Bicycles and their dedicated riders are on the move throughout Toronto, and that's a healthy development. But cycling culture needs an extra push in this car-clogged city.
Cycling provides an excellent physical workout, without the pounding shocks to knees and shins associated with jogging. It further promotes public health in that devotees of pedal power aren't getting where they want to go in a pollution-spewing automobile. And all who cycle, instead of using a car, are doing their bit to ease Toronto's traffic congestion. Mayor David Miller has made himself a "spokes person" on the issue, declaring this Bike Week in Toronto.That official status marks both a celebration and a welcome encouragement of cycling culture.
About 35 kilometres of bike routes are being opened in the city this spring, and the Toronto Transit Commission has launched a pilot project equipping some of its buses with bike racks. This should allow cyclists to ride for part of a long journey and pedal the rest of the way.
That's a start. Many more bike paths and lanes are needed. Toronto has about 290 kilometres of such routes. About 1,000 kilometres are expected by the year 2020. But, given the benefits of cycling, that seems too long to wait. Toronto is rolling forward in support of the two-wheeler, but it should be moving faster.
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