I just rode home from my girlfriend's place at Lawerence and Underhill. It was my first time riding home from hers. Conditions were very slippery, everywhere. It's where the automobile tires have compressed and rutted the snow that it's the worst. I slid out many, many times as my wide knobby tires just couldn't get purchase. It was exactly like riding on sand. I was on my Trek 3700 22.5" MTB, with knobbies, not the ice tires, and in full MEC riding gear, reflectorized everything!
Dropping down Lawerence to the DVP was not as bad as I thought it would be. Traffic was very slow, and I was lucky to hit a big gap where no vehicles were behind me trying to diverge or merge onto the ramps. A particularly ugly rut almost put me down just after the DVP South/lawerence West off ramp, luckily I put a foot down and stabilized my self in time.
Riding up the Lawerence Ave. westbound hill was easier than I had expected. Fresh untouched snow near the curb enabled my climb easily, and again, there was no other traffic at that time. Fresh snow crystals are sharp, pointy, and have lots of edges to grip and lock with. That's what enabled my climb without slip. Crushed snow crystals are like ball bearings, rounded, dull, and iced over. Not very cooperative on a micro-level!
At Don Mills Road, I elected to do an indirect left, crossing thru the intersection and stopping before the pedestrian crosswalk, where I would want a bike box to be. A motorist waiting to make a right turn respected my choice and position, and waited till the southbound light turned green, to allow me to move first, and get out of his way. I waved to thank him/her, but dont' think it was noticed. Crossing the east-west ruts on Lawerence was a bit tricky.
Traffic southbound on Don Mills Road was heavier than on Lawerence, and construction in front of Don Mills Centre squeezed three lanes down to two, with the curb lane closed. I signalled my move left very early on, waving my arm for emphasis, and merged nicely into the middle lane with ease. A motorist behind me left a very generous following distance which I was quite grateful for. Passing the construction crew laying a fresh concrete sidewalk, I was comforted in knowing that I wasn't the only one exposed to the elements and wearing a goofy reflexlite vest!!!!
Approaching Barber Greene Road, I gained a good bit of speed on the downhill, and elected to take both feet off the pedals incase the bike decided to catch an edge! But, I changed my mind when I realised how high off the pavement my feet were, and how a loss of balance could break my ankles if I didd't have my feet flat when they contacted the road. So I put my feet back on the flat pedals, and coasted with the crankarms parallel. I braked more with my rear wheel, and virtually no pressure on my front wheel. The stop came easily, except for the last moment, when I put my curbside foot down as the bike grabbed a rut to the left...woop, I was glad not to be clipped in!
I adjusted my seat a bit lower, and tested for putting my feet flat on the ground from a fully seated position. Worked like a charm. Lowering your seat is always a great way to further stabilze your bike.
Don Mills and Eglinton was a great moment. There was no one else in the curb lane, so i felt very safe waiting at the intersection for the light to turn green. My only worry was the fellow to my left, in the early 90's Honda Civic, who kept revving his engine. Sure enough, when the light turned green, Honda Boy hit the gas, and wheels spinning, slithered thru the intersection ahead of everyone else. I was glad that he was ahead and away from me, rather than behind or beside. He was the only nutbar on the ride...and good that he took off into the wild blue yonder, away from the rest of us responsible road users.
The right turn from Don Mills Southbound onto Overlea was actually way easier than I had thought it would be, as the snow was very compact and stable. I even signalled my turn a few meters ahead of the intersection, the snow was so good. It got a little funky approaching the Overlea Bridge, and as i entered the concrete channel that encases the roadway on the bridge, I rehearsed what I would say to the 9-1-1 dispatcher if I got hit from behind in that spot. Fortunately, I was able to clear the bridge, and my imagination once again had had the better of me!
My only complaint of the whole ride was about the pavement heaves on Overlea westbound towards Millwood. Because of the hot summer conditions and hot engines of the TTC turbo diesel buses, there are numerous "wrinkles" in the pavement on Overlea which create nasty ruts and ridges which are barely navigable in best conditions...well, today they were obscured by snow. I hit one of them just opposite East York Town Centre, and almost went down. Thankfully, I was able to get my feet down and stabilze the bike, and it probably also helped that I had heavy saddlebags over the rear wheel, bringing my centre of gravity lower. Sometimes a bit of weight helps.
