Comments for Dodgeville

Comment on Todd Morden Mills by Pamela Simmonds

Pamela Simmonds — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:47:14 +0000

The Todd Morden in that Facebook picture is my partner! Lol

Comment on Mackenzie King generates some political capital by Mworkin

Mworkin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:09:33 +0000

Thank you, Val, for this story and photos. I was at the gravesite recently recently and found the monuments covered in coins, mostly pennies with the odd nickel. They looked like they had been there some time.

Comment on Custom bike trailer by Ricardo

Ricardo — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:10:05 +0000

George P,

How much weight can your trailer hold?

Comment on Meet Cliff by Larry

Larry — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:30:34 +0000

Parking in the bike lane’s not even that convenient when you have to pull out into traffic again.

The whole mybikelane.com site is no more, so you should definitely post this to mybikelane.to so people can find out just how special Cliff is.

Comment on Supermarket Finds: Pre-ripened fruit by W. K. Lis

W. K. Lis — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:26:05 +0000

“Pre-ripened” means to me that the produce could get bruised by the time they get to your home. It maybe fine if one will eat them then and there, but not fine if I’m not going to eat them until I home or the next day.

Comment on Cyclist's revenge by Val Dodge

Val Dodge — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:05:32 +0000

Actually, the Highway Traffic Act says that a slower vehicle (not just a bike) should move to the right, and, on a multi-lane road, that just means being “in the right-hand lane.” If you accept some car drivers’ assertions that bikes must actively give way to cars even on multi-lane roads, then all of the cars downtown in rush hour should be piled up at the curb so that the fast-moving bikes can pass in the left lane.

But to address your point, I’m well aware of what the HTA says about cars and bikes. The problem is that many motorists think that it means that cyclists have to ride with our tires almost rubbing the curb and that any other position is somehow illegal unless we’re portaging around a yawning crevasse. But the lane mentioned in this post is too narrow for a car (never mind a truck) and bike to share, so it wouldn’t matter whether I was scraping the curb or as far left as I could go, whoever’s behind me is going to have to change lanes to pass. Additionally, there’s a restriction against turning right on red at the red light where we were were waiting and there was a car parked in the lane about 100 metres up ahead. So here’s a guy who has to wait at the light anyway if he’s turning, and who can’t continue in the lane if he’s going straight: either way, he has to get out of the lane. What’s the point of yelling at the cyclist? Why not yell at whoever parked the car?

In the end, as a cyclist, I chose my lane position not because I want to piss off drivers or get in their way, but because I’m trying to arrive at my destination without being hit by another vehicle. Many non-cyclists don’t understand this, but riding smack in the middle of the lane can be the safest place for a rider to be. My safety is my responsibility, and I’m not going to sacrifice it just because a driver has to change lanes to go around me or wait five seconds for me to clear an intersection.

I drive too, but whenever I have to wait for a few seconds behind a cyclist, I realize it’s not the cyclist that I’m waiting behind, it’s the hundred other cars in front of both of us, the double-parked delivery truck, the BMW illegally parked outside the Starbucks, the condo under construction that’s closed a traffic lane for the last three months…

If the only traffic I encountered that day was that lone cyclist riding taking a lane, it would be a peaceful day.

Comment on Cyclist's revenge by Len

Len — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:32:28 +0000

Just so you know …
According to the Highway Traffic Act, cyclists travelling at less than the normal speed of traffic should ride in the right-hand lane when practicable, and as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway (Section 147.1). In some situations it may not be practicable or safe for cyclists to ride adjacent to the curb. For example, there may be debris or poor pavement in the curb area that poses a hazard to cyclists; or the lane may be too narrow for cyclists and motorists to travel side-by-side, so the cyclist may “take the lane” to discourage the motorist from passing too closely.
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This is not a dig. Just something more cyclists, and motorists, should be aware of. I am not a cyclist, I’m one of ‘those’ motorists on the road. Not the ‘get the cyclist’ type but one who understands the struggles of being a cyclist in Toronto AND the struggles of it’s motorists. There can be idiots on both sides but, sadly, there is definitely a need for more education for all concerned. I was an avid cyclist back in the 70′s. I rode from Don Mills and Eglinton to 1 Yonge Street every day down through the valley on dirt paths past the Domtar factory and onto the dreaded Bayview Avenue. Long before bike paths and bike lanes were prevalent in Toronto. Those were scary days. In fact, the day they opened a bike path south of the Brickworks to just north of Rosedale Valley Road, I was in amazement. Hmm … things have come a long way in the development of paths and lanes but education of the people sharing the road has a long way to go. BTW, I enjoy your blog and periodically drop by to see how things are going.

Comment on The worst Christmas present ever by Val Dodge

Val Dodge — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:58:25 +0000

Certainly; she’s now my go-to composite character to represent all of the evils of urban living. It’s just a matter of time before she gets gooned on Oxy, starts shooting people because her taxes are too high, and pulls herself out of the gutter by getting a well-paying and progressive career at a casino.

Comment on Cyclist's revenge by john

john — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:01:06 +0000

I applaud your cool head -after 35 years of cycling, I am losing patience and exacting revenge just for me because I know most morons stay morons – good on you mate

Comment on The worst Christmas present ever by rudy

rudy — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:05:19 +0000

is this the same downtown Ginny that Holyday had playing in traffic on her way to the park?

nice to see you posting again, sir… we missed you