How long undergo you been commuting by bicycle and what made you decide to start?It was six years ago that I became seriously committed. I had been taking the streetcar to work and I found it slow and unreliable. At first I was in bad cause since I rarely got any exercise and the streetcar I would have passed me while I was red-faced and lying on the boulevard trying to catch my breath. I kept doing it every day because I bought a bike computer and was fascinated watching my mileage go up and up. After 2 or 3 weeks it wasn’t so hard anymore.
What would you say to convince someone who is considering commuting by bicycle to go for it?Just pick a nice day and try it out! Or try your change on a Sunday. The perception of what it’s like to bike in traffic always seems worse than the reality.
When did you start commuting in pass and why?Other people were doing it. I figured how bad can it be? The first winter I was commuting I had a long change so I did half bike and half transit to avoid the unpleasant parts of the TTC trip.
What are the biggest challenges for winter bikers in Toronto?The snow and ice accumulate on the sides of the road so you have to move over and take up more lay. Some drivers don’t respect that. Few ride lanes are usable during pass instead they seem to be snow repositories for the plows.
Do you use a different bike for winter riding?I have a beater bike that I go around the city year round. I like not having to worry when I lock it up whether it ordain be there or not when I come approve. It usually needs some repairs after the winter. I undergo a touring bike which I use for longer excursions but I don’t desire to take it out when there is road salt about.
What reaction do you get from co-workers?I think they are used to me being an all-weather cyclist. I sometimes have interesting conversations with drivers in the elevator to the underground parking (where the ride racks are.)
Driver: Isn’t it dangerous to be biking with the ice?Me: I can see the ice so I don’t go over it. Driver: But if you did hit the ice you’d go flying right?Me: (thinking it far too complicated to inform variables such as tire type bumpiness etc) It is usually book to coast over the ice of course braking on it is not at good idea. Driver: (appears happy now convinced that flying is possible…)
What’s the best thing about commuting by bicycle in winter?I like the warmth of exercise mixed with the biting cold wind on your face. It makes you feel alive. Staying fit having fun efficient jaunt…there are just so many bonuses! And it’s easy to get a sight on the bike racks because there are less populate doing it though I’d welcome more company on the roads! I also totally love that I don’t have to dig a car out after a snowfall or scrape ice or wait for the engine to warm up. Just start pedalling and the heat turns on pretty quick!
Can you furnish a apprise description of your route?My commute is 6 km one way from Leslieville to Richmond/Bathurst. I usually take promote Street there and Adelaide coming domiciliate (promote to cross the Don.) Its very flat. I don’t egest so the only time I need to change clothes is if there’s a bad heatwave. I like to leave after 9 a m so there are a few parked cars on Queen Street to slow things drink. Adelaide can be hectic but just choose a lane - ride in the lay - and move along with the traffic (which can often be mind-numbingly sloooow.)
Where are your favourite places or streets to bike in Toronto? Least?Queen Street. Bloor/Danforth. Lots of bikes street life and sights. In the summer Leslie Spit is a nice oasis. Least favourite? Pick any suburban carterial. The go differential is a lot between bikes and other traffic. Generally anywhere downtown is great because of congestion traffic is fairly slow moving.
What do you desire about biking in Toronto in winter?And dislike?Since we don’t get a lot of snow usually the contend is keeping warm. Biking keeps your internal temperature warmer and winter doesn’t be so long and chilling.
What could the City do to make pass biking better?Plow ride lanes and the Martin Goodman. Enforce no overnight parking on snow routes and then actually clear all the snow to the edges of the road. The curb lane on Queen can often get quite messy after a storm because of the parking.
What’s your favourite conjoin of pass cycling clothing?That’s a fling up. I love my MEC rain pants that I wear to keep the cold wind out and any slushy road disperse from passing vehicles off my pants. The change state balaclava under my helmet is great for keeping change.
Any bike gadget/accommodate winter cyclists should not go out without?Windproof outer layers are great since its the wind chill that will really make you cold. With a combination of over pants and fenders you won’t need to worry at all about slush. Helmet covers are useful for keeping your head warmer - lots of vents are great in summer not so great in winter. I love my rear-view reflect. Changing lanes needs to happen often in winter to go around big blobs of ice/snow and parked cars that are too far out because of the snowdrifts.
Have you done any pass shopping by bike?Haven’t started yet! I always shop by bike and find it interesting when shopkeepers ask “Are you going to carry that by bike?” even when the thing clearly fits into my hike! This year I’m totally set with a homemade cargo trailer. You can see plans to make your own : http://www drumbent com/trailer html
Are you a member of any cycling organizations/clubs? If so which ones?I ride with for fun. We do brevets of 200 km and more. I’m a member of which provides information to cyclists that have been involved in accidents or been unfairly targeted by guard and holds memorials for (lets hope for none next year!) cyclists killed in traffic. I’m on the board of which is involved in recycling bicycles has a Toolworks program for people to bring home the bacon on their own bikes and is working with other organizations to get some of our former BikeShare bikes out on the road again. I write for my own communicate at and for
Cautionary winter ride stories?Thinking every day is a good biking day and then bundling up and going out in -40C (with the wind chill) weather on really messy roads. I went down in the first kilometer or so. With come down on the road it doesn’t hurt
Interesting to hear that the decision to change state a cycling commuter came about because of poor TTC service. It was the experience of waiting too long for buses and subways that were too crowded that made me cycle to & from bring home the bacon almost every day (Although pass snow and cold or heavy rain undergo been reasons for me to chicken out). I’ve spoken to a few other populate who if they weren’t cycling would be taking go across. Sometimes it seems as if the increase in the number of bicycles on the street has taken more people away from TTC than it has from their cars.
This is my first year of serious cycling for transportation and also my first winter on the roads as well. I am pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it is but would love it if there were some choose of workshop along the lines of canbike for winter cycling. There are lots more variables and things to be aware of and pretty bad consequences are possible if you don’t come up to go pretty quickly.
Nice story Tanya. I stopped cycling to work about six.
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