winter

As you may already know, the City has been plowing the Martin Goodman Trail this winter. A few weeks ago I took my bike down and discovered a peaceful east-west winter bike route where I didn't have to worry about sliding into a streetcar track or get run over. Bliss. This video and G&M article by Christopher Shulgan explains how the City got to plowing it and gets feedback from runners and cyclists. It's "revolutionized" the lives of runners and cyclists alike, according to Shulgan.

<

blockquote>
How did this happen? City hall has grown accustomed to hearing the suggestion that it clear snow from various paths around the city. The previous time that municipal government examined clearing snow from the trail, in 2004, the proposal was rejected because the city said it didn't have the money.

Then came last winter's near-record snowfalls. The city began a wide-ranging review of its snow-clearing practices. And an increasingly effective cycling lobby began pushing, via the Toronto Cycling Committee, for a snow-free Martin Goodman Trail.

For example, Tammy Thorne, a bulldog on the cycling committee and the editor of the cycling-lifestyle magazine Dandyhorse, buttonholed Mayor David Miller at last summer's Jane Jacobs Awards and gave her own pitch for clearing snow from the lakeshore trail. "He appeared in favour of it," she said.

Brian Betsworth, amateur photographer and journalist but professional bike safety teacher, recounted for us the thrill of having a bike lane that isn't heaped with blocks of snow and black ice:

I was thrilled to encounter a scraped-clean bike lane on the Bloor Viaduct last night...in -17 no less!

it seems a Bobcat came along and shovelled the ice and sludge from the Bike lane onto the sidewalk without impeding pedestrian traffic!

And if you haven't gone on to the Waterfront Trail, you really should. Best winter bike riding out there - clear trail and no traffic. Narry a pedestrian other than the occasional crazy jogger.

For the most part, however, it's par for the course as evidenced by this forum topic.

Cyclist with trailer on BloorWallace Dec 19

This a reminder that this Sunday, Nov. 23 from 10am to 2pm in Riverdale you'll get a chance to see the best cyclocross racers in the province race and wipeout in Riverdale Park East. If all goes well we should be able to see people in skimpy clothing and bikes evidently unsuited for the terrain to wipe out on muddy snow. One can hope. If not at least there will be sausages.

There will be:

• 30ft beer tent where riders go through at speed
• vendors permit for the sale of "100's" of vintage wool jerseys
• cowbells on sale for 1$
• hot dog/sausage vending
• free jetfuel coffee for everyone
• and a polish band!

Chills and thrills and spills!

See the full event details here.