Sorry, the whole lot left me wanting. Only the two Americans (one interviewed and one on the panel) showed any know how - namely engage neighborhoods and you're on your way. The Torontonians on the panel were typically too one sided, catty and uncooperative (just like City Council) - and missed the glaring point of the preceding interview on Portland's success.
I hardly saw the debate as any step forward for cycling in Toronto - I dare say we took a step or two backward. Toronto's urban fabric is based on its wonderful neighborhoods, and leadership needs to slow everyone down to see what they're missing.
The Score:
- Cyclists of Toronto = 0
- Steve Paiken illustrating continued navel-gazing leadership in this City = 1
At 15 minutes into the video, David claims that it takes 3 hours to go from Eglinton and Laird to Steeles and Leslie by TTC.
Very few transit riders would ever use the route that David took (Bus to Eglinton subway, subway to Finch, bus to Steeles and Leslie).
From Eglinton and Laird, there is only one bus required that will take him right to Steeles and Leslie, and that's the 51 Leslie bus, and that should take about an hour. Obviously, if David doesn't research his options, he would make a bad choice.
Jeff Casello makes an excellent point (@12:30min) re: downtown streets - "the function of these streets should be to move cars yes, but at very slow speeds so they are very compatible with cyclists and with pedestrians."
As I cycle through downtown streets I can honestly say that I get where I'm going (7km trrip) as quickly as cars traveling at speeds of up to, and even exceeding 60km/h.
There is absolutely no benefit to arriving at a red light early, as the driver:
- uses more gas and causes more wear on the car overall
- reduces the safety to themselves, their passengers and those around them
- arouses a competitive reaction from other drivers, and
- builds anxiety and stress
There should be a 30 km/h speed limit imposed on all drivers using downtown streets, with arterials at a slightly faster speed.
I think drivers would also (perhaps subconsciously) give themselves more time to reach their destination since the variable of increased speed is no longer an option.
There would need to be heavy penalties for speeding infractions - but once lower speeds were established we would all benefit from more functional and harmonious road use.
I agree with Tom for the downtown core...Slow and steady wins the race....slow everyone down to 32 km per hour...cyclists included....bring in electric cars....more e-bikes.....wider and cleaner paths to accomodate cyclists of all kinds. The faster life gets downtown, the slower the traffic should move. Perhaps 32 km per hour will bring about less road rage.
"There is absolutely no benefit to arriving at a red light early, as the driver:
- uses more gas and causes more wear on the car overall
- reduces the safety to themselves, their passengers and those around them
- arouses a competitive reaction from other drivers, and
- builds anxiety and stress"
That is one of my biggest piss-offs of motorists when I accelerate faster than them at a intersection. One nut in a car feels he has to put me in my place as a cyclist I guess, so he accelerates to about 50km/h SCREEEAMS past me just to run into a red light.
I get the joy of sucking on all the excess fumes he spits out (while breathing heavily[even worse for me]) and the fear of getting smacked by a 1.5ton ignorance-mobile.
You may say "hey Pat why do you have to accelerate so fast?!"
Well I blame it on drag racing videogames, not the amount of effort I put into cycling at start up but timing myself to begin peddaling right as the red is about to turn green (I check both ways everytime I do this FYI, I know about red runners). I use toeclips as well so I usually need this 1 second head start to get my feet in gear as to not disrupt cyclists behind me.
Its not my fault most motorists are in la-la land @ lighted intersections (cuz driving is fucking boring) and usually react a second slower than cyclists.
From my experience, I don't think there is anything - short of spitting on a car or its driver - to get the ire of a motorist than accelerating ahead on your bike after a light turns green.
To really get them going, try an over the shoulder look at them in the eye, down your nose and over the top of your goggles! - temperatures rising I tell ya!
Be careful of course, you're playin' with fire... but keep up the good work!
The faster I accelerate, the faster they get out of there too. If I go slow, they have to wait behind me longer.
If anything, I find that motorists get cranky when I do things like:
a) stop at red lights, preventing them from making a right turn
b) stop at stop signs, preventing them from doing their usual rolling top
I encounter this a few times a week - the light goes green, I start to pick up speed and then it's like the driver starts to drag race you to the next light; I think it's a competitive thing.
My favorite response to this behaviour is to smile at the driver when I inevitably pass them at the next intersection - although I don't recommend it for everyone.
I wish I had a sign on my seat post that read," Would you prefer I was driving a SUV?"
Unfortunately Vic, it's true (actually researched and proven true).
In a documentary I saw on road rage, it was clearly proven that automobile drivers focus primarily on what is going on ahead of them - not behind or beside. They are in a constant mode of trying to be first. Once they pass a car (or a bike) you don't really exist anymore.
If you cut them off (or in this case challenge them by going faster than them), they will rage. If they cut you off; they don't even notice.
Too bad for quick-off-the-mark bikes at green lights - but deadly for heavy trucks cut off on the 401.
Cycling's modal share was bandied about earlier on in the segment as possible reason not to fund/support cycling projects. I vaguely remember hearing in the council meeting on Jarvis yesterday, some numbers around how much is spent on roads in Toronto (never mind transit) and was left with the impression that in spite of cycling's small (reported) modal share, it still manages to get a disporportionately small portion of the transportation budget.
Anyone here know the numbers that would confirm or deny this impression?
Comments
Kevin Love
I agree, Yvonne did a great job
Fri, 05/08/2009 - 22:12Makes me think that my Cyclists Union dues were well spent.
Scorekeeper (not verified)
TVO panel left me wanting
Sat, 05/09/2009 - 09:28Sorry, the whole lot left me wanting. Only the two Americans (one interviewed and one on the panel) showed any know how - namely engage neighborhoods and you're on your way. The Torontonians on the panel were typically too one sided, catty and uncooperative (just like City Council) - and missed the glaring point of the preceding interview on Portland's success.
