The Bad Drivers of Ontario Thread

[nobbie48]

If the problem really is old infrastructure, than can someone please explain this "modern" change to the South Kingsway to Queensway ramp:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.ca

They made the change to accomodate a new bike lane along the Queensway and removing the one along the S. Kingsway sidewalk. They had a chain link fence along the edge of the sidewalk before it was removed. But the new stop sign and stop bar, mean that you're trying to look through a concrete bridge at a sharp angle to see traffic, unless you move out into the pedestrian crossing and bicycle path. It was worse, as the railing and concrete used to come to a point.

My head no longer swivels like an owl's so any of those sharp angle entry points is literally a pain in the neck.

That ramp is basically unchanged for decades. They added some curb details, the bike lane, tweaked the bridge railing and trimmed the bushes.

It would help if they moved the pedestrian path back a car length or so (Not that they would use it) so a vehicle could at least legally advance to the bike lane for a better view.

Some pedestrians and cyclists get nasty when their rights are obstructed, forgetting that they are, for free, using infrastructure paid for by cars.

I prefer 90 degree intersections unless there is a yield with a merge lane. Accommodating that, at that location, while preserving the rights of cyclists and pedestrians would slap the snot out of the city budget.

BTW in nine pictures going back to 2011 there are no bicycles seen using the lane.

 

[backmarkerducati]

My head no longer swivels like an owl's so any of those sharp angle entry points is literally a pain in the neck.

That ramp is basically unchanged for decades. They added some curb details, the bike lane, tweaked the bridge railing and trimmed the bushes.

It would help if they moved the pedestrian path back a car length or so (Not that they would use it) so a vehicle could at least legally advance to the bike lane for a better view.

Some pedestrians and cyclists get nasty when their rights are obstructed, forgetting that they are, for free, using infrastructure paid for by cars.

I prefer 90 degree intersections unless there is a yield with a merge lane. Accommodating that, at that location, while preserving the rights of cyclists and pedestrians would slap the snot out of the city budget.

BTW in nine pictures going back to 2011 there are no bicycles seen using the lane.

Cyclists pay income tax, sales tax and property tax they do not pay registration fess.... but wait, neither do cars now!

Cars pay extra taxes on fuel, but not electric cars....

In the end all taxes just go into a big leaky bucket, what is paid via fuel taxes does not cover roads, not even close. Cyclists pay taxes and weigh less and cause very little wear and tear on the roads. Cars and trucks cause more and EVs even more by class due to higher weight... but EVs don't pay fuel taxes.

 

[Baggsy]

My head no longer swivels like an owl's so any of those sharp angle entry points is literally a pain in the neck.

That ramp is basically unchanged for decades. They added some curb details, the bike lane, tweaked the bridge railing and trimmed the bushes.

It would help if they moved the pedestrian path back a car length or so (Not that they would use it) so a vehicle could at least legally advance to the bike lane for a better view.

Some pedestrians and cyclists get nasty when their rights are obstructed, forgetting that they are, for free, using infrastructure paid for by cars.

I prefer 90 degree intersections unless there is a yield with a merge lane. Accommodating that, at that location, while preserving the rights of cyclists and pedestrians would slap the snot out of the city budget.

BTW in nine pictures going back to 2011 there are no bicycles seen using the lane.

It's was probably 20+ years ago that they changed it.
After they removed the steps from South Kingsway down to the Queensway streetcar stop, reduced the S. Kingsway speed limit from 60 kph, and painted in all of the fake bicycle lanes. They made the same mess with the Lakeshore parking lots - having bizarre angles between bicycles and motorized vehicles.
Here's your cyclists: Google Maps and if you head over to the buildings on the left, you'd find the lost hookers from when all the motels shut down. At least that's what someone who lived in one of the buildings claimed.

