Incredible spring weather here. Temps were in the 60s on my morning commute, with highs expected in the upper 70s. Trees and flowers blooming everywhere. Only problem is the pollen, which is reaching peak levels this week. Hopefully that will start tailing off soon.

The rule only applies if the other guy actually knows that he's in a race. It's better that they don't know - that way we can sneak up on them at a light, sprint all out and turn off before they realize they've been beat.

If you live in Hogtown, then no, you were not out of line, I'd have had a field day reaming them out, its illegal for them to stop traffic PERIOD. Its called Jaywalking typically. Regardless if they cross the entire street, pedestrians are not allowed to stop or hold up traffic legally. Unless the streetcar or bus, is stopped and doors open to accept passengers. Which is the streetcar holding up traffic NOT the pedestrians technically. Sounds like you were on College St. People are pretty stupid on that road in general.

They would have never done that if you were driving a car. People in TO in general think that bike lanes make a convient 2nd right lane to make right turns especially if they are in a smaller car, and can squeeze in, used as a parking lane for "quick" deliveries and pedestrians seem to think that its there place to wait around for streetcars. Let alone the morons in scooters (both electrified and gas powered) in the bike lanes.

Yes I do take that same College St route on my own commute. :notamused:

Jim

+1C, wind and wet roads this morning. I was late leaving so it was starting to get light . I decided to take the MUP for a change. I noticed that the creek water level had dropped about 2 feet since Tuesday. When I got past the dog park, a spot on the path that had obviously been underwater earlier in the week was very muddy.

Lovely. First day on my summer bike, and it just feels so easy to ride. As a touring bike, it's no lighter than the MTB I ride in the winter - both clock in at about 30 pounds plus rider - but the narrow, high pressure tires just roll so nicely.

It needs some work done, and I feel like after a couple years of DIY, it might be time for a professional to give it a once-over. So I'm a bit worried I've left it too late and will be without my beautiful bike in prime riding season.

Bang on. College Street rush hour.

I thought about this, and to be fair I have seen some pedestrians do this to cars. It reaffirms my belief that there are only two types of drivers/cyclists/pedestrians: the considerate and inconsiderate ones, no matter how they choose to commute.

I actually like the new dotted lines approaching corners allowing cars to merge into the bike lane before a right turn. If they do it properly they should leave no room for a cyclist to pass them on their right, and a nice bike-lane sized gap for a cyclist to pass on the left where it is much safer. Even so, drivers don't seem to understand they should merge into the bike lane before turning when there is a dashed line so they end up preventing me from passing on the right (too dangerous) and also block me on the left. Argh!

I understand that for businesses like FedEx tickets are small change compared to the costs of finding legal parking on streets with bike lanes. Its really up to the city to increase the fines, or use a graduated system (larger fines for more frequent offences) in order for companies to take them seriously. However, one of the biggest offenders is Canada Post! I would think that AT LEAST a government organization could follow city by-laws.


Gotta love TO. ;)

It was a warm ride in at around 60F (15C). It has since gotten chillier, with a nw wind chilly wind. Hopefully, the sun will continue to warm things up. There is still lots of wind, so it will be a windy ride home, or as I like say pedaling to get down hill.

It's not a race if you're riding to work: http://www.itsnotarace.org/

Actually the city is going with this now ( http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/network/bikebox_faq.htm ) So you can do a left turn safely from a Red light, just go into the appropriate lane and turn if you are at a intersection with a red light. Cars do not watch when they merge into the dotted bike lanes at all, and there have been a number of low speed collisions cause of it. Trying to get both drivers and bikers to understand one set of rules is hard, especially when there is no training for bikers, and there is little to no training for drivers in their driving tests for how to handle bikers on the road.

College/Spadina intersection has the bike boxes now (since its on both of our commutes), a few others already have it, and as far as I know the rest of the cities bigger intersections will all get them sooner rather then later. Probably long before we get bike lanes on Bloor anyways. But to be fair, with all the traffic on Bloor that is typically stopped and parked in the right lane, gives you rather large amounts of room to bike on the left side of the right lane anyways. And atleast this way, they won't shove us to the curb.

I don't have a problem with FedEx or UPS generally, guys in Ryder trucks, CPost as you said (who are the worst, your totally correct), Cintas and other uniform suppliers etc seem to be the greatest offenders atleast with regard to bike lanes. UPS/FedEx tends to find a parking zone even if its not legal to park during that portion of the day.

