As someone who rides my bike…

As someone who rides my bike in Toronto, I regularly encounter blocked bike lanes. Whether by parked cars or from construction chaos, too often I’ve been told that it’s no big deal and to “just go around”. My own safety often seems like an inconvenience.

Last week, a 24-year-old woman was killed by the driver of a large truck while she was trying to maneuver around a blocked bike lane. Her death is a tragic reminder that even along one of our busiest bikeways that sees thousands of cyclists a day, and in which one can travel almost exclusively on protected bike lanes, one unsafe segment can quickly turn one cyclist’s commute into a tragedy.

I am urging you to act now or else tragedies like the one on Thursday will continue to take place. Our cycling network is only as safe as its weakest link. Bikeways must be safe and passable by design for all ages and abilities (including women, children, and the elderly) or else only a small number of people will take up active transportation to help ease our worsening congestion woes.

Five people have been killed on our streets riding a bike in 2024. And none of those lives are less important than a construction project wrapping up a few days earlier than expected, or a delivery being made a few minutes faster. The convenience of a few does not outweigh the safety of everyone.

The status quo isn’t good enough. I am urging you to:

1. Ensure bikes lanes are not obstructed as a matter of ongoing public safety, not just periodic blitzes, and accelerate implementing automated enforcement parking programs and explore other reporting processes with an equity focused lens

2. Prioritize construction zone safety, including maintaining dedicated cycling facilities, eliminating road hazards, tougher penalties for failing to comply, and a creating a “mobility squad” to ensure obstacle-free travel on the city’s streets

3. Accelerate and expand our cycling network of connected bikeways to enable more people to feel safe to choose to ride a bike

My safety depends on it.