Cycling Protest in T.O.

[airosen]

Cyclists block westbound Gardiner
A group of cyclists cruises down the westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway, Friday, May 30, 2008.
May 31, 2008
Laura Stone
Staff Reporter

The westbound Gardiner Expressway was shut down for about 20 minutes tonight when over 200 cyclists got onto the highway at Jameson Ave. shortly before 8 p.m.

The cyclists rode for those 20 minutes before being directed towards the off-ramp at Dunn Ave. by police. Traffic was stalled as the bikers took up all the westbound lanes, but has since returned to normal.

One man, whom police said is part of a cycling group, was taken into custody and faces several charges under the Highway Traffic Act. Police believe the group was participating in a protest, but have no details. The man is set to be released later tonight.

"That wasn't the smartest thing to do," said Sgt. Gary McBratney of the Toronto police's traffic services department. "It's a tough way to make a point, if a car hits you up there."

No injuries were reported.
http://multimedia.thestar.com/images/cb/1c/f456662e460d80869b179a10b957.jpeg

[Zero_Enigma]

Man I heard about this on the radio. Arn't those guys part of the Critical Mass group or something? The cops got a damn good point. I mean on the highway is a good way to make a point and also to get your butt road pizza'ed as well. :crash:

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"when over 200 cyclists got onto the highway at Jameson Ave. shortly before 8 p.m." QUOTE.


I believe that SPADINA AVENUE was the point of entry, not JAMESON AVENUE.


Regards,
J T

[mikeclash]

I was part of this pack of cyclists. To be honest it was pretty risky. The way the interchange works, and the nature of the traffic at that point, actually made merging onto a crazy busy highway not that difficult at all. It took some time before the pack had taken over all three lanes. I would say it was risky, but very controlled. Maybe a 5/10 on the scale of stupidity.

Besides...cruising at 50kph down an empty highway was pretty surreal!

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

You and your "fellow travellers", are IDIOTS!

"cruising at 50kph down an empty highway. . " QUOTE.

FYI, the highway was not empty BEHIND you.


J T

[mikeclash]

You and your "fellow travellers", are IDIOTS!

"cruising at 50kph down an empty highway. . " QUOTE.

FYI, the highway was not empty BEHIND you.


J T



You're missing the entire point of Critical Mass. The entire reason this cycling event exists is to raise awareness about cycling in Toronto. Cars and trucks hog the road every minute of every day at the expense of cyclists who are legally entitled to the same plot of land. Commuting in Toronto is suicide. Just last week a cyclists was killed when some idiot opened a door without looking. I've been run off the road two or three times this summer already.

Now - admittedly, we were riding on a highway. That's illegal any way you cut it. However, considering the broader context I have little sympathy for drivers that are held up along the way.

As they say, Critical Mass isn't holding up traffic, they ARE traffic.

[HigherGround]

Police believe the group was participating in a protest, but have no details.
Well, that was effective in getting the point across. :rolleyes:

You're missing the entire point of Critical Mass. The entire reason this cycling event exists is to raise awareness about cycling in Toronto. Cars and trucks hog the road every minute of every day at the expense of cyclists who are legally entitled to the same plot of land. Commuting in Toronto is suicide. Just last week a cyclists was killed when some idiot opened a door without looking. I've been run off the road two or three times this summer already.

Now - admittedly, we were riding on a highway. That's illegal any way you cut it. However, considering the broader context I have little sympathy for drivers that are held up along the way.

As they say, Critical Mass isn't holding up traffic, they ARE traffic.

While I agree with your goal, I doubt that pissing off motorists is the most effective way to win them over to our side. I suspect that drivers delayed by the protest will have a more antagonistic view of cyclists in the future, rather than a sympathetic one.

Condolences for the local rider who was killed. :(

[mikeclash]

This seems to be the challenge with any social movement in general. Labour strikes, mass protest movements, etc, often serve to piss the hell out of the general public. It doesn't matter how valid the rationale for a TTC union strike is, we still all hate them for interrupting our morning commute.

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"You're missing the entire point of Critical Mass." QUOTE.


YOU, are missing the entire point!

YOU & THEY are "fellow travellers", in the historical sense of the term. If you do not

understand that, how are you able to understand what you really are doing.

(Or are you THAT uninformed; does the word 'ignorant', sound better to your

'virgin ears'?)