My story ends in Leaside Park, where I rode thru fresh, clean powder to the rear driveway of my building, after stopping to grab a loaf of bread at the market. No one batted an eye as I walked thru the store in full riding gear, my bike already drying off. After all, we were all equal at that moment : we had all "made it", from wherever we had come from; to wherever we were going, and in between, I imagine we were sharing a moment of "it's great to be alive and enjoy winter in Canada." Or at least I was.
I don't recommend winter riding for everyone, and certainly not on arterial roads in hazardous conditions. But if you have a chance, all it takes is a few layers or a snow suit, and a bit of adventurous spirit. The rewards of winter riding can be great.
Your post made me appreciate the joys of remote desktop access (and working in pyjamas) that much more! I figure I earned the title "winter cyclist" when I rode home last night, riding through several side streets that had been so poorly (not?) plowed that they seemed better suited for cross country skiing than biking, combined with my experience biking through Queen's Park last week when all the melt had frozen over to sheer ice. Though I'm tempted to head out on a well plowed street for one block - just to say I did it. Must be my mid-life crisis talking - why can't I just go out and buy myself a red sports convertible like a normal person? :)
I love the fact that a Toronto Star article on the storm shows a cyclist on King St. but makes no mention of it in the photo description, totally normalizing the cyclists presence there:
The messengers were out all day, and the police were good enough, as they usually are, to not block our access around those problematic construction sites at Bay & Adelaide W.
I took my cargo bike in to the dentist at 7:30a then off to work at 8:30a when the storm had really picked up momentum. The wide tires of my ride were entirely inappropriate but manageable until about 1pm when I made my last box delivery at Grace & Harbord. From there I went home, the rest of the day working from home as I don't have a good, thin tire winter ride right now. I'll have to get myself another and soon.
Any idea where to write to complain about UofT's plowing practices? I was pleased today to see that the city made half an effort to plow the bike lanes on St. Georges (as in: half the width is clear and half is buried under a snowbank), but the effort was pretty much wasted by the regular mounds where (UofT) plows dumped the snow cleared when creating openings in the snowbanks lining the sidewalk for cars entering the campus.
Anyone else enjoy the low traffic today, now that schools are out and most people are on vacation? The ride home through the side streets still covered in thick snow, with the big fluffy snowflakes falling, was so peaceful. It was like practicing a whole new sport: a cross between cross-country and downhill skiing with biking. Too bad it won't last.
Important phone numbers
Report damaged roadways
& pot holes: 416-338-9999
Report road debris:
416-39-CLEAN
Parking enforcement, report a vehicle in the bike lane:
416-808-6600
Request snow removal in a bike lane: 416-338-SNOW
Toronto Police Hotline:
416-808-2222
If you notice a hazardous situation, including slippery surfaces, please call 416-978-3000 during regular business hours and 416-978-2323 after hours, on weekends and holidays.
Following an email to my councillor about snow removal on small residential streets, I got this reply:
"At the present time we are working on removing snow on bicycle lanes and BIA's. Once we get this done, we will be working the dead ends and narrow streets."
Nice to know bike lanes are given priority over side streets. Mind you, if it keeps snowing like this and my small side street is given last priority, I might not be able to get out to enjoy the plowed bike lanes!
Comments
brian
Snow Ride Dec 19 2008
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 12:57Hi all,
I just rode home from my girlfriend's place at Lawerence and Underhill. It was my first time riding home from hers. Conditions were very slippery, everywhere. It's where the automobile tires have compressed and rutted the snow that it's the worst. I slid out many, many times as my wide knobby tires just couldn't get purchase. It was exactly like riding on sand. I was on my Trek 3700 22.5" MTB, with knobbies, not the ice tires, and in full MEC riding gear, reflectorized everything!
