Top Five Cycling Hazards in Toronto
With the recent cyclist tragedy, near Bloor and Avenue Road, burnt into the minds of Torontonians, the motorist vs. cyclist debate is on once again. Regardless of which side you may agree with, neither form of transportation will disappear from the streets of Toronto any time soon. Although the facts from Monday's incident aren't exactly clear just yet, the notion of safe biking in the cycling has definitely emerged.
Maintaining your bike is a no-brainer. The brakes, chain, gears, etc. should all be checked and in good working condition. Trust me, you don't want to find out you have no brakes going down a steep hill. Unfortunately, as a child, I learned the hard way. Once you've made sure your bicycle is road worthy, it's time to worry about urban utility biking.
Most people downtown aren't biking for recreation; they're biking with an objective in mind. Whether it's getting the groceries, or meeting a friend for coffee, the bike is simply another mode of transportation. As safe as someone's bike can be, the cyclist must always remember that there are other road hazards that can pose a threat. The following is a list of the top five bicycle hazards in our city.
5) Street Car Tracks
This danger varies depending on the width of your tires. Many cyclists that bike in Toronto for the first time usually aren't aware of this hidden danger. I've seen a few people get stuck in the tracks, some of which end up flying over their handlebars. It can be easily avoided - just remember to cross diagonally to avoid getting wedged in the
tracks.
4) Debris/ Pot Holes
Garbage on the road, and potholes can be a nightmare when commuting in tight situations. In fact during the garbage strike I avoided biking in busy areas because of the amounts garbage spilling over into bike lanes. You can usually avoid these
obstacles; just make sure you have enough space around you to do so.
3) Intersections
I think intersections are one of the largest reasons why motorists can be spiteful of bikers at times. Most close calls that I've seen take place here. As a cyclist, it is important to hold respect for road regulations. Cutting across red lights at intersections and not following turn restrictions put both the cyclist, and motorist in danger. When a car in front of you is signaling to turn right, and slows to stop, so should you.
2) The Infamous 'Door Prize'
It's fairly difficult to be vigilant and avoid this one. This occurs when a vehicle is parallel parked with the bike lane to the left of the car. As the cyclist approaches the car, the driver will open his/her door into the bike lane before the biker can react. I've had a few close calls myself - the only thing you can really do is to watch for brake lights of parked cars and be ready to react at any moment.
1) Traffic
Any road traffic can pose a risk in numerous amounts of ways. Being aware of the vehicles and other cyclists around you is the best way to avoid accidents. Personally, I like to avoid traffic when I can, but will always deal with it at one point and another. Being decisive and having respect for other commuters is the key to a safe commute while in traffic.
Being a utility cyclist and motorist myself, I have a good idea of the dangers for both modes of transportation. Keeping a safe distance and being aware of your surroundings are some of the easiest ways to avoid accidents. Experience also plays an important role. An inexperienced biker shouldn't test their first commute on congested streets. If commuters on both ends become more aware Toronto will surely reduce the amount of bicycle related incidents on its roads.
Images by Mike Manalang, Sam Javanrouh, & tomms.
Comments (93)
You can still can caught in street car track going diagonally across them, the best way to go across them is as close to 90 degrees as you can.
Also the better door prize strategy, is watching to see if you can see a person in the driver's seat in the side view mirror, if you watched just for brake lights you would still get dinged by someone who has shut off the car and is getting out, which is most often when you get door prized.
Fixed gears have a safety break.. and I've never seen an incident with one. Could just be that I haven't seen many incidents with any bikes, but I know quite a few people who ride fixed gears and haven't heard of any of them being injured or harming anyone else as a result of their bikes being fixed gear... they're just like any other bike - you should get the hang of it before going out into traffic.
If you've seen incidents specifically being caused by fixed gears, please share - I'm not trying to contradict you, I just haven't heard of any so I'm interested to know about them before I decide if I want to flip my single speed to fixed.
I'd add pedestrians and taxi cabs to this list.
Pedestrians, for the most part aren't an obstacle to cycling, but there are some that seem to see right through cyclists, looking for cars but not us. Jaywalking isn't illegal, and I don't think it ever should be made so, but crossing outside of crosswalks means you have to look out for everyone... or feel the wrath of my bell!
