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<title>blogTO Recent Comments: Dupont Narrowed: a Cyclist and Driver's First Impressions</title>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/feed/recentcomments/?13626</link>
<description>Comments recently made in this post on blogTO</description>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:25:45 PST</lastBuildDate>
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<title>i &amp;lt;3 plastic bags</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I drove this stretch of road last week, and what I hate most about it is you're sitting in traffic for the ugliest part of the street (while it's still Dupont), and then once you hit Annette and you wouldn't mind idling away enjoying all the trees and green stuff and nice houses around you... you CAN'T!! That's exactly when traffic flows nicely. Thankfully the city has the traffic lights on Annette timed so that you hit a red light on every one of them, or else I'd get to spend even less time on the nice section.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c696086</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c696086</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:41:28 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>i &amp;lt;3 plastic bags</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Schmoe, my old boss in Mississauga used to bike to work everyday even on bitterly cold winter days. He'd just change in the washrooms. He avoided being totally sweaty and disgusting by keeping his head shaved. He was an IT manager.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c696083</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c696083</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:35:37 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Schmoe</title>
<description><![CDATA[
As much as I am for dedicated bike lanes, the Dupont lane is a very poor implementation.  It causes massive traffic delays in rush hour, and a large portion of roadway is left unutilized.  I doubt a few cyclists who use it daily compensate for all the exhaust from the idling car traffic.

The argument that people on bikes shop more is laughable.  Let's see, you need to find a place to lock your bike, make sure it's safely locked, and dirty your hands with the grease and dust on the lock and bike frame.  You have to take off the panniers if you are carrying other stuff, or risk them being stolen.  You have to shop in a bike helmet.  And how are you going to carry the purchases home? How much can you fit into a basket or panniers anyway?

Just an FYI, I live in the area and commute downtown by car.  Yes, I know I could bike, and I tried, but I work in a professional  office setting and cannot be arriving at work in a sweaty T-shirt.  My employer does not offer change facilities.  Public transit is an option, but it takes about 10-15 minutes longer in the morning, and I cannot run errands or go to the suburbs if I'm using the TTC (I need to travel on a short notice.)]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c674954</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c674954</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:09:18 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Susannah</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I've ridden the Dundas West /Dupont route almost daily for years and while happily switched down to Annette to use the bike lanes there (and LOVE the lane under the bridge at Dupont), the lanes along Dupont are, in my opinion, a disaster.  Bumper to bumper idling traffic is bad for everyone - drivers, the enviroment, and my lungs as a cyclist riding beside them.  Traffic used to flow beautifully along there but no longer and I completely sympathise with the drivers. Particularly in afternoon rush hour when westbound traffic is backed up yet the curb lane is empty (no parking allowed).  If there's a petition to reverse the installation of these lanes beyond the Dupont underpass, i'll sign it.  Coming from a dedicated cyclist - that says alot.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c649667</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c649667</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:50:24 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Pixie S</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I'm just hoping that there will eventually be fewer cyclists dying or getting hurt on the streets. Our style of bike lanes aren't even close to perfect; we're still in a pretty prime "door prize" zone. However, anything is better than nothing. Let's try to protect those who choose to have a smaller footprint, instead of punishing them by forcing them to dodge the inconsiderate drivers (no, not all of you are inconsiderate, sheesh). Many more people have said they would ride their bikes to work if it were safer- let's make it that way. Share the space a little bit. 
Also, I know that it's a one lane road as well, but there is another street between Bloor and St. Clair that no one has made mention of (and it's often dead as a doornail, traffic wise)- Davenport!]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626122</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626122</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:30:13 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>David B.</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Wow, what foolish words of generalization.  And everyone that smokes doesn't value their own life, and people that have sex are sluts, c'mon lets keep the prejudice going here.  Yea, every driver is a hunter and a cyclist is a farmer.  How many farmers ride around their fields on bikes?  Are there any bikes that are deemed agricultural bikes?  What!!!! They drive trucks!!! The nerve.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626098</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626098</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:31:02 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>allderblob</title>
<description><![CDATA[
That aussie dude who flew through town a couple years back and proclaimed himself the "king of street reclaiming" (set up a throne in the middle of Kensington market to do so) explained it best: there are hunters and there are farmers, and humans are descended from both of these stocks. The hunter passes through and values speed and the open road above all. The farmer wants to till, fence and protect the land. The cyclist and the pedestrian are the farmers in this scenario. We recognize the value of stability and slowness, and resent the interloper who will treat our "garden" as if it's a highway. The driver is the hunter. The driver wants to get to his prey, whether it's a piece of steak from the supermarket or more metaphorically, his job at the end of a long commute. But the hunter gets home, and all of a sudden he's a farmer again: protecting his own garden. What's needed is some empathy from the hunters of this world, and this is true on Jarvis too: remember when you get home you don't want someone trashing your garden with his personal rolling furnace either.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626069</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626069</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:22:35 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Antony</title>
<description><![CDATA[
It's a shame they couldn't figure out what to do with that patch of lane in the middle.  There are definitely some rough edges to that implementation.