J T

[mikeclash]

"You're missing the entire point of Critical Mass." QUOTE.


YOU, are missing the entire point!

YOU & THEY are "fellow travellers", in the historical sense of the term. If you do not

understand that, how are you able to understand what you really are doing.

(Or are you THAT uninformed; does the word 'ignorant', sound better to your

'virgin ears'?)


J T




It seems as though you resent the fact that we impede traffic. I'll assume, then, that you are generally unsupportive of the entire Critical Mass ride. After all, we caused entire city blocks to grind to a standstill this evening.

I understand that there is a delicate balance between raising social awareness and frustrating "innocent" bystanders. The tension between shaking a complacent public from their seemingly endless insomnia while remaining within the bounds of civil law is a complicated affair. The precise balance seems undefinable, for there will almost always, and perhaps necessarily so, be a particular group that disputes the validity of any given statement. That being said, when considering broader social change, boundaries are there to be pushed. Riding on the highway was dangerous and illegal. At the same time, social mobilization in the 1960's was often illegal, and look at what was achieved! My point is that sometimes people need to be inconvenienced in order to understand the nature of pressing issues.

[bbgobie]

What the hell did you achieve if no one knows what the hell you jokers were out there for?

The only thing you have accomplished is to give cyclists a bad name. Look at how many people have started to hate the TTC...

The original intentions of critical mass might have been good, but it's become an excuse for a bunch of punks to go out on a joy ride.

[IronMac]

This seems to be the challenge with any social movement in general. Labour strikes, mass protest movements, etc, often serve to piss the hell out of the general public. It doesn't matter how valid the rationale for a TTC union strike is, we still all hate them for interrupting our morning commute.

The TTC union strike is not about any social movement or social change so let's not use that as an example.

[IronMac]

I understand that there is a delicate balance between raising social awareness and frustrating "innocent" bystanders.

Why don't you just use the word guilty instead of hiding it? You've evidently already condemned society.

The tension between shaking a complacent public from their seemingly endless insomnia while remaining within the bounds of civil law is a complicated affair. The precise balance seems undefinable, for there will almost always, and perhaps necessarily so, be a particular group that disputes the validity of any given statement. That being said, when considering broader social change, boundaries are there to be pushed. Riding on the highway was dangerous and illegal. At the same time, social mobilization in the 1960's was often illegal, and look at what was achieved! My point is that sometimes people need to be inconvenienced in order to understand the nature of pressing issues.

Ooo..shakey rationale...reminds me of Maoist rhetoric/rationalism. The ride did not push the boundaries, it broke through the boundaries in the sense that it was illegal. This is Canada, not some sort of third-world nation such as Nepal or Colombia or Cuba or even the US where "social mobilization" may call for the use of illegal methods.

[IronMac]

As they say, Critical Mass isn't holding up traffic, they ARE traffic.

If you are traffic then obey the traffic laws. Just because some drivers break the law doesn't entitle you to do the same thing.

I did CM once and only once because the idea of blowing through reds and ignoring stop signs is not only illegal but wrong in a moral sense. CM inconveniences people and gives the rest of society the wrong idea about cyclists. As a cyclist, I certainly don't believe in flagrantly breaking laws nor do I want to hold up other people's business.

I strongly believe in the concept of bicyclists en masse sharing the road, that's sharing the road, not seizing control of it. CM in its current incarnation is doing exactly what it accuses cars of doing.

[airosen]

Four cyclists charged after Gardiner ride

May 31, 2008
Sunny Freeman
Staff Reporter

About 200 cyclists, some riding with children, shut down the westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway last night in what police called a dangerous stunt.

The Gardiner was shut down for almost half an hour when the cyclists, most of whom were wearing helmets, stormed onto the westbound lanes from Lower Jarvis St. around 7:30 p.m., said Traffic Services Sgt. Jeff Redden.

The cyclists pedaled down the expressway for about 20 minutes and seven kilometres before being rounded up by police cruisers and directed toward the off-ramp at Dunn Ave, said Redden.

There were no collisions or injuries, but traffic was stalled as the bikers took up all westbound lanes and refused to leave, Redden said.

“It was a crazy idea. They came, and then like cattle they all went up the ramp and once they were up there, they realized there was a problem when they couldn’t get off the ramp.”

Some cyclists dismounted their bikes and climbed over a wall onto CN railway tracks to escape police, said Redden.

