THE BIKE JOINT 290 Harbord, 416-532-6392 and 242½ Queen East, 416-546-2200, thebikejoint.com
Who Derek Chadbourne, owner of The Bike Joint (290 Harbord, 416-532-6392 and 242½ Queen East, 416-546-2200, thebikejoint.com) organizer of the annual Icycle Race founding member of Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC), the group behind the ghost bikes memorial for riders killed on our roads also behind the successful launch of BikeShare, Toronto’s first bike-sharing program.
Claim to fame His bike-inspired charitable good works – and not wanting to toot his own horn. That’s okay. We found a few friends in the cycling community eager to do that for him.
The Charlie’s Freewheels earn-a-bike project for at-risk youth (named after Charlie Prinsep, who died while riding his bicycle across Canada) is one program Chadbourne was instrumental in starting. It’s also the inspiration behind his Bike Joint, where you’re not judged by the bike you ride.
The Icycle Race is arguably the bike happening of the year. This year’s raised $1,000 for charity, part of those proceeds going to a female cyclist who was hit by a stolen vehicle the cops were chasing.
Chadbourne’s efforts have energized a new generation of cycling advocates, to whom he’s always eager to listen.
A former bike messenger, Chadbourne is also a recipient of the Markus Cook Award for his exemplary service to the bike courier community, which included the publishing of courier zine Hideous White Noise.
Words to ride by:
“I believe Toronto’s potential is like the bicycle’s – unlimited.”
Peddling these days:
Friends For Life Bike Rally for people with AIDS justice for Darcy Allan Sheppard training rides and anthropomorphizing of a garbage bin that has been blocking the Shuter bike lane.
