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Monday’s headlines

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• Bus drivers reach tentative deal [ Toronto Star ]
• York region transit running as usual today [ Globe and Mail ]
• Bikes on sidewalks turn reader into ‘raging granny’ [ Toronto Star ]
• Mayor should embrace open competition for jobs [ National Post ]
• Layton promises urban gun control [ Toronto Star ]
• Tory Toronto candidate withdraws [ CBC.ca ]
• Lamenting the unbuilt Toronto [ National Post ]

7 comments

  1. As a responsible cyclist (as far as I can tell), it’s really the irresponsible ones that cheese me off. Riding recklessly anywhere is bad enough, but on a sidewalk is idiotic and (as I’ve seen now and again) in the bike lane on the wrong side of the road is just suicidal.

    And yes, many of these riders have no helmet or, it seems, concern for safety (for themselves or others). More enforcement, and education on the rules, is needed as more people start picking up two wheels.

  3. Kevin I would add that common sense on a bike also demands you consider the risks of riding along roads under construction.

    It amazes me the crazy riders who ride down streets such as Bloor, etc. when there’s hardly any room. Lanes are narrowed by fences, the pavement is uneven yet they ride. And 9 times out of 10 as you’ve pointed out no helmets, no stopping at lights or for pedestrians, winding in and out of traffic. Dumb.

    Certainly going up a block would make sense. I do it even in my car.

  4. even in your car. why the even? why are drivers held to a different standard?

    if it weren’t for all the spoiled yorkvillers jockeying in their sportscars, traffic would move so slowly & steadily through the construction at bloor & avenue that it would be a piece of cake on a bicycle.

  5. Jeff,

    If there’s room for a car to proceed along the road, there’s room for a bike. I have never seen Bloor St. in such a state where there is “hardly any room”.

    If the road condition sucks, you give yourself more space, not less. If this happens to inconvenience motorists, they should petition their city councilors to fix the roadway and add bike lanes to get the pesky cyclists out of their precious way.

    Unless you’re riding a little bitty skinny-tired racing bike, you can get through construction areas easier on your bicycle than in a car. Patience, taking some space, and obstacle avoidance is all it really takes. Heck, half the time I ride down Annette St. now I’m slowed down by the people in their cars who are worried about bottoming out.

  7. Often cyclists will take to the sidewalk when a lane is closed for construction because the lanes can’t fit both a cyclist and car. One still has the right to be there, even if it slows down traffic for a small stretch. As a user of the road, you’ve got to be confident and follow those traffic laws.