I hardly saw the debate as any step forward for cycling in Toronto - I dare say we took a step or two backward. Toronto's urban fabric is based on its wonderful neighborhoods, and leadership needs to slow everyone down to see what they're missing.
The Score:
- Cyclists of Toronto = 0
- Steve Paiken illustrating continued navel-gazing leadership in this City = 1
Jacob L.
David Booth: The car advocate
Fri, 05/08/2009 - 23:14At 15 minutes into the video, David claims that it takes 3 hours to go from Eglinton and Laird to Steeles and Leslie by TTC.
Very few transit riders would ever use the route that David took (Bus to Eglinton subway, subway to Finch, bus to Steeles and Leslie).
From Eglinton and Laird, there is only one bus required that will take him right to Steeles and Leslie, and that's the 51 Leslie bus, and that should take about an hour. Obviously, if David doesn't research his options, he would make a bad choice.
Tom Flaherty
Very Important Point
Sat, 05/09/2009 - 00:34Jeff Casello makes an excellent point (@12:30min) re: downtown streets - "the function of these streets should be to move cars yes, but at very slow speeds so they are very compatible with cyclists and with pedestrians."
As I cycle through downtown streets I can honestly say that I get where I'm going (7km trrip) as quickly as cars traveling at speeds of up to, and even exceeding 60km/h.
There is absolutely no benefit to arriving at a red light early, as the driver:
- uses more gas and causes more wear on the car overall
- reduces the safety to themselves, their passengers and those around them
- arouses a competitive reaction from other drivers, and
- builds anxiety and stress
There should be a 30 km/h speed limit imposed on all drivers using downtown streets, with arterials at a slightly faster speed.
I think drivers would also (perhaps subconsciously) give themselves more time to reach their destination since the variable of increased speed is no longer an option.
There would need to be heavy penalties for speeding infractions - but once lower speeds were established we would all benefit from more functional and harmonious road use.
Bobby (not verified)
I agree with Tom for the
Sun, 05/24/2009 - 15:03I agree with Tom for the downtown core...Slow and steady wins the race....slow everyone down to 32 km per hour...cyclists included....bring in electric cars....more e-bikes.....wider and cleaner paths to accomodate cyclists of all kinds. The faster life gets downtown, the slower the traffic should move. Perhaps 32 km per hour will bring about less road rage.
PedalPowerPat
Agreed
Sat, 05/09/2009 - 13:50"There is absolutely no benefit to arriving at a red light early, as the driver:
- uses more gas and causes more wear on the car overall
- reduces the safety to themselves, their passengers and those around them
- arouses a competitive reaction from other drivers, and
- builds anxiety and stress"
That is one of my biggest piss-offs of motorists when I accelerate faster than them at a intersection. One nut in a car feels he has to put me in my place as a cyclist I guess, so he accelerates to about 50km/h SCREEEAMS past me just to run into a red light.
I get the joy of sucking on all the excess fumes he spits out (while breathing heavily[even worse for me]) and the fear of getting smacked by a 1.5ton ignorance-mobile.
You may say "hey Pat why do you have to accelerate so fast?!"
Well I blame it on drag racing videogames, not the amount of effort I put into cycling at start up but timing myself to begin peddaling right as the red is about to turn green (I check both ways everytime I do this FYI, I know about red runners). I use toeclips as well so I usually need this 1 second head start to get my feet in gear as to not disrupt cyclists behind me.
Its not my fault most motorists are in la-la land @ lighted intersections (cuz driving is fucking boring) and usually react a second slower than cyclists.
Crabby Patty (not verified)
Accelerate on a green
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 14:21Pat you are so right!
From my experience, I don't think there is anything - short of spitting on a car or its driver - to get the ire of a motorist than accelerating ahead on your bike after a light turns green.
To really get them going, try an over the shoulder look at them in the eye, down your nose and over the top of your goggles! - temperatures rising I tell ya!
Be careful of course, you're playin' with fire... but keep up the good work!
vic
Why would that upset a motorist?
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 14:50Why would accelerating quickly upset a motorist?
The faster I accelerate, the faster they get out of there too. If I go slow, they have to wait behind me longer.
If anything, I find that motorists get cranky when I do things like:
a) stop at red lights, preventing them from making a right turn
b) stop at stop signs, preventing them from doing their usual rolling top
Seymore Bikes
Pole Position
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 15:12I encounter this a few times a week - the light goes green, I start to pick up speed and then it's like the driver starts to drag race you to the next light; I think it's a competitive thing.
My favorite response to this behaviour is to smile at the driver when I inevitably pass them at the next intersection - although I don't recommend it for everyone.
I wish I had a sign on my seat post that read," Would you prefer I was driving a SUV?"
Crabby Patty (not verified)
Out in front
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 17:15Unfortunately Vic, it's true (actually researched and proven true).
In a documentary I saw on road rage, it was clearly proven that automobile drivers focus primarily on what is going on ahead of them - not behind or beside. They are in a constant mode of trying to be first. Once they pass a car (or a bike) you don't really exist anymore.
If you cut them off (or in this case challenge them by going faster than them), they will rage. If they cut you off; they don't even notice.
Too bad for quick-off-the-mark bikes at green lights - but deadly for heavy trucks cut off on the 401.
Peace.
kiwano
Just a thought
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 12:34Cycling's modal share was bandied about earlier on in the segment as possible reason not to fund/support cycling projects. I vaguely remember hearing in the council meeting on Jarvis yesterday, some numbers around how much is spent on roads in Toronto (never mind transit) and was left with the impression that in spite of cycling's small (reported) modal share, it still manages to get a disporportionately small portion of the transportation budget.
Anyone here know the numbers that would confirm or deny this impression?