Dropping down Lawerence to the DVP was not as bad as I thought it would be. Traffic was very slow, and I was lucky to hit a big gap where no vehicles were behind me trying to diverge or merge onto the ramps. A particularly ugly rut almost put me down just after the DVP South/lawerence West off ramp, luckily I put a foot down and stabilized my self in time.
Riding up the Lawerence Ave. westbound hill was easier than I had expected. Fresh untouched snow near the curb enabled my climb easily, and again, there was no other traffic at that time. Fresh snow crystals are sharp, pointy, and have lots of edges to grip and lock with. That's what enabled my climb without slip. Crushed snow crystals are like ball bearings, rounded, dull, and iced over. Not very cooperative on a micro-level!
At Don Mills Road, I elected to do an indirect left, crossing thru the intersection and stopping before the pedestrian crosswalk, where I would want a bike box to be. A motorist waiting to make a right turn respected my choice and position, and waited till the southbound light turned green, to allow me to move first, and get out of his way. I waved to thank him/her, but dont' think it was noticed. Crossing the east-west ruts on Lawerence was a bit tricky.
Traffic southbound on Don Mills Road was heavier than on Lawerence, and construction in front of Don Mills Centre squeezed three lanes down to two, with the curb lane closed. I signalled my move left very early on, waving my arm for emphasis, and merged nicely into the middle lane with ease. A motorist behind me left a very generous following distance which I was quite grateful for. Passing the construction crew laying a fresh concrete sidewalk, I was comforted in knowing that I wasn't the only one exposed to the elements and wearing a goofy reflexlite vest!!!!
Approaching Barber Greene Road, I gained a good bit of speed on the downhill, and elected to take both feet off the pedals incase the bike decided to catch an edge! But, I changed my mind when I realised how high off the pavement my feet were, and how a loss of balance could break my ankles if I didd't have my feet flat when they contacted the road. So I put my feet back on the flat pedals, and coasted with the crankarms parallel. I braked more with my rear wheel, and virtually no pressure on my front wheel. The stop came easily, except for the last moment, when I put my curbside foot down as the bike grabbed a rut to the left...woop, I was glad not to be clipped in!
I adjusted my seat a bit lower, and tested for putting my feet flat on the ground from a fully seated position. Worked like a charm. Lowering your seat is always a great way to further stabilze your bike.
Don Mills and Eglinton was a great moment. There was no one else in the curb lane, so i felt very safe waiting at the intersection for the light to turn green. My only worry was the fellow to my left, in the early 90's Honda Civic, who kept revving his engine. Sure enough, when the light turned green, Honda Boy hit the gas, and wheels spinning, slithered thru the intersection ahead of everyone else. I was glad that he was ahead and away from me, rather than behind or beside. He was the only nutbar on the ride...and good that he took off into the wild blue yonder, away from the rest of us responsible road users.
The right turn from Don Mills Southbound onto Overlea was actually way easier than I had thought it would be, as the snow was very compact and stable. I even signalled my turn a few meters ahead of the intersection, the snow was so good. It got a little funky approaching the Overlea Bridge, and as i entered the concrete channel that encases the roadway on the bridge, I rehearsed what I would say to the 9-1-1 dispatcher if I got hit from behind in that spot. Fortunately, I was able to clear the bridge, and my imagination once again had had the better of me!
My only complaint of the whole ride was about the pavement heaves on Overlea westbound towards Millwood. Because of the hot summer conditions and hot engines of the TTC turbo diesel buses, there are numerous "wrinkles" in the pavement on Overlea which create nasty ruts and ridges which are barely navigable in best conditions...well, today they were obscured by snow. I hit one of them just opposite East York Town Centre, and almost went down. Thankfully, I was able to get my feet down and stabilze the bike, and it probably also helped that I had heavy saddlebags over the rear wheel, bringing my centre of gravity lower. Sometimes a bit of weight helps.
My story ends in Leaside Park, where I rode thru fresh, clean powder to the rear driveway of my building, after stopping to grab a loaf of bread at the market. No one batted an eye as I walked thru the store in full riding gear, my bike already drying off. After all, we were all equal at that moment : we had all "made it", from wherever we had come from; to wherever we were going, and in between, I imagine we were sharing a moment of "it's great to be alive and enjoy winter in Canada." Or at least I was.