And taxis, with their constant u-turns (I'd never call those a 3-point turn), unpredictable right hooks, passenger drop offs in the middle of the road, vulturing along curbs for possible fares and pressure tactics at intersections all add up to one big danger. Many cabbies are respectful... but I'm keeping my third eye on you whenever you're near me!
The incident wasn't about a cyclist and a motorist. It was a case of a drunk lunatic who was on a crime spree that night. Assault on a homeless man and then attacks someone in his car.
Stop turning this into a cause for more bike lanes. Why aren't you talking about the homeless problem in this city, he did after all beat one up. Or maybe alcoholism, because its clear the guy has a serious case of it.
Darcy Sheppard was a criminal thug who was a fugitive from alberta. Our justice system needs to be fixed, so society can be protected from these low life scumbags.
No problem if you hit streetcar tracks at 90 degrees? Fine advice, except tell me how to hit all the intersecting tracks at that angle at Spadina and Queen, while also keeping my eye on tools that don't know how to drive their cars, stop texting, tourons on foot and even just the people commuting responsibly. Streetcar tracks need to have rubber safety flanges, at least at intersections.
"Fixed gear bikes, with no brakes aren't a top hazard to cyclists in Toronto?"
I have been riding fixed/brakeless for 2 years, 8 hours a day mon-fri in all weather conditions. It's my job.
There are idiots moving around on all modes of transportation. Freewheeling, fixed, brakeless or licensed to drive cars, trucks and busses.
There's a guy I've seen on a freewheel with no brakes. I think he just wills his bike to a stop or flinstones it when no body is looking.
I'd have to add construction to this list. Check out Parkside Drive south of Bloor right now and tell me how you're supposed to move up that street on a bicycle without annoying every car behind you.
The only way to do it is to slow traffic down while there is only one tight lane so that no one can pass you. As soon as it opens up again to a double lane, every frustrated idiot behind you opens the turbo charger up and swishes by your left arm. Frightening.
Oh, and I think service vehicles, movie shoots, stopped cars and recently joggers (WTF?) in bike lanes is another one.
"I have been riding fixed/brakeless for 2 years, 8 hours a day mon-fri in all weather conditions. It's my job."
Job Listing: "fixed-gear cyclist wanted. mon-fri; commensurate salary, + benefits"
ha. sweet gig.
How about:
* Wear a helmet.
* Stop at a red light.
* Don't speed up and try and swerve in front of a car that is turning right. Pass him on his left or wait.
* Use your bell AND SIGNAL!
* Don't talk on your cell phone.
OTHER cyclists are one of my greatest hazards on the road. At least cars are predictable in their potential to do strange things so I'm always riding on the defense but cyclists are supposed to be on my side! They are worse than cars with their antics, aggressive behaviour and entitlement on the road or on the side walk.
On bike paths it would do pedestrians well to stay in their marked walk ways and know that a bell means: move over and clear some way for a bike to pass rather than walking five abroad NOT stop and turn around and stare blankly.
As a pedestrian, I have had many close calls with cyclists who don't seem to follow the rules of the road. As a cyclist you should ALWAYS stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are crossing.
Crossing legally at a crosswalk should not become a chance to be hit by a bike. Cars are almost always courteous here, so why can't cyclists? Please watch out for pedestrians at all times and just follow as many of the rules as a car would. That's all I ask.
Fixed gear cyclists are probably more aware of their surroundings than free gear cyclists just because of the mechanics of a fixed gear bike - it requires you to.
But lets get real for a second - just like drivers there are people that shouldn't be on bicycles, at least not on city roads.
This (good) piece should really be followed up with the Top Five Dumb Mistakes Cyclists Make in Toronto.
My biggest hazard when commuting is OTHER cyclists. There is no shortage of other cyclist who don't signal, pass you on the inside, tail you, listen to headphones (loud enough so I can hear them next to me) and no helmets....to me that is the biggest issue.
Car traffic is something you deal with in the city, but terrible cyclists are quite hazardous!
Dooring is the easiest thing to avoid. Just follow this list of rules:
1) Don't ride in the door-zone.
That's it. You'll never be doored if you don't ride where the doors are. Take some more space for yourself and save your life.
I realize this is a bit harder to do in some situation, such as when there are shitty narrow bike lanes right in the door-zone. Make sure you ride on the left side of those door-zone bike lanes, if there's room to do it without being doored. It's it's too narrow, ride outside the bike lane.