Number one thing to do in TO when biking, I find anyways, avoid bike lanes, and bike that 1 meter from the curb/parked cars, in a straight line, like your supposed to. I don't care what drivers get annoyed, at that far from the curb/parked cars, no driver doesn't see you as they try speeding by, or as they rush to make a right turn without looking to see if they will merge onto a bike lane with bikers.

Jim

Morning commute was great. It was 39°F this morning when I left, so I wore cargo pants and a fleece sweatshirt instead of my usual shorts + T-shirt. No sweating!

I also remembered to inflate the tires on my Schwinn last night. They're marked 50-85 psi and they have Schrader valves, so I inflated them to 90, figuring I lose about 5 psi when I take the pump chuck off. I'm trying to work myself up to doing on entire leg of the commute by bike a few times per week. (26 miles one way) But I'm having a hard time with motivation.

Ignorance of the rules is no reason to scrap a good idea. Better education is not hard. Good signage for bike boxes has gone a long way in teaching drivers where to stop. Similar signage showing how cars should merge into dashed bike lanes (and showing bikes how to go around on the left) would go a long way. Cars who do not look before merging are clearly at fault for any collisions, but I see no reason why this can't be done properly. It's really no different than changing lanes in regular traffic.

As far as bike boxes go, I appreciate the extra visibility and right of way through an intersection. However, I still prefer to jump off my bike and cross as a pedestrian at busy junctions (especially at College/Spadina where the curved streetcar tracks can really get you during a left turn).

Very nice riding yesterday afternoon and this morning. It's good to be back on the bike, though after almost two weeks away from the commute, my legs reminded me last night that it had been a while. Nothing serious, just a slight fatigue I don't usually feel from my commuting miles.

Tried to add to the karma account this morning... Came upon a cyclist along my commute route asking if I had a pump. I stopped to let him use my mini pump. He was new to commuting, and as it turned out, his brand new bike had a flat, so the pump didn't do much. I would have helped him patch his tube, but his IGH rear wheel didn't have quick release (i.e., was bolted on), and I didn't have the tools for that kind of job. Felt bad because I knew the guy would be left walking to work and then to the bike shop with his new bike. Oh well, I tried...

Woke last night to the sound of thunder....How far off I sat and wondered? Actually it was 4am this morning and I was bummed cause the 100% chance of rain in the forecast was happening. A quick check of the weather radar indicated the heaviest rain was already past... so throwing on a rain coat, I headed off to work on my bike in my usual 40 degree gear. I did put plastic bags over my wool socks. Excellent choice although water penetrated all my defenses by the time I was 1/2 way to work. Another 17.4 miles of pedaling bliss. :-)

Rode to work every day this week, which I don't do very often because of weather, appointments and other issues. I was tempted to drive several days due to tired legs, but the weather was too nice not to ride. I'm off work next week, so won't be bike commuting again until the second week in April. Have a nice week, ya'll.

Ride was a little chilly this morning, but the sun was coming up over my left shoulder, reflecting off the river, and I saw a small flock of turkeys with a tom displaying for the ladies. And it's Friday.

56°F this morning so I'm wearing 3 shirts. Passed a younger guy in his late teens/early twenties riding a bmx style bike. He was wearing shorts, backpack with no shirt. Guess I'm just a wimp. LOL

Very, uh.... urban :( Traffic was barely moving, but it was tight and lots of impatient drivers were using the bike lane for passing :mad:

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@adamdz. Nice pix. What kind of camera are you using?

You're into a lot of trucks on your commute. Ride careful.

It's a Drift HD170 video cam mounted on the helmet. I shoot full HD then crop shots and edit the colors, remove noise, etc. Yeah, LOTS of trucks! I ride through industrial Queens and Brooklyn, there are lots of manufacturing plants and warehouses around here, plus lots of through traffic to Manhattan. I know, I am very, very, very careful, never pass them when they look like turning, never squeeze between two moving trucks and generally keep my distance. That's how cyclists get killed around here. Although, the trucks are not as bad as cars since they can't accelerate or turn wildly like the cars do. I generally have little problems with trucks.

First commute in a couple of weeks today. Ride in was a little chilly for Spring, in the high 30's. Still great to be back out on the bike. The schedule should ease off a bit as we head into the summer months, so I can make up for the lost miles then.

i got caught in a riotous storm cell/torrential downpour this morning. i took cover under a train viaduct and decided to let it pass (smartphones with their weather radar apps are such wonderful things!). i was about 20 minutes late to work, but oh well, i like having a job that's flexible enough were i can just make up time at the end of the day for occasional events like this.

temp was 29f when I rode by town thermometer and no wind to speak of, it was a nice ride in this morning just chilly. Very little clouds in the sky, so a nice sun rise.

