Post and ring bike parking is lacking in many heavily cycled parts of Toronto. The City of Toronto was once in the forefront of supplying short-term parking for cyclists and this may help explain why so many people bike despite the poor cycling infrastructure otherwise.
We've got to hold onto the parking we've got and push for more. Currently the City is slow to re-install the parking removed when sidewalks are reconstructed (or for other construction). And they seem slow to put in enough parking otherwise.
Here's a neat website, SeeClickFix, that allows people to post issues with their city and to get crowd-support. If people mark down where they think bike parking is critical, use the keywords "bike parking" or "post and ring", or vote on an existing issue then we can gather all this information to send to councillors and staff.
It's clear that there's more demand for parking than is being met. If the city doesn't want cyclists to lock to gas meters, trees or fences then we want them to take bike parking seriously.
Try it out! And while you're at it also submit your suggestion directly to the City through their online suggestion form. It would be good if they also get flooded with requests.
Comments
Ross Rader (not verified)
It used to be the case that
Fri, 11/25/2011 - 19:33It used to be the case that anyone could fill out a form and draw up a rough site survey and apply to the city to have bike rings installed almost anywhere. I haven't heard that this program has been cancelled, but I used it not too many years ago to get quite a few bike rings installed in Liberty Village. YMMV of course.
David Juliusson (not verified)
A survey of bike parking in
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 08:46A survey of bike parking in schools in Ward 6 was done. Only one Catholic school had any bike parking. It was also the only school in the ward with an appropriate bike rack.
There were TDSB schools that had non either, despite the fact they were on bike lanes. The rest were in bad places or simply inadequate.
If we want students to ride bikes to schools we need them to have a place to park their bike. Can people check their local schools and see if there is adequate bike parking? Is only one Catholic school having bike parking an anomaly or the norm? Schools are used for so many community activities that adequate bike parking at them would be a major boost to our communities.
Anne (not verified)
We face the same problem here
Sat, 11/26/2011 - 14:07We face the same problem here in Chicago, in spite of having a similar request system. I don't know what bureaucratic issues are causing your bike rack shortage in TO.
Here in Chicago, there was a shortage of available racks on the market for a while. Also, the city employs too few people to keep up with processing requests and getting racks installed. There's a huge backlog that goes back a couple of years.
I hope you see some progress soon in getting more racks where you need them. I'm looking forward to trying Bixi next time I'm in TO.
Random cyclist (not verified)
Anne, I was in Chicago this
Sun, 11/27/2011 - 14:37Anne, I was in Chicago this past August. And while there went looking for a Chicago bike map and met the four people responsible for cycling in Chi town. The main person talking with me was saying that they have an accurate count of how many and where bike parking exists. And they add to it when the need arises. Either by self study or folk requesting. Very organized cycling group, it appears that cycling in Chicago is encouraged as well as necessary. The previous year we were at Millennium park for a free concert (She and Him), and the park was full of double high parked bikes. It was so good that after picking up some folders in Ore. my spouse and I road around Chicago this past year. So build it and keep it up and the tourists do come. Wake up TO.
B in Ottawa