Redden said he had never seen anything like it. “It goes beyond common sense in saying its not a good idea...Everyone has their right to free speech and protest, but not in that manner.”

Redden said it did not appear to be an organized protest, but that several cyclists had placards demanding a bike lane along Bloor St. He believes it was related to the Critical Mass bike ride, which meets on the last Friday of every month.

Four cyclists who refused to leave the highway were arrested and charged under the Provincial Offences Act with cycling on a highway.

Redden said some of the cyclists dismounted their bikes, thrust them above their heads and ran at the officers.

Police had released everyone and traffic was moving slowly by around 8:30 p.m., about an hour after cyclists flooded the ramps.

Redden said there was no indication cyclists from the Toronto Criterium bike race happening nearby, were involved.

Yvonne Bambrick, of the Toronto Cyclists Union said she had no idea the event was occurring.

“Breaking the law is never a good idea ... It doesn’t strike me as a very safe thing to do.”

A Facebook group for the Toronto chapter of Critical Mass was abuzz today with posts about the controversial stunt.

Tory Law, 21 year-old cyclist and member of the group, confirmed the ride was organized by Critical Mass.

“I fully support Critical Mass’ cause, however the methods used to convey CM’s message last night is questionable indeed,” he wrote. “I think what CM did does portray a negative image; however, what other possible way is there to get attention?”
________________________________________________________________________

From www.thestar.com

Doesn't seem like the smartest way to get their point across.

[randya]

"you have the right to free speech as long as you don't slow the traffic down"

:rolleyes:

[powerband]

You're missing the entire point of Critical Mass. The entire reason this cycling event exists is to raise awareness about cycling in Toronto. Cars and trucks hog the road every minute of every day at the expense of cyclists who are legally entitled to the same plot of land. Commuting in Toronto is suicide. Just last week a cyclists was killed when some idiot opened a door without looking. I've been run off the road two or three times this summer already.

Now - admittedly, we were riding on a highway. That's illegal any way you cut it. However, considering the broader context I have little sympathy for drivers that are held up along the way.

As they say, Critical Mass isn't holding up traffic, they ARE traffic.

I understand the intended message, but this method is at best trying to make a right out of two wrongs. It just doesn't work.

Someone didn't think this through.

[drainyoo]

This seems to be the challenge with any social movement in general. Labour strikes, mass protest movements, etc, often serve to piss the hell out of the general public. It doesn't matter how valid the rationale for a TTC union strike is, we still all hate them for interrupting our morning commute.

You're an idiot and should have been thrown in jail. What a stupid way to make a point. What if someone was killed you idiots? This is just going to make people hate cyclists even more. Way to go.

[rankin116]

I think Critical Mass would be effective if everyone obeyed the laws. What's the point of going out and intentionally holding up traffic, running reds, etc.? It just pisses off drivers even more. There are better ways to raise awareness without causing more animosity.

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"You're an idiot and should have been thrown in jail. What a stupid way to make a point. What if someone was killed you idiots? This is just going to make people hate cyclists even more. Way to go." QUOTE.


+1


Regards,
J T

[IronMac]

I'm trying to see if there is enough interest in Toronto for a Critical Manners:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=424237

It seems from this thread as if there should be some interest in a counterbalance.

[IronMac]

Redden said.

“It was a crazy idea. They came, and then like cattle they all went up the ramp and once they were up there, they realized there was a problem when they couldn’t get off the ramp.”



Now, that's embarrassing. :(

[drafters65]

"Some cyclists dismounted their bikes and climbed over a wall onto CN railway tracks to escape police, said Redden." ROFL!....

" About 200 cyclists, some riding with children, shut down the westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway last night in what police called a dangerous stunt." shows how unfit they are to be parents....

i wish you guys tried something like that in Nyc...ill be the first to plow through the group like a bowling ball and get away with it...

[Turd Ferguson]

When riding home from the Toronto Crit I passed CM on Bay St and they asked me to join them. Glad I didn't.

I don't see the point in picking a fight with motorists. Odd how they expect motorist to show decency and respect for others but won't reciprocate. I get the impression that these days CM is just a opportunity to be a creep on bike. The ride does not promote safety or a better understanding of the danger cyclists face on the road. Just a F-U to people driving home from work or wherever.

Critical Mass - good idea, poorly executed.