A trickier situation is when there's a row of parked cars to the right, and streetcar tracks to the left. Ride as far left as possible. If you're still within dooring range, ride VERY slowly, or carefully cross into the middle of the lane with the streetcar track. You might get honked at, but hey, it's better than being doored.
I agree with you completely on everything, cider. I don't think a lot of other cyclists are aware of the potentially dangerous things they do when riding. And if they are, many of them choose to ignore them.
Here's one:
GOING THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY
Driving up Clinton St. last night I passed no less than a dozen cyclists riding southbound. Some of them were even riding on my left, directly in the way of incoming traffic.
One girl, ironically wearing a helmet and coming the wrong way at an intersection nearly crashed right into me as I turned left.
Motorists may get distracted at times, but some cyclists are just bloody clueless.
The dreaded door prize...I won that one thanks to a cabbie who let off a fare in the middle of the road. Luckily I wasn't going fast.
What is UP with joggers in the bike lanes??? Is this a new thing? I ride uphill on Poplar Plains to go home every day and there are idiot joggers doing hill training in my lane!! They get pissy when you try and tell them they shouldn't be there too.
I was doored last August at College and Grace - an area where there is little to no navigation possible with full rows of parked cars on one side and streetcar tracks/traffic squeezing on the left. I used my bell but it didn't stop the driver from throwing open her door without looking in her mirror. She was far from apologetic, as pedestrians were the ones who came to help me and she stood watching. I was left with a broken collarbone that required a metal plate to heal and left me unemployed for 6 months.
I believe we need SEPARATE bike lanes in Toronto - like in Montreal and major European cities - that provide us safety from motor vehicles. And I wish major media outlets would stop villanizing bikers for trying to get around in an eco-friendly, class-defiant and healthy manner.
I also agree with Duncan - my life has been threatened many times by cabs trying to get the next fare. Those guys can be extremely dangerous.
Cyclists who listen to music on headphones/earbuds are a big hazard to themselves. Even if the music is turned down low, one of their main senses is being impaired, and they're being partially cut off from their (hazardous) environment. Why they do it is beyond me.
Motorists shouldn't complain about bike lanes. Every bike is one less car on the road adding to traffic congestion, pollution, and taking up parking spaces. Motorists should be glad there are so many cyclists in Toronto.
BTW, cyclists pay taxes too.
You forgot disobeying traffic laws. Just because you're on a bicycle doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Get off busy sidewalks (Queen St), stop speeding through red lights (Queen and Peter) when pedestrians are trying to cross. Pedestrians have the right of way not cyclists. Look where you're going. Stop or at least slow down at cross walks. And wear a damn helmet...
Dangerous cabbies?
Sounds like someone has an issue with immgration now too.
Geez...you bikers just love to complain.
I have to agree that other cyclists are often more of a problem than motorists. Either they don't know the rules or choose to ignore them.
Toronto has some terrible cyclists compared to Europe. I hate to sound like a granny about this but a bit of public education re. safe and reponsible cycling habits wouldn't hurt. Motorists need some education about the rights of cyclists too.
Sean: By your logic, why should cyclists pay for roads? It's the same thing. Our money goes into making the city more accessible for everyone. Not everyone is going to use every publicly-funded service.
> Cyclists who listen to music on headphones/earbuds are a big
> hazard to themselves.
This is illegal in California, and should be everywhere. I have worn an iPod while motorcycling, but my bike was so annoyingly loud that combined with the wind noise you couldn't hear a damn thing over 60km/h anyway. Lame excuse I suppose, but nonetheless...
* Don't speed up and try and swerve in front of a car that is turning right. Pass him on his left or wait.
I wish I had a bumper sticker that said this. Just the other day I was turning right into a parking lot. I signaled, braked, checked my blind spot, started turning, and slammed on the brakes as a cyclist flew through the tiny gap still remaining. He's really lucky I saw him on time, or he would have been creamed. WTF? It's not like it was a last minute turn or that I didn't signal. Sigh.
Why do people get so mad when they see people not wearing helmets? I have every right to shatter my skull on the pavement and I don't see how me not wearing a helmet is going to effect YOUR safety. You may have to clean some grey matter off your clothes but it happens to the best of us.
