Bicycles As Transport - The Bikeport

Bike Lanes: What They Are, And Common Errors People Make

What Is A Bike Lane?

Bicycle lanes are typically delineated using a solid white edge line, marked by two white symbols: A diamond and a bicycle, used in conjunction with a Reserved Bicycle Lane sign.

See the Ontario Traffic Manual, Book 18 – Cycling Facilities for more details:
OTM Book 18 Oct 5 2021.indb (ontario-traffic-council.s3.amazonaws.com)

Bike lanes are reserved for people using bicycles, creating a separate space for their right-of-way, separate from motor vehicles, allowing both modes to operate safely and efficiently.

The beginning of the Vodden Street bike lane at the Etobicoke Creek Trail, looking east over the Etobicoke Creek.

Bike lanes are marked by signage and road markings, as shown here.

What Is “Right-Of-Way”?

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act makes reference to something called “right-of-way”. People might be used to hearing language like this in the context of their fundamental rights (and freedoms), which are not the same thing. The Ontario HTA doesn’t guarantee anyone right-of-way. That’s not how it works.

Right-of-way is an old concept, and the key part of this language isn’t “right”, it’s “way”. If you hear language like “make way” or “give way”, this language determines who is expected to take the action of yielding to make way to whomever has right-of-way. Another way to look at it is: Whose turn is it?

Right-of-way helps to establish common expectations so that people are able to move safely. It also expects courtesy, to anticipate people making mistakes, and to be prepared to yield when the way, or direction of travel, is no longer safe.

an controlled intersection — Diagram 2-19, depicting an intersection with stop signs at all corners. © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2012–22

“But you need to do more than just obey the rules. You must care about the safety of others on the road. Everyone is responsible for avoiding collisions. Even if someone else does something wrong, you may be found responsible for a collision if you could have done something to avoid it.”
“And you must be courteous. Courteous driving means giving other drivers space to change lanes, not cutting them off. And, signaling your turns and lane changes properly.”
Ministry of Transportation of Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/safe-and-responsible-driving

“For example, if someone enters an intersection ahead of you, even if you should have been the first to go ahead, you are now expected to yield to that vehicle. If you don’t, you could be charged in any resulting crash.”
Driving.ca: https://driving.ca/column/how-it-works/how-it-works-right-of-way

Common Bike Lane Errors

Sometimes, people forget or are confused about the rules of what they are allowed to do with their cars in a reserved bicycle lane. The most common errors are:

Parking In A Bike Lane

A car incorrectly parked in a bicycle reserved lane.

It’s common for cities to allow car owners to park their vehicles on the road. However, this is a privilege that is not always available. Bike lanes are not spaces to park cars, they are spaces reserved for bicycle use.

Using A Bike Lane As A Turn Lane

In Ontario, standards for bike lanes have been evolving quickly. Sometimes this means that a person can expect to see slightly different markings around bike lanes, which can mean different things. Some bike lanes follow an older design that allows cars to encroach into the lane to allow for a right-turn.

A driver correctly encroaching into a bicycle reserved lane where permitted and lines are dashed, to make a right turn.

The more modern designs do not have this accommodation. Solid white lines and signs now direct drivers to yield to cyclists at intersections. It’s important for people operating cars and bicycles to know the difference, and what to expect at each intersection.

Drivers incorrectly encroach into a bicycle reserved lane, marked by solid white lines, to make a right turn.

Signage indicating right-of-way hierarchy: Cyclists yield to encroaching transit vehicles (for boarding and egress of passengers); Drivers yield to cyclists before completing a right turn.

Bicycles as transport is becoming more popular in the GTA, including Brampton. Bike lane design in Canada is starting better align with the best practices of cycling nations like Denmark and the Netherlands. As designs iterate and improve, it’s important for everyone to update their knowledge of how to use road space safely.

2021: Heading Back To School?

Needless to say: This COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging.

Some areas are re-opening schools for in-person learning this September. You might be considering using your bicycle to avoid crowded buses, or just to enjoy some much sought-after fresh air.

In any case, make sure your bicycle is ready to take back to school by taking a look at these locks, bells, and lights.

Shop Back To School Essentials

Put Your Bike To Work For #BikeMonth

For many, Bike To Work Day won’t be quite as meaningful as before the pandemic, back in 2019. However, there are still essential trips to be done. For this reason, during #BikeMonth 2021, The Bikeport wants to see how you put your “bike to work” by using #BicyclesAsTransport for your essential trips — and especially getting your vaccine!

Want to participate? All you need to do for the duration of #BikeMonth is post a photo of how you put your bike to work, and The Bikeport will re-share as many possible! Remember to use the hashtag #BicyclesAsTransport, and include @thebikeport when posting it to either Twitter or Instagram.