Adam, those pics are great, but I am sure glad I do not have your commute!!

Getting back in the swing after almost three weeks off due to illness. Getting passed this morning more than I am passing the Wally's in jeans. Frustrating.

I went to the Drift site. It looks good except that the "Monitor Screen" doesn't look like it is visible when riding. What is you experience?

I ride through an industrial section of Orange County CA, and have it reel good. 30 years ago this was all orange groves, now it is all modern planned industrial development. That means wide streets and bike lanes every where.

Think I need to get a video camera now. There was a truck that gets closer to me each day. Today, it not only was less than a foot away (and it was downhill at 35+ MPH) honking at me. For goodness sake, this is on 6 lane (3+3) street at 5:50 AM...!!! Not too many cars really. Going to have to start reporting on each incident with this particular truck...

Nice commute home last night after I managed to make my way though the hoards of tourists on the Mall. Park Service Police vehicles parked smack in the middle of some of the paths didn't help matters either. Once over the river though the ride was nice. Aided by a brisk tailwind, I made good time. Everything is so lush and green right now... It's beautiful.

Cooler than I had expected for the ride in this morning. I certainly am not complaining, though. Didn't think my long sleeve shirts would be getting much use anymore, but I had to pull one out of the dresser when I saw the temp at 8 AM was still only 40. Took me about ten minutes to get my bike out of the basement this morning. Furniture company was delivering (or trying to deliver, since it wouldn't fit through doors and around corners) a couch to one of the residents down there, blocking my access to my bike. Worth the wait, though. Beautiful ride in... just glad I wasn't on a tight schedule this morning.

Yesterday's evening commute was wonderful. Instead of just riding the 1.8 miles home from the train station, I detoured to the LBS and picked up a couple spare inner tubes, a set of gloves, and a bell for the Schwinn. That was 2.4 miles, then back home from there was probably another 3-4 miles. I took the MUP, to the LBS which was a big waste of time, having to yield at every street it crosses. I took side streets on the way home,and it was faster and better paved.

The gloves were for the TriCross, which I plan to commute the full 26 miles (one way) to work next week. Maybe one way at a time, then take the train home.

In two more weeks, Constanze will be 6 weeks old, and I'll be driving her to daycare and commuting by cage, and won't be able to bike commute much any more. :( I have to get the most out of it while I can.

This morning, it was pouring outside, so I drove to the train station. I miss biking, so I'll probably take the bike grocery shopping after work tonight. If it isn't raining. I'll probably turn into a hobbyist biker and bike shopper, and give up the commuting.

First commute of the year, first trip on the first road bike I've ever owned, first trip from my new place I just moved to this month!

I thought about taking the easiest route I know of to work (easy as in - I know how to get there) but when I mapped it on Google I could take a much, much shorter route instead. However, I had to write down directions because it went through an area I'm not familiar with. I ended up taking a wrong turn and had to reroute using the map on my phone, but no biggie.

It's been cold and rainy here so I didn't have high hopes of getting to ride soon, but I decided if it wasn't downpouring in the morning I was gonna go for it. And when I woke up and took a peek outside it was pretty wet, but not raining! So, yeah! Hopefully I can find a good route home LOL.

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The screen is only useful for changing settings and previewing recorded videos. Indeed, there is no way to view the screen while recording unless you're holding it in your hands. I am also not 100% happy with the video quality. I think GoPro is much better. The edges are kind of shimmery, the image lacks contrast and clarity and it has issues with changing exposure, and dynamics, it blows off the sky most of the time. My Canon SD90 camera shoots better quality video, although only 720p.

Yeah, I reported my first complaint ever with the city this week based on what the camera captured. A city bus stopped and without warning opened the door and discharged passengers into the bike lane. The cyclist ahead of me barely cleared the door and the passenger who left the bus. When we confronted the driver he started yelling at us. Thanks to the camera I had the bus number, plates and exact time plus street names, etc. MTA responded asking me for more details and promising to investigate and reprimand the driver.

If it wasn't for the camera I would not remember that info and I will likely not stop to write this down as it wasn't serious enough. The camera made it much easier.

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