Ford passed the legislation for ripping up the bike lanes TODAY!!

[Anbarandy]

It's the new wave of crap. I got involved in a thread on X about a fatality on the Bayview extension. Initially, the biketards claimed that it was a cyclist and that he would have been "saved" by bike lanes. Then it turned out that he was a pedestrian. Not sure who was at fault there, but the vic certainly wouldn't have been saved by bike lanes.

A pedestrian?

Maybe after being struck while on his bike and knocked off said bike onto the pavement by a careless and reckless driver, said cyclist would be deemed to be officially declared a pedestrian on X and by yourself.

Never let a fact, a cyclist, or the death of cyclist obscure your careless and reckless version of war on the car fantasies.

Hundreds of cyclists pay respects to man who died after being struck by driver
Vlad Zotov, 59, a cyclist, died in hospital after collision, according to Morning Glory Cycling Club
CBC News · Posted: Apr 15, 2024 10:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 16

'A remarkable human being': Hundreds join ghost bike ride to honour cyclist killed

Hundreds of cyclists took part in a memorial bike ride on Monday for a man struck and killed by a driver last week in Toronto.

In memory of Vlad Zotov, 59, cyclists attached a memorial bike to a pole above a metal guardrail near the scene of the fatal collision on April 8.

Zotov, a member of the Morning Glory Cycling Club, was struck by an SUV while riding his bike on Bayview Avenue near a Don Valley Parkway off ramp.

According to police, a man, 38, driving a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, was exiting the Don Valley Parkway to proceed northbound on Bayview Avenue when he collided with the northbound cyclist.

The collision caused the cyclist to fall, resulting in "significant injuries," and he died in hospital, police said. Officers were called to the area at about 9:25 a.m.

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC), an advocacy group for cyclists, identified Zotov but police have not released his name. No charges have been laid in the collision.

Before the ride, hundreds gathered at Matt Cohen Park, near Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, to honour Zotov.
.
"Thank you all for being here to remember Vlad," Fraser Chapman, president of the Morning Glory Cycling Club, told the crowd.

"He was a remarkable human being. He was a great guy, smiling all the time, so happy to be out."

• Cyclist dies after being struck by driver Monday morning

Ghost bikes are bicycles that are painted white and placed where collisions have occurred that have either killed or seriously injured a cyclist.

Geoffrey Bercarich, a member of ARC who builds the memorial bikes, said it's already been a rough year because traffic has been crazy.

"This is the sixth memorial I've had to do in the Greater Toronto Area, third for Toronto. It doesn't get easier and this year is just starting. And cycling season is not even in full swing. I'm really worried about the future."

According to Chapman, Zotov leaves behind a wife and three children.

 

[GameBoy27]

A pedestrian?

Maybe after being struck while on his bike and knocked off said bike onto the pavement by a careless and reckless driver, said cyclist would be deemed to be officially declared a pedestrian on X and by yourself.

Never let a fact, a cyclist, or the death of cyclist obscure your careless and reckless version of war on the car fantasies.

Hundreds of cyclists pay respects to man who died after being struck by driver
Vlad Zotov, 59, a cyclist, died in hospital after collision, according to Morning Glory Cycling Club
CBC News · Posted: Apr 15, 2024 10:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: April 16

'A remarkable human being': Hundreds join ghost bike ride to honour cyclist killed

Hundreds of cyclists took part in a memorial bike ride on Monday for a man struck and killed by a driver last week in Toronto.

In memory of Vlad Zotov, 59, cyclists attached a memorial bike to a pole above a metal guardrail near the scene of the fatal collision on April 8.

Zotov, a member of the Morning Glory Cycling Club, was struck by an SUV while riding his bike on Bayview Avenue near a Don Valley Parkway off ramp.

According to police, a man, 38, driving a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, was exiting the Don Valley Parkway to proceed northbound on Bayview Avenue when he collided with the northbound cyclist.

The collision caused the cyclist to fall, resulting in "significant injuries," and he died in hospital, police said. Officers were called to the area at about 9:25 a.m.

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC), an advocacy group for cyclists, identified Zotov but police have not released his name. No charges have been laid in the collision.

Before the ride, hundreds gathered at Matt Cohen Park, near Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, to honour Zotov.
.
"Thank you all for being here to remember Vlad," Fraser Chapman, president of the Morning Glory Cycling Club, told the crowd.

