(Photo: flickr user picturenarrative)
Never easy for new cyclists or tourists to Toronto. With a bit of practice you can master them by following these steps:
- Always cross the tracks close to 90 degrees so you don't get your front wheel sucked in.
- Always, always shoulder check to make sure the way is clear before changing your line.
- If possible communicate with drivers and cyclists behind you so they know you'll be swerving a bit.
Comments
Ed (not verified)
Left turns....
Mon, 07/06/2009 - 12:19Left turns are a particular challenge. How to get into the left lane, to begin with. I like to speed up as close to traffic speed as possible, but I find I have to slow way down to get over the right-hand rail. This is a bit problem all along Lake Shore Blvd., because first I have to cross a clear through lane to the right of the tracks, across the path of speeding cars.
More complicated still are intersections where tracks interesect and have their own turning curves. Turning from eastbound King to northbound Bathurst, or westbound Queen to eastbound King, are two turns that I've done plenty of times. Since the left-turning curves start to diverge right about where you are, there's no way to avoid crossing the right-hand rail of a left-turn curve at very, very shallow angles while the through tracks on either side of you remain a constraint. (The photographed intersection has gentle curves: probably Spadina at Queen or King, nothing like as tight as Bathurst and King.)
I haven't spilled myself in years; I learned my lesson by getting caught in the tracks at College and Dundas back in about 1978!
jamesmallon (not verified)
**don't cycle in Toronto**
Mon, 07/06/2009 - 12:44Good enough advice, but the picture shows the limitiations of the following at intersections: "Always cross the tracks close to 90 degrees so you don't get your front wheel sucked in". The complications of doing that do not dimish the rest of your advice, but do make it hard to put into practice. You also need to watch for the usual Toronto hazards: right-hooks, door-prizes and general cluelessness.
My advice, and my own practice, is much simpler: stay away from routes with streetcar tracks as much as possible, because they're going to eventually take you down. This goes double when wet!
We have the worst combination of drivers, antiquated streetcar tracks (no rubber safety flange for cyclists), lack of cycliing facilities, too few cyclists, and proper traffic policing. My advice to anyone but a skilled and confident cyclist is this: don't cycle in Toronto. Look, I love cycling. I hate driving and refuse to own a car. However, I am not going to mislead anyone that this city is ultimately hostile to anyone but car owners, because I do not want their accident on my conscience if I send them into the jungle with false idealism.
Tanya Q (not verified)
Ignore the fearmongers
Mon, 07/06/2009 - 14:46Streetcar routes are excellent routes for cycling since streetcars operating in mixed traffic slow down the speed of traffic so it is closer to bicycle speed. Yes, tracks present hazards, but required crossings are minimal and you can approach these with caution.
I started in Toronto as a fearful and unconfident cyclist, and have now become skilled and confident. Toronto may have "too few cyclists" compared to say Copenhagen, but downtown you'll find more cyclists per capita than anywhere else in Ontario. Drivers are used to seeing cyclists (whether they like it or not is variable) There's lots of places you can get to almost entirely on bike lanes or bike routes.
Just get out there and ride! If you are nervous around streetcar tracks, get off and walk if you have to make a left turn. No biggie.
Seymore Bikes
Running with Scissors
Mon, 07/06/2009 - 21:12The biggest obstacle to new cyclists in Toronto is the fear that cycling in the city is somehow a dangerous activity. This perception is at the heart of many issues relating to cycling; everything from Public Policy to Infrastructure Development has been subject to this criticism at one time or another.
Be Safe
Be Aware
Be Seen
Find the route that you prefer and take the time to gradually become more comfortable riding on the road (and even stret car tracks).
But more importantly, enjoy every ride - my commute home from the city centre starts in just over an hour - I can't wait.
Fred S (not verified)
Wet Tracks
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 01:38I think a step should be added above to really slow down and be careful of wet streetcar tracks. I've never had a problem getting my wheels stuck in them (I'm pretty good at hitting them at a good angle), but they're like ice when wet. I've skidded my rear wheel twice over wet tracks, the second time wiping out completely in the middle of an intersection (at Roncy and Queen... lots of tracks), giving my whole right leg a pretty good roadrash. Thankfully it was like midnight and only a dog-walker was around to witness it...
Jennifer (not verified)
I will second this! My last
Mon, 07/13/2009 - 14:10I will second this! My last wipeout in Toronto (only 2 in about 8 years of cycling here, BTW) was because of my rear wheel skidded out on a wet streetcar track at Spadina and Dundas. I was lucky I didn't get very hurt - it was in rush hour!
Pedro (not verified)
Took a spill on a left turn
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 00:01I learned the hard way: wet tracks are like ice. I'm a new cyclist and the spill changed me from a confident cyclist to a fearful one.
I made a left turn on a drizzling day and even though I cut over the track at an angle, the moment the tire touched the metal, hitting the ground was unavoidable. I was aware that I needed to avoid getting my wheel stuck in the track but slippery tracks didn't occur to me.
Result: foot sliced by the crank, 3 stitches, sore ego and damaged confidence on the road.
The incident did get me to begin wearing a helmut though.
How do I get my confidence back? :-(
dash (not verified)
It's a sucky way to learn a
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 13:37It's a sucky way to learn a lesson to be sure, but you need to view this as not something to cause fear, but something to cause caution and a new kind of confidence. You're more aware now of what can happen, and this will make you much sharper on the road.
