Ask Toronto Cyclists: Where do I walk?

I have to disagree with Geoffrey about not slowing down. I think it is rude to bike past someone when going over 20 km/h, especially when overtaking from behind, as being passed by a bike (that you likely did not hear) could be jarring. On a mixed use trail, you should be polite to the other people on the trail, which means slowing down for them.

On the other hand, out on the Leslie St. Spit I don't slow down as much since you can give a really wide berth.

So far as what side they should walk on, I would say that it doesn't matter, as long as they don't take up both sides.

Where there are parallel boardwalk and path, bicycles are banned from the boardwalk but peds are not banned from the path - it is still signed as a multi user path. Yeah it would make more sense to walk on the boardwalk. But if I'm jogging for instance I prefer the paved path to the lumpy boardwalk.

Sorry Aidan, there are no bike paths in Toronto. They are all multi-use or recreational paths even if they are adjacent to a boardwalk. Worse off they are limited to 20kmh. So if you blow by someone and they do not respond as you had planned, like turning into your path, you become liable for their injuries.

Several years ago CBC Vancouver did a story on bike paths across Canada. There were only a few across Canada that met standards to be considered true 'bike paths'. I think some of the considerations were width and design as it related to speed.

Most of the MGT has a Multi-purpose path (MUP), if memory serves me correctly, meaning it is for pedestrians, skateboarders and cyclists as well as runners, mothers with strollers, etc. IF there is a bike-specific lane with signs warning pedestrians not to use it, then they shouldn't be on it. I don't recall seeing any signs that stated the lanes were specifically for cyclists. IF there are pedestrian paths near the MUP, common sense says use the pedestrian path. But if it is a MUP, as I believe they are, then cyclists should respect other users of the path and anticipate that pedestrians might turn, stop or reverse suddenly, just like motorists should respect other users of the road, like cyclists.

When I was down by the lakefront during the summer, I saw a number of cyclists on the boardwalk AND on the MUP. Fact is, we have to share. That's what civilized people do in urban areas, especially popular urban parks. That means, in crowded areas or where there are even just occasional pedestrians, cyclists need to travel at a reasonable speed that allows them to stop quickly without wiping out or colliding. There's a reason they post 20km/h speed limits.

Spouting off that the lane is strictly a bike lane and stupid 'animal' pedestrians shouldn't be on it, sounds like the same narrow-minded arrogance, the same misguided sense of entitlement and ownership that motorists use against us. It makes no sense nor is it accurate or logical. And it sure doesn't represent us well---not as a higher 'animal,' in any case.

While the Humber bike path is one of my favourite places to ride, I didn't ride on it even once this year. For sure, moving to Mississauga meant I had more than 4 km to ride to get to the access point near Islington and Finch. The main reason, however, is just too many close calls with pedestrians and dogs.

I generally used the trail for a slightly longer but faster commute to work, but that entails riding in the high 20's kph, not 20 kph. I know it is wrong, but when there is no one around, and you slow for blind corners.... Even being careful, I've had some interesting near misses and non misses. The proverbial dogs on the leash is frequent, but the scariest is when the (insert noun here) called his freaking large German Shepherd to come to him, and they were on opposite sides of the path; I saw this streak of tawny/black fur go rocketting across the path, just missing my front wheel. That dog had to weigh 50 lbs. I've ran into a goose going up a hill at low speed, because it was either the goose or the elderly gentleman that would not get out of the way despite my vocal alerts regarding my impending arrival. The goose lost a feather, I lost some skin on my knee. Those things are dense! And there are the stop and talkers, the families across the path, people playing games on both sides of the path - frisbee, baseball. It is just too much. Early morning and late at night are better, but then lighting is an issue, and there are a few descents going south on the Humber that it was all too easy to override the lighting on the bike, knowing there are trees right against the path, but the path is covered by leaves and I can't see the edge....too stressful for me. Give me traffic any day.

I think the best way to ride the paths is with the Saturday morning ride with the TBN. They start at 0930 (sharp) at the Boardwalk Pub, or whatever it is calling itself now, at Lakeshore and Coxwell, and pick a direction, for 30 km of path riding in a group - before the pedestrians flock to the paths, and it is like a Critical Mass. When 50 bikes go by, the pedestrians get the message that there are bikes on the path and alertness might be called for.

My first long solo ride was on the bike paths, down the Humber, across the Martin Goodman as far as I could go, then back tracking to the Don, up to Sunnybrook, then back down to the Martin Goodman and back to the Humber - 130 km. It would be really nice to run a path across the hydro corridor at the top of the city, and make a big loop, just like the subway dreamers would like.

As far as pedestrians, I think the solution is parallel paths with signs. And that won't even stop the problems - I plowed into two cyclists walking their bikes across the Martin Goodman just east of the Humber last year - didn't see them around the corner (I don't think they were on the path yet) and then they were in front of me, as I was exiting the corner. I hit the brakes and aimed for behind them, and hit the second bike square in the back wheel. Pretzled her wheel, but did nothing to mine; on the other hand, I went over the handlebars and landed flat on my back on the asphalt. That was the last straw for me. After that, Bloor and Dundas looked a lot safer, and after this year of riding, I have to say that they are.

And rollerbladers? Most of them will stop striding and just roll, so that they aren't taking a lane and a half, if you let them know you are coming. Then there is the large black guy who rides on the Martin Goodman at 40 kph (doesn't the posted speed limit apply to him too), carrying a bike horn to let the people know a missle is approaching; it nearly killed me to get my mountain bike up to that speed to find out how fast he was going.

The little path in Mississauga by our apartment is not a problem, generally because I am forced to go slow, carrying my son (38 lbs) in the trailer, or two bags of kitty litter (80 lbs) or a Costco shopping trip (one must employ true restraint when cycling to Costco as the trailer is only rated to 100 lbs). Here, I am outnumbered by pedestrians; I have seen a few bikes. I just go slowly, let them know I am coming if they don't get out the way, which hardly happens, and it is all good.

Gotta get to work, and I am NOT riding - I hate rain when it is 3 degrees - 2 hour ride means if it rains, I WILL get wet, and that temp, with the wind, is deadly if you get wet.

Take care, Paul Dicks

I think the people that complain that ringing a bell or calling On your left is rude are encountering people that seem to get the idea they own the path as a "bike" path and that other users shouldn't be there. One ding should be enough rather than ding-a-ling-a-ring-a-ring. Tone of voice can really convey whether you are just letting them know you are there or are annoyed by their presence.

Also if you choose the silent treatment make sure there is lots of room to leave a wide berth, and slow down a little bit. Nothing worse than the silent treatment from some roadie that's scared to be on the road travelling 40 kph on the bike path on their aerobars passing with inches to spare.

I specifically enquired whether one polite ring is ok with them. Nope, they said, even one ring is bad apparently...

This is one individual.
I say give a warning, most will appreciate it.