"He was a remarkable human being. He was a great guy, smiling all the time, so happy to be out."

• Cyclist dies after being struck by driver Monday morning

Ghost bikes are bicycles that are painted white and placed where collisions have occurred that have either killed or seriously injured a cyclist.

Geoffrey Bercarich, a member of ARC who builds the memorial bikes, said it's already been a rough year because traffic has been crazy.

"This is the sixth memorial I've had to do in the Greater Toronto Area, third for Toronto. It doesn't get easier and this year is just starting. And cycling season is not even in full swing. I'm really worried about the future."

According to Chapman, Zotov leaves behind a wife and three children.

I feel for this cyclist and his family, I really do. That said, I often travel that part of the Bayview Extension. But for the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would ride a bike on that roadway, when there's a completely dedicated bike path that runs parallel. Not victim blaming, but the spot where this individual died, is where cars are merging from the ramp onto Bayview. I'm sorry, but if I was riding a bike along that section of roadway, I would assume traffic may not see me, and therefore act/ride defensively and accordingly.

It's sad that he lost his life, but as a cyclist, you have to be super aware. And for God's sake, if there a dedicated bike lane a few feet away, use it!

 

[Leimonis]

I feel for this cyclist and his family, I really do. That said, I often travel that part of the Bayview Extension. But for the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would ride a bike on that roadway, when there's a completely dedicated bike path that runs parallel. Not victim blaming, but the spot where this individual died, is where cars are merging from the ramp onto Bayview. I'm sorry, but if I was riding a bike along that section of roadway, I would assume traffic may not see me, and therefore act/ride defensively and accordingly.

It's sad that he lost his life, but as a cyclist, you have to be super aware. And for God's sake, if there a dedicated bike lane a few feet away, use it!

I wonder what actually happened there

 

[GameBoy27]

I wonder what actually happened there

If you drive that section of the Bayview Extension, you can easily see how a collision could occur there. You have a ramp, that merges with northbound traffic, on a sweeping right hand bend. A cyclist rounding the bend, would be in the blind spot of vehicles merging onto Bayview. Considering there's a dedicated bike path, on that whole stretch, adjacent to Bayview, it's extremely rare that you would encounter a cyclist on that section of the roadway. Personally, I would never put myself in danger like that.

 

[Anbarandy]

it doesn't matter who build the bike lanes

what matters is that they are going to be removed

It doesn't matter that some bike lanes may be removed.

What matters is that this will not do a thing to alleviate congestion in any way, shape, form or matter

You'll still have hundreds, upon hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle drivers blaming everyone else and everything else except their own motor vehicles and themselves for being stuck like squealing oinkers in congestion and gridlock caused by themselves.

 

[JuanGoodman]

You'll still have hundreds, upon hundreds of thousands of motor vehicle drivers blaming everyone else and everything else except their own motor vehicles and themselves for being stuck like squealing oinkers in congestion and gridlock caused by themselves.

as long as I get to squeal in 2 lanes

 

[Varmitt]

Does Manhattan have bike lanes?

 

[JuanGoodman]

Does Manhattan have bike lanes?

Does Toronto have bike lanes?

Not for much longer.

 

[Anbarandy]

If you drive that section of the Bayview Extension, you can easily see how a collision could occur there. You have a ramp, that merges with northbound traffic, on a sweeping right hand bend. A cyclist rounding the bend, would be in the blind spot of vehicles merging onto Bayview. Considering there's a dedicated bike path, on that whole stretch, adjacent to Bayview, it's extremely rare that you would encounter a cyclist on that section of the roadway. Personally, I would never put myself in danger like that.

No blind spots at all.

Plenty of time, plenty of unobstructed views of northbound traffic for motorists on the ramp merging onto NB Bayview.

How could the driver of the pickup not see the cyclist having the right of way unless he was not paying attention to what he was supposed to be paying attention to/

The ramp is long, and unobstructed for such a large stretch that only an inattentive, careless and/or reckless driver would be the cause of this cyclist's death.





You really go out of your way, way out to always, aways doubt, cast aspersions and /or fault cyclists while constantly lauding, praising and saluting motor vehicle drivers.

 

[JuanGoodman]

It doesn't matter that some bike lanes may be removed.

