General cycling issues (Is Toronto bike friendly?)

[Monarch Butterfly]

A new poll shows that the majority of Torontonians back the city’s efforts to keep building protected bike lanes, with 7 in 10 in favour. Support is consistent regardless of gender, education, and even age, but climbs to 80% among respondents under 35.​

​

Nearly 8 in 10 respondents also agree that the City of Toronto needs to do more to protect vulnerable road users outside of cars, including pedestrians, senior citizens, school children, and people riding bikes. Support is strong regardless of how they get around the city, with 72% of regular car commuters agreeing.​

​

The poll was conducted by EKOS and commissioned by Cycle Toronto.​

​

Toronto opponents of bike lanes try to spin a narrative of a ‘silent majority’ that hates safe infrastructure for bikes. But time and again, it’s shown that this group exists only in the minds of special interest groups and insiders who hope to weaponize bike lanes as a wedge issue in a bad-faith culture war.​

​

The real silent majority? People who support healthy streets, better mobility options, and a city that works for everyone. The province’s own experts know that arbitrarily ripping out protected bike lanes will not solve traffic congestion and will put people’s lives at risk.​

Cycle Toronto

A new poll shows that the majority of Torontonians back the city’s efforts to keep building protected bike lanes, with 7 in 10 in favour. Support is consistent regardless of gender, education, and...

www.facebook.com

Would be interesting to see a poll among the 905ers, for comparison.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

A new poll shows that the majority of Torontonians back the city’s efforts to keep building protected bike lanes, with 7 in 10 in favour. Support is consistent regardless of gender, education, and even age, but climbs to 80% among respondents under 35.​

​

Nearly 8 in 10 respondents also agree that the City of Toronto needs to do more to protect vulnerable road users outside of cars, including pedestrians, senior citizens, school children, and people riding bikes. Support is strong regardless of how they get around the city, with 72% of regular car commuters agreeing.​

​

The poll was conducted by EKOS and commissioned by Cycle Toronto.​

​

Toronto opponents of bike lanes try to spin a narrative of a ‘silent majority’ that hates safe infrastructure for bikes. But time and again, it’s shown that this group exists only in the minds of special interest groups and insiders who hope to weaponize bike lanes as a wedge issue in a bad-faith culture war.​

​

The real silent majority? People who support healthy streets, better mobility options, and a city that works for everyone. The province’s own experts know that arbitrarily ripping out protected bike lanes will not solve traffic congestion and will put people’s lives at risk.​

Cycle Toronto

A new poll shows that the majority of Torontonians back the city’s efforts to keep building protected bike lanes, with 7 in 10 in favour. Support is consistent regardless of gender, education, and...

www.facebook.com

Would be interesting to see a poll among the 905ers, for comparison.

Added note...

Anti-cyclist Christine Hogarth (PC) lost her Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding race in 2025. That riding was where some campaigned hard against bike lanes on Bloor Street West. Lee Fairclough (Lib) won with 48.5% against Hogarth's 40.5%.​

 

[evandyk]

When the Balance on Bloor guy was speaking today, I wanted to ask him why if people don't want bike lanes on Bloor, Christine Hogarth wasn't there speaking as an Etobicoke MP.

 

[81-717]

Noticed today a short section of bike lane (both ways, east of Pape to the nearest crosswalk) has been painted over in neon green (easily distinguishable from line 2 green). Definitely wasn't like that when I passed there a couple days earlier. I like the idea (reminds me of the red-painted bus lanes in Scarborough and soon to be on Bathurst), and hopefully it's a sign the bike lanes aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[81-717]

Was biking through a shopping mall parking lot (along the path separating the parking lot from the mall itself), and got a friendly "love tap" from a car coming from the opposite direction that decided to turn left as I was passing it while going straight (there are no stop signs in that short stretch, the only stop sign is further ahead at the exit from the plaza). Not sure how they didn't see me, but was a bit taken aback when I realized they weren't slowing down. Luckily neither me nor the bike fell over or suffered any damage, just pushed aside.

At least it goes to show that this:

When a car hits you you're not posting on urbantoronto the next day or possibly ever.

Isn't necessarily true in all cases.

 

[afransen]

Was biking through a shopping mall parking lot (along the path separating the parking lot from the mall itself), and got a friendly "love tap" from a car coming from the opposite direction that decided to turn left as I was passing it while going straight (there are no stop signs in that short stretch, the only stop sign is further ahead at the exit from the plaza). Not sure how they didn't see me, but was a bit taken aback when I realized they weren't slowing down. Luckily neither me nor the bike fell over or suffered any damage, just pushed aside.

