Originally Posted by
Flimflam
Well, as I was there and rode in the mass on Friday - I'll attest that the media has yet again over sensationalised it all. We took the highway in a very safe manner, those cars that were still behind got through (we waved them past) before we took over every lane. For those that don't know the city and it's cycling issues, I guess it's hard to understand where the act is coming from.
Regardless of what it may look like or seem, what we did was delay drivers for no more than 15 minutes and that was all - it was done safely, no kids were in danger (unless a big rig can plow through cars/trucks/vans AND the mass - then it's not just the kids) - there was no weaving in and out of cars, the highway was corked/massed up - other than those of us who were up there at the front to take the lanes, no cars came into the pack (other than the cops that were trying to force their way through). I think sometimes people assume highway traffic is like a freight train that won't stop - it's not, and they do stop - more regularly than a 15 minute hold up at 9pm on a Friday (not even close to rush hour), too - in fact, that highway and the DVP may as well be a parking lot for the most part.
I can't say that it was smart to do this, but it was a lot of fun - I'm thinking we'll have a bit more police attention for next month.
I was out on there again today - wonderful ride.
Out of curiosity, were any of those people delayed for 15 minutes rushing to a hospital for an emergency, or perhaps trying to get to a daycare to pick up a child on time, or maybe even on thier way to a very important job interview or other serious appointment?
From what I've read up to now (and I haven't read everything, nor am I from Toronto), I still felt I needed to stop and respond to this thread. What really irked me was that children were put at risk (I'm a parent, and children and highways never mix safely when cars are involved).
All I can say is that while it sounds like Toronto-area cyclists may have a legitimate gripe with the city and some of it's urban transportation, I wonder if any of them belong to a non-radical cycling-advocacy organization. What I mean by that is, for example, down here in Washington DC, where we have the highly-effective Washington Area Bicycling Association. WABA is not cool, hip, and trendy like CM'ers. Rather, instead of protests, they commit thier time to considerate riding and working with the city in a professional, rational, and mature manner to ensure safe and accessible cycling.