Originally Posted by
Greyryder
I still think it should be legal for freestylers and trials riders to session anything parked in the bike lane.
While I do not freestyle or anything, I'd support that motion ... or putting large "I'm a idiot" stickers on the back of their trucks.
Either way it is frustrating when they get into the bike lane, I don't mind most of the day, but that whole 7 to 10 and then 3 to 6 time frame of rush hour when the roads are packed with cars tends to get on my nerves. As there is already limited space to bike in, I do not need any less space.
Oddly enough, even during rush hour, sometimes the best roads in Toronto to bike in are the non-bike lane roads. Mainly because 1) no idiots parking in the bike lane, 2) even if someone does stop in the right lane, non-bike lane roads tend to have larger right lanes to make room for people parking during non-rush hour, so your not changing lanes into traffic (which tends to be half blocked by the idiot in the bike lane anyways, unless they park half on the curb, which is also illegal), 3) cars tend to give bikes more room recently, after the couple of higher profile cars hitting bikes being splattered all over the news.
Still atleast there are laws to fall back on to keep you somewhat safe in Ontario:
Accordingly, cyclists should ride one meter from the curb or close to the right hand edge of the road when there is no curb, unless they are turning left, going faster than other vehicles or if the lane is too narrow to share.
Ride in a straight line at least one metre away from parked vehicles. Keep to this line even if the vehicles are far apart to avoid continuous swerving.
And believe me I do use both of these provisions in the law to the maximum extend possible to keep me safe, regardless if I'm holding up traffic biking (I tend to aim for the 22mph/35km/h when biking so I'm not that slow compared to the typical rush hour speeds and posted signage).
Jim