Eastern Canada - Careful of Martin Goodman Trail-Toronto

Just wanted to post a heads up regarding the Martin Goodman trail in Toronto. The new bike path that the city created west of Ontario place creates a dangerous three-way fork. Westbound traffic and choose two different paths to take, while eastbound traffic merges into one.

Just had a head-on collision with another cyclist today on the trail and destroyed my full carbon frame. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you.

Geeze...I ride there all the time! When did they create this?

Yeah I know exactly which intersection you're talking about, and it's pretty much the worst idea to join three lanes of a multi use path together like this. Hopefully it's temporary.

On another note, after hearing about that story of the triathlete death in Van on their MUP I pretty much stay off the Martin Goodman altogether unless I'm running. I figure you're much better off taking your chances with the cars riding along Lakeshore if you're planning to average more than 20 km/h - they're far more predictable than rollerbladers and mountain bikers IMHO. (Not to mention, it's a much better workout)

Firstly, glad at least your accident still kept you able to post about it and the warning - it IS a crazy spot, both ends of that one section of the path are kinda nuts...

Just with any other perilous intersection on the road (let's say, Dundas St. W and College - streetcar tracks bonus!) you should treat that area with care and caution, especially when there are unpredictable elements around. I ride through there daily and have never had a problem, I ride through there in busy commute times when there are a lot of bikes, but also on the weekend times when there are all kinds of nuts about.

Needless to say, I can barrel through there in excess of 30km/h without much of a thought when there are just the usual commuter crowd around - not so for the mid-evening/weekend times.

Just ride for the conditions, Lakeshore isn't so bad around that area anyway, once you're around Bathurst you can drop down to Queens Quay and have the bikelane again if you choose.

Dare I mention the listed 20km/h limit for park/trail paths? Sure, I don't abide by it all too often myself, but don't expect sympathy from me if you crashed due to a high speed collision (I can't see a CF frame getting destroyed in any other fashion in the accident described above) - it should be an accepted risk you take - just like running a stop sign, or whatever similar infraction.

sorry to hear about your bike...

..I stopped using the MG Trail for my commute several years ago because of the multi-use...walkers, joggers, ...even people just crossing the path without looking

I now feel much safer riding through town

Just had a head-on collision with another cyclist today on the trail and destroyed my full carbon frame. Hopefully it doesn't happen to you.


Something you might try is... WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!

Don't blame the path, it was your own fault.

Watching where you're going is important, but poor path/road designs do contribute to a lot of accidents. Keele/401 anyone?

MUPs are dangerous. There are lots of blind corners (though not as many on Martin Goodman as some others, I grant), and even if YOU are taking them at prudent speeds and sticking to the right side of the path, it doesn't mean every oncoming cyclist will....