Cyclist Profile – Shaun the designer

In the lead up to, and during, Bike Week this year I will feature some cyclist profiles here on the wire. These will be profiles of regular people who ride bikes in the city. There might be the odd courier or cycling advocate thrown into the mix for good measure but, by and large these will be ordinary people who just want to ride.

Cyclist Profiles are a regular feature on I Bike TO.

Name / Occupation / Age
Shaun Moore/ Owner and partner of MADE, retail space dealing exclusively with Canadian designed and produced work. / age 34

What do you use your bike for?
Almost anything in town that doesn’t require a van. Commute, groceries, hardware, night out etc.

How often do you ride?
Every day (Except in winter or heavy rain. I’m a bit sucky in the cold and can’t be wet at work)

How long have you been commuting by bicycle and what made you decide to do it?
Since 1999, my first summer in Toronto.

Can you give a brief description of your route?
From Cabbagetown straight across Carlton/College , down Manning or through Kensington Market to Dundas. It takes me about 10-15 min.

What’s the best thing about commuting by bicycle?
Its so fast! I’m very impatient and can’t stand waiting for the TTC. I can ride to work in less than ½ the time it takes by TTC.

Any advice for new riders?
Don’t ride on the sidewalk!

What would you say to convince someone who is considering commuting by bicycle to get on board their bike?
You can be totally independent. No TTC hassles, no parking tickets, car insurance or maintenance. Saves so much time and money and keeps you in shape.

What do you like and dislike about biking in Toronto?
I love being able to easily zip through side routes and passing through traffic congestion. Oddly, I love having to search hard to find somewhere to lock up near the Gladstone Hotel in the summer. There are loads of lockups, but the fact that so many people are going by bike makes them scarce. I find that pleasing and encouraging.

I dislike that so many bike lanes are used as loading zones and that the police turn a blind eye. Of course smog days suck too. I dislike that David Miller promised heaps of new bike lanes yet there have been so few come to fruition. I also dislike taxis.

Where is/are your favourite place(s) to bike in Toronto?
The Rosedale Ravine in summer. It’s several degrees cooler and I feel like I can slow down. Kensington market.

What’s your favourite cycling street in Toronto? Least favourite? Why?
I’m a bit of a side street rider. I prefer taking back routes when possible. I really like cutting down from College through Kensington. I try to stay off of much of Bloor street, Bathurst south of Queen, Richmond and Adelaide.

What’s your favourite piece of cycling kit/clothing/gadget?
I’m not really an accessories kind of person.

Scary bike stories?
My only real accident was caused by a pedestrian stepping into the street without looking. My handle bar caught in her purse strap and I went over the bars. Hit my chin and head. Luckily I was wearing my helmet which was a rarity at the time. I don’t go without it since. It was a Friday evening of a long weekend and I ended up spending about 8 hours in St. mikes emergency to get stitches that I needed but had nowhere else to get them.
How could the City help you enjoy riding more?
More bike lanes, keep cars and loading out of the bike lanes. Stricter enforcement of traffic laws on taxis (did any of these guys ever take a driving test??) How about some cleaner air too?

How did you start biking?
I grew up in suburban Winnipeg. We had bikes from day one that we would ride in groups around the neighbourhood. Our bikes would come on family camping trips and day trips to the beach. My first two wheeler was flashy gold and super sporty looking (it was the 70’s of course). Stopped cycling for a while as an adult until moving to Toronto and realizing how much more efficient cycling was over driving or transit. Toronto was just a much [bike] friendlier cycling city than anywhere else I had lived.

What sort of bike do you ride?
Nishiki Expidition. It is the only bike I’ve owned as an adult. It’s now 12 years old and I replaced a tire for the first time last fall. I need one new brake this summer.

Helmet or no helmet?
Helmet. See scary bike stories above.

Bikelane or no bikelane?
Bikelane please! Its good to have a bit of space.

Anything else? Please feel free to rant and rave!
See David Miller’s broken bike lane promises above.

Crossposted to I Bike TO