Bike lanes are under threat in many cities, even when they work. Two studies dropped last week, which should give politicians like Ontario Premier Doug Ford something to think about, if he could think. One is very local: a traffic count in Toronto’s Bloor Street bike lane, which he intends to rip out because he claims it causes traffic congestion and slows his drive to the office. (See Doug Ford will have blood on his hands if he rips out Toronto bike lanes)
On June 11, the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition set up cameras on the second floor of Curbside Cycle and counted every vehicle that passed over an imaginary line in the road during peak travel times. While Doug Ford claims that only 1.2% of Torontonians commute by bike, the study showed that during the afternoon rush hours, bikes, including e-bikes and other micro mobility devices, represented over 50% of all vehicular traffic.
“The upward trend for cycling continues in our city, as it does elsewhere when bike lanes are in place,” said Albert Koehl, Coordinator at Community Bikeways in a press release. “What’s especially impressive is that during the 5-7 p.m. rush hours, there were more bikes than cars, even though only a fraction of the roadway is actually set aside for cyclists. We are again seeing the importance of bike lanes for city residents on their way to work or school, to shop, or to go to appointments and meetings.”
