Jump it. I've spent a lot of time in Toronto but never had a need to cycle there. You have courage.

Major artery Steeles Ave? Just guessing.

For those who are not familiar with Toronto it is the 5th largest city in North America (after Mexico City, NYC, LA and Chicago)and a major transportation hub of all east west Canadian Traffic and probably accounts for about 75% of all North-South freight traffic to and from the US. So in addition to about 5 million cars on the roads at any given time there are a few thousand trucks fighting their way through the city in all directions. Virtually no one I know in Toronto has a commute of less than an hour in either direction.

Most side streets may look like two lanes but most shoulders lanes are bumper to bumper parked cars.

There are two common speeds on Toronto side streets: stopped and 80km/hr.

Traffic violations may be ticketed in Toronto but you need to be doing 40 over or have expired plates.

Really, I doubt Toronto drivers care at all about cyclists as you are just one of a million daily obstacles they fight through to get where they are going. If jumping it doesn't land you under their wheels I say giddy-up.

Stay safe,

TNO