A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » General
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old May 8th 04, 08:22 PM
Chris B.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

On Sat, 08 May 2004 15:05:27 GMT, "Doug Purdy" wrote:

Check out Jan Wong's article "All thos cycle paths" in today's Globe and
Mail Toronto section page M3 or at
http://www.globeandmail.com


Try:
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040508/WONG08//?query=jan+wong

"At City Hall, a volunteer committee of 20 activist citizens views every
issue through the mud-spattered lens of an oppressed cyclist. Their job
is to develop policy and advise city staff and elected officials on
cycling matters. Last month, the committee virtually ensured that city
council will vote to slash the fine for sidewalk cycling to $50 from
$90. The rationale: The roads are getting too dangerous.

"The pedestrian committee, a kinder, gentler group, actually supported
the cycling committee in cutting the fine. Asked why, Rita Brooks, the
pedestrian co-chairwoman and a non-cyclist, hesitated. "It was sort of
the lower-income argument. But that's not very good, is it?"

"The cycling committee holds sway over a $72-million bike plan that will
change the face of the city. That includes doubling the number of
cyclists in Toronto within 10 years by ensuring everyone lives within a
five-minute ride of a network of 1,000 kilometres of bike paths"


A self-fulfilling prophecy.

More evidence that the greatest threat to people who wish to ride
their bikes to go somewhere or who wish to ride above 5 km/h and don't
desire dodging and weaving around 3 year olds on tricycles is the
so-called Cycling Advocate.
Ads
  #2  
Old May 8th 04, 09:18 PM
Tom Keats
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

In article ,
Chris B. writes:

A self-fulfilling prophecy.

More evidence that the greatest threat to people who wish to ride
their bikes to go somewhere or who wish to ride above 5 km/h and don't
desire dodging and weaving around 3 year olds on tricycles is the
so-called Cycling Advocate.


I dunno. A $50 fine can still sting. But the ostensible reason
(the roads getting more dangerous) doesn't quite sound 'right'.


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
  #3  
Old May 9th 04, 06:11 AM
Bernie
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths



Chris B. wrote:

On Sat, 08 May 2004 15:05:27 GMT, "Doug Purdy" wrote:

Check out Jan Wong's article "All thos cycle paths" in today's Globe and
Mail Toronto section page M3 or at
http://www.globeandmail.com


Try:
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040508/WONG08//?query=jan+wong

"At City Hall, a volunteer committee of 20 activist citizens views every
issue through the mud-spattered lens of an oppressed cyclist. Their job
is to develop policy and advise city staff and elected officials on
cycling matters. Last month, the committee virtually ensured that city
council will vote to slash the fine for sidewalk cycling to $50 from
$90. The rationale: The roads are getting too dangerous.

"The pedestrian committee, a kinder, gentler group, actually supported
the cycling committee in cutting the fine. Asked why, Rita Brooks, the
pedestrian co-chairwoman and a non-cyclist, hesitated. "It was sort of
the lower-income argument. But that's not very good, is it?"

"The cycling committee holds sway over a $72-million bike plan that will
change the face of the city. That includes doubling the number of
cyclists in Toronto within 10 years by ensuring everyone lives within a
five-minute ride of a network of 1,000 kilometres of bike paths"


A self-fulfilling prophecy.

More evidence that the greatest threat to people who wish to ride
their bikes to go somewhere or who wish to ride above 5 km/h and don't
desire dodging and weaving around 3 year olds on tricycles is the
so-called Cycling Advocate.

Agreed, we already have a network of routes to use on bicycles. It's
called the streets and highways of where we live.
Best regards, Bernie

  #4  
Old May 9th 04, 07:58 AM
LioNiNoiL_a t_NetscapE_D 0 T_NeT
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

city council will vote to slash the fine for sidewalk cycling to $50
from $90. The rationale: The roads are getting too dangerous.


Since the old fine of $90 is 80% more than the new fine of $50, does
that mean they think the roads are now 80% more dangerous than before,
or is it simply that the life of a cyclist now worth $40 less than before??

What a load of horse-manure.

  #7  
Old May 13th 04, 12:58 AM
A mukluk wearing troll
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

On Sat, 08 May 2004 19:22:16 GMT, Chris B.
wrote:

On Sat, 08 May 2004 15:05:27 GMT, "Doug Purdy" wrote:

Check out Jan Wong's article "All thos cycle paths" in today's Globe and
Mail Toronto section page M3 or at
http://www.globeandmail.com


Try:
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040508/WONG08//?query=jan+wong

"At City Hall, a volunteer committee of 20 activist citizens views every
issue through the mud-spattered lens of an oppressed cyclist. Their job
is to develop policy and advise city staff and elected officials on
cycling matters. Last month, the committee virtually ensured that city
council will vote to slash the fine for sidewalk cycling to $50 from
$90. The rationale: The roads are getting too dangerous.

"The pedestrian committee, a kinder, gentler group, actually supported
the cycling committee in cutting the fine. Asked why, Rita Brooks, the
pedestrian co-chairwoman and a non-cyclist, hesitated. "It was sort of
the lower-income argument. But that's not very good, is it?"