At least it goes to show that this:

Isn't necessarily true in all cases.

I've been on the receiving end of such 'love taps' as well. My point stands that not many cyclists are going to die or have severe injuries from a collision with another VRU vs a collision with a car.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I want to buy a cheap beater bike for under $200 for riding to the Corktown YMCA and locking up around town on errands - something I wouldn’t care so much if it was stolen. I would not risk using snd locking up my pricey and mint cruiser (I don’t even have a bike lock, so to never be tempted). There’s no bike share drop near me, otherwise I’d consider that. So, what’s the best source for a beater bike where I can avoid stolen merch? Some info below…

Where to Buy a Beater Bike in Toronto

After 16 months in prison, Igor Kenk, Toronto’s notorious bicycle thief, is back. And according to our justice system, the man is rehabilitated. Still, spendi

pursuit.ca

The Ultimate Guide to Beater Bikes - Sky Bike

Contents What is a beater bike? Also called a pub bike, beater bikes are a great safety measure and go-to bicycle once you head out in the streets of an unknown and potentially unsafe town or city. Because most people own a main bike that’s typically pricey and have sentimental value, beater...

skybikewpb.com

I see sellers like this on Kijiji, but I don’t want anything that may be hot.

Buy or Sell Used Mountain Bikes in City of Toronto | Free Local Classifieds - Kijiji

Buy and sell new and used mountain bikes in City of Toronto– bicycles from Specialized, Trek, Scott, Cannondale, Giant and more on Kijiji Canada's #1 Local Marketplaces.

www.kijiji.ca

 

[PurplePinky]

I want to buy a cheap beater bike for under $200 for riding to the Corktown YMCA and locking up around town on errands - something I wouldn’t care so much if it was stolen. I would not risk using snd locking up my pricey and mint cruiser (I don’t even have a bike lock, so to never be tempted). There’s no bike share drop near me, otherwise I’d consider that. So, what’s the best source for a beater bike where I can avoid stolen merch? Some info below…

Where to Buy a Beater Bike in Toronto

After 16 months in prison, Igor Kenk, Toronto’s notorious bicycle thief, is back. And according to our justice system, the man is rehabilitated. Still, spendi

pursuit.ca

The Ultimate Guide to Beater Bikes - Sky Bike

Contents What is a beater bike? Also called a pub bike, beater bikes are a great safety measure and go-to bicycle once you head out in the streets of an unknown and potentially unsafe town or city. Because most people own a main bike that’s typically pricey and have sentimental value, beater...

skybikewpb.com

I see sellers like this on Kijiji, but I don’t want anything that may be hot.

Buy or Sell Used Mountain Bikes in City of Toronto | Free Local Classifieds - Kijiji

Buy and sell new and used mountain bikes in City of Toronto– bicycles from Specialized, Trek, Scott, Cannondale, Giant and more on Kijiji Canada's #1 Local Marketplaces.

www.kijiji.ca

Policeauctionscanada dot com have loads of bikes!

 

[PL1]

Or use Bike Share? I live Coxwell and Danforth area and it's extremely rare that I can't find a bike near me, or have difficulty parking. The loss cost is not mine. $100 pa, give or take

 

[PurplePinky]

Or use Bike Share? I live Coxwell and Danforth area and it's extremely rare that I can't find a bike near me, or have difficulty parking. The loss cost is not mine. $100 pa, give or take

If you can get a super El-Cheapo one, it’s even less.

 

[PL1]

If you can get a super El-Cheapo one, it’s even less.

Yes, but....

 

[Admiral Beez]

Or use Bike Share?

I honestly did my best in the OP. What more can I do?

There’s no bike share drop near me, otherwise I’d consider that.

Instead I want a bike that I can ride to my front door, toss in the backyard and forget about it.

 

[PurplePinky]

I honestly did my best in the OP. What more can I do?

Instead I want a bike that I can ride to my front door, toss in the backyard and forget about it.

Perfect customer for policeauctionscanada dot com.

Not only bikes, they have everything!

 

[Admiral Beez]

Perfect customer for policeauctionscanada dot com.

Not only bikes, they have everything!

Wowzers!

Police Auctions Canada

safe.sur.ly

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

Per this CBC News article, Doug Ford claims Justice Schabas' bike lane ruling is the "worst case of trampling on people's rights that he's ever seen". Talk about gaslighting Ontarians given it's his government who trampled on the rights of cyclists FFS!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-bike-lane-highway-401-tunnel-comments-1.7602254