That being said, the reallocation of road space away from cars is being driven by two immovable constraints:  1) There isn't any more room to build roads.  There just isn't.  If you want to try and build the Spadina Expressway again, good luck.  Move to Los Angeles and see how well road expansion works.  2) Oil and energy in general is going to get a lot more expensive very soon (http://aspocanada.ca/).  It will take time for society to adjust, so we had better get started now.  Change will take time - people will get shorter commutes, development will happen closer to transit lines, and so on.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626044</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c626044</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:56:16 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>David B.</title>
<description><![CDATA[
There is a huge arrogance and presumption in what you are saying.  As a car driver, I don't have any sense of "entitlement", please stop generalizing all drivers, as I think for the most part no one here is generalizing cyclists.    The road was made for cars, and when the city, years ago, planned that road they thought for the traffic of the area it will need to be two lanes.  I don't see how a road being four lanes isn't "fair", that's absurd, the lanes, there are curbs, there are sidewalks all designed for the citizens of Toronto.  Also, the bus you are riding on Dupont uses diesel, a non-renewable resource.  And my guess is you still have no clue as to the complications of having a busy job, and a family and the additional amount of planning and stress taking public transit all of the time takes.  

I am so surprised with the amount of piousness that comes with transit users that look down on car drivers as self-centered and self-centric, I'm sure you have some friends that drive cars, but "their different" and everyone else is the asshole.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625929</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625929</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:34:43 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>chephy</title>
<description><![CDATA[
The space on the existing roads is already drastically, dramatically, completely disproportionally skewed in favour of the car.  It's time to reclaim some of it.  Car drivers will complain, it's inevitable, but I have no great sympathy for them.  Not because I hate them as people or anything like that.  But because they have a sense of entitlement that's bigger than the state of Texas.  It's kind of natural: people hate to lose what they used to have, even if it wasn't fair for them to have it in the first place.  But it doesn't mean we should just preserve status quo.

No one suggests eliminating all use of cars, but it's certainly quite possible to reduce it considerably.  And yes, even if you have two kids.  Maybe especially if you have two kids: introduce them to sustainable transportation when they're young, and they'll grow up to be cyclists and transit riders.  Yep, it's possible: my parents did it somehow, after all.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625835</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625835</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:41:36 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>David B.</title>
<description><![CDATA[
First off the subsidization remark:  When you buy anything that was not made in or from anything in the city, you are benefiting from our road system.  If you don't realize how much money goes from the gas tax into our government, or how many jobs are created by car manufacturers, dealerships, repair shops, gas stations, the ability to buy and sell products not in your immediate area than I can't make my point.  We all fight against the big box stores for the mom and pop businesses and then through all this hate at the car.  I rarely use the health care system in Canada, in fact my health card ran out years ago, I still have to renew it, but some people need our health care system on a daily basis, is the young kid with leukemia draining our system and should I say that he is costing me money? I hope no one shares that opinion, it is the little part of our government where we have said that the cost is a general benefit to the greater whole of our society.  Same with road, I don't hate cyclists, and I hate hearing comments the are anti-bike, but I also can't stand these naive notions with how the city would be theses incredible place without cars.  Also, if you think that its reasonable or easy to plan your life around the go train and public buses with two little children, than you have no idea with regards to the complications that brings with it.  When you have a little kid that just fell asleep and a kid screaming because he has to go to the bathroom, it doesn't make it that easy to take the bus.]]>
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<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625682</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625682</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:02:52 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>irritated</title>
<description><![CDATA[
again.. this starurday evening, 4 of us are repainting the lines - well, as far as 8 buckets of paint will take us - which i'm projecting is not far at all... :(]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625668</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625668</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:05:45 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Tanya</title>
<description><![CDATA[
David B., what's wrong with the TTC? Can you not ride on it with your children? Transit can take people to jobs further afield, especially with GO trains. 

Car driving IS subsidized. My property tax dollars pay for road maintenance on the Gardiner which I can't use, road maintenance on city streets which I do not cause damage to by a lighter weight, policing and ambulance dollars - and how much % of their budget is related to traffic and traffic collisions?

