Anti-bike campaign promises from the obese mayor-elect

I live in Toronto.
I Don't Drive
I Cycle 25KM per day to work and back.
I Voted for Ford.

Do I think that Ford will totally screw up with some things? Yup, Its a sure thing.
Do I think that any other politician would screw up the City. Even more sure of that.

The thing is, I truely believe Ford Will fix more things then he screws up. As for George "Slitherman" and Joey "Pants". They are more of the same old thing we've seen at Silly Hall for the past few decades... And you know what they say, only the insane would keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.

As for Bike lanes. Don't really care about them right now. The City is in such a mess that I am willing to forego them in favour of what we need to get fixed first. We need to prioritise, Which would you rather have, reliable running water or a bike lane?

Once we are Fiscally in order then I say lets get on him for bike road space & infrastructure. If the City is broke then you would get nothing and I honestly think the others would take us down that road (Except for Kevin Clarke, I have no Idea what road he's on).

As for the guys Weight... Get over it. Its about as much of an issue as "Slitherman" being married to a man (Which BTW I didn't figure out till the day before the election). I'm more pissed that "Slitherman" thinks losing $1B is a non issue.

I also think that the Rob Ford win sent a message. Voters are not happy. The Premier Dad better watch out. We are looking at him and he is next if he doesn't smarten up.

The Phat Phuck's excessive weight shouldn't be an issue. Frankly don't care if he keels over from a major coronary tomorrow. Its his well documented and utter lack of ability to work with others at that we should be concerned about.

He's a simplistic one issue guy who has minimal grasp of issues beyond what gets spent on retirement dinners and catered lunches (its probably less than 0.001 percent of the annual budget). Not exactly a brain trust candidate and certainly not the articulate spokesperson the city needs representing our interests provincially or nationally.

I read his essay in the globe and mail, what a bunch of self important trash. Nothing but blaming the victim and transference.

"Wah wah wah, i KEEP RUNNING PEOPLE OVER AND IT IS MAKING ME PARANOID!!"

That limp noodle needs a real lesson in what it's like to traumatized while on the road. Try facing a soaring wall of dehumanizing treatment and physical abuse at the hands of drivers. F U Scott latimer! You pasty backwater town knowitall. GET A GRIP - TRY RIDING A BICYCLE.

Thomas owain, thanks for pointing out such a cowardly piece of work.

We must be really appreciative of all the outside help and condolences that we can collect - and try to link it up to a continuation of getting the Fossil of the Year Award at Copenhagen and more recently the Dodo award at a biodiversity convention.

Props herb. Justly put.

and I don't think Rob Ford has any chance of reaching out to the cycling community, he practically burned every bridge before he was elected. Many cyclists out there were already on the edge about politicians and lack of support. Sometimes it is easier to just get up and leave, particularly when your mayor is all mouth.

Chretien had facial paralysis. His condition wasn't caused by eating too many french fries.

Seriously, if Ford can't even manage his own health, how can he be trusted to manage municipal affairs...?

I say the man's girth is fair game. After all, how much money is city hall wasting on electricity to power the elevators that carry this bariatric??!! The gravy train must end!!! Literally! No more gravy!

Hey Guys, and Herb,

You're losing my support for the bike lobby / advocacy movement. Fast.

If the "voice of Toronto cyclists" is stooping to the point of namecalling and backward-looking grudge-holding, I'm out.

Herb, for heaven's sake, you're a cycling instructor, why would you deride and criticise a potential student and citizen who clearly misunderstands - this is a teaching opportunity if ever there was one. And heck, if Ford represents the electorate and their opinions, shouldn't cyclists everywhere undertake to win over these folks and be ambassadors of our sport (and mode of transport), rather than hurl epithets and insults?

When is the cycling lobby going to understand that our politicians, and Staff, and the general public, need information, enlightenment, and support, not criticism and derision!??!

And by the way, I believe bikes and cyclists should be licensed, just like every other vehicle and operator in Ontario. Bikes are vehicles, cyclists are drivers. Boy, if Ford could convince the Ministry Of Transport to initiate that policy, I'd vote for him.

I'll be out in traffic behaving like a responsible road user operating my vehicle in a safe and respectfully law-abiding manner. Please join me if you will.

Brian

Wow, great buzz on this topic.

I'd like to go off the deep end just for a moment.

In my opinion, there are way too many people in Toronto that don't take bicycling seriously. I feel there are way too many people that see cycling as a convenient way to evade social responsibility, and stay young to the point where they use cycling to flaunt authority and society without repercussions. These are exemplified in the riders that willfully disobey traffic signals, ride the wrong way up one way streets, and who ride on sidewalks. They are just not welcome on my streets. In that sense, i am all for imposing massive barriers on my beloved activity, just as massive barriers stand in the way of fools piloting sailboats, or nitwits flying aircraft. Not all people are able to do whatever they wish, and those that think they can should be tested before hurting someone else, or themselves, or fraying the social fabric with their abrasive, abusive behavior. That's where i believe in restricting certain people from cycling, and I'd be glad to point them out if you wanted to meet up with me sometime on the street. To that end, i'd gladly be the license police, because i know what a responsible rider looks and behaves like. Now, back to reality and business at hand...

Mr Spragge is right, we need to engage City Hall and Mayor Ford's team in meaningful, collaborative ways. The cycling community needs to unite, more than ever, to share our views, experiences, and expertise, with the authorities and decisionmakers. Having worked for a councillor previously, I can tell you people calling up in a businesslike, professional manner to arrange meetings and discuss matters fared much better than braying jackasses on the fringe who bitched, moaned, and wasted his time with invective-laced voicemails and email. For heaven's sake people, work with our politicians, don't assume they are almighty and capable of executing your every wish and command! Like Ward 21 did, sit down with your local councillor and fellow cyclists, and come up with ideas and solutions rather than demanding attention, remedies, and infrastructure carte blanche. It just dosn't work.

The MTO is more than willing to look at licensing cyclists, if only there were a professional, businesslike approach made to them. At the moment, as many posters have pointed out, there's no point in attempting to legislate cyclists, because we're such a bunch of disorganized yahoos, we don't matter. but the fact is, everyone wants to be recognized, everyone wants to be accepted and loved, and factually, everyone has some fear inside that they'll fail the test when their turn comes. Our society, unfortunatly, depends on outside judgement, not inner discernment. We need authorites to make changes for us, because as a collective, we don't have the courage or self-worth perception to make the change ourselves. Thus bikes remain toys, and the majority of ppl believe that bikes and cyclists don't matter much. This is the perception system that has to change, and soon.

Brian