Feminist reflections on fitness, sport, and health
Or is it? I was sure I had seen a post about saying it was, but can’t find it now. No matter: I rode to work anyway, for the first time in over a year.
It’s the beginning of fall, and a perfect time to ride. No heat, no bugs, and the leaves are just starting to turn where I live.
Now that one little “day” has me back on my bike, I am planning to “ride the thermometer down” so that I can be sure to do International Winter Bike to Work Day on February 12, 2027.
I rode about 14 km total in Toronto last week, most on bike lanes. The total distance was less than 10 km, since I rode much of the same route going to and from my destination. A good chunk was on Bloor, which was busy, with many more bikes parked at bike racks alongside the road. Bikes are efficient, so lots of people got where they were going, then parked to go shopping or work.
On that stretch of Bloor, I saw two ghost bikes, plus one on Dundas. For those who don’t know, a ghost bike is a memorial for a person killed by a person in a car or truck, while riding their bicycle. Three in the short distance I rode is a shockingly high number.
But the Ontario government is starting to rip out the bike lanes following a court case. They are knowingly putting the lives of citizens at greater risk. And yes, it is “knowingly”.
According to the CBC “Internal documents from the Transportation Ministry that were made public as part of a court challenge to Bill 212 — the legislation that gave the province sweeping control over municipal bike lanes — …include a report prepared by engineering and urban planning firm CIMA+, which said collisions for all road users could increase upwards of 54 per cent if bike lanes are removed, based on existing research.”
The irony of ripping out an excellent climate change mitigation measure and then being hit by a major storm last week is also not lost on me.
Protected bike lanes and safe sidewalks are essential public safety infrastructure, not luxury amenities.
Downtown Toronto multi-unit housing (whether condos or apartments) are being built with less and less parking, and more people are relying on transit, biking and walking. Removing bike lanes without looking at how people actually get around the city doesn’t make sense.
The proposed alternative of moving some bike lanes to side streets will add significant distance compared to the current route, with lots of turns and street crossings that don’t have signals. Why not move the cars to the side streets instead? They can navigate that extra distance more easily than a person taking a couple of kids to school or the library on a cargo bike. Or someone with panniers full of groceries.
Nine years ago, Premier Ford said felt safer in a bike lane. Now, people who aren’t brave enough to take on Toronto traffic will be forced to abandon cycling as a transportation option. I don’t live in Toronto, but I visit often and love riding around the city to explore or do errands. I have even blogged about it.
I’ll leave you with one last image from this report on the court decision. It was taken by Patrick Morrell of the CBC. Assuming each car has the average 1.5 people, compare the space for those 5 cars vs the fourteen cyclists.
If you’re in Ontario, and a cyclist, you’re aware of our provincial government’s war on bike lanes.
First, the Ford government passed a bill that gave the province sweeping control over municipal bike lanes. It was called Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024.
An Ontario court ruled the government’s plan to remove protected bike lanes on Bloor Street, University Avenue, and Yonge Street in Toronto was unconstitutional. The court found the province’s plan to remove bike lanes would “put people at increased risk of harm and death, which engages the right to life and security of the person.” The province is appealing this ruling.
Second, the Ford government introduced Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, which restricts new bike lanes that require road reconfigurations. See Ontario proposal restricting bike lanes draws province-wide backlash. There were protests in Toronto, Ottawa, and Guelph over Bill 60.
To top it off, the City of Guelph is now considering a 2026 budget that proposes cuts to active transportation, cycling, and trail projects, including the elimination of winter bike lane snow removal. See the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation Call to Action here.
You can also find out more on the GirlsGaysTheys Guelph bike club Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/guelph.girlsgaystheys.bikeclub
Many people normally commute by bike to school or work. However, they stop riding in November when snow and ice threaten. These days though, e-bike purchases are on the rise and winter is getting warmer. I think many people would keep riding if the conditions were right.
Some conditions are within our control. Nat and I have both bought winter bike tires. But other conditions–like safe bike lanes clear of snow– are a collective matter.
Here on the blog, we’ve been reading about Nat’s winter commuting commitment. It hasn’t been smooth sailing. See Nat’s first week of wintry cycling kind of sucked.
We need to do better.
See past posts on winter riding:
Riding in the cold and the snow: A how-to, complete with bonus fashion tips!