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“Safe Cycling in the City,” with Spacing‘s Matt Blackett

By David Topping

20090902globechat.jpg
Photo by gardinergirl from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.


Now finished, our second live discussion co-hosted with the Globe focused on an especially timely topic: cycling in Toronto. For an hour this morning, we fielded your cycling-related questions with Spacing‘s publisher, Matt Blackett; if you missed it, you can replay the whole conversation below.


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  • CanadianSkeezix

    Kudos on an interesting, and timely, discussion. I found both Matt and David had a few too many excuses for cyclists not always abiding by the rules of the road, but those are certainly debatable points and I enjoyed reading their perspectives. I really did agree with their arguments about making cycling infrastructure a priority in this city.
    I was quite shocked, though, when Matt, after declaring that it was “stupid” to cycle while listening to an iPod, announced he has done it on side streets around 2 a.m. (which he then justified on the basis that no one really drives around his neighbourhood after 9 pm). What a dumb justification – it’s a bad thing for a cyclist to impair his/her senses with an iPod at 2 p.m., but it’s okay at 2 a.m. if you need to clear your head? He redeemed himself a little at the end with his clever “war on choice” comment (take that, Denzil Minnan-Wong!), but it’s a little harder to take him seriously as a cycling advocate when he comes across as an irreponsible/careless cyclist himself.

  • http://www.twitter.com/vicdezen Vic De Zen

    Cycling infrastructure definitely has to be taken seriously and made a priority in this city. It’s too out of control and I’ve seen too many accidents for this not be done.
    A couple years ago I was walking east on Queen heading towards John Street and at a large moving van was making a right turn on a narrow street. Very slowly. As he was making the turn, very slowly, he had neglected to notice the cyclist on his right side in a small corner on the street. being run over. Very slowly. Thankfully ambulance arrived rather quickly and it ended up being one tire going over the individual, who I believe ended up being okay. But these scenarios need to be avoided. I am sure there are plenty of other stories like this that need to be considered.

  • http://undefined Svend

    Good idea, but I’d rather see a discussion among leaders of cycling advocacy, then allow comments from the public afterward.

  • http://undefined friend68

    I agree that Matt and David were a bit too biased toward cyclists and their interests to really instigate debate on the issues, but it was an interesting chat — even if my questions didn’t get used.

  • http://undefined fred2

    I’d love to see more cyclists on the streets, but there are a few ways cyclists can help themselves. I came to Canada from the UK in 2003, and was blown away by the crazy things cyclists do here.
    1. Lots of large lights. It’s insane how many people cycle around at night on the busiest streets with either no lights, or some tiny dinky little flashing thing. Seriously – driving in the city is hard, and even a good driver can miss you unless you make yourself very obvious.
    2. Reflectors. Seriously, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone with decent reflective bands, strips and clothing on. Without them you’re just black on black. These are even better than lights in my experience, as they reflect the much stronger car headlights back at the car drivers. PLEASE Canada, start wearing reflective clothing.
    3. What is it with cyclists going the wrong way up the street? I see this in the suburbs all the time. You’re part of the traffic, and you should be on the same side of the road as the rest of the traffic. That’s one way you should not emulate the UK! When you drive a car, an oncoming bike on the wrong side of the road is coming towards you at the combined speed of your car plus the cyclist’s speed – ie a car going 40 and a bike at 15 to 20 comes towards you at upto 60km/h – often in the dark – with no lights. If you stick on the correct side of the road, that speed is much much lower: maybe 20/30 km/h in clear traffic.

  • http://rantspectacle.blogspot.com/ mccool

    I agree… I thought it was going to be a discussion and the only words of mine that were used were out of context, edited, twenty minutes after I wrote them.
    What I wanted to ask was if anyone had been subject to police bullying as a cyclist?
    I once had a cop wait at my intersection for a week straight to make sure I didn’t take a one way street (the wrong way) for half a block. The alternate route is Spadina, at rush hour, and I was sure his “policing skills” could have been used over there where all the illegally parked cars make it impossible to safely bike down in the first place.

  • http://undefined milleniumgreen

    9/6/2009 10:24:58 PM
    Here is an idea. The City of Toronto could designate streets with 2 side walks, one, as a biking sidewalk and the other as a walking sidewalk and alternate them at different times. Everyone is happy, no new infrastructure. Lots of space for biking and walkers have space. Most Toronto sidewalks are under utilized anyway and bikers are legally not allowed to use them, although it would be safer for cars and bikes to have them separated. There is the solution, free efficient and everyone wins. Why not try it? Busy streets could have no cycling, most side streets are dead anyway, this would separate traffic and best of all, it is free!!!
    As a caveat, it would work best on less busy streets or side streets. Pedestrians would be aware that bikes may cross and look accordingly and cross the street the “safe” path. As well, it could be set up so that the side walks line up in a contiguous fashion. Therefore lining up from one destination to another. It could be done. Then all of the fake painted on bike paths could be erased and give the cars more room that they badly need. this is a free idea, please adopt it and pass it on. No new infrastructure needed!