I'm a keen cyclist and I'll put my hands up here. The biggest hazard I face is my own impatience. Whilst I try to be a conscientious rider, I regularly go through Stop signs without stopping (although I *do* slow down), I jump red lights, I weave in and out of traffic, I hop onto the sidewalk. I'm not proud of it, but I see lots of other cyclists doing it and as a result I start to feel like it's OK. If I ride according to the rulebook I feel like I'm wasting time, and I get frustrated as other cyclists blast past me. If I was more patient I'd be infinitely safer. But I'm not.
I think that you need to add horse dung to #4. It's ridiculous that amongst all these other things we have to contend with that the police are leaving heaping piles of dung on the road and in the bike lanes.
Sounds like someone is trying to put words in my mouth. Maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions about my comment - I never mentioned race or nationality.
Many cab drivers are aggressive drivers (read as making sudden u-turns on busy streets, speeding past stopped streetcars and erratic driving) due to the fact the make their livelihood picking up fares.
Many hazards can be avoided. In traffic, the basic rule to ask yourself is, "Would a car driver following normal rules be doing this?".
This means stopping at red lights and at least slowing down at stop signs.
This means riding on the right side of the road (I can't believe how many people I see riding on the left).
This means approaching a left turn from the left lane.
This means not going on/off the sidewalk.
This means not trying to jump ahead by passing stopped cars on the right.
This doesn't eliminate the problem of a lot of bad car drivers, but it at least helps if bikes behave predictably.
Sorry, must add: where a helmet. If you are riding downtown without a helmet it is just natural selection waiting to happen.
To hell with it.
Bikers and drivers both want to whine about it.
So be it. All bets are off. Dont follow safety rules, etiquette, etc.
Lets see how long till our streets are piled 10 high with bloody biker carcass.
That will make bikers think twice everytime they mount their two wheelers.
BECAUSE, Eric,
If a driver hits you and you bounce it's a very different charge, morally and legally, then if you die of a head wound.
Also, it's pretty Two faced to demand that motorists care so much about your safety, if you clearly don't.
I'm a cyclist and pedestrian, I don't drive. And frankly, my biggest concern is other cyclists.
Just the other day my daughter and I were walking through a cross walk, and were just about creamed by a cyclist ignoring the fact that all the cars are stopped, and the lights are flashing, and darting out from behind a truck. He missed my 5 year old by less than an Inch, and flashed us the finger when I yelled "Hey, Buddy, watch it!"
"Why should motorists pay for bicycle lanes?"
Your ignorance is pathetic. I'll leave it at that.
+1 to separate bike lanes, one slip on a busy street puts a cyclist under a car tire. While we can build new roads like this (which will have to be ultra wide) unfortunately changing existing roads is a daunting task.
From the amount of trolling in these comments you'd think we're in Venice and they just opened up the competition for bridge rights. Sheesh.
I walk everywhere, and i feel I am more in danger of being hit by a cyclist than by a motorist. Cyclists are inconsiderate, unpredictable, and pretty much just crazy, swerving on and off the sidewalk, not stopping at stop signs or lights, speeding through red lights when pedestrians have the right of way to cross the street, not wearing helmets, biking in the middle of the road down one way streets. I can't tell you how many times i have been crossing the street and almost been hit by a moron on a bike going through a red light, or how many times my dog has almost been run over by a cyclist while we are walking on the sidewalk. To all cyclists: you are either a pedestrian, or a vehicle. Pick one. you shouldn't get to swap back and forth as you please.
A couple of people mentioned joggers/runners on the side of the road
I understand the complaint about a team of them running down the street (or up the hill or whatever) but I can't imagine that happens all that often.
Downtown dwellers don't have a lot of options for cycling or running for fitness/pleasure. It's easier on the body to run on ashphalt than on concrete and there are fewer pedestrians, poles, mailboxes etc to avoid.
I do run on the road but on less busy streets at off hours - and even if I am running to the waterfront, the other option is to run on pedestrian-busy sidewalks. It just always isn't possible to get to a park to run.
suzie q: "I think that you need to add horse dung to #4. It's ridiculous that amongst all these other things we have to contend with that the police are leaving heaping piles of dung on the road and in the bike lanes."
Ha, so true, I think the police should be prepared with garbage bags for scooping up their horse poop.
In a country with public healthcare, your shattered skull will most certainly affect me.
Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets and it's appropriate to require them on cyclists as well.
