1. Barb | 06.06.08

So how come the chick in the picture isn’t wearing a helmet????

2. chickeee | 06.07.08

biking in Vancouver is not very safe. most separated bike paths are around the seawalls and are not for commuting. otherwise you only protected by a line painted on the road while you dodge turning cars, parked buses and noisy cement mixers. Oh and it rains a lot too

3. William | 06.07.08

Uh…yeah…dodging turing cars, parked buses, and noisy cement mixers is called “bicycling.” You get used to the cars and eventually don’t notice them. San Diego sucks for commuting on a bike, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. If a car cuts you off, just lean in and leave a large streak down its side with your handlebar/brakes. There isn’t anything soft on a bike and its sort-of fun to shrug your shoulders and say, “What? You turned in front of me…I don’t have insurance…”

4. Kendra | 06.08.08

uhm not sure how this is too much different from Better World Club in the US?

5. Sean | 06.10.08

The chick in the pic isn’t wearing a helmet because she chooses not to. It’s a choice all cyclists should make on their own and I, personally, fully advocate commuting without wearing a helmet. It makes me feel more comfortable and I can hear better which is a better trade off then wearing that joke piece of plastic and foam.

‘ If a car cuts you off, just lean in and leave a large streak down its side with your handlebar/brakes. There isn’t anything soft on a bike and its sort-of fun to shrug your shoulders and say, “What? You turned in front of me…I don’t have insurance…”’

It’s people like this that give cyclists a bad reputation. You know what’s really fun? Getting your ass beat when you do that. Just because a lot of people who drive cars don’t pay attention to what they’re doing, that doesn’t give you the right to be an idiot. And yes, if you do this, you are an idiot.

6. Charles | 06.10.08

Here’s a novel thought: Get off the road and onto the sidewalk where you belong, wheeled pedestrian. No sidewalk or bike lane? Get off the road. The road is for cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Not idiots with a death wish.

Yes it is legal. Yes you have the same rights as a motor vehicle. But you’re still an idiot. Bicycle + rider: 150-200lbs. Car: 2000lbs. Egotism, entitlement, and an out of control holier-than-thou attitude will not help you. In fact, such traits make motorists hate you. Couple that with riding two abreast, running lights and stop signs, and forcing long lines of cars to drive a whopping 4mph for miles instead of pulling over and letting cars by like a decent person, and I’m surprised motorists can contain their rage.

Charles.

7. Linda | 06.10.08

I am all for more bicycle lanes in Toronto. I say they should be everywhere. If bicycles are required to be on the street and not the sidewalk, then they should have their own lane. It is dangerous for both the cycler themselves and to others in vehicles that are trying avoid skinning them on the roads. I know that some bicyclers can go at speed limits, but that it is not usually the case. With more people increasingly trying to be more health and environmentally conscious, this is one issue that definitely should not be overlooked.

As for helmets, please do not choose fashion over function. Especially if you are going to be riding on the road with the big cars. If anything happens it will be your brains on the side of the road, just because you felt like you looked silly with a plastic/foam bowl on your head. Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets by law… so should bicyclists.

8. ws | 06.10.08

“Couple that with riding two abreast, running lights and stop signs, and forcing long lines of cars to drive a whopping 4mph for miles”

-1, Bad Analogy.

These things are illegal: you aren’t supposed to cycle two-abreast, nor are you to run stop signs. But you don’t seem to be whining about the motorists that do these things.

9. good job | 06.10.08

Great idea, make streaks down the side of my car and I promise you will pay one way or another. You don’t need insurance for me to sue you or kick your butt.

As another person on here said, yah, you are one of those people that give cyclers a bad reputation. I hate you guys, you’re mostly annoying, rude and have some kind of napoleon complex.

10. phil | 06.10.08

I consider myself a reasonable cyclist who tries to make an effort to set a good example, not all of us are ass’s so to Charles, you are just another outsider who does not get it so don’t try to, just stay in your car like a good little lemming and suck off the teat of the oil companies.You had better get used to more of us on the road, more cities are implementing bike programs than ever before…. so suck it up.