What matters is that this will not do a thing to alleviate congestion in any way, shape, form or matter

let me put it to you this way

if there were 2 escorts who worked 12 hr days

and were booked solid with 1 hr appointments

then both of them could service 24 guys a day

if you took one escort away, now the other one

would have to work 24hrs a day to service those same 24 guys

you see a problem with that arrangement?

please stay away from the bottle before your rebuttal

 

[Anbarandy]

let me put it to you this way

if there were 2 escorts who worked 12 hr days

and were booked solid with 1 hr appointments

then both of them could service 24 guys a day

if you took one escort away, now the other one

would have to work 24hrs a day to service those same 24 guys

you see a problem with that arrangement?

please stay away from the bottle before your rebuttal

If you have millions of motor vehicles all fighting each other for every square centimeter of paved tar would traffic congestion, gridlock be the result?

Stay away from the pablum before you make a further fool of yourself.

 

[mandrill]

If you have millions of motor vehicles all fighting each other for every square centimeter of paved tar would traffic congestion, gridlock be the result?

Stay away from the pablum before you make a further fool of yourself.

View attachment 380997

View attachment 381000

Annie, stop posting that photo.

The cars aren't going away. It's been pointed out to you a dozen times that the GTA's too big and too under serviced by public transit.

Posting gridlock photos from the 401 and DVP isn't relevant to the downtown bike lanes. You consistently attain and maintain Mitchell levels of stupid in these threads. In several months, you haven't posted a cogent argument. You just insult other guys and post the highway photos.

Just stop it. It's sad and pathetic.

 

[mandrill]

Think there’s a ‘war on the car’? Here’s the truth behind the rhetoric in Toronto
Nov. 23, 2024

By Shawn Micallef Contributing Columnist
Shawn Micallef is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.

For decades, some have bleated on and on about a “war on the car.”

Any tiny improvement in road safety for pedestrians, cyclists or even drivers themselves has been met with complaints. Even the act of asking (begging, really) for things that can save life or limb is greeted with alarm from some as if it were part of this “war.”

So what if we declare an actual “war,” then?

Clearly one side of this debate is itching to do so by using, even metaphorically, the word “war” to describe the excruciatingly slow and incremental addition of safe infrastructure in Toronto. The Ford government’s Bill 212 to remove some of those relatively modest improvements is — to lean into the ridiculous rhetoric — an act of war. So is the surprise amendment banning lawsuits against the province if cyclists are killed or injured where lanes are removed. That’s a clear indication they know what they’re doing could grievously harm people.

Consider how the safe infrastructure fight is waged instead. Bike lanes on Bloor took decades of advocacy, but because a small group of business people with Progressive Conservative connections called “Balance on Bloor” have the premier’s ear, as reported by The Trillium, they might be removed quickly. That such a move is politically popular with the majority of Ontarians, even if some live outside of or far from Toronto, gives Ford the cover he needs to make it.

The handful of high-profile lanes notwithstanding, most streets in Toronto have zero bike infrastructure. The ironic shamelessness of including “balance” in the name of the advocacy group demonstrates a swaggering disrespect to Ontarians and disregard of good faith.

Good faith is important here. Bike lane implementation required studies, engineering reports and often extensive public consultation. Meanwhile, opponents of safer streets have been treated with kid gloves. Toronto police admitted to giving up on traffic enforcement, gaslighting residents by saying they were doing so. A city walk today is rife with red-light running, rolling stops and other aggressive behaviour.

Businesses leery or even against lanes were also treated the same, presented with studies showing businesses can thrive with lanes and cyclists are good customers. Business groups like Bloor Annex BIA have even spoken up and made that case themselves.

The response to that good faith has been “Balance on Bloor” and Bill 212.

As reported by the Star, the Ford government used outdated cycling ridership figures while new, higher, numbers have not been released publicly. Trillium reported that the draft of a briefing document prepared for Ford’s cabinet contained research that demonstrated removing bike lanes could actually worsen congestion, but it hasn’t been discussed publicly either. Why not be transparent? Why the bad faith?

All this obfuscation and scapegoating hides the truth from drivers: the main enemy in any perceived war is other drivers. Only fewer cars on the road will solve the issue of congestion.

