I am both a motorist and a cyclist. I also live in the west end of the city of Toronto. I believe it's a mistake to rip out the Bloor bike lane and am extremely disappointed in mayoral candidate Brad Bradford that one of his campaign promises is to remove the bike lane on Bloor Street West between South Kingsway and Resurrection Road.
I know this part of the city better than the back of my hand, and there is no alternative route for a safe cycling corridor. Blame Mimico Creek and the Humber River, but there is no substitute. Bloor makes much more sense than Dundas Street West, and the next east-west bike lane to the north is all the way up on Eglinton. To the south, it's the Waterfront Trail, unless the city wants to put a bike lane on The Queensway. I didn't think so.
I believe I have a good relationship with Brad Bradford, a man who has visited my home studio multiple times and has come to several TMLX (Toronto Mike'd Listener eXperience) events at Great Lakes Brewery, Palma's Kitchen and the GLB Brewpub, and I also know he's a cyclist. So my personal challenge to Brad is to cycle with me on the streets he deems a sensible alternative.
Trust me, there isn't one. And Brad knew this as recently as 2023 when he and 20 other councillors voted to approve bike lanes along the 5.7-kilometre stretch of Bloor Street West between Runnymede Road and Resurrection Road. That project passed 21-1, and it completely altered the way I commute across the city. It's not only sensible and slick, it's safe. And that's why I've cycled this stretch often with my children.
There is no alternative. Leave the Bloor bike lane alone.
