Cycling in Toronto: Dangerous or Dangeresque?

[matthewboddy]

I agree with you. I've started cycling recently - mostly in downtown, and it is dangerous. I ride of the sidewalks when I feel I must. For example, if there is a truck blocking a whole lane. Rather than swerve into oncoming traffic, I'll take my chances on the sidewalk. But once I'm past the obstruction, it's right back on the roads. But you have to use common sense. Maybe go on the sidewalk when you're really close to something dangerous, but the rest of the time back on the road.

[Anavengertg]

Lol it's easy to bike on the roads. The trick is to figure out how to manipulate the traffic to make it behave the way you want it to. Hog the full right lane if you have to and force cars to slow down if you have to (they won't run you over even though they may be intimidating). The laws on your side.

[GreenMD]

... and big oil.

Just Because.

Terrific! I have to admit ... that's pretty funny.

[chanrobi]

Biking on the sidewalk is for n00bs

[projectchon]

the pigs are doing this joining the bike month, a lady was trying out a bike in front of a bike shop, and she got a ticket for not having a bell on the bike she was riding (three cops were camping right in front of the shop)....you are not alone karflooie! you are not alone, i do agree with you on the bike lanes and oils, but biking on sidewalk, you will increase your chance of getting hurt by 80% believe it or not....

[MapleTreeOfKnowledge]

Bylaws, in my opinion, are and will be a back door for fascism in our so called free and democratic society. Every time I turn around a city is passing bylaws you'd swear were born in Soviet Russia in the respects they wish to control every aspect of your life. The only difference is they won't put you in prison for violating most of them... yet.

[MapleTreeOfKnowledge]

Like the bylaws in certain municipalities in which they have made it an offense to use anything but clear garbage bags (a disgusting invasion of privacy) but if that weren't enough, they also have people patrol their streets solely for the purpose of looking at what you have in them, and if they see anything in the garbage bag that they feel shouldn't be there, guess what, your garbage doesn't get picked up. How long afterwards before they stop ticketing and charging people instead? Rambles...

[kraftmstr]

ROFL -- You are the first person I have even heard of getting a "sidewalk" ticket... I guess the cops are completely BOARD up there (or complete total A**holes - a warning would have been more appropriate IMHO) BTW, it IS dangerous riding on sidewalks... and not from pedestrians... it's the CAR coming out of a driveway or alley that will get ya!

[AnonymousView]

Bicycles with up to 24 inch tires are allowed on Toronto sidewalks. Maybe you can find a bicycle that conforms to the law? Or if yours already does you can fight the charge.

[noliketoregister]

I know you won't reply, but the only thing I can conservatively comment is: "So you think it should be legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk?"

[karflooie]

What I'm saying is: If this city were more bike-friendly, I wouldn't HAVE to ride on the sidewalk. I was wearing a helmet, but I felt like I needed full-body armour.

[AnonymousView]

I think your concerns regarding cycling on busy streets are valid. However the pedestrians would feel that they would have to wear full-body armour if bicycles were flying by them on the sidewalks.

Maybe some additional bicycle lanes could be built from some of the money being collected from gas taxes?

[noliketoregister]

Thanks for replying. I can't fit everything I have to say into a comment. Suffice it to say that I sympathize with you while at the same time I applaud Officer Shaw. I'm very conflicted over this issue.

[monicavm]

I think if there is no pedestrian on the sidewalk then it's fair game for a bicyclist who fears for his life. I ride on sidewalks when there's no pedestrian and on roads when there are pedestrians. I think that's only fair and much, much safer.

[noliketoregister]

I was once the cause of my sister having two black eyes and her arm in a sling because of my sidewalk biking, I was barrelling down the walk and she was playing monkey and came scampering out right in front of me from behind a hedge. I've been rammed into by bikes while walking down the sidewalk. A City of Toronto study of automobile/bicycle collisions found that in 30% of the collisions cycling on the sidewalk contributed to the collision.

[onepov]

It always scares me to see cyclists who don't wear helmets while cycling in downtown Vancouver. Something bad is bound to happen in those situations.