Not to mention there are hundreds of people dying in Toronto every year from the air pollution caused by motor vehicles - the city health dept. estimates 400 fewer deaths if driving was reduced by just 20%.

20% is not a lot.. I'm not saying that all driving can be eliminated but if everyone gave a bit more thought about the best way to get from A to B then the roads would be a lot less congested when you had to drive on them.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625663</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625663</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:43:46 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>David B.</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Can we please stop this ridiculous name calling like  "Selfish", it is so naive.  I have two children, I have to get groceries, take them to their classes, in winter.  I need a car, I also need a car to drive into work.  IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO FUNCTION IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE USE OF A CAR. WE ALL CAN'T HAVE JOBS MINUTES AWAY FROM OUR EMPLOYMENT.  That is so silly to think that its possible.  We also can't all move downtown.  Cars are not subsidized, the  cost of doing business in the city right now without vehicles would be so out of reach without them.  We are all not students or young single people living in the downtown core, please can anyone with that point of view stop being so self-centric in their thinking. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625651</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625651</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:25:24 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>herb</title>
<description><![CDATA[
There's no point in trying to coddle the drivers. The selfish ones don't realize that with Toronto's booming population and with the impending doom of climate chaos, they're trying to pit their privilege against the greater good. Make it hard to drive in Toronto. Put lots more money in transit and cycling.

It's not like it's a war against people. It's a war against a huge hunk of metal that kills. Kill the beast, kill it good.

The city has already scoured all the side routes for good cycling routes but there are very few. Annette is, in fact, a minor arterial and an alternative to biking on Dundas (although not a very good one). Then to cross the tracks there is only one choice: Dupont. So car drivers, leave your cars at home. Compost them, turn them into playgrounds, because it's only going to get harder from here on in.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625549</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625549</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:18:31 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Lindsay</title>
<description><![CDATA[
PS I realize that a majority of commenters here are pro-bicycle, and that many people here would just like to see an east-west artery to enable a smoother flow of traffic. 

I guess I'm just not all that sympathetic. I'm one of those people that thinks the price of gas should be elevated. People won't change their lifestyles if the status quo continues to be subsidized and encouraged. Maybe if people get sick and tired of waiting in traffic they'll get rid of their cars, start to carpool, move closer to their place of business so they can walk or cycle commute, etc. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625483</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625483</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:52:26 PDT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Lindsay</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I've lived in Toronto without a car for 17 years. I use public transit, my bike and my feet to get around, quite ably. The car does not have to be a fact of life. I am really tired of the whiny sense of entitlement espoused by motorists in Toronto and all across North America. Instead of being put out by those of us who choose to not pollute, not congest, not wear down the roads, not bleed the Earth further of its dwindling resources, how about saying "Hey, cyclists, thanks! We appreciate you! Here, why don't you share some space on this here road with me?"

PS Cyclists: please stay the EFF off the EFFING sidewalks!!!]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625438</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625438</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:55:51 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>Jerrold</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I suspect it won't be long before residents on Lappin, Humberside, Wallace, St. Johns, Glenlake, etc. start to complain about a spike in rush hour vehicular traffic on what used to be their tiny, quiet, side streets.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625380</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625380</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:14:31 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>David</title>
<description><![CDATA[
Jerrold... look at the mess you created by being pragmatic!

This city is seriously picking some odd streets to add bike lanes to. I'm 100% for them, without a doubt, as I use them too, but that stretch of Dupont was already a mess with congestion. I already avoid it whenever I'm driving in that area, so there's no way I'd go near it again.

I'm guessing all that this has done is push more people onto Dundas West, thereby creating even more congestion there. Poor implementation again. ]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625378</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625378</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:09:58 PDT</pubDate>
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<title>John Henry</title>
<description><![CDATA[
I ride my bike everywhere in this city now. I used to drive a car. A HUGE car (1991 Mercury Grand Marquis).

 I always hear the drivers complain that there is no room for them,  yet having a parking lane, and a driving lane, counts as two lanes. (You want to park in one, not my problem...) So your lanes have been taken from 2-3. If the parking lane does not count as a lane, how come bikes are expected to ride beside them half the time? Can someone please correct me if I'm wrong.]]>
</description>
<link>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625363</link>
<guid>http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/06/dupont_narrowed_a_cyclist_and_drivers_first_impressions/#c625363</guid>
<category>Toronto, City</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:55:39 PDT</pubDate>
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