Bike lanes won't kill you

[backmarkerducati]

We really have a poorly interconnected network....



Having commuted in the past by bicycle. 10 to 11 months is more than doable with the correct gear (same when I commuted by motorcycle). Just not when the streets have snow etc.

Added:
And where some of the lanes/trails end you end up in the middle of crazytown cycling wise (fast, dangerous and crazy busy streets).

 

[Mad Mike]

Toronto doesn’t seem to have a plan, its a mishmash of short unconnected routes, many of them placed on routes the exacerbate the already difficult traffic situation.

The need a big think and a realistic plan. A plan that provides contiguous routes, fair build/maintain cost with some scheme that asks users to chip in at least a bit.

Its not easy, the city is already built so it’s basically a big Reno. It can be done, it just needs leadership, look at other areas that have layered bike paths/lanes over existing urbania, learn a few lessons Toronto.

 

[BigEvilDoer]

They tried converting car to bicycle lanes on major, 3 lane, one way arteries in Waterloo this summer.
Stupidest thing ever.
Huge backups of cars at intersections, in some cases compounded by not changing light sequences to accommodate the backlog. Light turns green, guess what, we can't go 'cause it's still red at the next light and it's backed up to the light you're already sitting at.

I took those routes several times, stuck in traffic, etc etc... all for a grand total of *ONE* bicycle rider on an 8km stretch of road, over the three trips. That's right. 1 cyclist over THREE TRIPS!!!

Am I for putting in cyclist lanes on new build roads.... but retrofitting major arteries is the height of dumbness.

 

[Mad Mike]

They tried converting car to bicycle lanes on major, 3 lane, one way arteries in Waterloo this summer.
Stupidest thing ever.
Huge backups of cars at intersections, in some cases compounded by not changing light sequences to accommodate the backlog. Light turns green, guess what, we can't go 'cause it's still red at the next light and it's backed up to the light you're already sitting at.

I took those routes several times, stuck in traffic, etc etc... all for a grand total of *ONE* bicycle rider on an 8km stretch of road, over the three trips. That's right. 1 cyclist over THREE TRIPS!!!

Am I for putting in cyclist lanes on new build roads.... but retrofitting major arteries is the height of dumbness.

Another example of doing before thinking. Kinda like HWY 7 thru west Markham and Richmond hill. 1/3rd of the roadway was converted to dedicated transit lanes. They carry 1 bus/hr each way compared to 44000 cars/hr. To make matters worse, most busses use the traffic lanes instead of the dedicated bus lanes.

 

[Evoex]

Dumb question - when driving next to a bike lane, do you still have to give the cyclist 1 meter of space, or is driving within your lane sufficient? My biggest problem with bicyclists is that they expect drivers to follow the rules, yet they don't follow their own (nor do they even know them - for example they must stay as close to the curb as possible, especially when a car is coming up to pass).

i believe you don't need to gap with a bike lane present.

 

[Evoex]

They carry 1 bus/hr each way compared to 44000 cars/hr. To make matters worse, most busses use the traffic lanes instead of the dedicated bus lanes.

lol yes, i notice this everyday on my commute as well.

 

[mimico_polak]

I dread going back to the office but once in a while I have visions of actually riding downtown. Technically it's only 25km from Mavis/Dundas to Adelaide/Yonge but I'm out of shape, and would be a sweaty mess by the time I get there lol. One day! Dedicated bike lanes would make that decision easier as right now, it's a mish mash of live lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks that I'd have to use just to get to the Martin Goodman Trail in Etobicoke. Even then, the actual separated trail starts past Islington as I think they've added curb lanes separated with concrete jersey barriers or curbs, can't remember.

 

[LePhillou]

I dread going back to the office but once in a while I have visions of actually riding downtown. Technically it's only 25km from Mavis/Dundas to Adelaide/Yonge but I'm out of shape, and would be a sweaty mess by the time I get there lol. One day! Dedicated bike lanes would make that decision easier as right now, it's a mish mash of live lanes, bike lanes, and sidewalks that I'd have to use just to get to the Martin Goodman Trail in Etobicoke. Even then, the actual separated trail starts past Islington as I think they've added curb lanes separated with concrete jersey barriers or curbs, can't remember.

royal york/lakeshore is where that starts, then you go down a street that takes you on a multi use path by the water (view is alright) which then takes you across one bridge and then finally humber bridge. After that it's smooth sailing.

But to get there... you are in a very sucky position. If they had a crossing under the QEW (extending stavebank basically) it would be a breeze. Get down to lakeshore, ride lakeshore all the way until the path i describe in the first paragraph. When i started i was super overweight and out of shape.

Now im just overweight. ahahhah
You can do it! But showers are kind of a must.

 

[mimico_polak]

Now im just overweight. ahahhah
You can do it! But showers are kind of a must.

Ya that’s my biggest issue. Previous job had a gym underneath so showers always available. But it was a 40km ride. This is the primary reason I considered some type of electric solution so I can ride back and sweat instead of on the way to work. Best solution I could think of is....Mavis to queensway, down on Cawthra, east on Lakeshore. Or zip through Mary Curtis but that requires being on Dundas. Queensway at least has a path for a good portion of it.