly turned hostile. “I’m really shaken up. I would like to continue cycling, but it is really scary.” Long, a student at the University of Winnipeg, said he was cycling northbound on Roslyn Road near Osborne Street around 9 a.m. Monday when a car cut him off and stopped at a red light. When he gestured for the driver to give him more space, an unrelated motorist behind the wheel of a burgundy truck began shouting at him. “I don’t even know why he got involved,” Long said. “He started foaming at the mouth, screaming all kinds of stuff, just completely losing it at me.” Long stepped off his bike and turned to face the incensed motorist. When the light turned green, the man in the truck “backed up a little bit and crashed right into me,” he said. Long said he managed to dive away in order to avoid being run down, and watched from the ground as the truck sped off with his bike trapped beneath. The bike broke loose a few metres away with its rear tire, chain and gears reduced to a twisted wreck. Shaken up and sore, but relatively unharmed, the cyclist got to his feet and took note of the truck’s licence plate. He went immediately to Winnipeg Police Service headquarters and filed a report, he said. Numerous witnesses approached him in the aftermath of the crash, including a staff member at a nearby convenience store who said they had video footage; that evidence has since been submitted to police, Long said. On Tuesday, WPS confirmed it received the report but did not provide additional details. “They asked me if I want to press criminal charges,” Long said. “(I said) yes. This is not OK. There are cyclists killed often and you cannot behave that way. It’s completely inappropriate.” Manitoba Public Insurance data shows an average of four cyclists are killed and 78 are injured in collisions annually throughout the province. While every situation is different, claim reports suggest fault is often shared between drivers and cyclists. In June, a 63-year-old man was struck on his bike and sent to the hospital in critical condition after a hit-and-run incident near Isabel Street and Notre Dame Avenue. In May, a cyclist in his 30s was critically injured after being struck by a garbage truck near Erin Street and Sargent Avenue. Javed Musharraf, 22, died late last year after colliding with a front-end loader while riding his electric bike near the intersection of Mission and Plinguet streets. A separate 2019 MPI report found roughly 30 per cent of drivers admit to committing acts of road rage, including shouting, cursing, making rude gestures or — in extreme cases — forcing other motorists off the road. Long estimates the cost of damage to his bike, helmet and eyeglasses will exceed $1,000. The number does not account for physical or emotional damage suffered as a result, he said. He intends to file a claim with MPI. “Everybody I know who is a cyclist has been in an accident at some point,” he said, “Drivers seem to think cyclists are supposed to ride on the sidewalk sometimes, which is not the law and is much more dangerous. I wear my helmet, I follow the rules of the road, but it is scary.” tyler.searle(a)freepress.mb.ca

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WFP: Montreal-area police equip school kids with backpacks that display speed cameras (Sep7'23)
by Beth McKechnie 07 Sep '23

07 Sep '23

Montreal-area police equip school kids with backpacks that display speed cameras https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2023/09/06/montreal-area-police-eq… MONTREAL — Children in the Montreal area are becoming living speed cameras to get drivers to slow down in school zones as the city charges ahead with efforts to increase road safety. On select dates, police in the metro area will equip a handful of schoolchildren with backpacks that display passing vehicles’ speeds. The concept, developed in Quebec by police in the suburb of Laval, north of Montreal, in 2021, spread to Longueuil on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River last year. On Wednesday, the Montreal police force presented its first “living radars.” The striking demonstrations are part of a series of measures municipalities are deploying to better secure school zones this year — an effort that took on renewed urgency last December when a seven-year-old girl who had recently arrived from Ukraine was killed in a hit-and-run on her way to school east of downtown Montreal. “Living environments are not shortcuts, and they must guarantee safe travel for everyone,” Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said in a statement this week. “Road safety is everyone’s business. Every motorist must prioritize safety over speed.” Police in Montreal, Laval and Longueuil have all announced operations to crack down on dangerous driving around school zones this month. Montreal is reshaping its streets to better protect children, ramping up work to envelop school zones with pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures, such as raised crosswalks, enlarged sidewalks, speed humps and lane size reductions. The program — the first of its kind in Quebec, according to Plante — has made 92 schools safer since its launch in 2020, the city says. Eighteen more projects are underway and scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year. Longueuil is following suit, with its own school zone safety plan coming shortly, the city’s mayor, Catherine Fournier, promised last week. On Tuesday, Plante pointed to the rising number of serious road collisions as motivation to push forward with the urban redesign. Quebec’s public automobile insurance corporation counted 38 fatal accidents in the Montreal region, including the city and on-island suburbs, in 2022, compared with 29 in 2021. “Our aim is to do more, faster,” the mayor said. — The Canadian Press

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WFP Community Review: Mobility fair for older adults to be held Sept. 13
by Beth McKechnie 06 Sep '23

