The Ford government is promising to pay the cost of removing bike lanes from major city streets that fail to meet its unannounced criteria as it ploughs ahead with a plan to limit biking infrastructure and rip out some routes.
Basically, “We don’t have money to build new cycling infrastructure, but we’ll pay to remove existing cycling infrastructure!”.
If he forces the removal of even a single bike lane, I hope that Ontario cyclists stage ride protests every single week to actually cause congestion and worsen traffic until this guy stops. And so that drivers know how bad it can get, have signs that say “Is this really what you want? We need bike lanes.”
Ironically, it may even be more effective if Ontario cyclists started taking their cars everywhere… which is really the source of traffic congestion in the first place.
I would really like to get a critical mass group going in toronto so we can bike all the major streets in Toronto in groups of hundreds or more.
I could easily happen to ride through a particular street at a particular time. Weekends are easier although I’m not sure what the effectiveness is on the weekend vs the weekdays. Weekday during commute time would be impactful. The morning commute would affect businesses more and workers less. Evening commute would affect businesses less and workers more. Eat from work hours vs leisure hours. Weekends would likely eat from leisure hours too.
San Francisco’s critical mass was successful to the point it almost doesn’t exist anymore (it’s not necessary anymore with better political engagement). I believe it was successful because it:
- started at the same location and time (once a month on a Friday)
- occurred during evening commute hours
- had no formal leadership
- no planned route until just before departure
This combination meant authorities had no ability to shut it down. What office could the raid? How could they bring a lawsuit?
Once a month on a Friday meant it didn’t have to be about your commute. Rather you’d leave work and ride to the start point. It was a protest first and a utility second (though the route did start from the financial center of the city).
Take a look at bike parties if you’re looking more for a community ride. They bring more of a general supportive base than as a protest.
Yes, but if you do, please try to arrange a few on weekends.
The large protest tomorrow is at 5pm (on a weekday)… you lose a lot of potential participants just because of that! I would be joining all the way from Oshawa, but not if I have to take time off work to participate. 😭
Toronto cyclists need to get a look at Critical Mass an another bike protest around the world. Coordinate some bike gatherings, ocupy the entire street and cause a lock on traffic a couple of times each month and see how suddenly they’re political will for the bike lanes, even by car users.