11. 25hz | 06.10.08

Well Charles, you’ve obviously got problems and I guarantee they will only get worse, so you need to wake up or you’ll be in jail or sued into oblivion, or both. Might not be a bad life lesson for you.

Cyclists are allowed on the roads legally, Chuck, according to the highway traffic act. They are also NOT allowed on the side WALK unless the wheels are 20″ or smaller. This is to provide a safer place for children to cycle, like you, Chuck. Bicycles are VEHICLES Chuck, and as the roads are for vehicles, that’s why bicycles are legally allowed to ride on the roads. Still with me Chuck? Riding two abreast is NOT illegal, at least in Ontario, and as that is the city where this story is focussed, I don’t care about anywhere else’s HTA laws. Running red lights and stop signs IS illegal, as it is also illegal for all the moron motorists that do it DAILY and with your attitude, Chuck, I have no doubt that someone following you in your little auto with a camera would find lots of examples of both. I’m not condoning unsafe cycling, but I don’t often see people get out and freak out on motorists breaking those two laws (and more). “Forcing” poor baby motorists to drive along at 4 mph is also NOT illegal. It might be annoying or an aggravation, but it is not illegal. So, Chuck, you can do what adults do, and you wait for an opportunity to safely pass, and then you pass, and THAT is also the law according to the HTA.

The very same “Egotism, entitlement(??), and an out of control holier-than-thou attitude” that you complain about is pretty much exactly what you exhibit. In time, even the most hardened neanderthal will have to claw his way out of the caves and face up to the fact that with increasing costs associated to autos, and with increased advocacy for cycling infrastructure, there’s going to be lots more bikes on the roads. So here’s a novel thought, Chuck. Get with the program (and take some anger management) or go out in the boonies were your chances of meeting a cyclist are much lower. Peace out.

12. Jason | 06.10.08

I personally think that a Cyclist Union would be a perfect idea. I’ve ridden 3,500 miles a year on a bike for the last 10 years!

@ William: I had the whole turn in front of me a week ago. Brand shiny new car too. This was my first time getting hit in 35,000 miles of riding and commuting in Denver. This is usually the better option of the two, the other option being of course the windsheild which is much more painful.

@ Sean: Usually you don’t have much of a choice in that split second before the crash. When your options are the windsheild or a mark on the side of the car I have and will most likely choose the mark on the car. Also good helmets do NOT cover the ears, and even when I ride in winter with ear covers I can hear and SEE fine! As for the no insurance thing I had to replace my commuting Camelbak ($100) a rain jacket inside the Camelbak ($100) as well as a new Helmet ($70). For $150 dollars she can get her car waxed and get paintless dent repair(if necessary).

@ Charles: I get passed way to closely on roads with mulitple lanes, and even when there are bike lanes I get run off the road. There is ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for this kind of behavior. I know my rights, and motorists should do more to learn about theirs. Then maybe everyone could compromise to respect eachother instead of this wonderful world of intolerance. Also most cyclists I know including myself ride at around 20-30 miles per hour, and we stick to back roads with lower speed limits, however sometimes a main road is necessary to get from place to place. Hell I get honked and sworn at even when I go at or above the posted speed limit for cars on my bike, so this is really a moot issue. As for the term “Wheeled Pedestrian”, bicyclists are alot faster than a person walking 3 miles per hour!

People everywhere need to get off their phones, and turn down their music and drive. Where I live it is illegal for a cyclist to wear headphones, or talk and ride, but apparently for drivers this is acceptable behavior. I was hit by someone talking on their cell phone.

Another disturbing trend I’ve noticed lately, is that the higher gas prices climb, the angrier, and more aggressive motorists become. I can’t wait to see $5 a gallon gas as everyone gets annoyed when even more people ride bikes because they can’t afford to drive anymore!

