Garbage trucks knock over flexible posts by design
Cyclists claim posts are routinely flattened, rendering them useless as dividers. Amid cyclist complaints, city claims trucks are supposed to drive over posts on garbage day
A video shows what appears to be a city garbage truck driving in a bike lane. As it goes, the truck flattens the flexible post dividing the lane from traffic.
According to the city, that’s what it’s supposed to do.
Twitter user @TObikelanes posted the video and tagged @311Toronto. In the video, the truck drives along Bloor St. W. near Clinton St. and straddles one of the posts, which bends as the vehicle moves over it.
It’s been viewed more than 2,400 times, with other Twitter users commenting with their own tales and frus- trations. 311 Toronto promised to follow up with the city’s Solid Waste Management services, and replied on Tuesday with a message from Solid Waste Management that driving in the bike lane and over the posts is exactly what their vehicles are supposed to do.
“Collection vehicles move down the bike lanes and straddle the flex posts (which are designed for this capability) in order to be close to the curb,” the message said.
311 said the manoeuvre allows bikes to pass on the left and keeps staff from criss-crossing the bike lane for pickups, which it said “improves safety” for cyclists and staff.
It added collection only takes place on Thursdays.
In response, some users pointed out the prevalence of destroyed flex posts through downtown streets.