You only have to crash test your skull once to change your mind forever. Trust me on that one: I speak from personal experience.
"In a country with public healthcare, your shattered skull will most certainly affect me."
What a stupid argument. Do you smoke? Drink alcohol? Jaywalk? Speed?
I guarantee you do things that I think are stupid and may result in my tax money paying for your medical bills.
We all make stupid and dangerous choices, and shouldn't care about what others are doing that don't affect us.
A bicycle is a vehicle. A automobile is a vehicle. A vehicle drives in a lane marked accordingly. Most vehicles try to drive in the middle of a lane. Since a bicycle is also a vehicle, it can drive down the middle of a lane in traffic. Therefore, a bicycle can use the curb lane for its lonesome self by peddling down the middle the lane, and any faster moving traffic can pass them by moving into the faster middle or outside lane.
If there are no bicycle lanes, then the curb lane (the entire curb lane) can be used by bicycles, since they are also vehicles.
I bike to and from work everyday, 40 min each way. Almost daily my biggest hazard is pedestrians who don't walk within the lines of the crosswalk. They're all over the place forcing me farther and farther into the traffic lane (re: bay and queen!).
Also, I LOATHE bike couriers. At best they are un-conscientious, at worst they are total a**hole road warriors, weaving in and out of traffic and cutting people off at a VERY fast clip.. they make all cyclists look bad.
.. I'm not siding against Michael Bryant just yet.
Another thing I find about street-car tracks that is that they can be extra-slippery. I took a dive on a set crossing diagonally. As I went over my front tire just let right out as if I had hit oiled ice!
There's idiots in every mode of transportation, but hit me with a bike instead of a car, if you don't mind. You cannot equate the danger of one with the other, unless you are in denial or otherwise witless.
@Darlene, riding the wrong way down a one way street is not in the top 5 cycling hazards. On a major road it's risky for oneself and other cyclists, but on side streets with low traffic, I can't see how an experienced cyclist who takes care at intersections is taking big risks. Just because something is illegal doesn't mean it's inherently dangerous.
The biggest risk for central Toronto are: 1) dooring, 2) motorists overtaking, 3) intersections. I'm getting these facts from the City of Toronto website: http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/publications/bicycle_motor-vehicle/index.htm
I can't argue with your feeling that you are in greater danger of being hit by a cyclist than a motorist, but the reality is quite the opposite. Over the last 5 years there's only 1 case of a cyclist killing a pedestrian while there are an average of 30 pedestrian fatalities due to motorists per year over the last 5 years!
I think that makes perfect sense: there are a lot more motorists out there, a lot of pedestrians and plenty of intersections with heavy, steel boxes speeding through. You're bound to have some close calls eventually.
Source: http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/publications/brochures/2008_ped.pdf
@Sean, why should cyclists pay for roads? The media needs to stop spreading this lie that only motorists pay for roads. Everyone who pays property tax pays for city roads. That means that cyclists, who use less of the roads actually subsidize wide roads for drivers. Bike lanes are peanuts in comparison.
And the rest of us subsidize drivers by paying more in health care for all the pollution they cause. Source: http://ibiketo.ca/guide/who-pays-roads
A friend of my mom was recently hit by a bike. She suffered a cracked jaw and several broken teeth from hitting the pavement.
As a consequence of her hospitalization and treatment, she won't be able to work for a while, and thus earn any income. The cyclist had no insurance, nor the funds to compensate her.
Hit me with a car.
Door prize for sure. Broke my collarbone last summer because some douchebag on his iPod couldn't hear my bell.
As for cyclists, please learn to signal, both when turning and stopping. Especially during rush hour and we're all riding single file in the bike lane. I really don't want to hit you when you abruptly break to pop into a store.
@Jennifer - Sorry to break the news, that hill's a designated Running Room hill training spot. I agree, no running in bike lanes - except in the winter, when the sidewalk's not ploughed. (And please, runners - wear lights.)
Street car tracks are a #1 hazard for me on my motorcycle as well - get stuck in the rut, loose your balance and over you go!
I've seen it happen a few times, but have been lucky enough to avoid the catastrophe myself.
Being somewhere between the car and the bicycle, I think the perspective I have gained on the issue is that we all need to slow our lives down and look out for each other.
No kidding. The first time I ride on King st, my front tire got trapped on the rail at an intersection. Luckily, the traffic was light and i bailed out standing.