To finish, I do not think myself “better than thou”, I just want people to respect my rights as a citizen and taxpayer to get around as I choose. I’ve seen pedestrians get hit as many times as bikers because of their inability to pay attention and play by the rules.

Everyone needs to learn their rights to use the road, and respect others rights to use the road jsut like any other public facility. Disrepecting cyclists is just classism, which is just another form of racism.

Mark my words more people will ride with gas being so expensive!

13. rippin it | 06.10.08

Charles, Shut up and quit your cryin’. Maybe if you left for work on time, 4 miles an hour wouldn’t be so irritating to you. Besides, I bet if it were a woman with an attractive asset it wouldn’t bother you to slow down for a while. Plus, I’m figuring the concept of a sidewalk is a little to complex for you - let me help you out “A place on the side for WALKING is a sideWALK” Got kids, Charles? Do they like to ride a bike? Need I say anymore. I’m done with you.

Now for Good Job, Duh, if YOU cut of the cyclist and get a booboo on your Beemer, I don’t think you’ll have a case. If you continue with the ass woopin’, I’m almost certain you’ll be selling the Beemer to pay for bail. How rediculous that you call us the egotistical elitists. I’d even be willing to bet that motorcyclist would see things our way. Lord knows cars cut them off plenty and they share the same road and it’s laws.

14. Boston Cyclist | 06.10.08

Charles,

I sincerely feel bad for you. I happen to own both a bike AND a car, and you know what? I choose to ride to work. Every day, I pass motorists, mostly kind, but every now and again, I am cut off by some fat slob eating a McHeartAttack and jockeying his coffee and jerking the steering wheel around. Perhaps this is an image of you, Chuck, frustrated that you haven’t been able to see your toes in 20 years and muffin-topping a bike when you get on it?

I choose to get out and ride. You choose to sit in your car and whine. Try this instead - instead of your greasy breakfast and $20 commute, why not get off your *** and actually move? If you manage to get your heart rate up halfway as far as I’m sure it is when you’re pissed off on the road, you might even lose a little weight, which will decrease your stopping distance. See? It works for both of us.

15. frank p | 06.10.08

I would not purposely slam a vehicle. If you cross the wrong driver they “may not see you” a second time. They do have insurance and a 500 dollar deductible may be a small price for them and keep you off the road forever. People are very spiteful these days and giving motorists and anti-cycling attitude can only hurt the cause of all cyclists.

16. a different Charles | 06.11.08

Out of curiousity, do bicyclists have to license their bikes in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver? Is there any sort of wheel tax for bicycles? Would the bicyclists’ union be willing to pony up some money for the creation of more bike lanes or the linking of them? I believe the motorcyclists and drivers of motor vehicles like cars and trucks have been paying for the road through gas taxes. What I don’t know is if there is a tax on bicycles to pay for these bike lanes.

Oh, and that other Charles? He gives Charleses a bad name. Don’t listen to him.

17. John Molburg | 06.11.08

Wow! Lots of frustration on both sides. Most adult cyclists are also drivers and, therefore, should have some empathy for Charles. Under the angry words is justifiable frustration. What this makes clear is that bicycle advocacy serves everyone. Providing protected bikeways helps both cyclists and motorists. So, let’s all find some time to advocate for safe routes for this most remarkably efficient form of transportation.

18. Chuck Paugh | 06.11.08

Bicyclists are like any other segment of the population: the overwhelming majority are normal, law abiding, polite people who have common sense. However, there are extremists among them that push the envelope and ruin the party for the rest of those riding bikes. We’re currently suffering from a minority of cyclists in Portland, Oregon who are outspoken and in your face who are attempting to pass laws in their favor that can only be described as wacko. The city even spent $200,000 painting new green bicycle boxes at intersections in downtown. Yes, $200,000 for paint. My buddies and I could’ve done it for $5,000 and a box of beer.

