bike lanes

Logan Bikeway At DundasCulled from comments to a recent ibiketo.ca thread:

Dear concerned cyclist,

Many have mentioned the folly of the Toronto Bike Plan. One of the most common complaints is that the City is putting in bike lanes where cyclists don't really need them and ignoring the places most needed. Well, it's no secret. Councillor Adrian Heaps says City Council is "taking the path of least resistance" by focusing on the areas where it's easiest to put in a bike lane.

[Editors: We welcome Luke, our newest blogger! He may be new to making deputations but he's an old hand at using the English language to our benefit.] What do you get when you mix a rookie depu-tant, politicians and an agenda? Motion sickness and appendicitis. And maybe some insight as well. Let me explain.

Crossing the line of "vandalizing" public property, artist Peter Gibson a.k.a Roadsworth was arrested a few years ago for his spray-painted art on Montreal's roads. The Canadian Film Board has a film about his work and struggle with the legal authorities (thanks to Mark Shouldice for telling me about him). The law may have been against him but the public was quite sympathetic.

Normally I avoid car-oriented shopping meccas like the bad plague. But I was desperate, laundry was piling up and I was out of detergent. The brand I liked (Method Free + Clear) appeared to no longer be stocked at the two pedestrian-friendly Shoppers Drug Mart stores I checked. I grabbed my trusty shopping bike, an old Raleigh Twenty with a milk crate, and rolled off towards nearby big box hell at Lakeshore and Leslie.

Ottawa celebrates a victory for cyclists today, as Council will finally vote on adapting the City's official Bike Plan.

The way I see it we have two choices. Wait for the city to get things done and make cycling safe for all in Toronto or get citizens like Murray Teitel to lead the way. I am with Murray. You can read about his vision in the Post. You could also follow the Carfree Cities Conference going on this week in Portland.

Taken from Cyclometer June 2008:

Rogers Rd.Here's a quick status update of the bike lanes that have, are, or will happen in 2008. 26.3km of bike lanes are reported on below. That's about half of of the 50km Councillor Heaps has promised for this year, and summer hasn't officially started yet; we might just make it.

The Globe is reporting today that the new 'Mink Mile' will not include bike lanes.

'Mr. Egan said traffic volumes - 30,000 cars a day - meant that the new narrower Bloor still needed four lanes and could not accommodate full-size bike lanes. However, he said the street could be retrofitted with bike lanes later.'

Many disagree.