Only 1.2% commute by bicycle…

Only 1.2% commute by bicycle?! After hearing this statistic, I must say that it's disappointing to have these bike lanes in the streets and have only 1.2% of people commuting by bicycle. Exactly to the point, we're not doing enough!

If our meagre bike network has only encouraged such a small number of folks to ride their bicycles to work; then why not is this a call to action to expand and enrich cycling infrastructure? Cycling and other micro-mobility options are only feasible when there's a well connected infrastructure of safe bike lanes. A well plowed, maintained street with protected bike lanes is all for naught if every other street on one's route doesn't have similar treatment.

Why can't a common-sense approach factor give fair access to citizens and residents of any town or region to choose how they travel. Whose common sense are we referring to? I think it's common sense to encourage freedom of movement and making it clear that cycling is a viable alternative to driving. It's common sense to not dedicate such vast resources to a mode of transportation that struggles to be efficient in nearly all situations. We need to share our common spaces!

Side roads in Toronto meander and are interrupted by many right-of-way conflicts. Further, there aren't many "destinations" on side-roads. Routes become convoluted and the added time of navigating these side-streets makes cycling undesirable.

Only 1.2%? (and I do recognize that this old number is a number of convenience and not representative of the needs of the downtown Toronto core) Exactly! We can do better. Help us do better!