19. Fritz | 06.12.08

This is an interesting idea. Bikers need more safety. Bike lanes cost a fraction of what car infrastructure costs (doesn’t need to carry as much weight, etc.) and yet we are still incredibly car centric even in dense cities. Chuck Paugh, I don’t know much about the costs in Portland but it’s more than paint–they use blowtorches to stick the signage to the road. I think the bicycle boxes are a good start to get cars aware that bikes will be on the street and to make sure they’re safe. Yes, there are some bicyclists who create problems but as you get safer bike lanes more people will choose to use them and marginalize those who ride dangerously. The problem in most cities now is you ride defensively and aggressively or you get hit. I think proper cycling facilities on major roads are separated so that cars don’t have to bother too much with bikes. But on smaller 25mph roads you need to watch out because they won’t have separate bike lanes. With gas where it is biking will only get more popular.

20. Dakota Dave | 06.22.08

I’m finally biking to work daily… again. While living in northern Germany, my wife and I biked to work daily, and it was faster, cheaper and healthier than using our car. In most cities in Germany there are designated bike lanes (marked by red pavers or striping) on the sidewalks of through streets. These are easy for pedestrians to avoid, they show the bicyclists where to ride, and they keep the conflicts between bicyclists and motorists to a minimum.
Since bicyclists are separated from the vehicles, it’s not as dangerous for either one, although I was cut-off on more than one occasion at intersections. We humans are just not perfect. What I enjoyed about the biking there, and dislike about it in the midwestern US, is that in Europe biking is an efficient mode of transportation enjoyed by people of every age, and when you get off the bike, you can step into your office, go shopping, pick your kids up from day care, etc. You don’t have to be an athletic wonder to ride a bike there. Going over 20mph would really be overdoing it, and I would’ve worked up a sweat and needed a shower. That was never the case. This is demonstrated by the style of upright, 3-speed, “Holland” bike used by most people there. I love the gears on my MTB and road bike, but it changes the way you bike and perceive biking. The shift toward biking has to include all age groups, and be inclusive. We can be both, but bicyclists need inclusiveness to balance city-planning and improve urban biking safety and efficiency. The egoistic hotheads, whether bikers or motorists, can battle it out at highway speeds… in the fast lane.

21. MekhongKurt | 06.28.08

I lived in Tianjin and Beijing, China 1985-88, back when there were very few cars at all but millions of bicycles. A bicycle was my first bigger purchase.

But despite not so many cars, there could be quite a few on ther streets early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

In both those cities (and others) there were car-lane wide lanes on each side of major avenues, with strong physical barriers separating motor vehicles and cyclists. The barriers were large block of concret every few betters in a single line, with heavy pipes, two or three rows, linking them. And heaven help anyone in a car or on a motorcycle who tried to drive in a bike land (and vice versa for cyclists trying to ride in motor vehicles’ lanes, when a bike lane was available).

It was great. I got to know neighborhoods far better than I would have riding buses and taxis, though of course I sometimes did ride in those. And without even realizing just how helpful riding a bike was in helping lose some of my really big gut, when I left Tianjin after 10-1/2 months to move to Beijing, I discovered I had lost about 65 pounds — without dieting! (And yes, I found out getting an annual physical, and the doctor checked to make sure I didn’t have some problem causing the steep weight drop.)

I grew up on a small ranch in Texas, and often rode my bike into the nearby vilage and exploring the countryside. Loved it.

I’ve lived in Bangkok for just over 14 years, and since the city’s so flat, I wish we could have bike lines like in China and Canada. But there isn’t a single bike lane anywhere in the country, not that I’ve heard of, except a very few streets here with two white lines painted (unhelpfully) right down the *middle* of some sidewalks, which sucks for pedestrians, cyclists, and the ubiquitous street vendors. It doesn’t help that the driving skills are very poor and the general attitude one of extreme agression, either.

God on Toronto, Vancouver, and any place that is putting in safe lanes. And I would feel that way even if gas was still US$.25 per gallon!

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29. WalkerInEastYork | 08.16.08

I dont have a bike or a car and walk or use public transit in Toronto. I cannot tell you how many bikes are on the sidewalk (and not just kids but people of all ages,) are speeding right by me (they come from behind me and if I had moved an inch to one side as I walk they would hit me).

