door prize

We know cyclists' lives are considered cheap. Jonathan Goldsbie in the Eye Weekly's "Kill a cyclist, pay $110", explains well cyclists' frustration and anger that their lives are worth little once they step onto a bike. And, to add insult to injury we pay $110 if we don't have a bell. Where is the proportion in that?

The combination of lax enforcement and poor infrastructure create a perfect weapon. Why bother get a gun and risk criminal charges? Just get into a car and open the door when your least favorite cyclist rides by. To bring back some sense of justice perhaps the cyclist should be appropriately armed as well (thanks Jonathan for mentioning the scene from Hot Fuzz).

This nonchalant attitude has carried over into municipal politics as councillors continue to stall the advancement of a bikeway network. Something about needing parking in their wards. God forbid we force residents to cross the street to their car. Still, it warms the heart to have some councillors understand our plight:

As reported by TCAT, the bike lanes on Vaughan Rd. between Winona Dr. and St. Clair Ave. (map) are being installed this week.

I rode by there after work on Tuesday evening to check on the progress. They have already painted the initial markings on the road, which will eventually be painted over.

However, the cynic in me is asking, "Why are they doing this?"

Seriously, riding this road wasn't bad at all. The traffic is minimal, the lanes are wide and easy to share, and the limited on-street parking doesn't make for many dooring situations. Maybe this is a simple 1.7km to add to the bike plan, without upsetting anyone. But does it benefit anyone either? Let's have a look.

Someone sent I Bike TO this very disturbing link to a Portland craigslist "missed connections". I don't know what to say without giving it away. It might be real; it might be a hoax.

Let's just say that it involves a woman on a bike, a man with car door and a gun, and a very strange idea of what is socially acceptable.

Here's my advice to the woman who got doored: the only kind of apology you should accept is a wire transfer of $10,000 or more.