spoker

Brampton's got three bike shops yet I never see anybody riding.

Those that I do see, ride on the sidewalk and ride through crosswalks. I've even seen the Peel Regional Police bicycle patrols riding on the sidewalk and through crosswalks.

I've asked my city councillor for a copy of the official plan as it relates to bicycles and I got zero response. I asked him if the city has any plans to install more bike lanes in addition to the single solitary existing bike lane or if the city planned to install sharrow markings - silence.

I have to pester the Parks Department to get impassable sections of the bicycle path repaired and cleaned of all the broken glass.

I ride through town occasionally taking the lane when I have to and I get honked and yelled at.

I get buzzed by city transit busses.

I nominate Brampton for "most bicycle-unfriendly city in Ontario."

youcoming

The sad thing is I think it will get worse before it gets better. I live in Oshawa and am lucky to have so many good areas to rid ein but when I commute to work on my bike into Scarborough it's a joke. It's like no one has ever seen a bike on the road. Plus the bike lane on Steeles east of Markham? Why would anyone design and have a bike lane on the side of a 4 lane hwy that leads to no where, what a waste of money. I'm not sold on bike lanes but am sold on everyone should realize bikes are permitted on the roads. I love the ones who say get on the sidewalk...lol I kinda wish gas prices would have stayed high and more people would have turned to bikes.

BikeLover1989

Vaughan is quite bicycle-unfriendly as well. I remember cycling down Jane Street in 2007, and a driver said for me to get off the road, on top of cars whizzing by at 70 clicks an hour.

cyclocommuter

I have commuted by bike to most cities in the GTA including Mississauga, Scarborough, downtown core, Markham, Vaughn, Etobicoke. By far I feel safest commuting at the downtown core mainly because there are so many cyclists out there and the cars are wary of them. Next best is in Markham.

In Scarborough, the safest North South route is probably along Birchmount especially since there is no exit along the 401.

I would try and avoid Steeles if I could especially the stretch that becomes 2 lanes East of Markham Road all the way until it becomes Taunton road. I have had a couple of close calls there through the years mostly being cut off by 18 wheeler tractor trailers or dump trucks being driven by half asleep drivers. I would recommend taking Denison or 14th Ave both in Markham.

ghettocruiser

It's certainly a step up from Warden or Kennedy.

I've always thought Midland is a little better as there isn't a tunnel-on-an-uphill thing headed south. Brimley actually has a little connecting bike trail that bypasses the 401 exits, but I only used to use it in bad weather.

I've always found Markham more problematic than Scarborough. North York is probably the worse.

BikeLover1989

North York is quite bad, ESPECIALLY when you have to ride on streets that have ramps to the DVP/404. The sad thing is, I actually have to ride on those streets since most of them are the only ones that cross the highway.

cyclocommuter

When crossing North York East to West or vice versa, I try to use bridges with no ramps to the DVP/404... these are McNicol between Finch and Steeles, or Van Horne.

Up in Markham, the safest East West routes in my opinion are John St which becomes Center St in Yonge, and further up North, 19th. North South in Markham is Kennedy although crossing the 407 is a bit hairy if you are not used to it. To avoid mixing it up 407 ramps, you could take Rodick Road between Warden and Woodbine. Much farther East, the best North South road in Markham is via Reesor as the 407 goes above it. I am hoping the proposed tunnel under the 407 along Birchmount (no ramps) will be completed soon although I prefer using a bridge as opposed to a tunnel for visibility reasons.

The hairiest part of any commute or road bike ride for me is whenever I have to cross any 400 series highway (401, 407, 427, 400) where there are ramps and you are forced to mix it up with cars, trucks, and worse, 18 wheelers.