EnigManiac

After yesterdays less-than-glowing report on the stalled status of Toronto's ambitious Bike Plan, our public transit workers decided to stage a wild-cat strike this morning leaving most commuters in a bind. With no notice, they had not made alternative arrangements to get to work. But, I wasn't concerned: I ride to work every day so it was business-as-usual, so to speak, for me. Except that the bike lanes (yes the non-connected ones lamented about in yesterdays' report) were considerably busier than usual and not by the smartest nor most experienced cyclists either. But, at least there were folks on bikes and the more we have on bikes, the better, I say. They'll get smarter and more experienced eventually. I hope it was a pleasant change for them to go gliding past extra long lines of motor-vehicle congestion (turning their faces away from the stifling exhaust) and hope it inspires them to hang up their car keys, put on their sunglasses and get their endorphins racing for at least the rest of theh summer.

sbhikes

I remember my first commute. It about killed me. Let's hope that these folks keep it up and reap the payoff--my little 8.5 mile route is nothing now and I can easily do 35 miles or more without getting tired.

EnigManiac

It amazes me, as I continue watching the traffic mayhem on the streets this morning, how casual cyclists are riding like they are on a quiet residential street on a Sunday afternoon rather than the over-congested thoroughfare they are on during a hot humid day that is causing motorists to be even more short-tempered, frustrated and aggressive than usual. So many cyclists appear to be oblivious to the dangers around them and are wandering through intersections when the opposing traffic has an advanced green light. They need to pay attention or this might be the last commute they make by bike.

Of course, what makes it all the more ironic is that today is the first day of Toronto Bike Week, so whether folks wanted to bicycle or not for that reason they had to because there are no buses, streetcars or subways. Ahhhh, life in the big city. Always an adventure.

Guest

Perhaps a letter to the editor of the local paper reminding the cyclists who don't ride often of the rules of the road- ie: not riding against traffic, signalling when turning, reminding them of the door zone, riding with proper lights, etc. If even a few people are reminded of the small stuff, it'll make it easier for everyone.

Koffee

EnigManiac

I've attempted letters of that nature before and they were declined. They prefer letters regarding topical issues and, right now, they will be publishing letters about the short-lived transit strike. But it is a good suggestion.

I doubt it would would have much effect anyway. Either the part-time, casual riders don't read the letters to the editor or aren't confident enough to ride on the road or even in a bike-lane or they simply think they know what's best. I mean, do you think you're going to get through to the guys I saw today whizzing and dodging along busy side-walks, their headphones clamped to theirt heads, using the bike-lanes only to pass clumps of pedestrians before leaping back up onto the sidewalk and then jumping down into the bike-lane again right in the path of cyclists in the lane who not expecting the twits to cut them off? I don't think so.

Guest

It might be a good idea to weave the topic of the strike into the ABC's of the rules of the road for cyclists. If you intermarry the two topics and have a good writing style, I bet anything you'd get published.

Koffee