[frymaster]

"you have the right to free speech as long as you don't slow the traffic down"

:rolleyes:

don't you know that my (motorized) commute is more important that your civil liberties? this is the free world!

[airosen]

When riding home from the Toronto Crit I passed CM on Bay St and they asked me to join them. Glad I didn't.

I don't see the point in picking a fight with motorists. Odd how they expect motorist to show decency and respect for others but won't reciprocate. I get the impression that these days CM is just a opportunity to be a creep on bike. The ride does not promote safety or a better understanding of the danger cyclists face on the road. Just a F-U to people driving home from work or wherever.

Critical Mass - good idea, poorly executed.

Very well said. The respect's got to go both ways.

[Flimflam]

I did CM once and only once because the idea of blowing through reds and ignoring stop signs is not only illegal but wrong in a moral sense. CM inconveniences people and gives the rest of society the wrong idea about cyclists. As a cyclist, I certainly don't believe in flagrantly breaking laws nor do I want to hold up other people's business.

I'm just wondering what your opinion is of Bells on Bloor, or Critical Mass last month, when the police were doing the corking/red light running/traffic control for us. Is it still wrong? Because AFAIK, it's still illegal. Not everything is so clear cut, I'm sure there's more than one stop sign you've not stopped at here (stop as in, foot down as per the law) - a broken law is a broken law. As for holding other people up, you've obviously never ridden downtown in rush hour.

Sometimes on bikes in a car-law world it's safer to adopt different strategies to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety. Anyone riding downtown ought to attest to that.

I'm not saying taking the Gardiner was a good plan, but it certainly wasn't dangerous - as said already, the lane takeover was very controlled and safely done.

By the way, take what you read with a pinch of salt.

“It was a crazy idea. They came, and then like cattle they all went up the ramp and once they were up there, they realized there was a problem when they couldn’t get off the ramp.”

Some cyclists dismounted their bikes and climbed over a wall onto CN railway tracks to escape police, said Redden.

Redden said some of the cyclists dismounted their bikes, thrust them above their heads and ran at the officers.

None of this actually happened, there were around 20 of us who went up a grass bank to Dunn Ave (as we were ahead of the pack, it would've been silly to ride through the police blockade) and the mass itself went up the offramp. Crossing CN Rail tracks with bikes, however, would have been incredibly stupid - and had that actually have happened, I think more reporting/news would've occurred - if anyone knows that area, getting onto the tracks and back out again wouldn't be an easy task with a bike, let alone 200+ cyclists. Don't believe the hype, it wasn't that much of a big deal - we did it safely, there was no threat of danger - and from what I saw, most drivers were honking and waving in support (as they often do when we do the same on the streets, sometimes WITH police help).

I don't get where this "what if someone got killed" crap comes from... Worried about snipers or something? Sudden health failure perhaps? This wasn't 5 people intermingling with highway speed traffic. This was 200+ cyclists riding in a group along a stretch of highway where no cars could penetrate the mass - the safety is right there - no cars are going to come plowing through, they'd have to get through all the other cars/trucks first. 20 minutes delay on a nice Friday evening is hardly a big deal, granted it's not the smartest of routes to pick, it certainly wasn't the big deal the media tried to make it out to be.

Thanks for those who get up on their moral high horse though, I'm sure you all foot-down stop at all of your stop signs, signal all of your turns and have fully street legal bikes all of the time.

[cyclocommuter]

MikeClash and Flimflam, way to go... I would have join you guys had I been downtown Friday. As someone who have commuted throughout the GTA for more than 10 years, and who has written countless letters and petitions to councilors for more bike lanes/bike routes to no avail, I believe that critical mass type rides can raise awareness to the plight of the bike commuter. It's even worse in the suburbs... I am just hoping this trend of continued rise in gasoline prices continues. Maybe this will lead city planners, etc., to start realizing that bikes are a viable means of transportation.

[IronMac]

I'm just wondering what your opinion is of Bells on Bloor, or Critical Mass last month, when the police were doing the corking/red light running/traffic control for us. Is it still wrong? Because AFAIK, it's still illegal. Not everything is so clear cut, I'm sure there's more than one stop sign you've not stopped at here (stop as in, foot down as per the law) - a broken law is a broken law. As for holding other people up, you've obviously never ridden downtown in rush hour.

I live and work downtown. Who's on the moral high horse right now?