Consider the limitations of your particular bike depending on weather and act accordingly. Due to your new found awareness, you're safer on the road than ever before. Cut those tracks at 90 degrees in poor weather next time. :-)
simplicius2wheels
"How do I get my confidence back? :-("
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 14:11( as pointed out earlier, we don't cross the tracks always as planned. I had a pedestrian run across as I was making a left when the light was switching to red)
andrew d (not verified)
goes without saying?
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 10:15It probably goes without saying, but in case it doesn't, I'll say it: your tire width makes a huge difference. For us fools riding atop skinny road tires, well, the tracks are that much more dangerous. I usually don't envy cyclist comrades on Canadian Tire clunkers with FAT wheels when I'm speeding by them (politely, of course), but the way some people can just cruise over streetcar tracks can make a 700c-er swoon.. :)
jamesmallon (not verified)
fat tires rule
Tue, 07/07/2009 - 12:33People on Canadian Tire bikes are relying as much on ignorance and luck as those wide tires. I do find a hell of a difference between my 38mm tires on my city bike, and 23mm tires on my road bike, of course. Hard to sacrifice speed, though.
It's still far more dangerous than it need be to ride in Toronto, and the fualt for that is on politicians, police, and the better part of the public. This city is LA with trees.
Katarina
90 degrees not always possible
Wed, 07/15/2009 - 16:36My wipeout came on Adelaide; I was going from the right side to the left side to make a left turn (at John St, I think). Fortunately the traffic was way back, or someone would've run me over. But the real problem is when there are cars parked in the right lane or taxis stopped in that lane, you have to ride alongside of them, less than a foot from the streetcar track on your left. If a pedestrian emerges or a car door opens, you'll likely swerve a bit to your left to avoid. Apart from the danger of swerving to the left where there are moving vehicles, it's likely your wheel won't be at 90 degrees, since you're just veering away a bit, not "crossing."
Streetcar tracks are dangerously slippery for bikes, cars... even pedestrians. When a streetcar stalls or is stuck, all the traffic is backed up, including all the streetcars behind it, and all those people are delayed. The working streetcars can't go around the broken streetcar because they're on rails. I think subways and buses are a better solution.
Susan (not verified)
Left turn with street cars
Sun, 07/19/2009 - 23:16I still have no clue how to get into the left turn lane on a street with street cars. So if I need to turn left, I do an indirect left turn - go straight across, turn the bike 90 degrees and then wait for the green to go straight again (thus completing the left turn). Depending on traffic, road conditions and pedestrians this will be all biked, half biked/half walked or all walked.
Ed (not verified)
Re: Left turn with street cars
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 12:12It's certainly not easy to do a vehicular left turn on a roadway with streetcar tracks. To physically get into a left-turning position (between the tracks in the left lane--don't even think about going into the "devilstrip" in the middle of the road between the opposing directions), there are two basic choices you can make:
1) Slow way down, and veer sharply to the left to cross the RH track at a goodly angle, then straighten out and proceed to the turning point;
2) Maintain speed and bunny-hop the RH track
The problem with 1) is that anyone close behind you will have to brake sharply to avoid running you over. It also requires a considerably sharper angle if the rails are wet, forcing you to slow down even more. Because streetcars run mostly on crowded, narrow, busy streets, this option can sometimes be impossible to implement without actually stopping by the side and waiting for a gap in traffic.
I've seen 2) done by bike couriers and gonzo kids on dual-suspension MTBs; I have never tried it myself. It looks way cool when they do it, though.
There are times when I do the indirect turn too, either because left turns are prohibited (Queen to Spadina) or because it's obvious that I can get to the far side of the intersection safely on the green, but don't stand a chance of completing a left turn on that same green.
It's also rude to whiz on the right past a line of cars, then at the last minute cut into a gap in the line and signal your left turn (and maybe wait for opposing traffic to clear). And I always feel particularly guilty if I'm holding up a packed streetcar while waiting for my left turn (on bicycle or in a car).
dances_with_traffic (not verified)
Lesson learned, don't mess with tracks
Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:05They are shite... yesterday crossing king and spadina i had to bunny hop two track because some retard decided to run the red - that is turn right on a red right into traffic(me)
So here i am bunny hopping tracks, and the rear wheel is sliding out because it's now stuck in a track groove and asshole driver is still making his turn even though he can see me coming.
Fuckin' Toronto.
If you don't ever want to fall on the tracks again don't ride your bike in Toronto just walk it. Because let's face it, some asshole driver is going to mess with your line through the streetcar tracks/intersection and cause you to take evasive action triggering a fall either that or you'll have to travel 5km/h through the intersection in which case you might as well walk. Who is to blame? The city... they might as well be scattering marbles allover the intersection.
Pedro (not verified)
Thanks for the tips. My tires
Sun, 05/02/2010 - 06:35Thanks for the tips.
My tires are very wide so there's little danger in getting stuck.
I ride a mountain bike from Queen & Niagara, down to King, passed Roncesvalles (holy moly tracks!!) and to High Park. I take the same route back.
My confidence on the road really took a nose dive (I really didn't intend to make that pun) but not just over the tracks. Now I'm fearful that I'll trip on a pothole or slip on a manhole. I'm just generally afraid that I'll fall with traffic following dangerously close behind. I'm really uptight when on the road now.
I think the best way to get my confidence back is to really just get to know my bike and its limits. I'll do so in the park where even if I fall, I won't have a car come from behind and run me over.