The city has seen five fatalities so far in 2024, surpassing the combined number of cyclist deaths from 2021 to 2023
I do think the city needs to take blockages to bicycle lanes more seriously if they want to end cyclist deaths. I would guess that cyclists merging with car traffic that doesn’t expect them to merge because the bike path is blocked without any notice is the time of greatest risk for cyclist fatalities. I think the province/city needs to develop special signage of which I don’t think there is any currently; eg, “Bike lane closed,” "Car traffic: watch for merging cyclists and share the roads.
The city of Toronto announced on Monday that it was increasing fines to help curb illegal parking, including by raising the penalty for parking a prohibited vehicle on a bicycle path from $60 to $200. Albert Koehl, a coordinator with Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition, applauded that move but warned penalties only work if the rules are enforced.
Longfield said it “seems very likely” that the cyclist may have had to leave the bike lane to avoid an obstruction…
Exactly why there should be no exceptions for obstructions in bike lanes.
This includes parking, deliveries, drop-offs, school zone pick ups, moving trucks, repair vans, construction material skids, or anything else that forces a cyclist to move out of their lane.
