One of the best ways to get out and explore Toronto is by bike. If avoiding traffic and packed public transit sounds good to you (who wouldn’t want that?), then cycling is a great alternative. If you’re getting ready to dust off your bike and need a refresher, or are thinking about getting into cycling in Toronto this summer, here’s what you need to know.
How do you find the best routes?
Not all of Toronto is as lucky as us to have an excellent infrastructure for biking as there is along Queens Quay. To make a fast and safe route to your destination, you’ll want to know about where the best cycling routes are around the city, so click here to check our Toronto’s cycling map. On the map you’ll find the city’s bike lanes, trails, cycle tracks, sharrows, shared roadways, and contra-flow bike lanes. This is a great tool to help you plan your trip!
How do you deal with cars and streetcars?
The trickiest part about dealing with cycling in Toronto and streetcars isn’t the vehicles themselves, it’s the tracks. No one wants to get their tire stuck in the track and suffer those consequences. To avoid this, always be sure to cross streetcar tracks at as close of a 90 degree angle as possible.
When you’re nearing a streetcar, just remember that the rules of the road still apply to you. By law, drivers are required to stop when the back doors of a streetcar are opened and that applies to cyclists as well to help keep everyone safe as people exit the streetcar.
A major fear when cycling in Toronto is the chance of getting doored by a parked car. What does that mean exactly? It’s when drivers open their car door just as cyclists are passing by. To lessen the chances of this happening to you, be sure to use your bell! By law all Toronto bikes should have a bell on them and it’s for your safety, so use it.
Where should you park your bike?
If you’re wondering where the best spot to park your bike is, the posts that have been installed by the city are your best bet. Be wary of locking your bike to railings on private property as they may go ahead and confiscate your bike for doing so. If you’re not sure where to find the closest posts to you, check this handy tool. It’ll show you the closest bike parking to you based on your location!
How do you keep your bike from getting stolen?
Stories of bike theft in Toronto are all too common, but there are plenty of steps that you can take to help avoid that. First of all, when it comes to the lock itself you should invest in a quality lock. A steel U-lock or a hardened chain with padlock are two of your best bets to help keep your bike safe. For extra protection, use two different locks on your bike that lock each of your tires to the bike itself. This will help to keep people from stealing your wheels but also make it more difficult for a theft since they’d need to use two different tools.
You can also be proactive and register your bike’s serial number with the police to help increase the likelihood of it being returned to you in case it does get stolen. Knock on wood that it doesn’t come to that though!
Do you have any other tips to add when it comes to cycling in Toronto? Let us know on Twitter!