monkeymartian

On my current 10km Richmond Hill to Markham bike commute, 2/3 of the distance is on quiet residential roads and collectors, and 1/3 on arterials with 60-70 km/h speed limits. I’ve written (whined?) about this in the past. My least favourite road is 16th Avenue. I ride it between Leslie Street and Woodbine. See the rest of the post for a long-winded discussion of the challenges and some of the ways I cope with them out here in the suburbs. I realize that all the challenges are not specifically suburban in nature.

Arterial roads

Suburban arterial roads with two (or more) lanes of traffic going each way pose certain challenges to the would-be bicycle commuter. Posted speed limits are high and often ignored, even in low-speed areas. The volume of traffic during the rush hour periods is also high. In my experience, morning commutes seem to be worse, as the traffic is distributed over a few hours and the cars seem to drag race thing from stop light to stop light, trying to pass cars for a single car length advantage. Increased volume and the associated traffic congestion in the afternoon usually means slower vehicle speeds, and I have a greater perception of safety as I can often take the lane and keep up with traffic.

Door prize incidents are pretty rare, as no one parks on the arterials. This is suburbia after all, and parking isn’t usually a problem. However be aware that if you filter on the right at a stop light. Passengers sometimes get out if the traffic is heavy (I guess they figure they can get where they are going faster by hoofing it). If this happens, you’ll have nowhere to go. Furthermore, nothing seems to anger drivers more than showing them the superiority of the bicycle as a means of conveyance. I don’t like getting honked or yelled at as they pass me 3-400 metres up the street with engine revving. So, I pretend I’m a car at stoplights by taking the lane and waiting my turn in line. Mostly.

Crossing the Expressway

In my area, I have to contend with crossing Highway 407 if I go south, Highway 404 if I go east and Highway 400 if I go west. Bridges of any sort cost lots of money, so there are few (if any!) mid-block connections that can be used as alternate routes for the suburban bicycle commuter. You are likely going to have to cross one of these things. As anyone who has tried to navigate an interchange by bicycle can attest to, moving through these connections can be challenging and downright scary.

I find it best to keep my cool, be very aware of where I’m positioned and take the lane where necessary. This isn’t always easy to do. It is sometime difficult to even position yourself out in the lane if the traffic is particularly heavy and fast moving. I use a helmet mounted mirror to look for gaps, and do lots and lots of shoulder checks. The shoulder checks are important not only for the obvious reason to look for cars, but also as a way to communicate to the drivers behind you that you might be making a move. Taking the lane can be important near on-ramps, or lanes that connect to on-ramps, as well as travelling through the dreaded underpasses.

Motorists can be impatient and will sometimes buzz past you just to make a right hand turn in front of you to get to the on-ramp. Often they don’t realize just how fast the bicycle rider can move and this can lead to a right-hook. The right hook is one of the reasons why I don’t generally filter through traffic at lights anymore.

Underpasses are another obstacle. I have the perception that the road narrows as it passes under the highway. I don’t know if this is the case, or a visual phenomenon caused by the walls of the bridge. The change in light conditions also makes me nervous in terms of my visibility to drivers. There really isn’t anywhere to go in the curb lane under the bridge, so I try to take the lane before I get there.

Plan ‘B’

While I don’t normally advocate riding on them, sidewalks can be used as a back-up plan if things get hairy. The problem is that the sidewalks literally end in critical places such as the underpasses. Highway 7 and the 404 is one example, 16th Avenue and the 404 is another. These areas are uncomfortable to bicycle through or walk across, and are real barriers to any kind of active transportation. Often, there are footpaths worn in the grass around these areas. I take these informal paths as a signal that sidewalks are required and would be used.

If you do ride on the sidewalk to avoid the traffic madness, be aware that drivers don’t expect to see you there when crossing parking lot entrances or side streets. It’s a sad fact, but you are unlikely to encounter many pedestrians along arterials in employment areas. If you do, make sure to give them the right of way. All in all, use sidewalks judiciously, if at all.

Dealing with the big stuff: trucks & buses

Cars are one thing, dump trucks and semi trailers are another. Many of the tragedies that occurred to cyclists in Toronto last year involved trucks. A coroner’s report almost a decade old recommended the use of side guards on trucks, but sadly I don’t expect these anytime soon. While side guards would make things safer there are things you can do to deal with this kind of traffic

Be visible
Wear bright clothing, and try to avoid riding into the sunrise or sunset. In the cooler months, I wear a yellow jacket. If it’s overcast or I don’t have anything bright to wear, I’ll put on a reflective yellow and orange vest. Sure, your roadie buddies will call you ‘Fred and the neighbourhood kids will think you are a crossing guard, but it goes a long way to being seen. Don’t think that bright duds guarantee they’ll see you, though. If you need to ride in the dark, make sure you’ve got adequate lights.

Know where the trucks are.
As I wrote before, I use a mirror to take quick glances behind me. This doesn’t replace frequent shoulder checks, but it helps me determine when I might need to act. Use your ears as well. Big trucks make a lot of noise, particularly when they gear up and down at traffic signals. A few days on your commute and you’ll know where to expect trucks and other larger vehicles.

Be selfish. Don’t share a lane with trucks.
In my experience, I have found the following to be a fairly successful way to deal with trucks and buses. Once I see one in my mirror, I’ll shoulder check to see the gap. Trucks will often have quite a gap in front of them, as they are slow to start up from a stoplight. I’ll continue to make shoulder checks to make sure there are no cars, and then ease my way out into the lane. I’ll continue to look behind me, right at the driver if I can. Normally, a truck or bus driver gets the picture and will move left to pass you. Sometimes you need to take the whole lane, but they will generally move over. Keep watching the truck or bus as it passes you. Again, drivers seem to have a hard time judging just how fast a bicycle can travel and may start their turn back into the curb lane while you are in it.

I know it seems counterintuitive to move in front of a semi, but remember they are not out there looking to kill you. Drivers sometimes need a reminder that cyclists need space, too. Take that space.

Filtering is controversial, but under no circumstances will I do this around trucks or buses. This is a good to get involved in a right hook or a “red light of death.”

Getting buzzed

No, not that kind of buzzed (you shouldn’t be riding!). It’s going to happen. Circumstances beyond your control are going to mean that sometimes a truck or bus is going to get close to you. I don’t know why truckers just don’t move over, but I guess they have confidence in their skills. I don’t and that’s why I like force them to move over.

When you see how big the tires of a semi are, and all that space under the trailer that looks like it wants to swallow you up, it’s easy to panic. Use your best judgement, tighten that sphincter and hold your line. If you get bullied into the gutter, be very careful of debris, sewer grates and the actual curb. Getting forced there is no fun. If the truck is going really fast, you need to make sure that you don’t get pulled in. The wind rush from a truck can be fearsome.

Conclusion

Bicycle commuting in suburban Toronto is generally fun and enjoyable, but there are problems to deal with. I’ve developed my own strategies for dealing with the challenges of arterial roads, expressway crossings and trucks. Like anything else, your mileage may vary, and I’d love to hear about how others deal with similar situations.

Ride with others if you can, and ride often. You may just inspire somone else to hang up the car keys once in a while and get around by bike.