I still feel a little mad when seeing people riding without lights during night, but I believe if we do the right things more enough, others will notice and learn, as well.
Why should my tax dollars be spent cleaning your grey matter off the street?
If you chose to not wear a helmet I suggest we leave your body there and let your parents/loved ones come scoop you up.
That's just flat out ignorant of both Emergency Services and the people around that my have to deal with such a gruesome accident.
Have some basic human respect beyond the selfish.
"that doesn't affect us"
You mean us as a society right? The "us" that care about other people? The "us" that put certain rules in place since it seems that some members of society are too stupid (or stylish) to take care of themselves?
The "us" that have seen friends badly hurt as a result of their vanity and other friends who's lives have been saved as a result of the use of a helmet.
Chris Murphy. The lead singer of the band Sloan was hit by a car and rammed headfirst into the back of parked vehicle. I'm sure his daughter is happy that he was wearing a helmet at the time. I'm sure all his friends around that held his hand until the ambulance came felt exactly the same way.
Why argue against something so simple that can save lives? Shame on you.
i actually knew al and can say (supported by the police ofcourse!!) that he was not a thug and in fact had NO criminal record whatsoever.......... as for the claim that there was a warrant for his arrest in edmonton (for writing bad checks), all i can say is hes been living in toronto for 15 years and had not been out of ontario in that time.(statute of limitations anybody???)...he did have a drinking problem that he was working hard to fight, but (once again backed up by the police here) he wasnt drunk that night.
he also wasnt on a crime spree as you said (like you have a clue anyways) it started when his gf and him brokeup and he moved out, he was taken off the lease at her house, the night he died he had returned after a few drinks she let him in to sleep it off but when the landlord caught wind of it he called the police. because darcy wasnt on the lease he was concidered a squater and made to leave against his gf wishes. as for this attack on a homeless man i dunno, its news to me. you mustve been there... like i said he had NO criminal record, not even a traffic ticket. that being said its hard enough losing a friend, it only makes it tougher to read comments with no supporting evidence that just run our friend through the mud.
ps i wonder what your opinion of Al would be if he had hired a public relations firm hours after the accident
thats too bad, i hate hearing about that sort of thing. Your mom might want to contact her witnesses because since bikes are not required insurance she could make a claim on either her own insurance or the insurance of a witness for lost wages medical fees etc. im not 100% but im pretty sure it cant raise her rates.
and if it was the bikes fault s/he would have gotten a ticket witch is a sure thing.. just so you know. I hope she feels better
You have to learn how to clean up brain matter at some point. People probably see more gruesome things from watching the Saw movies anyway. Obviously the ridiculous health care scenario you described doesn't actually make sense, but I think I will buy a helmet because my mom might be sad about the exploded skull thing.
No, I don't smoke. I also regularly advocate for a system which would require those who've smoked, had one surgery related to smoking and been instructed to stop from the healthcare system if they continue to smoke. Basically a single strike system.
The my father-in-law smokes, and has already had such an operation (circulatory related) both annoys me and motivates me further. I think he's being an idiot, and I don't see why I have to pay for his future healthcare when he's not taking basic fundamental care of himself.
Similarly, I think if cyclists are injured while not wearing a helmet the public healthcare system shouldn't fund care. If the driver is found responsible, the driver's liability insurance can fund the costs of the cyclist's care.
Oh, by the way...I'm a bleeding heart liberal who can recite the Charter of Rights at you if you'd like. Civilized society is full of compromises, and spending $50 on a helmet to protect your skull is one I'm willing to think people should be compelled into. Why should cyclists be treated fundamentally differently than those other two wheeled vehicles: motorcycles? There are differences in the TYPE of helmet, but there's little doubt that helmets save lives on both.
I'm new to Toronto (Aug 1st). And new to riding in a city this busy. To my new eyes on the scene, the worst hazards seem to be couriers, cars (not just cabbies) who overtake you then immediately pull over or try to park, other bikers that swerve around and cars that wait to signal till there 10 feet from the intersection.
As for door prizes, your supposed to report it to the cops and that driver lose 2 demerit points and a $110 fine for interfering with a cyclists movements by carelessly opening your car door.
As for bells... I can't seem to bring myself to attach one. And the horns, they just sound weird. I'm not a clown!