Please remember to follow all public health guidelines. Happy Bike Month!

Bicycles As Transport: Intersections

We don’t often consider just how overwhelming intersections can be. All kinds of people, using different methods to get around — walking, cycling, and driving — taking turns to traverse space.

For this to work, it’s important to understand this key point: Yielding the right-of-way.

Right Of Way

“Right of way” refers to the legal right of a road user to proceed with precedence over others in a particular situation or place. Put simply, it means “who’s turn is it”.

It’s been written that “right of way is given, not taken“. For this practice to work, those who do not have precedence must yield, or give way. Importantly, if someone erroneously proceeds into an intersection ahead of you, you are expected to yield to avoid a collision.

Options For Traversing An Intersection With A Bicycle

Note: Much of this information is available on The Official Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Driver’s Handbook.

Dismount and Walk (Crosswalk)

You might decide that an intersection is too busy, or that you are otherwise uncomfortable using your bicycle, and would feel more comfortable walking through the intersection. In this case, follow advice for pedestrian traffic.

Cross at marked crosswalks or crossovers.
Preferably, confirm that drivers can see you before you cross. Try to make eye contact before you step into the road.

At A Pedestrian Traffic Signal

Cross at the start of the “Walk” signal.
Do not start to cross if you see a flashing “Do Not Walk” signal. If you already started to cross, you can complete your crossing. Otherwise, you are now expected to give way.
Watch for turning traffic.
Do not cross on a solid “Do Not Walk” signal. This signal means that you are now expected to give way.

Use Bicycle Facilities (Crossrides)

Some intersections will have space specifically for bicycle use. These spaces are called “crossrides”, as opposed to crosswalks which are meant for on-foot pedestrian traffic only.

There are different kinds of crossrides. Each work a little bit differently in how they separate bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Watch for pedestrians.
Cross at marked crossrides.
Preferably, confirm that drivers can see you before you cross. Try to make eye contact before you ride into the road.

At A Bicycle Traffic Light

Cross at the start of the green light.
Do not start to cross if the light turns yellow. If you already started to cross, you can complete your crossing.
Watch for turning traffic.
Do not cross on a red light. This signal means that you are now expected to give way to others.

Use General Traffic Facilities (The Road)

Finally, some people might feel perfectly comfortable using their bicycle in the same general road space and facilities as people using automobiles. In this case, the same expectations for motorists also apply for cyclists.

Watch for pedestrians.
You must yield the right-of-way to a vehicle approaching the intersection before you.
If two vehicles come to an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
At an intersection with stop signs at all corners, you must yield the right-of-way to the first vehicle to come to a complete stop.
At any intersection where you want to turn left or right, you must yield the right-of-way. If you are turning left, you must wait for approaching traffic to pass or turn and for pedestrians in or approaching your path to cross.

At A Traffic Light

Cross at the start of the green light.
If the light has been green for a while, be prepared to stop when it turns yellow.
Do not start to cross if the light turns yellow. If you already started to cross, you can complete your crossing.
Watch for turning traffic.
Do not cross on a red light. This signal means that you are now expected to give way to others.

Disclaimer: “Bicycle As Transport” videos and articles are for demonstration purposes to provide general information on lawfully using a bicycle. They are not CAN-BIKE instructions, are not comprehensive, nor provides specific advice or any guarantees. You must determine for yourself what your experience, training and competency level is with using a bicycle. The Bikeport by Kevin Montgomery disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.

To arrange a CAN-BIKE course, please visit:
http://bikeport.ca/courses/available-courses/

World Bicycle Day, 2020

As we recognize World Bicycle Day in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are not working or are working from home. Either way, we might not be getting as much activity into our daily lives as we ought to. Using a bicycle to complete your essential trips is one way to help address this.

Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling, or doing sports – has significant benefits for health. At all ages, the benefits of being physically active outweigh potential harm, for example through accidents. Some physical activity is better than none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can quite easily achieve the recommended activity levels.

Bicycles As Transport: Vodden Street Bike Lanes

This episode of Bicycles As Transport discusses the new Vodden Street Bike Lanes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything about how we do things on a day-to-day basis. This is particularly true with transportation, with the need for more physical distancing.

The City of Brampton is one of many cities around the world that are looking at ways of using space differently. Throughout the Region of Peel, there’s been a 33% reduction in automobile traffic. At one point, Toronto reported a 73% reduction. Many people have found themselves without work, or working from home, as a result of this pandemic.

What about the people who do need to go to work? Our essential service workers? The City of Brampton has continued to run Brampton Transit with transit vehicles running at half capacity. This has created new pressures to make sure there is enough service on busier routes.