I was almost hit by a 40 ish soccer mom that lives down the street and she is always totally oblivious to everything around her except her own needs– this is on the sidewalk. She just comes up from behind you fast and quietly and just speeds around you (its not just her, alot of sidewalk cyclists do this).
Its especially bad in august, and I am literrally looking behind me every few minutes to make sure a bike has not come out of a side street and is coming up behind me fast. Most of these bikes try to not hit you of course but they never slow down but go at a fast steady clip and when I see one of them I usually get off the sidewalk and onto somebody’s lawn to let them pass.

When they do pass on the sidewalk they either ignore me or give me a mean look as if I am overreacting to them by making way for them! uh yeah I guess I should let myself risk getting hit by a bike from behind not to look like Im overeacting! pardon my eye in your fist ! Often times the police have SEEN cyclists on the sidewalk right by me and they do nothing.

Having said that there are the responsible cyclists who are ON THE ROAD (which is legal unlike sidewalk cycling) and I am really grateful for them. My heart goes out to them because at least they are trying to follow the law and not put us pedestrians at risk.

What should I do? Its REALLY REALLY bad here in East York Toronto. any ideas? A friend of mine was walking on the sidewalk when she was hit from behind. The cyclist clipped her right arm and it smashed her elbow (as she was walking she was lifting her hand to take some hair out of her eyes). She had to wear a cast, nice huh? I am getting a sore neck from looking behind me everytime. Its come to a point where I have to use the bus even for a block or two.

30. tom | 04.04.09

I am looking for comments on the HTA that states that a driver must stop at a stop sign.

A bike has a rider and not a driver. You do not get a riders license nor do you need a drivers license to ride a bike therefore as I see it a bike rider does not have to stop at a stop sign. He should however proceed with caution and for sure slow down.

31. AMH | 10.06.09

@a different Charles
Bikes are not licensed in Toronto, nor are their riders.

Municipal roads are public spaces through which we can move people and goods. Municipal roads are paid for exclusively through property taxes. Therefore all citizens have the same right to use these public spaces, because all citizens pay municipal taxes directly, or through their rent.

We allow cars to use our public rights of ways — but only if they, and their drivers, are licensed. This is because motorcars are large, powerful heavy machines that can potentially do a lot of damage, including killing people.

Roads are not “built for cars” as the first Charles claims. We’ve made accommodations to our roads for motorcars, and we can also make accommodation for cyclists on our public roads. But our roads were always built as public spaces through which we can move people and goods.

Public spaces are a shared resource. Queues form (ie congestion) when too many people try to use the resource at the same time. While we all hate being in Queues, at least queues are fair in so far as everybody gets a turn (eventually). What we need to do is to find ways to use our spaces better.

The motorcar is a very inefficient way to move people. Bikes take up much less space per person. A regular mixed-use traffic lane can move up to about 800 cars per hour. A bike lane, using half or less than half the space, can move up to 2000 bikes per hour. Busses are also more efficient use of our spaces than motorcars, and streetcars even better than busses.

We also have to look at our uses of space to store our vehicles. A parking structure requires 500sq ft per car. One can easily store about 15 bikes in 100 sq ft of space.

The provincial gas taxes collected are meant to help pay for our provincial highways, the same ones that cyclists and pedestrians are not allowed to use. The licensing fees paid by motorists for the privilege of owning a car is on a cost recovery basis, ie we’re only paying for the licensing system itself. No surplus is raised by license fees to help pay for anything else.

Insurance is necessary for motorists because of the large amount carnage that happens when a crash or collision occurs with their large, heavy, and powerful machine. Bikes, on the other hand, cause very limited damage, usually no more than in the hundreds, or at worst thousands, of dollars. In fact one could probably cause much more damage with a baseball bat than with a bike, and with much less risk to the rider.

32. Red86 | 10.23.09

The fact that he is shocked that these students have a different culture and upbringing from his has never struck his mind. ,

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