I DO see the reason for them and can say that I have had some times where I could use one but anytime I want to use one I end up yelling at the driver who cut me off, nearly clipped me, or the pedestrian who walks out between two parked cars. The bell is to happy of a sound. If i'm making noise it should be a more agressive sound.
Unfortunate that we're becoming pre-conditioned to listen for bike bells alone. We should start using air-horns as the defacto bike warning sound.
That, or if everyone rode around with a bullhorn ...
The problem with Fixed Gear Bikes are people who are not good enough cyclists to ride them. Many couriers who use them know what they're doing and no how to ride. Unfortunately, these bikes have become a bit hipstery (hate to use that word, but seems to fit). So you have people riding them to be cool, but are not great cyclists. I hate being stuck behind a cyclists who takes for ever to speed up after an intersection because they don't have the leg power to be using fixed gears. If you're a casual rider, use gears. They're there to help you.
Dan: Here's a good reason to put a bell on your ride: it's the law. And if you're caught without one, it'll set you back at least 85 bucks. For less than $10, it's well worth strapping it on.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/cycling-guide/section5.0.shtml
Try using a whistle if you don't like bells. I use both: when I'm in heavy traffic I'll use the whistle - a good sharp blast on that gets far more attention than the 'ding-ding' ever does!
...or, you could try one of these suckers:
http://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound-Bike-Horn/dp/B000ACAMJC
up to 115 decibels! (volume is adjustable.)
Seriously, why is the bicycle the only vehicle sold without the mandatory safety accoutrements? You buy a car, a motorcycle, an ATV - they all come with standard safety items according to the law. A bike also requires items like a bell, lights, reflectors - and yet it's up to the rider to purchase and use them.
Also, I would add to the list "unexpected turns" by vehicles, including u-turns, accelerating through an orange light, acceleratiung passed a cyclists only to make a right turn in fron tof them, and so on...
quite simply, cycling is the future of sustainable urban transportation and as more and more people take to two wheels every day. This murderous hostility will only increase until something is done to fundamentally change the way we design cities in north america and these ignorant anti-cyclng philistines get with the program. Because we are not going away and our numbers are increasing.
Having to turn left is definitely a hazard to cyclists. Most motorists start freaking out as soon as you leave the curb lane, even when you signal and make sure you have the space and time to change lanes. I hate being honked/yelled at when I am just waiting in the left-hand turn lane behind other cars who are also turning left. What am I supposed to do? Plan my trip so that I only make right turns? Instead, I admit, I use cross walks, making sure to give the pedestrians their space.
I also agree that horse dung is a hazard.
1. Door prize: Yes, go slowly in areas where there are lots of parked cars and traffic on your left as well. What's the hurry? Are you THAT important a person? If so, get a limo with chauffeur.
2. Turns. For turning right, both cars and bikes should be over to the right and signalling. Cars should not be turning right from the middle/car lane just because they don't know that the dotted line marking off the car lane from the bike lane means it's "shared." It's shared because people may want to turn. For turning left off a one-way street: same business - turn left from the left of the street, not from the centre. Duh.
3. Happy to see that this comment section has beneficial effects and that Eric will be considerate enough of his mother to get a helmet. Way to go, man!
4. Bells. It might be true that bells are of little effect on busy, noisy traffic streets. They are useful, however, on bike trails in parks when other cyclists are dawdling and day-dreaming in the centre of the trail and one wants to pass them safely. They are also useful when toddlers are wandering around bike trails, unwatched by their loving parents. I'm watching for them, and I ding, and then we're all safe.
5. Supposedly the "Rules of the Road" apply to bikes and cars. How come, then, it is not illegal to bicycle drunk? And I hear that the no hand-held cellphone law, coming soon, will not apply to bikes. If not, why not? Why are the rules said to be the same but yet are different?
well........ you dont have a bell or a horn and youve got the nerve to complain about couriers cars/taxis and other bikes???
"Why are the rules said to be the same but yet are different?"
because bikes are not 3,000 pound cars moving at 50kph and they are not pedestrians. They are something distinct and different from both and therefore deserve to be taken seriously enough to warrant a third set of road rules. human powered vehicles. reasonable rules of course, that work for everyone. but the simple fact is BIKES ARE NOT GODDAMN CARS.
regarding the helmet issue, Denmark once again leads the way.