There are more people using pathways and recreation trails. While pedestrian traffic are able to gap themselves accordingly for physical distancing, there isn’t a lot of space remaining to operate a bicycle safely in between people.

Vodden Street provides a critical east-west cycling corridor across the City of Brampton. Vodden Street connects to many important amenities (see 360 video below for examples). Brampton also has a challenge with crossing the heavily used Highway 410. Vodden Street is one of the few roads that crosses over the 410 without conflict with automobile traffic trying to access the highway.

Essential Locations, Accessible From Vodden Street

Pharmacies
Grocery Stores
Hardware Store
Computer Repair
Food Takeaway Locations

Vodden Street also has the benefit of connecting to several trail systems, including the Etobicoke Creek Trail, Esker Lake Trail, and Chinguacousy Trail.

Remember to subscribe for future episodes!

Disclaimer: “Bicycle As Transport” videos are for demonstration purposes to provide general information on lawfully using a bicycle. They are not CAN-BIKE instruction videos, are not comprehensive, nor provides specific advice or any guarantees. You must determine for yourself what your experience, training and competency level is with using a bicycle. The Bikeport by Kevin Montgomery disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.

To arrange a CAN-BIKE course, please visit:
http://bikeport.ca/courses/available-courses/

Bicycles As Transport: Local Roads

This episode of Bicycles As Transport discusses local roads.

In the absence of nearby bike lanes or recreation trails, local roads to connect you to these facilities will likely be the route you’ll need to take.

General Expectations

Follow all traffic laws.

Kevin Montgomery, stopping at a stop sign.

Keep Right.

Ride about a meter from the curb.
Sewer grates are useful for measuring the distance from curbs.

Bicycles, as slower-moving traffic, need to keep to the right of the road to allow faster moving vehicles to overtake. Keep about a meter from the curb, or from parked cars.

Take Space If Necessary.

“Taking the lane”
Moving away from the curb to overtake a parked car obstructing the path ahead.

There is room for discretion. People can lawfully use bicycles in any part of the lane. If a person on a bicycle feels that the path they are traveling on is unsafe for any reason, such as potholes, obstructions, or because of a change in direction ahead such as preparing to make a left turn, they are allowed to adjust their position to the left.

Remember, when changing position: Shoulder-check, signal your intent, shoulder-check to make sure the way is clear before changing your position. For more information, please refer to Bike Handling Skills.

A non-exhaustive compilation of online references and things to know about using a bicycle on local roads is available on The Bikeport website. Particularly Traffic Skills.

For additional information, please check out the Ministry of Transportation for The Government of Ontario (MTO) website.

Bicycles Do Not Require

Registration
Licence plates
Vehicle insurance
Driver’s licence

People of all ages can ride a bike!

Remember to subscribe for future episodes!

To arrange a CAN-BIKE course, please visit:
http://bikeport.ca/courses/available-courses/

Bicycles As Transport: Painted Shoulders and Bike Lanes

This episode of Bicycles As Transport discusses Painted Shoulders and Bike Lanes.

Urban shoulders serve several purposes. Apart from serving as a space that people can use their bicycles in, they also serve as spaces for people to park their cars. There are usually no markings or signs to indicate that it’s a cycling-specific facility, and to avoid confusion. The constraint on these spaces is that they can only serve one purpose at a time: Either as a space to use a bicycle, or a space to park a car. When use a bicycle in such a facility, you’ll need to be prepared to exit the shoulder if necessary to overtake parked cars that are using the space.

Bike lanes, on the other hand, are different. They will be clearly marked and/or signed as a bicycle-only facility. They are not lawful places to park cars.

Remember to subscribe for future episodes!

To arrange a CAN-BIKE course, please visit:
http://bikeport.ca/courses/available-courses/

COVID-19 & Tune-ups

Does your bicycle need a tune-up, but you’re concerned about social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

velofix has assured The Bikeport that “they can work with that“.

We take the health and safety of our customers and ourselves very seriously.
If you are looking to book a service and have concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus, please note that we can handle most jobs without physical interaction or contact.
We are also practising social distancing by foregoing handshakes and inviting riders into the Mobile Bike Shops.
If you prefer to avoid contact, please make a note in your booking and leave your bike(s) in an area we can access. We can invoice you via email once the service is completed.

See More On Repairs

Bicycles As Transport, In Winter

In Canada, there are mixed feelings about whether a bicycle is an appropriate transport choice in winter. Responses to this idea (as of the time of this writing) often include statements along the lines of “you can’t ride in the cold” or “you can’t ride in the snow”.

The weather has been cooler. The days shorter. Does winter mean that bicycles can no longer useful transport tools?

Not at all.

As with any other winter activity, using a bicycle can still be done when preparations are made.

Winter Cycling