06 Sep '23

*Mobility fair for older adults to be held Sept. 13* https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/east/2023/09/06/mobility-… Options to help some of the city’s more senior citizens get out and about will be explored at an upcoming free community event. Green Action Centre, in collaboration with the Transportation Options Network for Seniors, will hold a mobility fair for older adults on Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Corydon Community Centre, River Heights site (1370 Grosvenor Ave.). The fair, which will be held in a drop-in format, will include presentations, information and resources provided by a number of organizations, including the two host organizations, such as Winnipeg Transit, Bike Winnipeg, Easy Street Rehabilitation, Peg City Car Co-op, Plain Bicycle, and Freedom Concepts. Organizers say the goal of the event is to showcase a selection of local transportation options that older individuals can utilize to maintain a healthy, independent and sustainable lifestyle. “It’s very exciting for us to do this,” Ariel Desrochers, a sustainable transportation co-ordinator at Green Action Centre, said. Desrochers, who lives in Wolseley, said the organization tends to serve younger audiences — with initiatives such as its Active and Safe Routes to School program — and individuals across the board with any number of active transportation initiatives, so it’s especially satisfying to be tailoring the upcoming fair to an older demographic. She said the event will be helpful to community members with a cross-section of different needs and interests, whether it’s those who are looking for different transportation alternatives, such as people potentially looking for more sustainable alternatives to cars; folks who want to maintain their independence as they age; or maybe those with mobility issues that are seeking prudent options. “It’s something I’m looking forward to. When we talk about sustainability and environmental initiatives, maybe older folks sometimes get left out of the conversation. I really hope this event can be inclusive to this age group and help expand their horizons,” Desrochers said. “Accessible travel isn’t always sustainable, so we’re looking forward to bringing these options to older individuals in the community.” According to Green Action Centre’s website, limited refreshments will be provided. As well, many of the vendors will be stationed outside, so attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable footwear and dress according to the weather. There will be limited bicycle and vehicle parking, as well as street parking. Desrochers said the fair’s drop-in format will allow visitors to pick and choose what they’d like to see and do. Go online at greenactioncentre.ca for more information.

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WFP: Repair coming for longtime safety hazard on Sturgeon Creek path, city promises (Aug30'23)
by Beth McKechnie 30 Aug '23

30 Aug '23

Repair coming for longtime safety hazard on Sturgeon Creek path, city promises https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2023/08/29/repair-coming-for… A MASSIVE hole at one edge of the busy Sturgeon Creek active transportation route is still drawing safety complaints from residents months after it was first reported. The city said Tuesday a repair is on the way. The Free Press first reported the problem — where the Sturgeon Creek route meets a smaller path that leads to a playground on Amarynth Crescent — on June 7. At the time, it had one barricade posted at each of its ends and appeared to be about 75 centimetres deep and at least six metres long. The next day, the city erected snow fencing around the entire perimeter of the hole. Randall Hull first complained to 311 about the safety hazard on April 23. Hull said he’s relieved to hear some action will be taken soon, since it’s about to get a lot more use. “Once kids get back to school, there’s a lot of kids that use that pathway to either go to school by bike or walk,” he said. The city pumped standing water out of the trench, which now appears to be about 1.8 metres deep, he said, adding the snow fence doesn’t extend far enough to block access to the hole in its entirety. “The snow fence is good on two of the four sides but it isn’t really adequate at the end … it stops (about 1.2 metres) short of going all the way around and therefore it’s easy for kids to go underneath the snow fence,” he said. “At the proper angle, you see how grossly inadequate it is.” A city public works spokesman said the repair process will begin soon. “The gap in Sturgeon Creek pathway by Amarynth Park is the result of an underground washout that needs further investigation. The site will be inspected by a riverbank stabilization engineer in mid-September to determine the cause of the gap and the appropriate next steps for making the repair, Ken Allen wrote. “Temporarily filling the hole with gravel as an interim measure is not a sufficient or appropriate repair method for this type of issue.” Allen said a crew will also inspect the snow fence and could repair it before the hole itself is fixed “in the weeks ahead.” The damaged path is in St. James Coun. Shawn Dobson’s ward. He said city officials suspect an old land drainage line may be linked to the problem. “They can’t (just) fill up (the hole). It’ll keep sinking until they determine the cause,” said Dobson. In June, the councillor called the hole “monstrous” and agreed it posed a significant safety concern. He said it appears even larger now, but he believes the highly visible barrier surrounding it greatly reduces any risk. Dobson said it makes sense to take the time needed to ensure a more permanent repair. “It’s a complicated fix because you can’t just throw gravel in it and say it’s done. ... They have to figure out what’s causing (the washout) and that means they have to get in there and dig,” he said. Dobson said the pathway may need to be realigned and rebuilt. While there is not yet a cost estimate or timeline to fix the problem, he said he’s confident money will be available. Hull said he’s glad the city has promised to take action. And while he’d love to see a quicker repair, he said it does make sense to pursue a long-term fix. “Until there’s something permanently done, it’s probably a good point not to throw money at (fixing it if) you know it’s not going to last,” he said. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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WFP Editorial: It shouldn’t take a squeaky wheel (Aug25'23)
by Beth McKechnie 25 Aug '23

