Doctor has seen tragic failure to make city safe for cyclists
As an intensive care doctor, a motor vehicle trauma researcher and a cyclist, a video from a recent public consultation in Etobicoke showing animosity toward cyclists that escalated to the point where someone declared “personally, I’d like to run them over” caught my attention.
While some might argue the remarks were made in jest, there have been multiple examples of violent road rage caught on camera in Toronto in the last year. Anti-cyclist sentiment in Toronto puts people in danger and distracts from the real work of improving the functionality and safety of our streets.
Toronto’s streets are congested and dangerous. Toronto traffic is ranked by some as the worst in North America. Just over two months into 2024, city of Toronto data shows four pedestrians and two cyclists have been killed.
Meanwhile, multiple developments will increase density in Etobicoke and elsewhere in Toronto. There simply isn’t enough space for everyone to rely on their cars all the time. Cycling is a compelling alternative.
Cycling is good for our cardiovascular and mental health. Every trip taken by bicycle instead of car reduces traffic, decreasing emissions and easing congestion for those who still need to drive. And cycling is fun; a short trip with my three-yearold son in his bike seat confirms that observation. The societal benefits of cycling are so clear that some European countries offer a per-kilometre tax credit for cycle commuting. Yet, the proportion of trips taken by bicycle in North America remains low (one to three per cent), in part because we lack proper cycling infrastructure.
Bike lanes make roads safer for cyclists, and also for pedestrians and motorists. Improved safety leads to increased ridership, because safety is the most commonly cited reason why people do not cycle. Bike lanes are good for business, based on studies from multiple cities including New York and Toronto. Pedestrians and patios benefit as well, because the bike lanes insulate them from motor vehicles and make the neighbourhood more walkable. And yet, despite the data, bike lanes remain polarizing.
Concerns regarding automobile flow, parking and emergency vehicle response times are valid, and can be addressed while expanding cycling infrastructure. In New York, automobile travel times decreased on two major thoroughfares after installation of bike lanes and reduction of traffic lanes, an improvement attributed to better partitioning of left-turning vehicles so that they did not obstruct through traffic vehicles. The driving experience on Bloor Street and other Etobicoke roads with new bike lanes will improve with traffic signal timing optimization, signage and road paint updates, and increased uptake of cycling by those who feel more comfortable using the separated bike lane infrastructure.
One of my most vivid memories from my training as a physician is attempting to resuscitate a cyclist who was hit by a pickup truck. He died. If he had been in a protected bike lane, his outcome could have been completely different.
We have the opportunity to make our streets safer, the air cleaner, and our city more livable. Removing cycling infrastructure will not slow the increases in density coming to Etobicoke.
Violent anti-cyclist sentiment prevents the true work of making sure that our streets can serve all the people of Etobicoke and Toronto.