In this rhetorical war, cyclists are often characterized as soft, weak or even “woke,” but there is nothing tougher than a cyclist in Toronto. They ride through heat, cold, rain and, yes, even the handful of days Toronto gets snow. Adults and children ride on fraught streets bereft of safe infrastructure. Rarely can a route from A to B be completed entirely using safe infrastructure, though until Bill 212 we were heading in the right direction.

Toronto cyclists and pedestrians contend with some drivers who use their vehicles as weapons. Drivers who creep toward them when using a crosswalk, as if trying to get them out of the way faster. When almost nailed by a driver’s actions, pedestrians and cyclists frequently get a little happy wave of “sorry!” like it’s no big deal. That’s a microcosm of the problem in this debate: it’s life or death, but one side doesn’t see that.

But before heading into battle, it’s worth asking if anyone would actually win such a war. If the cyclists stop shopping at the businesses fighting safety measures such as protected bike lanes, would that satisfy anyone? If bike lanes disappear, and every cyclist takes up an entire lane of traffic instead (calling it the “Doug Ford Express”) who would come out ahead? It may be legally allowed under the Highway Traffic Act, and likely to happen when the separated lanes disappear, but it would also be extremely risky — to the person on two wheels and the one driving the car.

If declaring a “war on the car” seems extreme, it’s simply a reflection of the rules of engagement and rhetoric established by Ford and those opposed to safer streets. If they accuse cyclists and pedestrians of waging war, a war they should get.

It's not that difficult.

Toronto is gridlocked. A dedicated, massive, fat bike lane means that traffic lanes on Bloor, Yonge, College and now Davenport are reduced to 1 lane instead of 2 lanes. That means only 1/2 the # of cars can pass a certain point at any given time. So there is less traffic flow and traffic backs up.

So balance the utility of the bike lanes against their detriment in reducing traffic flow. Only 1.2% of commuters use the bike lanes. The other 98% are cars.

Even in the downtown core, massively more people drive than use bikes.

So the bike lanes have to go. Cyclists rode on the streets before the bike lanes - usually fairly safely. They will do so again. And vehicular traffic will move faster. Most people think it a win.

 

[JuanGoodman]

If you have millions of motor vehicles all fighting each other for every square centimeter of paved tar would traffic congestion, gridlock be the result?

your argument is that because the traffic is so bad that at this point there is nothing we can do to make it even worse

like an obese person who keeps over eating because at this point it's doesn't matter what they do

or person that overspends and gets in huge debt but keeps spending because it's too late now

get a grip mate

 

[Anbarandy]

It's not that difficult.

Toronto is gridlocked. A dedicated, massive, fat bike lane means that traffic lanes on Bloor, Yonge, College and now Davenport are reduced to 1 lane instead of 2 lanes. That means only 1/2 the # of cars can pass a certain point at any given time. So there is less traffic flow and traffic backs up.

So balance the utility of the bike lanes against their detriment in reducing traffic flow. Only 1.2% of commuters use the bike lanes. The other

So the bike lanes have to go. Cyclists rode on the streets before the bike lanes - usually fairly safely. They will do so again. And vehicular traffic will move faster. Most people think it a win.

You're not only idling in motor vehicle caused traffic congestion and gridlock, but also believe that you can reverse yourself back to a time and age that just does not exist anymore.

1) Toronto is gridlocked because of the sheer mass of motor vehicles. Plain and simple. End. Full Stop.

2) Your f*ckin facts are way past their expiry dates.

3) That 1.2% nonsense that you have the balls to post is not only from 2011 when there was basically shit all bike lanes built but also encompasses the whole of the f*ckin GTA. Tell me that you are NOT that clueless, because that 1.2% figure that you shamelessly posted is factually irrelevant and grossly outdated.

4) I mean who TF bikes in Peel, York and Durham regions? We're talking Toronto here, basically downtown and inner core Toronto. Tell me again that u r not effin clueless.

5) Outdated irrelevant numbers posted by you basically underscores your lack of knowledge and capacity the understand reality which is further evidenced by your ridiculous claim that 98% of commuting is via motor vehicles. I mean do u even read what you post? Nobody walks to work, nobody takes transit to work, nobody does both? Get real.