25 Aug '23

It shouldn’t take a squeaky wheel https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2023/08/25/it-shouldnt… DESPITE a convoluted response from city staff last week, hazardous pavement heaving on a well-used local bike path was patched within days of a Free Press story highlighting the issue. It’s a chain of events that raises questions about the inner workings of City Hall, as well as its active transportation priorities. For months, cyclists have been skirting around a section of dangerously uneven pavement at the corner of Rover Avenue and Hallet Street in North Point Douglas. The soil under the sidewalk had shifted, causing the concrete slabs to buckle and creating a large ridge at the roadway. One daily user interviewed by the Free Press said the fissure had developed in the spring, forcing cyclists to dismount or find an alternate route during the height of bike season. The junction would likewise have been impassable for wheelchair users, pedestrians with limited mobility or parents with strollers heading to nearby Michaëlle Jean Park. In its initial response, a city spokesperson pointed to riverbank failure as the cause of the newly formed curb. A costly and lengthy proposal and investigation process was needed before the sidewalk could be fixed. “Making the repair is not as simple as just repaving the pathway,” read the emailed statement. Yet, within 24-hours of that assessment, new asphalt had been poured by public works and the gap corrected. The patch may not be a permanent solution to the underlying issue of ground shifting in the area, but it does make the neighbourhood’s infrastructure usable again. While a gap of several inches might seem like a minor inconvenience in a city with pockmarked streets and thousands of potholes, it’s the latest in a growing list of controversies that illustrate the city’s dismissive attitude toward active transportation routes. This past winter, Winnipeggers took up shovels to clear ice and snow from local bike paths in response to the city’s lackluster clearing efforts. Last year, Free Press reporting found that two multi-use path projects in the city had been funded, but not completed. When pressed, the city couldn’t answer where the budgeted money went or why the projects were stalled. An inquiring city councillor was met with similar silence. In the winter of 2019, two Wolseley residents took it upon themselves to clear ice from the Omand’s Creek footbridge after the city determined the job was too difficult and that the busy bridge should be left impassable until the spring melt. A request for information by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation following the incident revealed 97 pages of internal communications related to the bridge-clearing decision. Time after time, Winnipeggers who opt for active transportation — either by choice or by necessity — are forced to deal with physical and bureaucratic roadblocks during their daily commute. It’s an embarrassing state of affairs that hampers the city’s livability and its environmental goals. Last week, Coun. Janice Lukes rightly described the North Point Douglas issue as “completely unacceptable” and promised that maintenance of Winnipeg’s active transportation network would be a priority for the public works department next year — an admission that suggests bike and pedestrian pathways aren’t currently very high on the agenda. Our infrastructure isn’t the only thing in desperate need of repair. It appears the municipal workflow could also use a tune-up. While the promise of better city-wide bike infrastructure has yet to be delivered, commuting has gotten a little smoother for one cohort of local cyclists. It’s too bad those users had to wait for media coverage in order to find a fix.

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WFP weekly: Women’s cycling group strikes a chord (Aug23'2023)
by Beth McKechnie 23 Aug '23

23 Aug '23

Women’s cycling group strikes a chord SHELDON BIRNIE https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/east/2023/08/21/exceeding… When Sarah Gravelle-MacKenzie set out to start a bi-weekly guided bike ride for mature women around northeast Winnipeg this spring, she knew there’d be interest. Even so, the response has surprised her. “It has been phenomenal,” Gravelle-MacKenzie, 68, said. “I don’t think I could have dreamt it would be this successful.” Cycling with Sarah launched in May. Following three introductory rides in the spring, Gravelle-MacKenzie ran two group rides per week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A total of 53 women registered, with more than 40 on the waiting list. “We were at the max,” she said. “The goal is for next year, if we want to try to grow it, we’ll have to get more ride leads and sweeps.” This summer’s rides wrap up with group rides on Aug. 29, Sept. 7 and 14. There will also be a wind-up party at Bikes & Beyond (227 Henderson Hwy.) on Tuesday, Sept. 19. “Once formal rides end, we can still ride. People have made friendships, which is something special,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “The bonds that have been created are pretty special.” Sponsored by Liv Canada, Bikes & Beyond, and the Manitoba Cycling Association, Gravelle-MacKenzie is planning to extend a series of events into the fall and, hopefully, the winter as well, to keep the group together and stay active. “Fall, pre-snow, we’re doing hiking groups and going to different places. We’ll set up a schedule and women can sign up,“ she said. “Once the snow comes we’re going to do snowshoeing and cross-country skiing and I want to do tobogganing at Silver Springs here in East St. Paul. It’s a good workout and it makes you feel like a kid again.” Gravelle-MacKenzie, who started cycling seriously when she retired a few years ago, is also keen to introduce more women to winter cycling, if informally at first. “I love winter cycling,” she said. “I have talked about winter cycling and there are some women who want to try it.” Gravelle-MacKenzie believes part of the success of the group has been that it serves an under-represented demographic. “A lot of the women, as older women in their sixties and seventies, said they felt invisible,” Gravelle-MacKenzie said. “So for a group to be formed just for them is really powerful. It’s been neat to watch it all develop and everyone being so enthusiastic about it. Come spring, we’ve got so many people who want to ride. It’s evolving really nicely.” For more information, follow @CyclingWithSarah on Instagram or email cyclingwithsarah(a)gmail.com

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