Getting around town on two wheels

With all the trepidation around Pan Am Games traffic and HOV lane rules, more than a few commuters are in their garages dusting off their bicycles and wondering if they might be a viable alternative.

It’s not a bad idea. But as with so much about the coming weeks, it would be wise to plan ahead.

“There are quite a number of routes around town now,” says Jeremy Axon, a worker-owner at downtown coop bicycle shop Urbane Cyclist.

“Even though we’re not at the number of bike lanes a lot of people would like to see in the city, we’ve come a long way. There seems to be more work toward a usable bike network.”

I hopped on my bike one weekday afternoon to put this statement to the test.

My own daily commute, which I regularly perform on two wheels, takes me across Queens Quay on the city’s waterfront. This was previously stressful, but in mid-June, the new dedicated cycling track opened between Bathurst and Jarvis Sts.

Apart from oblivious pedestrians stepping into the path of oncoming bike traffic, life by the water is pretty darned good for cyclists these days.

Until you need to head north, that is. That’s when things quickly go south.

The city’s next best thing after the waterfront bike trail is the Sherbourne cycle track, which runs between King and Bloor Sts. But even these well-divided lanes still come with two major issues: they’re not very central or well-connected to the rest of the bike lane network and, as with all bike lanes, it’s still possible (and frequent) for motor vehicles to stop on them, forcing cyclists into uncomfortable detours.

But in the core, unfortunately, Sherbourne St. is as good as it gets among major north-south arteries. The next-best option is Bay St., where one lane in each direction is reserved for buses, taxis and bicycles from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

There’s a good chance that two wheels will get you around town faster than four this summer. But taking steps to plan a route in advance and ensuring your bike is properly equipped will go a long way toward helping you arrive quickly and safely at your destination.

Look into renting or bike-sharing For commuters taking transit into the city and then travelling a distance once downtown, Bike Share Toronto might be a useful option.

Riders can pick up a bike at one of the 80 stations and drop it off at a different one for a set fee starting at $7 for 24 hours. Long-term membership rates are available at bikesharetoronto.com. Several downtown bicycle shops also lease bicycles short- or long-term. A list is available at the city of Toronto website through the cycling portal.

Know the rules of the road A bicycle is a vehicle and is governed by Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. If it’s been a while since you last rode a bike on a public thoroughfare, be sure to reacquaint yourself with the rules before you go.

You must stop for red lights, stop signs, streetcars and buses, and you must yield to pedestrians. You must travel on the same side of the road and in the same direction as the rest of vehicular traffic.

Plan your route Knowing your route in advance will help your trip go much more smoothly.

The City of Toronto distributes a free cycling map (it’s available at civic centres, community centres, libraries and cycling shops). An online version is also available at the cycling portal at toronto.ca/cycling. The map shows the locations of cycle tracks, bike lanes, shared routes and off-road options throughout the entire city.

It’s worth noting, though, that the version in circulation is roughly a year out of date. Dedicated cycling tracks have recently been added on:

Queens Quay from Bathurst St. to Jarvis St.

Wellesley St. E. from Yonge St. to Parliament St.

Simcoe St. from Front St. to Queen St. W. (Simcoe is a one-way street, but bike lanes run in both directions)

Richmond St. W. from York St. to Bathurst St. (one-way)

Adelaide St. from Bathurst St. to Simcoe St. (one-way)