For over a decade this was my bicycle route between the Gardiner and Queensway.
If you look carefully you can still see some of the fences underneath the Gardiner:

This sidewalk that veers right used to be the ramp to South Kingsway.
I think they changed it to make the streetcar more accessible, taking out the stairs on the bridge, and putting in a traffic light.
Of course nobody that I knew, was informed by the city as to why.

 

[Malks]

This sidewalk that veers right used to be the ramp to South Kingsway.
I think they changed it to make the streetcar more accessible, taking out the stairs on the bridge, and putting in a traffic light.
Of course nobody that I knew, was informed by the city as to why.

I worked for the TTC back then and can advise that there were many reasons for this work. There was a public meeting held by City staff to communicate the changes to the interchange that were associated with this work.

The changes began because the stairs down from The Kingsway to the car stops were in very poor condition and were desperately in need of repair. They were also considered to be a slip/fall safety hazard and waiting under the bridge for the streetcar was not exactly appealing to most people. This was also the time when accessible streetcars were being planned and this location could not possibly satisfy that need in its current layout. In addition, there was a safety concern with the numerous transit customers who had a habit of just walking along the track in order to avoid using the stairs. This action resulted in at least one streetcar-pedestrian collision. The installation of fencing along the streetcar right-of-way and signage warning of the dangers of walking on the track did little to discourage this activity.

 

[nobbie48]

It's was probably 20+ years ago that they changed it.
After they removed the steps from South Kingsway down to the Queensway streetcar stop, reduced the S. Kingsway speed limit from 60 kph, and painted in all of the fake bicycle lanes. They made the same mess with the Lakeshore parking lots - having bizarre angles between bicycles and motorized vehicles.
Here's your cyclists: Google Maps and if you head over to the buildings on the left, you'd find the lost hookers from when all the motels shut down. At least that's what someone who lived in one of the buildings claimed.

For over a decade this was my bicycle route between the Gardiner and Queensway.
If you look carefully you can still see some of the fences underneath the Gardiner:

This sidewalk that veers right used to be the ramp to South Kingsway.
I think they changed it to make the streetcar more accessible, taking out the stairs on the bridge, and putting in a traffic light.
Of course nobody that I knew, was informed by the city as to why.

If that linked photo was typical usage it would be funny. All that space for three cars, two bicycles and one pedestrian. It does make one think how much money could be saved if the three parties (Particularly car drivers) were properly trained and tried to share.

 

[Baggsy]

If that linked photo was typical usage it would be funny. All that space for three cars, two bicycles and one pedestrian. It does make one think how much money could be saved if the three parties (Particularly car drivers) were properly trained and tried to share.

Probably from early Sunday morning during the summer. There used to be three car lanes there. Bit of a mess at rush hour. As it is many don't appear to see the yield sign as they attempt to merge with the South Kingsway crowd going onto the highway.

 

[GreyGhost]

Manitoba but what are the odds that the truck is from brampton? They seem to spread the suck.

At least 15 dead and 10 injured in a tractor trailer vs bus crash. Not sure who screwed up to cause that level of devastation.

Toronto, Canada and Global Breaking News – CP24

Most recent News News business news stories and video from CP24

www.cp24.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

EDIT:
Bus driver at fault. They pulled out in front of a tractor trailer on the trans-canada.

15 Killed in Crash on Highway 1 Near Carberry, Manitoba

At least 15 people have been killed in a crash on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg near Carberry, Manitoba.

www.chrisd.ca

 

[Mad Mike]

Cyclists pay income tax, sales tax and property tax they do not pay registration fess.... but wait, neither do cars now!

Cars pay extra taxes on fuel, but not electric cars....

In the end all taxes just go into a big leaky bucket, what is paid via fuel taxes does not cover roads, not even close. Cyclists pay taxes and weigh less and cause very little wear and tear on the roads. Cars and trucks cause more and EVs even more by class due to higher weight... but EVs don't pay fuel taxes

It's complicated, but generally speaking fuel taxes pay the lion's share of the costs to maintain roads.