6) As up to date and factual as u can get is the following:


7) Over 10% of Torontonians commute via bike to work. 70% have also used or use their bikes to get where they need to go. Forty-four per cent identified as "utilitarian" cyclists, who bike to work, shop, visit friends, etc. Another 26 per cent said they were "recreational" cyclists, who bike for leisure or fitness. Just 30 per cent said they didn't bike at all. Of all respondents, 10 per cent said they ride their bike to work in good weather.

8) Bikes made up 37 per cent of rush-hour traffic at two spots along Bloor in the Annex. Cabbagetown had 34 per cent, and other central city neighbourhoods had between 26 and 33 per cent mode share. On one October day in 2022, 38,000 people biked through an area in the downtown core between Spadina, Jarvis, Queens Quay and Bloor, according to a City of Toronto count.

9) In 2013, the average number of cyclists in eight hours along Richmond Street West and Adelaide Street West in downtown Toronto was 400, according to the City. In September 2018, after bike lanes were installed, the average count was 4,780 — a 1,095 per cent increase.

10) Bloor Street saw a 50 per cent increase in cycling after the bike lanes were installed in 2016. Spending at local businesses also increased.

11) Bike Share Toronto saw 665,000 trips in 2015, its first year. This year, thanks to more bikes and better cycling paths, it's projected to hit more than 6 million.

12) Toronto is congested because people are driving from faraway places coming into the city, and they should ultimately look at transit and other options as a way of reducing congestion. Bike lanes are not the problem."

 

[Anbarandy]

Annie, stop posting that photo.

The cars aren't going away. It's been pointed out to you a dozen times that the GTA's too big and too under serviced by public transit.

Posting gridlock photos from the 401 and DVP isn't relevant to the downtown bike lanes. You consistently attain and maintain Mitchell levels of stupid in these threads. In several months, you haven't posted a cogent argument. You just insult other guys and post the highway photos.

Just stop it. It's sad and pathetic.

These motor vehicles from all parts of the GTA, the majority being single occupancy, clogging and congesting the 400 series highways, the DVP and the Gardiner:




Funnel into Toronto:



To fill the city and it's arterial, secondary and tertiary roads to create unrelenting daily bottlenecks, congestion, gridlock and mayhem that YOU refuse to acknowledge as the CAUSE and WORSE cast blame elsewhere.

 

[Anbarandy]

your argument is that because the traffic is so bad that at this point there is nothing we can do to make it even worse

like an obese person who keeps over eating because at this point it's doesn't matter what they do

or person that overspends and gets in huge debt but keeps spending because it's too late now

get a grip mate

Get some self-respect mate because your post is embarrassing to say the least.

 

[Frankfooter]

your argument is that because the traffic is so bad that at this point there is nothing we can do to make it even worse

like an obese person who keeps over eating because at this point it's doesn't matter what they do

or person that overspends and gets in huge debt but keeps spending because it's too late now

get a grip mate

Sure, you could fix it.
Downtown congestion charge.
Get rid of onstreet parking on main streets.
More transit funding and make it free.
Ban construction from spreading into streets.

DoFo needs a distraction since he failed to build housing, made the health care system way worse, is cutting education, universities are going broke and he added 50% to the debt while in office.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1861483473518682144

 

[GameBoy27]

As far as I know, Balance on Bloor is the only group that has installed cameras and counted actual bike lane usage 24/7 - 365 on Bloor west. The city certainly hasn't done that. They picked a couple nice days to count cyclists, then claimed that was the average. The Balance on Bloor's results are very telling.

Time to question cycle lobby’s misleading data.
Numbers are often cherry-picked to support an agenda rather than reflect reality.


https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/horcsok-time-to-question-cycle-lobbys-misleading-data

 

[GameBoy27]

No blind spots at all.

Plenty of time, plenty of unobstructed views of northbound traffic for motorists on the ramp merging onto NB Bayview.

How could the driver of the pickup not see the cyclist having the right of way unless he was not paying attention to what he was supposed to be paying attention to/

The ramp is long, and unobstructed for such a large stretch that only an inattentive, careless and/or reckless driver would be the cause of this cyclist's death.


View attachment 380982
View attachment 380971

You really go out of your way, way out to always, aways doubt, cast aspersions and /or fault cyclists while constantly lauding, praising and saluting motor vehicle drivers.

Do you know the outcome of the collision? Was the driver at fault? Have they been charged, convicted? Kinda makes a difference...