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City Councillor Rob Ford Speaks Out Against Bike Rides for Charity

Posted by Danielle D'Ornellas / February 5, 2008

10 Comments

Heart and Stroke Foundation: Ride for Heart

While we already know that city councillor Rob Ford doesn't think much of cyclists or cycling in general, now it seems he isn't even a fan of cycling for charity.

According to a Toronto Sun article, Ford recently took issue with the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Ride for Heart charity event. Ford's concerns were unsurprisingly car-centric, with complaints focusing on the congestion motorists experience looking for alternate routes, due to the DVP and Gardiner Expressway's closure during the event. But interestingly Ford's councillor page lists him as a supporter of the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Perhaps just not when bikes are concerned?

With these and other instances of his big mouth getting him in trouble, maybe the tactless criticizing of a charity event will be the final straw. One can only hope.

Thanks to I Bike TO for the tip.

Photo from blogTO flickrpooler sleep chaser

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Dingo / February 5, 2008 at 11:02 am
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Me thinks Heart and Stroke will win out over Rob Ford one way or another fairly soon.
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Rick Mason / February 5, 2008 at 11:12 am
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Funny thing about this is that even with the DVP closed, a good number of the people who participate in the Ride for Heart seem to have no problem finding ways to drive downtown to the parking lots at the start line.

I could see taking issue with the Ride for Heart if it was a small event but it certainly isn't. Every year more people take part. It gets family and friends out on bikes riding together. It enables people to enjoy Toronto in a different way and to imagine our city from a new viewpoint as everyone cruises down the DVP free of traffic noise. All this and it raises millions of dollars.
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chephy / February 5, 2008 at 11:31 am
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[i]Me thinks Heart and Stroke will win out over Rob Ford one way or another fairly soon.[/i]

Probably as a patient... ;) Rob Ford is a prime example of [s]a lardface[/s] um, I mean car-dependent gravitationally-challenged person who would greatly benefit from cycling or some other form of exercise to avoid succumbing to massive heart attack in a few short years.
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Martin Kuplens-Ewart / February 5, 2008 at 12:32 pm
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It would seem like giving the city clogged arteries for a day is perfect for raising awareness for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. This is one patient that shouldn't be given a bypass (by moving the, er, plaque to Exhibition place - apologies for the brutalised metaphor).
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Matt / February 5, 2008 at 01:23 pm
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Good lord. This idiot's on his last straw.
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Gloria / February 5, 2008 at 01:29 pm
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Rather ironic for a man to support an organization that seeks to reduce heart disease while at the same time rail against a group of people involved an activity that may well prevent such health problems.
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tripper / February 5, 2008 at 02:11 pm
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Rob Ford. Clogged arteries. Cancelling a cycling event for Heart and Stroke ....

God, the jokes just write themselves.
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Barb / February 5, 2008 at 07:46 pm
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This is ludicrous. The ride event is one of the few charity events that I look forward to every year. Being able to enjoy the highway with my husband and kids car-free whilst bicycling leisuring has always been something we all look forward to as a family.

Rob Ford should try to fight some other battle if it's limelight he's after! I can't believe a politician would stoop so low as to try and stop a charity event that is such a blessing for the city.
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barold / February 6, 2008 at 04:34 pm
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what a maroon.
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/ford1.htm

the H&S Foundation should disavow him.
Hey, also how does City Hall ensure that this 'successful business man' devotes his time to representing his constituents? I thought you had to divest businesses to become a politician - or does that only apply to real politicians?
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Katt / April 23, 2008 at 03:06 pm
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I feel your points are unfair. My father owns his own lock smith and office furniture repair company and these closers make it hard for him to get to his customers. It's unfair to have people starve in the name of charity, and forcing people to be late for work could coast them their jobs. I don't see why they can't bike somewhere else, like Queen's park, it's just as good, and prevents disturbances to other peoples work lives!
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