Give cyclists a stronger voice
As an intensive care doctor, I’ve seen up close Toronto’s tragic failure to make the city safe for cyclists, March 31
The voices that get lost in this debate are of those who don’t or cannot drive a car, and parents who fear for their kids’ safety every time they bike or walk in the neighbourhood. This should not be what our future looks like. We can do better.
ANGELIQUE MOSS, ETOBICOKE
I am a mother of two living in Etobicoke who commutes by bike downtown to work. We need more voices like Dr. Christopher Yarnell. It is not a pleasant time to be a cyclist or a pedestrian here.
There is so much discussion around the delays associated with driving on Bloor Street and absolutely no discussion about what the future five or 10 or more years will look like if we continue to add density. We cannot keep adding cars to the road at the pace we are going.
The voices that get lost in this debate are of those who don’t or cannot drive a car, and parents who fear for their kids’ safety every time they bike or walk in the neighbourhood. This should not be what our future looks like. We can do better.
That Etobicoke Centre MP Yvan Baker is wading into this discussion in support of the removal of the bike lanes simply because of traffic delays and alleged underuse is just the latest example of the shortsighted transportation rhetoric here. I was so disappointed to read his newsletter on this topic.
I hope you continue to speak about your observations and experiences on this issue. Somehow the dead and injured cyclists never seem to make it into local discussions about traffic delays. Angelique Moss, Etobicoke
Cyclists must obey the rules of the road
In his article, Dr. Christopher Yarnell decries the antagonism shown to cyclists and refers to incidents of “road rage” by motorists.
It is indeed unfortunate that such incidents take place. However, he does not deal with the frequent flouting of traffic laws by cyclists. I see many cases of cyclists illegally using sidewalks without consideration of pedestrians (in some cases even where there is a bike lane right beside the sidewalk). I have been nearly hit several times by cyclists on sidewalks. Recently, one of our neighbours was run down by a cyclist, who kept going. The neighbour had to be admitted to hospital.
Also, cyclists routinely ignore stop signs and red lights. Perhaps if cyclists were more law abiding as they rode, the antagonism against them would diminish.
Patricia Wood, Toronto
Leaders must take cycling seriously
I commend Dr. Christopher Yarnell on his well-researched defence of safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users, both in Etobicoke and Toronto as a whole.
As a lifelong Etobicoke resident and parent, I am often dismayed to see our elected leaders in Etobicoke such as MP Yvan Baker and Coun. Stephen Holyday, who are elected to represent all residents, dismiss the valid concerns of those who are most in need when trying to use our streets safely.
Hopefully, articles like these serve as a wake-up call for these leaders on the consequence of their disregard for the road safety of all road users, which, as Dr. Yarnell rightly points out, can be deadly.
Adam Rodgers, Etobicoke
I was hit by e-bike on the sidewalk
When I was very young, I rode my tricycle on the sidewalk. But when I got a two-wheeler, my mother, teachers, police officers and other adults insisted that I had to ride it on the road.
Now we have bike lanes on major streets, but it seems they are too threatening for e-bikers, couriers and others, and the police are not interested in enforcing the law.
On March 4, I was walking on the sidewalk of Dundas Street West when I was hit, from behind, by a mature man on an e-bike. I was knocked to the ground and my hipjoint was broken. I have now been in hospital for more than three weeks and, while I may be out in another couple of weeks, I may be crippled for life.
I realize that many e-bikers and couriers don’t listen to mothers or teachers, and that police don’t want to waste time enforcing laws, but here’s a suggestion that might work: If we ask city council to paint “pedestrian lanes” on main roads, we could still have some safe places to walk in Toronto.
Andy Turnbull, Toronto
Cyclists need to do their part, too
While I appreciate the points Dr. Christopher Yarnell makes about the benefits of cycling, as an 85year-old woman who does not cycle but takes the TTC and drives, may I make a few suggestions regarding how to make things safer for cyclists.
1. Get lights on your bikes, front and back.
2. If you are wearing dark clothing at night, get neon strips or something on your clothing so you will be seen, especially when you have no lights on your bike front or back!
There should be a law for safe cycling. We drivers are doing our best. It is time for cyclists to do the same. Ruth Miller, Toronto