As far as Bells on Bloor goes, I don't and won't participate in it. Why not? Because I don't believe in bike paths, pure and simple.

Critical Mass, Bells on Bloor and so on promote what to me is a segregationist, exclusionistic outlook on road use. They are at best stopgap if not dead-end measures to having bikes on the roads and sharing those roads on an equal basis.

Sometimes on bikes in a car-law world it's safer to adopt different strategies to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety.

Shrug, that's just an excuse to act the way you want to act.

How laughable! Car-law? Bikes are considered vehicles. Why don't you act like vehicles?

By the way, take what you read with a pinch of salt.

None of this actually happened, there were around 20 of us who went up a grass bank to Dunn Ave (as we were ahead of the pack, it would've been silly to ride through the police blockade) and the mass itself went up the offramp. Crossing CN Rail tracks with bikes, however, would have been incredibly stupid - and had that actually have happened, I think more reporting/news would've occurred - if anyone knows that area, getting onto the tracks and back out again wouldn't be an easy task with a bike, let alone 200+ cyclists. Don't believe the hype, it wasn't that much of a big deal - we did it safely, there was no threat of danger - and from what I saw, most drivers were honking and waving in support (as they often do when we do the same on the streets, sometimes WITH police help).

Good advice, about that pinch of salt I mean. ;)

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Critical Mass, Bells on Bloor and so on promote what to me is a segregationist, exclusionistic outlook on road use. They are at best stopgap if not dead-end measures to having bikes on the roads and sharing those roads on an equal basis." QUOTE.


+1


Regards,
J T

[Turd Ferguson]

Thanks for those who get up on their moral high horse though, I'm sure you all foot-down stop at all of your stop signs, signal all of your turns and have fully street legal bikes all of the time.

I don't think anyone has a problem with CM taking over a city street but let's be honest, bikes don't belong on 3 lane highways. Just as cars don't belong on the Waterfront Trail. Nor do scooters....which I'm starting to see more of these days.

[ISaacG]

Heh. I just found out someone in my office was part of this. He says the drivers were surprisingly good about it.

[ISaacG]

I don't think anyone has a problem with CM taking over a city street but let's be honest, bikes don't belong on 3 lane highways. Just as cars don't belong on the Waterfront Trail. Nor do scooters....which I'm starting to see more of these days.
What's up with those scooters? I see scooters, mopeds, rollerblades and joggers in designated bike lanes. Who's allowed and who isn't? I often feel like telling them its a bike lane.

[pyze-guy]

What's up with those scooters? I see scooters, mopeds, rollerblades and joggers in designated bike lanes. Who's allowed and who isn't? I often feel like telling them its a bike lane.

Ebikes are allowed in bike lanes as they are considered bikes by the powers that be, require no licence, insurance or helmets and need to comply with bicycle laws, lights, bells etc.. If they can exceed 32km or have an electric engine that is bigger than 500w, they are vehicles (i.e. mopeds). Mopeds are not allowed, they require a special drivers licence to operate, and are motorized, require insurance and the use of a DOT approved helmet.

According to the T.O. municiple laws ebikes are allowed on MUP's like the Martin Goodman trail, as are motorized assistance vehicles-electric wheelchairs and scooters for physically challenged people. Scooters, mopeds are not.

The problem is mopeds and electric scooters that have smaller than 500w engines, but are not pedal powered or mopeds. The pictured scooter is only 200w, and hits speeds of about 20km.
http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/Assortments/PrimaryAssortments/Automotive/SnowmobileAccessories/ATVsDirtBikes/0279897_450_CC_558a1.jpg

They are considered ebikes by the government and require no licence or training to use, and noone really seems to know what to do about/with them. To slow to go on roads and not a bike, but classified as one.

[Pugsly]

I don't get it, these cyclists just seem like idiots to me - a stunt that will just piss off faster moving vehicles and prove to them that cyclists shouldn't be taken seriously. Share The Road goes both ways.

[kamalster]

Besides...cruising at 50kph down an empty highway was pretty surreal!

There are perfectly legal and safe ways to do that, too. If that was the thrilling part for you, you should have just taken part in the Becel Ride for Heart the next day.

[kamalster]

I don't get it, these cyclists just seem like idiots to me - a stunt that will just piss off faster moving vehicles and prove to them that cyclists shouldn't be taken seriously. Share The Road goes both ways.

+1