I made the mistake of choosing a route with bikelanes today, thinking that if I was going to be riding through snow I'd rather do it off to the side away from the cars. But the bikelanes weren't plowed so were completely unusable, which meant I had to ride in the car lane and not everyone was good about giving me enough space when passing - presumably they didn't understand why I wasn't in the bikelane. I would have been better off riding on the sidestreets, I think, which is what I'm going to try doing tonight. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so hopefully I can use my regular route on sidestreets and the roads will be relatively bare. I'd be pretty depressed if I had to stop biking already, but having wiped out twice in the past two years on hard packed snow on sidestreets, I don't want to risk having that happen when I just happen to be followed or passed too closely. Maybe if we all think warm and fuzzy thoughts, our collective energy can melt the snow on the streets and extend the riding season for me. Oh, alright, not very scientific. Humour me, will ya'?
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Posted 3 years ago #
Okay... thinking warm and fuzzies to melt the snow. :)
You can also email 311 Toronto at 311@toronto.ca to report a bikelane that needs plowing. :) They are usually really good at returning inquiries.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Thanks - I didn't know there was an email address. I've sent them a quick note. Here's hoping they get around to it soon.
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Posted 3 years ago #
Yuck - sorry that you had a crappy ride. It does make me feel glad I left the bike at home today, though. I waffled back and forth but the wind is what eventually did me in...
Hope they get around to plowing soon. Nothing like riding on slippery roads with drivers passing closely to start a day off. Let me know how the email works. Last night it looked like College was pretty much a mess, and when I rode up Strachan to get back from spin class on Sunday morning it was totally full of snow.
Definitely up for thinking warm thoughts - I dislike winter on *so* many levels. :-)
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Posted 3 years ago #
I concur Annie. I took King St to work this morning and it wasn't much different than any other day. Then on the way home I took a detour along the lake. The Simcoe street bike lane was full of snow and slush, so I stuck to the car lane instead. Queens Quay wasn't quite as bad - I was able to stay in the bike lane most of the way - and the Martin Goodman trail along the lake was fairly well cleared.
James
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Posted 3 years ago #
I took Joe s' pointer as per the city email complaint thingy at 311@toronto.ca and sent this,
I was at BikingToronto Forum and somebody said they almost had an accident because they had to ride in the car lane along the Bloor Viaduct. This is hear-say so you don't have to streak into action or anything. I personally haven't been out today, yet.
I've had bad scares myself along Bloor because the bike lanes aren't maintained well. A lot of the time, after the snow is gone by melting or salting, there is all kinds of glass and garbage left behind that has been 'kicked' to the side of the road by cars and trucks - making the bike lanes un-usable. Perhaps some attention to sweeping the lanes in winter, is that possible?
Sincerely,
Michael Holloway
Leslievillemh
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Posted 3 years ago #
I used my usual non bikelane route this morning and that went pretty smoothly overall. I ride two blocks on College and the bikelane is still full of snow and slush. A bit better on the block East of St. George - presumably got cleared by all the cars and trucks parking in it... oh the irony!
No reply from the city. I have to bike from University to Dovercourt along College tonight - never fun to begin with, what with so much of the bikelane being in the doorzone. I hope it warms up enough today to clear the road.
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