Within a couple of days of my email's dispatch I received another in return from Councillor Rob Ford requesting my phone number so that we may discuss his comments and the issue further. I replied with my phone number and an endorsement of the proposition.

The next day we spent about 10 or 15 minutes on the phone -- I was on my way out the door so a condensed exchange would have to suffice. Rob Ford, by turns, apologized for his comments, declared that they were taken 'out of context', and conceded that he'd 'stuck his foot in his mouth'. He asserted that, although he misspoke, he genuinely sympathized with the plight of the city's cyclists. Indeed, the claimed rationale behind his remarks was consideration for their safety which, if the professed flood of phone calls from irate motorists and cyclists alike inundating him was a sufficient gauge, was seriously imperilled.

I left him egress for a dignified if not altogether plausible retreat from his excuses, and when prompted for input stated emphatically that, first and foremost, I NEVER want a politician to state or imply that cyclists do not belong on the road (the councillor reprised a recital of contrition here). The conversation then digressed into a general discussion of possible solutions to Toronto's traffic woes. I won't detail them here as you've probably heard them too many times before: improved mass transit; discouragement of motorists in the city core; trans-jurisdictional transit initiatives; promotion of a culture that embraces alternative forms of transportation -- prominent among them, the bicycle; more responsible zoning laws; etc...

I deliberately eschewed the role of velo-firebrand, agitating against CO2 spewing SUVs and the like -- that only plays into one of the negative stereotypes of the urban cyclist -- and stressed what I believe: roads are for many types of vehicles and that there are many solutions to the problems that exacerbate the hostilities on our highways and byways.

Councillor Ford closed the discussion by urging me to do what I recommend you do: phone or email him if ever there's a problem or issue that he can resolve. Remember, politicians work for YOU -- well, they're supposed to anyway ;-) -- so it is well that we regularly remind public servants to fulfill the obligations inherent in their positions.

Luke