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/08/walking-helmet-is-good-helmet.html
Jeff responds to my question, "Why are the rules said to be the same but yet are different?" by SHOUTING, BIKES ARE NOT GODDAMN CARS. My question was not whether bikes and cars are different but rather, since in some ways different rules apply, why do we usually hear that bikes must follow the "Rules of the Road" same as cars. It was an honest question about where all the rules and laws reside. Shouting is a bit rude.
Pixie says: "Most motorists start freaking out as soon as you leave the curb lane, even when you signal and make sure you have the space and time to change lanes. I hate being honked/yelled at when I am just waiting in the left-hand turn lane behind other cars who are also turning left. What am I supposed to do?"
I don't know about "most" motorists, but like Pixie, I've certainly been honked at for following the very rules that motorists love to tell cyclists to follow. Cyclists are often in a Catch-22. Break a rule and get honked at--or follow the rule and get honked at. I've certainly been honked at for turning left in the manner of a car. Some motorists seem to resent the fact that it takes a few miliseconds longer for a cyclist to start up from a dead stop.
But the situation is worst when I want to go straight through an intersection but the bike lane suddenly gives way to right-turning motorists. On one hand, if I try to inch by on the right (not zooming through, but acting like a pedestrian and going no faster than the average motorized wheelchair), I'm breaking the rule but staying safe. Still, it annoys a lot of motorists and pedestrians, and I can understand that. On the other hand, when I take my life in my hands and go around the left of the turning cars, signaling all the while, I've often been honked at by cars in next lane of traffic. So what should we do? Just wait behind every single car that turns right? That makes bicycle commuting prohibitively inefficient. It's a bind.
The attitudes in this city towards sharing the road are a lot like the whole internet messageboard culture.
Social scientists have recognized that Internet-facilitated communications (with a near-instantaneous speed that almost discourages thoughtful consideration) have slowly eroded the quality of human interactions. The word they use to describe this: cyber-disinhibition. Add the veil of anonymity given by screen names, and it's easy to see how the vast unmoderated swaths of the Net have turned into the lawless Old West.
I see a lot of that same attitude on the streets, so maybe we can call it "cycke-disinhibition" -- everyone's so caught up in their little bubble (all of us) that we can't seem to grasp that everybody just wants to get to their destination in one piece with a minimum of fuss. Maybe if we stopped treating the highway like the information superhighway, we may actually find we get along.
I don't understand this antagonism to licencing cyclists. Growing up in Montreal in the late 50s, it was a given that every bicycle was licensed. And it was expensive, $2.00 per year.
As to going the wrong way on a one way street, you are endageringing pedestrians who will not always anticipate your law-breaking and you are endangering yourself as drivers will not always anticipate your law-breaking.
As to going the wrong way on a one way street, you are endageringing pedestrians who will not always anticipate your law-breaking and you are endangering yourself as drivers will not always anticipate your law-breaking.
ringing a bell will wake up daydreaming pedestrians. the truth is there are many places in this city where it is completely absurd to go all the way around to a point where you can approach according to car-laws. as for cars, do they really need to hug the sidewalk? bikes are pretty small.
residential one-ways are there to prevent non-local car traffic from roaring through quiet neighborhoods. what does this this really have to do with bikes? bikes don't kill people.
further thoughts on the relationship between bikes and one way streets...
http://www.wheels.ca/articlecategory/columns/article/781736
I recently purchased directional turn signals for my bike and the 1st day I used them they saved my life at an intersection where a truck was making a right turn.
It's a no brainer. I purchased mine at www.safetybikesignals.com
Jeff, it happens:
"Woman, 56, dies after being struck by bike on sidewalk"
Adfree, there is a difference between "it happened once" and "it happens". You're implying that a rare and terribly unfortunate accident is a likely/common occurrence. An arrogant/careless jogger could just as easily have knocked that woman down.
I don't mean to defend cycling on the sidewalk. They're for pedestrians who have the right to feel safe in spaces allotted to them. Cyclists, for the most part, have no safe place allotted to them, which is a large part of the problem but two wrongs don't make a right.
Nonetheless, as someone mentioned above, bikes are not the same as cars, and are a lot less likely to seriously injure or kill a pedestrian. Comparing them is fine, but equating them is silly.
compare that to how many have been killed by cars since then and that "statistic" one person versus how many hundreds and it becomes utterly meaningless
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