I don't recommend winter riding for everyone, and certainly not on arterial roads in hazardous conditions. But if you have a chance, all it takes is a few layers or a snow suit, and a bit of adventurous spirit. The rewards of winter riding can be great.
AnnieD
Glad I worked from home today!
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 14:46Your post made me appreciate the joys of remote desktop access (and working in pyjamas) that much more! I figure I earned the title "winter cyclist" when I rode home last night, riding through several side streets that had been so poorly (not?) plowed that they seemed better suited for cross country skiing than biking, combined with my experience biking through Queen's Park last week when all the melt had frozen over to sheer ice. Though I'm tempted to head out on a well plowed street for one block - just to say I did it. Must be my mid-life crisis talking - why can't I just go out and buy myself a red sports convertible like a normal person? :)
AnnieD
Toronto Star photo
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 13:21I love the fact that a Toronto Star article on the storm shows a cyclist on King St. but makes no mention of it in the photo description, totally normalizing the cyclists presence there:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/556739
Jacob L.
Toronto Star Photo
Sat, 12/20/2008 - 20:02Thanks for sharing! I totally love the photo too.
bike-courier (not verified)
The wind was initially worse than the snow which soon caught up.
Sun, 12/21/2008 - 10:23The messengers were out all day, and the police were good enough, as they usually are, to not block our access around those problematic construction sites at Bay & Adelaide W.
I took my cargo bike in to the dentist at 7:30a then off to work at 8:30a when the storm had really picked up momentum. The wide tires of my ride were entirely inappropriate but manageable until about 1pm when I made my last box delivery at Grace & Harbord. From there I went home, the rest of the day working from home as I don't have a good, thin tire winter ride right now. I'll have to get myself another and soon.
AnnieD
UofT plowing
Mon, 12/22/2008 - 19:23Any idea where to write to complain about UofT's plowing practices? I was pleased today to see that the city made half an effort to plow the bike lanes on St. Georges (as in: half the width is clear and half is buried under a snowbank), but the effort was pretty much wasted by the regular mounds where (UofT) plows dumped the snow cleared when creating openings in the snowbanks lining the sidewalk for cars entering the campus.
Anyone else enjoy the low traffic today, now that schools are out and most people are on vacation? The ride home through the side streets still covered in thick snow, with the big fluffy snowflakes falling, was so peaceful. It was like practicing a whole new sport: a cross between cross-country and downhill skiing with biking. Too bad it won't last.
Kevin Love
Answer to your question
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 09:16Dear Annie,
At the University of Toronto, the responsible official is the Vice-President and Provost. Since you wish to write to complain, the address is:
Cheryl Misak
Vice-President and Provost
The University of Toronto
27 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ont
M5S 1A1
If you wish to contact the City to complain (and request that the bike lanes be cleared), here are all the relevant telephone numbers from:
http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/index.htm
Important phone numbers
Report damaged roadways
& pot holes: 416-338-9999
Report road debris:
416-39-CLEAN
Parking enforcement, report a vehicle in the bike lane:
416-808-6600
Request snow removal in a bike lane: 416-338-SNOW
Toronto Police Hotline:
416-808-2222
AnnieD
That's a bit higher up the totem pole than I was looking for!
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 09:30But I did find this number:
If you notice a hazardous situation, including slippery surfaces, please call 416-978-3000 during regular business hours and 416-978-2323 after hours, on weekends and holidays.
on a UofT website (http://www.news.utoronto.ca/campus-news/snow-removal-update.html) so I called this morning and spoke to a live person who said she would pass it along.
AnnieD
Promising news
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 22:45Following an email to my councillor about snow removal on small residential streets, I got this reply:
"At the present time we are working on removing snow on bicycle lanes and BIA's. Once we get this done, we will be working the dead ends and narrow streets."
Nice to know bike lanes are given priority over side streets. Mind you, if it keeps snowing like this and my small side street is given last priority, I might not be able to get out to enjoy the plowed bike lanes!