General cycling issues (Is Toronto bike friendly?)

[Paclo]

My pics

 

[kotsy]

What time was that at? I could have sworn there was more people, but a bunch showed up at around 5:05-5:10.

It was taken at 5:43. Maybe it looks less busy because people are hidden by a few trees.

 

[Chris R.]

My pics
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Here is mine:

I was also glad to check out some of the great new infrastructure while there. Still incredibly anxious about right-hook hits.

 

[Midtown Hank]

https://ada-update.com/2020/08/19/bike-lanes-can-create-disability-barriers/

 

[Midtown Hank]

Uugh. I thought that's what this was?

 

[PinkLucy]

Uugh. I thought that's what this was?

This is the general thread

 

[Natika33]

Interesting article coming out of the University of Toronto: Who benefits from proper bike lanes?

The most applicable quote in light of recent politics: "Another key finding was that certain routes appeared to be essential no matter what strategy was pursued – for example, protected bike lanes along Bloor Street West."

 

[chrisw]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1851431503697420332

The Bloor corridor Bike Share stations have served over 635,000 trips from January to September. (hourly data)

Bike Share added a new station at Glendowynne and Bloor in late April and you can see immediate usage. (weekly data)

Credit to Alex Freeman.

 

[turbanplanner]

Does anyone have experience getting the city to fix bad pavement on bike routes? Normally car patches don't seem to be fixed but the city only took about 2 months to re-do this!

I should have moved to the Netherlands or Oslo when I was in the womb, it's such a clown filled place here.

Every country has its problems, you're going to be hyper focused on the ones for where you live. Even an incredibly neat society like Japan had a huge amount of litter.

When I visited, there were SEVEN cleaners before the station opened (it had effectively 3 platforms so very tiny) Imagine how clean things would be here if we prioritized that?

 

[J Bacon]

If Chow were an effective communicator, she would hammer away on why Ford is moving ahead with bike lane removal, but taking no action on automated enforcement for things like blocking the box, which has huge and obvious impacts on congestion (moreso than bike lanes).

Or it could be the ideal opportunity to demand provincial funding to build proper separated bike lanes.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Or it could be the ideal opportunity to demand provincial funding to build proper separated bike lanes.

True. But I wish from the onset of Toronto’s bike lane initiative that a stated goal of not impacting vehicular congestion and a requirement for pre and post lane installation impact studies was baked into the city’s program. I also wish that Ford had made this law back in 2018. Then at least the city and its overseers in Queens Park would be on the same page.

I wonder what sort of bike lane ideas we would have tried if removing automobile lanes was off the table. Presumably we’d have to narrow the sidewalk, or remove onstreet parking by building more Green P lots. Premier Ford has been interfering and overly invested in Toronto municipal affairs ever since he shrank the size of the city’s council. Mayors Tory and Chow should have anticipated and prepared for Ford’s involvement - he’s been complaining about bike lanes since 2018.

 

[UntitledCyclist]

Buzz off, yourself. This "advocate" doesn't think they should be able to drive everywhere, but for some, driving isn't an option - it's a necessity. As opposed to dismissing their interests, I think they should be considered. For the record, as my post seems to have created a bit of a sh*tstorm, I am not suggesting the elimination of bike lanes. I am simply pointing out that they are the scourge of the disabled. You can argue all you want, but it is a fact of life. When not driving my daughter or mom, I am a regular user of the TTC and yes - a bike.

Some have enquired as to why bike lanes are not welcome by disabled? Bike lanes prohibit one from getting close to the sidewalk to get the passenger out and into a wheelchair. The alternative is finding parking elsewhere and pushing the wheelchair back to the location one needs to get to. Of course it doable - as that is exactly what I do, but it's not the same for people who do not have disabilities.

Cars must be kept out of some spaces for the safety and sanity of all residents. There are already many disabled parking spots, accessible transit services etc., and YES we should have more but that's not the same as the absurd demand to remove all bike lanes due to disabled needs. I would support options to improve accessibility but your blanket claims that "disabled do not support bike lanes" are blinkered and ignore the diversity and intersectionality of the cycling and disability community. You need more creativity. Unfortunately this kind of black and white thinking bolsters Doug Ford's nonsense actions and will lead to more people getting hurt or killed.

 

[bearcat]

True. But I wish from the onset of Toronto’s bike lane initiative that a stated goal of not impacting vehicular congestion and a requirement for pre and post lane installation impact studies was baked into the city’s program. I also wish that Ford had made this law back in 2018. Then at least the city and its overseers in Queens Park would be on the same page.

I wonder what sort of bike lane ideas we would have tired if removing automobile lanes was off the table. Presumably we’d have to narrow the sidewalk, or remove onstreet parking by building more Green P lots. Premier Ford has been interfering and overly invested in Toronto municipal affairs ever since he shrank the size of the city’s council. Mayors Tory and Chow should have anticipated and prepared for Ford’s involvement - he’s been complaining about bike lanes since 2018.

I am sure if Ford wanted he could claim even separated bike lanes not taking away a traffic lane are removing space for possibly adding more car lanes in the future by limiting expanding the roadway and thus also must not be permitted. He is free to move the goalposts as he wishes.

 

[Adjei]

I’m in Vancouver visiting and Toronto could learn a thing or two about how to build a proper bike lane from them.

 

[MisterF]

^Toronto has been learning about bike lanes and overall street design from other cities, which is why we're seeing more separated bike lanes, protected intersections, pedestrian friendly intersection design, and narrower vehicle lanes. It's behind cities like Vancouver on those things but it's going in the right direction. The provincial government is, of course, a wild card and can stop all of this progress any time they want.

I am sure if Ford wanted he could claim even separated bike lanes not taking away a traffic lane are removing space for possibly adding more car lanes in the future by limiting expanding the roadway and thus also must not be permitted. He is free to move the goalposts as he wishes.

This is my thinking too. It seems to me that the point of this legislation isn't to ensure that new bike lanes don't increase vehicle congestion. It's to halt new bike lanes outright.