While ev cars and bicycles don't pay their own taxes, gas and diesel drivers all chip in to pay the for ev and cyclists -- carbon tax.

 

[GreyGhost]

Back to Ontario.

Crashed his pickup near goderich. Bac .409 (five time legal limit)

CityNews

toronto.citynews.ca

 

[Rob MacLennan]

It's complicated, but generally speaking fuel taxes pay the lion's share of the costs to maintain roads.

While ev cars and bicycles don't pay their own taxes, gas and diesel drivers all chip in to pay the for ev and cyclists -- carbon tax.

It would be nice if the actual costs and payment sources could be nailed down, however, the concept of "general coffers" screws with that.

 

[Mad Mike]

Good - CAA South Central Ontario

www.caasco.com

Good article.

If you consider the extra taxes directly related to cars (1.8b hst, and 2.5b in carbon tax on gas and diesel), fuel burners pay more into the public coffers than it costs to pay for roads.

 

[voyageur]

Promise to not upload anything more from my dashcam because it happens way often...waste of my time lol.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Good - CAA South Central Ontario

www.caasco.com

"In the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), road users more than cover the full costs of construction, maintenance and policing."

So in Hamilton, that's just policing.

 

[nobbie48]

Promise to not upload anything more from my dashcam because it happens way often...waste of my time lol.

A friend's daughter was in a crash caused by the driver seeing the next vehicle start moving but the other vehicle was making a right on red. Fortunately she as a passenger was coming back from riding lessons and was still wearing her helmet. ATGATT.

 

[nobbie48]

Manitoba but what are the odds that the truck is from brampton? They seem to spread the suck.

At least 15 dead and 10 injured in a tractor trailer vs bus crash. Not sure who screwed up to cause that level of devastation.

Toronto, Canada and Global Breaking News – CP24

Most recent News News business news stories and video from CP24

www.cp24.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

EDIT:
Bus driver at fault. They pulled out in front of a tractor trailer on the trans-canada.

15 Killed in Crash on Highway 1 Near Carberry, Manitoba

At least 15 people have been killed in a crash on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Winnipeg near Carberry, Manitoba.

www.chrisd.ca

More details will come out but a news reporter commented about not seeing a stop sign at one side of the intersection. Something is sketchy as it appears the bus got across the westbound lanes. The median is wide enough to stop on if the other lanes are not clear. RIP for too many.

 

[nobbie48]

More bad roads than drivers but apologies for anything I may have said to anyone involved in the Eglinton Avenue fiasco. I just drove across Finch Ave in the west end and felt I was some science fiction / war disaster.

 

[GreyGhost]

Poor car. There is about a zero percent chance it is rwd and the tow truck didn't use dollies. Maybe it is standard and a short distance but it's just half-assed and inviting expensive issues.

 

[just-me]

Poor car. There is about a zero percent chance it is rwd and the tow truck didn't use dollies. Maybe it is standard and a short distance but it's just half-assed and inviting expensive issues.

Once had a tow guy went to hook up to the front of my rear wheel drive, had to tell him no.
Years ago had a crash in January, I went to hospital, car was towed. Found the car 2 days later, 4-ways still on, battery dead, driver's window still down, lucky no snow or rain, & my Ray Bans from the 70's were missing, good luck finding them.
Some tow guys don't know, don't care.
Worse part, Dave Williams, the owner was a good friend of mine when we were in high school.

 

[GreyGhost]

Years ago had a crash in January, I went to hospital, car was towed. Found the car 2 days later, 4-ways still on, battery dead, driver's window still down, lucky no snow or rain, & my Ray Bans from the 70's were missing.
Worse part, Dave Williams, the owner was a good friend of my when in high school.

Good to know he treats all his customers equally.

 

[Charles13]

Poor car. There is about a zero percent chance it is rwd and the tow truck didn't use dollies. Maybe it is standard and a short distance but it's just half-assed and inviting expensive issues.

The owner may be lucky and it’s a standard, but ya; roadside buzzards!