Truly one of Canada's most beautiful regions, Vancouver, with its mild year-round climate with few snowfalls and cool summer temperatures means strenuous (or leisurely) activities are popular within the city. One of Vancouver's most beloved activities is biking. With its dozens of bike friendly routes on the downtown streets, designated bike lanes on bridges to keep cyclists safe and the twenty-two kilometre seawall trail starting at Canada Place by the Burrard Inlet, circling Stanley Park, alongside False Creek and ending at Kitsilano Beach,In Fashion Store, biking is a popular means of transit for commuters, visitors to the city, and leisure seekers.
Its rewards are numerous, cycling has become a sport for hundreds of riders in the city. It is not uncommon to see street bicycles (identifiable by the thin tires on their wheels) racing along, their riders training for competitions or just for fun. The back roads and seawall are the most popular for cyclists in the city. Although many lanes are designated for cycling use (especially during peak rush hour from 3pm to 6pm), most riders prefer the narrow bike lanes running along several streets as well as inner city routes and the seawall which goes along many of the residential neighbourhoods. It is important to follow the rules of the road to ensure your safety and that of others. The following are some of the most important:
1. Wear a helmet. Not only is it foolhardy to not wear one - especially in shared traffic lanes - it is also illegal. Riders without head protection face a minimum fine of $35. Ironically, the price equivalent of a helmet in a store. This law includes public streets, sidewalks and trails.
2. Before cycling, plan your route. The city of Vancouver (and many rental shops) offer maps on bike friendly roadways as well as one way cyclist routes. This applies especially to Stanley Park which flows in a counter-clockwise direction beginning at Coal Harbour.
3. Pay attention to street signs and specific shared traffic lanes for cyclists on roadways. Narrow roadways, parked vehicles and other hazards await cyclists who bike on roads which aren't meant for cyclists. Several roadways in downtown Vancouver have specific lanes or are cycle-friendly. Other roads are taken at the cyclist's risk. Remember, you are sharing the road - holding back traffic on a one lane roadway is not good biking etiquette.
4. Seawall Cyclists (and pedestrians) must use designated pathways. The Seawall is arguably one of Vancouver's most beautiful trips. Stretching along the Pacific Ocean alongside Marinas, Stanley Park, forests, unique neighbourhoods and beaches, its popularity throughout the year is limitless. This popularity simultaneously brings thousands of people, some which do not understand the Seawall's construction. Pedestrians should adhere to the walkway closest to the shore and cyclists are usually on the left trail. All bike and pedestrian paths are clearly signed.
5. Pay attention to your cycling etiquette. You alone are not the sole user of the dozens of bike lanes and pathways found throughout Vancouver. Be sure to signal when turning, use discretion, stop at all lights and signs (you are considered a vehicle!) and be aware of your surroundings. Try not to stop in the midst of a busy bike path (such as the seawall) or bike adjacent to friends, preventing others from passing. Your ride will be more enjoyable when you follow the rules and respect your fellow riders!
Cycling in the city of Vancouver is a fun and fantastic means of transportation to see the sights,Online Shoes Sale, nature or even just to commute to work. Enjoying the many amenities this beautiful city has to offer is easy with the hundreds of bike shops located in all regions of the city selling new or used bicycles or renting them for a few hours even a few days. Enjoy your cycle around, through or within Vancouver, British Columbia!
Cycling in the city of Vancouver is a fun and fantastic means of transportation to see the sights, nature or even just to commute to work. Enjoying the many amenities this beautiful city has to offer is easy with the hundreds of bike shops located in all regions of the city selling new or used bicycles or renting them for a few hours even a few days. Enjoy your cycle around, through or within Vancouver, British Columbia!
Decorating with Coat Racks and Vintage Clothing for a Unique Accent to Your HomeWhen most people think of coat racks, they think strictly of hanging coats, hats, and scarves. But coat racks can be a lot more than just a place to keep clutter off the floor. They can also provide you with an opportunity to display your own, unique decorating tastes.
One of my favorite ways to decorate with coat racks is to display vintage clothing on them. Wall-mounted coat racks work particularly well for displaying vintage hats and bonnets. And floor-mounted coat racks are a natural for cloaks,Replica Fashion Store, gowns, shawls and scarves.
Don't go cheap when using coat racks as a decorating accent. True, you can pick up a generic wall-mounted coat rack for under $10 and a floor-standing one for under $30. But if your goal is to create an eye-catching accent, don't expect a cheap one to have the effect you want.
Bent wood, rattan, wrought iron,Cheap Designer Clothing, or brass give you the best eye appeal in a floor-standing coat rack. And look for furniture-quality solid hardwood in wall-mounted coat racks. Don't settle for generic, dime-store coat hooks on your coat rack when you can easily combine the beauty of brass and porcelain or get the rustic strength of wrought iron.
You can find wall-mounted coat racks with rosemaling, or other styles of decorative painting. These always add to your accent, as do such features as a plate rack or decorative shelf on top that allows you to display other collectibles.
And a mirror, whether etched or plain, on your wall-mounted coat rack is always a big plus. Not only does it enhance the beauty of your accent, but it provides a much appreciated service to your guests of letting them check their appearance after coming in from outdoors.
As for finding vintage hats or clothing for your coat rack, here are some places to try.
Most larger cities have at least one vintage clothing store available. You can also find vintage clothing in many estate sales. And more and more second-hand stores gather vintage clothing donated to them into a special area.
Or you can look for reproduction vintage clothing and hats from merchants who specialize in supplying the participants of living history events with clothing and items from daily life of the eras these participants portray.
I've found Renaissance festivals and Civil War Reenactments to be especially rich sources of quality reproduction vintage clothing (and many other interesting items useful for decorating).Both events attract a large number or merchants who specialize in reproduction vintage clothing and other items of those times. And you can find many of these merchants on the Internet, as well.
Be aware, though, that while you can usually find a greater variety of items through these merchants in brand new condition, the prices for reproductions can be expensive because of the amount of labor involved in faithfully reproducing construction techniques from a pre-mass production era.
In looking for vintage hats to display on a wall-mounted coat rack, you can either go for a single era, or go eclectic with vintage hats from a number of eras and styles. And don't forget the eye appeal of including one hat in your collection that drapes a ribbon down beneath. Or consider dangling a vintage umbrella or cane from one hook to create various lengths of items hung from your coat rack.
And the hats you use don't necessarily need to be formal. Some of the most effective hats I've found for decorating have been the well-worn, but extremely unique, vintage hats of everyday laborers.
For a floor-standing coat rack, avoid reproduction or vintage clothing that really needs a hanger for it to look its best. Look instead for drapey items such as cloaks, gowns, shawls, and scarves. Experiment with interweaving a colorful scarf or shawl among dark and elegant formal wear.
Or try hanging a coat or gown by the shoulder instead of by the collar for a casual, asymmetrical look. Include a vintage purse. Or, depending on the effect you want to create, consider the effect that draping some vintage silk stockings or lingerie could add to the accent you create.
The options are endless when it comes to combining coat racks and vintage clothing. Just use a quality coat rack that does justice to what you display and let your imagination, and your decorating taste, be your guide in selecting items to display on it.
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