Grass isn't always greener in Mississauga

This Sunday I rode out along Mississauga's lakefront bicycle path/route, from Etobicoke Creek to Southdown Road.

What's nice: a few sections along the lakeshore on park paths.

What's not nice:
--poor signage: I had to look for Waterfront Trail signs, there isn't much bicycle route signage
--poor routing of bike paths: the east end path (in the Lakeview park) crosses the same park road about three times; roadside sections which are glorified sidewalks west of Port Credit
--convolouted routing: we're lucky to have bike/pedestrian bridges over Mimico Creek and the Humber River, instead of jogging up and down to the road such as over the Credit River
--stop signs at the bottom of steep downhills
--random transitions between local streets (built in suburban cul-de-sac style) and park paths (see complaint about signage)
--"Dismount bicycle and walk" signs at various road and driveway crossings; I didn't keep track of them but I probably would have run out of fingers and toes trying to count them all (of course no one dismounts and walks)

It took about 50 minutes to head west, following as much as possible the official bike route. Distance was about 18 km.

Heading home, I just got on Lakeshore Road and took my chances with traffic. (Props to the Mississauga Transit bus and driver of the new white Camaro; you reminded me that "bicycling is dangerous") That took thirty minutes, and saved 6 km.

While not an entirely fair comparison between the official "bike route" and the brute-force arterial ride--due to holiday weekend crowds there were many park and trail sections that couldn't be ridden at more than walking speed--there's no question that this particular Mississauge "bike route" is not suitable for commuters or quick riders. And because of the steep hills and blind corners, I'm not sure how suitable it is for casual Sunday cyclists either....

Yes, Toronto's waterfront has issues, but I think that after Queen's Quay gets redone with the bike lanes to the south of the streetcar, it will take care of one of the major issue that I've seen. Hopefully we'll have a nice downtown link in 2011.