Now that summer is officially here, I can pull out my convertible. It is white, sleek and stylish but has limited storage room. It doesn’t need gas, insurance or oil changes. Oh, and it has two wheels.
I use my bike to commute whenever I can because I prefer it as a way to get around town. As long as it isn’t raining or snowing, I would rather be on my bike than be stuck in traffic or looking for a parking spot.
Over the past several years, the city has made a concerted effort to improve the cycling infrastructure. Most of the improvements have been in the downtown core as that is where most of the Bixi bikes are located and the greatest demand exists. There is a plan to expand cycling corridors outside the core, and those improvements can’t come soon enough.
The ongoing challenge for the city is to find ways to improve the cycling infrastructure when road space is already so limited. Reducing a lane on Mount Pleasant, Yonge Street or Avenue Road would likely be met with fierce resistance, so cycling advocacy groups and the city are looking for other creative ways to build safe cycling networks.
Duplex Avenue is dedicated as a cycling route, but there are no markers or a separated area for cyclists. There are also stop signs at every intersection, which create a disincentive for cyclists. Many cyclists, myself included, roll through the stop signs. Some cyclists, myself included, receive tickets for going through a stop sign, which encourages some cyclists to use Yonge Street or other busy arterials as an alternative.
Some American states, such as Idaho, have experimented with a law that permits cyclists to do a rolling stop at stop signs, provided there are no cars or pedestrians at the intersection. Toronto could try this approach in a limited way by permitting rolling stops at stop signs on dedicated routes. This would help cyclists by creating an incentive to use the dedicated routes instead of the arterials and would not require any reduction of road space.
Midtown is becoming increasingly more populated and with it is the need to figure out new ways to share our limited public space. Admittedly, cycling is not yet considered mainstream as a transportation method, but this is changing. As cycling continues to become more popular, the city and its residents will need to consider new ways to accommodate cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
The Pan Am Games are coming this month. It is the perfect excuse to get out of the car, avoid the congestion and try cycling in the city. I guarantee you’ll love it.
Karen Stintz is a former city councillor, elected in 2003, and was a chair of the TTC. She lives in Ward 16 with her family.