"The cycling committee holds sway over a $72-million bike plan that will
change the face of the city. That includes doubling the number of
cyclists in Toronto within 10 years by ensuring everyone lives within a
five-minute ride of a network of 1,000 kilometres of bike paths"


A self-fulfilling prophecy.

More evidence that the greatest threat to people who wish to ride
their bikes to go somewhere or who wish to ride above 5 km/h and don't
desire dodging and weaving around 3 year olds on tricycles is the
so-called Cycling Advocate.


Most cyclists in Toronto, who are not riding on the paths are riding
in traffic. _However_, (and I say that knowingly - I live here, and
get around in the city as a pedestrian, a cyclist and a driver)
Canadians, particularly those in southern Ontario, are much more
aggressive on the road than fifteen years ago. I'm sure that visiting
Americans have noticed our free interpretation of speed limits.

There are sections of suburbia, both in city limits and in the
surrounding muncipalities where I would not ride on the road in peak
volumne traffic. The roads are designed (and used) as six lane high
speed arterials - there is just too much difference in speed to bike
safely. I'm thinking of Dixie Road in Mississauga, from Eglington
north toe the 401 and north of the 401 to past Derry Rd. Cars
routinely travel at 100kph,, and there is no shoulder, just curbs. I'm
also thinking of the Queensway from Kipling to Dixie Rd. Massive
volumne, a highway interchange with a 400 series highway, a
destination shopping mall and a mushrooming group of outlet malls.
Lots of cars travelling at highspeed, then braking and turning.

On these sections, I soemtimes ride on the sidewalk. It's just safer.
I'd rather not bounce a hundred metres down the road. Pedestrian
traffic is very light.

Downtown, OTOH, is a different story. Due to daytime congestion, bikes
can move faster than cars in many neighbourhoods. Here, they belong on
the road and only the road. In fact, if I'm riding the trails on the
weekend, I make a point of doing so early in the morning, before the
majority of the dog walkers and families with kids are out. The parks
get heavily used after 10 am.

Shiirley Hicks
Toronto, Ontario


  #8  
Old May 13th 04, 12:59 AM
A mukluk wearing troll
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

On Sat, 08 May 2004 23:58:31 -0700, LioNiNoiL_a t_NetscapE_D 0 T_NeT
wrote:

city council will vote to slash the fine for sidewalk cycling to $50
from $90. The rationale: The roads are getting too dangerous.


Since the old fine of $90 is 80% more than the new fine of $50, does
that mean they think the roads are now 80% more dangerous than before,
or is it simply that the life of a cyclist now worth $40 less than before??

What a load of horse-manure.



Do you ride here?

Shirley Hicks
Toronto, Ontario
  #9  
Old May 13th 04, 02:39 AM
LioNiNoiL_a t_NetscapE_D 0 T_NeT
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

A mukluk wearing troll wants to know:

Do you ride here?


I was riding there twenty years ago, when your mukluk was still on the seal.

  #10  
Old May 13th 04, 02:42 AM
Doug Purdy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Reduced sidewalk riding fine & cycle paths

"A mukluk wearing troll" wrote in message
...
There are sections of suburbia, both in city limits and in the
surrounding muncipalities where I would not ride on the road in peak
volumne traffic. The roads are designed (and used) as six lane high
speed arterials - there is just too much difference in speed to bike
safely. I'm thinking of Dixie Road in Mississauga, from Eglington
north toe the 401 and north of the 401 to past Derry Rd. Cars
routinely travel at 100kph,, and there is no shoulder, just curbs. I'm
also thinking of the Queensway from Kipling to Dixie Rd. Massive
volumne, a highway interchange with a 400 series highway, a
destination shopping mall and a mushrooming group of outlet malls.
Lots of cars travelling at highspeed, then braking and turning.

On these sections, I soemtimes ride on the sidewalk. It's just safer.
I'd rather not bounce a hundred metres down the road. Pedestrian
traffic is very light.


Hi Shirley,

I've not been on those roads in rush hour for years. I remember Dixie as
having very wide lanes. If highway speed drivers give me 6 feet I feel
ok for destination travel but as volume mounts to rush hour I find it
less and less enjoyable. Wondering when someone is going to hit me is
only one aspect. Tire and engine noise, grit, exhaust, ugh! You get that
on the sidewalk too. I would try to find a more pleasant route where I
might be able to hear a bird sing or smell a flower.

Expressways are barriers forcing traffic to the few bottleneck roads
crossing them. In Toronto city limits there are a number of easier ways
to cross Highway 401. Two very nice crossings are part of the river
pathway systems. Another is just north of the Avenue Road/Wilson
intersection where I had my accident. Through traffic is calmed to
suffocation so aside from cars entering the expressway there's very
little traffic, and on the north side you can hear birds!

The more ways a city can open up it's expressway, rail line and
subdivision barriers to bike crossing the easier it will be for cyclists
to find satisfactory routes on existing streets.

Downtown, OTOH, is a different story. Due to daytime congestion, bikes
can move faster than cars in many neighbourhoods. Here, they belong on
the road and only the road. In fact, if I'm riding the trails on the
weekend, I make a point of doing so early in the morning, before the
majority of the dog walkers and families with kids are out. The parks
get heavily used after 10 am.


Amen to both those points!

Doug
For email, a sense of wonder.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.