No Parking For Bikes
When out visiting my friends at their homes or when my friends---most of whom ride bikes---pay a visit to me, I notice there are never any ring-posts. Sure, on commercial streets there are usually plenty, but on residential streets they are non-existent, forcing local cyclists and visitors to lock up to utility poles, street sign posts, railings or portchs. It struck me how unfair that is, considering every local resident can usually park their car directly outside their home.
So, I contacted the ring-post installation folks at city hall and they sent out an inspector a couple of weeks ago. I received their reply the other day and, as expected, they declined to install a ring-post in front of my home for the benefit of my guests or myself, should I decide to use it. Curiously, there reasons were a little suspect.
First, the inspector told me that they're concerned that if I, as a homeowner, were to sell my home, the ring-post might become redundant. they then put that in writing. I countered with 'what if I own my home for 30 years?' There are many redundant ring-posts throughout the city, but the city doesn't seem terribly concerned about them. Then they cited the width of the sidewalk and remarked that snow-clearing equipment wouldn't be able to get past it. Of course, I have a utility pole directly outside my home that occupies a full 14" of the 2.5' wide sidewalk. The snow removal equipment can't get past it or the neighbours concrete/steel fences, judges by the many gouges and chips and scrape marks we all have on our fences. If a ring post were installed, it would take up about the same space with a bicycle locked to it. I suggested maybe they could install one on the city right-of-way in front of my steps as it would not affect the sidewalk nor snow-clearing route. They declined. I then suggested they widen the sidewalk and install a cut-away for car parking. They declined. In short, no home-owner who rides a bike full-time has the same privilege as their neighbour who drives. They are granted access to public space, but we are not.
So, what to do? Demand my property taxes be reduced, take the city to court for discrimination, install my own ring post on the right-of-way (as they suggested), except that the ring-post would be my property permanently cemented into their property. Anybody have any suggestions?
screw the ring post cement a whole bike rack in or lmao bolt one down to a parking spot for cars not sure if its feasible but i'm sure it would make for a great pic tell they removed it
Enigmaniac, take it to the media. Your efforts may come to nothing, but if not, they would at the very least shine the light on a double standard and put the heat on a bureaucrat or two.
The City's stance could be used as ammunition in exposing the its green initiative as so much hot air: "What, City sanctioned parking for cars but none for bikes!!"
Work on the angle, then fire off a few emails or letters to NOW, TorSun, or the Star.
I'm not sure I understand the last part -- the city would allow you to install your own ring post on the city's right of way?
Wouldn't that have all the same problems they cited ... it would be the same ring, just paid for by you?
Are they really that crazy or am I misunderstanding!
The City said they won't install a ring-post on the right-of-way, but I could install my own. They even gave me a list of suppliers, including highlighted manufacturers who have products similar to the ring-posts they use.
And Luke, I like your idea. I was kind of leaning that way too. I think NOW and the Star would print it. But I wouldn't even try that rag, the Sun. Their editing is pitiful, reporting horrendous and their conservative stance more than a little pathetic. CBC Radio might like it too. Hmmm, have to start investigating which reporter to contact. Or, maybe I'll just write the article myself.
As of yesterday, the Marilyn Bell section of the Martin Goodman Trail is experiencing its annual closure. The reason...
Marilyn Bell Park is a parking lot for the CNE. They need the bike trail for the cars to drive on. The park has the lines on the grass and the pay machines up and ready to go. Already there are motor homes set up in the park. They will be there until after the CNE closes.
On the Labour Day weekend, it will be necessary to ride on the Lakeshore or on the sidewalk. The lower trail is closed for the dignitaries of the airshow.
The logic here is pretty weird: it's not practical to install a ring and post ... but you can if you want to?
It would be a bit more transparent to say the city will only install a ring and post, paid by the taxpayer, in specific instances and this instance doesn't fit the bill. We could argue about the criteria, but at least the logic would make sense.
But this ... confounds!
I thought that's why they build the other path for the trail that runs closer to Lakeshore ... so there would still be a path for bikes when events were on. Is that route still closed for construction?
But I guess what they are saying is 'if you want a ring-post for personal use or for use by your friends, put it in the right of way, but don't expect us to pay for it.' The problem that I see is that at some point later on, some bureaucrat will demand the 'unauthorized' structure be removed from 'their' property. I suppose I could take my chances, considering it seems their attitude is that they don't want to have to defend the decision should other members of the public complain. The fact remains that a double-standard exists and that the cycling home-owner is not entitled to public space the way a motoring member is.
The route closer to the Lakeshore is the one that is closed so that cars can drive in for parking. It is not convenient for motorists for the trail closer to the lake to be closed.
If it is like usual, the rest of the trail will close about a week before the airshow. That is for the chairs etc to be set up. The gate at Ontario Place will prbably be closed too. It will be necessary to ride on the Lakeshore or if you are likely the narrow sidewalk between the Lakeshore and the fence.
Why do they need to put in parking anyway? It's already accessible by public transit (Dufferin bus, Exhibition GO, etc.), cycling, walking....
If they really needed to, they could run a shuttle bus from Union Station, or something....
However...the Jameson pedestrian bridge has been closed this summer. Is it open yet?
I would love to see things like this pop up around Toronto:
http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/08/15/corrals-and-oases-bi...
They already have some similar ones in Montreal.