D: the verdict is still out on winter.
I attempted winter cycling last year. It failed for a number or reasons.
1) heavy snowfall
2) bike lanes are not cleared
3) sidewalk clearing by the city was voted down
4) sidewalk clearing by individuals has never been heavily enforced.
(The sole person is in an office. Any reason why traffic enforcement couldn't do this?!?)
5) I got hit by a vehicle. My bike was wrecked. (Rolling stop, no visual check at all.)
This doesn't just hurt cyclists. It hurts bus commuters.
We were standing on rounded slick piles of snow even uptown for days, wading through knee-high piles. The city doesn't clean snow from even the main bus route after heavy snowfall!
Plus once off the bus, folks then use sidewalks.
If sidewalks adjacent to main routes (even main routes - the liquor store and the 7-11 on King/ near Victoria even!) are not clean, then the bus/walk combo ceases to be viable.
When the dust settles, the methodical neglect of all other forms of transportation favours... the car. Surprise.
What do I recommend?
1) call in anyone after 24 hours after heavy snowfall that doesn't clean their sidewalk
2) push the city to clean sidewalks (it amounts to c. 1% more taxes)
3) I'll set up a Hall of Shame each week, for those who leave it that long.
Might I recommend the following bus/bike/sidewalk arrangement?
1) mandate one yard gap b/w road and sidewalk, for snow pileup
2) don't put bike lanes on bus routes if it can be helped
3) don't have on-road parking by bike lanes - that's a great way to get doored.
BTW, I react to on-road parking by occupying an entire lane. Safety.
Given recent court cases, it seems nobody will be charged with anything for dooring a cyclist to death.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/06/27/woman-charged-in-toronto-cyclist-s-death.aspx
D: I stand corrected. A traffic violation for negligence causing death. That's nice.
"Toronto police have charged the 43-year-old woman who opened the door of her car without looking and sent a cyclist tumbling to his death last month.
The charge, requested by cycling activists, is “Open Vehicle Door Improperly,” under the Highway Traffic Act.
The cyclist, 57, was travelling east on Eglinton Avenue West, just west of Avenue Road, when the door to a parked Volvo opened in front of him, Toronto police said. He lost his balance and fell into the path of a cube van."
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Cruzbike update:
- the bike store had no idea what a quill to ahead adapter was.
I had to find an online pic and link for them.
- I was wrong about the different threading type being the issue.
- the bike rack/folding baskets are attached. the fat rack tubing didn't fit with the brackets provided
- putting the kit on a teen's 15"ish inch frame makes for a nimble bike, but one unstable at high speed
- the 24" tires also cap speed at 30kph before my pedal cadence 'spins out'.
I either need a SRAM dualdrive /8 cassette or a Schlumph Hyperdrive.
Since the SHD can be used in future projects, I may go with that.
The Cruzbike is providing indispensable experience in steering a (quasi) mid-steer though.
One last thing:
1) invest in all-new brake and gear cabling. The improv use of shorter lengths results in a spongy feel and some gear clatter.
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Trivial aside: cheap beater bikes (20-30 bux) can be had at locations:
1) Recycle Cycles, through the Work Centre
2) old Ed on William Street in Waterloo. Where Euclid meets. Looks for bike shed in the back, use side door.
