Winning war on cars one plow at a time

Don't you think there is already enough resentment from drivers towards cyclists in this city?

Using the term "war on cars" is not going to help the cycling movement...

I wonder if the snowplough crews were anticipating the freeze–thaw–freeze events that could clog the drains and thus cleared out the drain lanes. That bike lanes were there was merely incidental.

jason.

I think the Toronto Sun invented (or at least cultivated) that term. When I see how much mutual respect drivers and cyclists have for each other in several European countries, it makes me sad that there is so much tension on our streets in Toronto - it's extremely polarized.

I think we can change the tides in Toronto, but it requires respect and compromise from both sides.

I rode on Millwood today. It's more or less business is usual. Half of the bike lane (next to the curb) has snow piled in it. The other half is rideable, except for an occasional "ridge" of packed snow extending into it. There is no snow in other traffic lanes.

On my ride to work this morning, bike lanes on Dundas East, College, Annette and Rathburn were not plowed, except incidentally when the road narrowed. Perhaps later in the day they will be.
And thank-you Tom Flaherty for this lovely neologism: ice coral

There's a conundrum for snow in the bike lane. Even the best operated plows will always leave 2" of snow behind (the blades have to be kept lifted clear of the pavement), and that bit of left over snow won't melt well unless it is mixed up with road salt. Cars churn and mix salt and snow well, so they clear their own lanes. Bikes don't mix as much snow, and cyclists tend to avoid snowy patches if they can, so the bike lanes stay chunky. Clearing bike lanes could be done with sidewalk plows, but the sidewalk plows might have trouble if colliding with big roadside snow piles.

All I'm saying is it's tricky. Makes me want to get a trike for winter.

Wonder what would happen if we just all started 'taking the lane' for our entire rides to work. Police would eventually be called, and I'm curious to know how they'd handle it.

I don't think the police would be called for that. I mean it is our right to take the lane - any lane for that matter. Especially in the burbs - you have to take a lane - or you could die.

Sadly I've put away the bike. Until march Mr. Devinci! But I've also noticed that drivers are a lot more careless now that we've had our first snowfall. You'd think they'd be a little more cautious, but I've found the opposite to be true. Do they think all cyclists go away in winter? We'll up here that's fact. But not for you downtowners, right?

It's not just downtowners that ride in the winter. I rode pretty much every day last winter from Long Branch. Thanks to Councillor Perks, the Martin Goodman Trail is now cleared in winter. It means riding is now an option for me.

Etobicoke is not cleared. In fact, two winters ago it was official policy to use the Birmingham bike lane to pile the snow in. My route is back roads to 1st Ave. The Lakeshore is a little tricky through Mimico, but if cautious is no problem. The roads are cleared all the way to the Humber bridge. That bit is tricky. Very windy, icy. The Martin Goodman can be a little too heavily salted, but that is a small price to pay for it being cleared.

As for dress, I dress similar to when I cross country ski. Good gloves. A hat under my helmet. I carry a face warmer just in case. Pyjama bottom on cold days. Sun glasses. I have lightweight water proof boots. Sweater, good shell jacket.

Riding along the lake in winter can be a real treat. The cold sunny days are best. The views are gorgeous. It feels great to be outside. It is worth the extra effort.

In the spring i need to take the bike in for a full cleaning, new tires. The salt would corrode the bike badly otherwise. It means my costs are essentially an extra tune-up a year.