utility cuts

Just look at the latest street fixings from the Urban Repair Squad. Cyclists are akin to "action-heroes"; deftly dodging potholes, cracks, and utility cuts.

See full photo set.

Saddletramp wrote: "The action-hero drama of dodging obstacles and potholes, escaping devil-may-care drivers in super-fast cars, and braving the fierce, temperamental elements, may seem, and feel, quite comic. Unless you're face-down on the pavement.

With some wit, we endeavour to provide warning with humour; suggest danger with comedy; invite caution without frightening... and most importantly, we appeal to our fine city to remember that potholes aren't just uncomfortable, they really, really hurt."

Utility cut on Bloor: That's Bells on Bloor ride on opposite side.

Riding on our utility cuts reminds my GF of rodeo kids riding sheep.

If you've ridden on streets like Dundas West between Spadina and Ossington, you'll have experienced "mutton bustin", the act of riding sheep for pleasure, mostly done by farm kids.

Utility companies are allowed to cut up the roads to install new utilities, and at anytime somewhere in the city a road is being ripped up. When they are finished they patch it up with some temporary asphalt. About a year later the City comes in to do a proper patch (in theory). But in the meanwhile cyclists get to experience mutton bustin, some of the most exciting, neck wrenching roads in our city.

Once you get tired of mutton bustin you can go back to riding the "devil strip" (the concrete strip between the streetcar tracks).