As Bloor Street bike lane debate looms, Matt Galloway reviews the route

Will Bloor Street getbike lanes?

The city's public works and infrastructure committee was split over the pilot project last week. So it falls tocouncil Tuesday to decide whether to install the dedicated lanes between Shaw Street and Avenue Road.

Metro Morning'sMatt Gallowayrode down Bloor during rush hour. This is what he learned.

What does itlook like to ride a bike down Bloor Street in rush hour without bike lanes?

I strapped a GoPro onto my helmet to find out.

Matt Galloway narrates his bike ride along Bloor Street West during the morning commute.

8 years ago

Duration 1:55

Metro Morning Host Matt Galloway gives us his point of view on biking along Bloor Street West without bike lanes during the morning commute.

Thankfully, it wasan uneventful ride. What I was reminded of was why I don't ride onBloorStreet.

It'sa very fast road. Unless you're stuck in traffic, no one seems to be going the speed limit.

For decades, cycling advocates have been calling for bike lanes onBloorStreet.

It's the major east-west route in Toronto.And as someone who has beendooredtwice onBloor, it's a bit of a nightmare for cyclists.

What that means depends on how you get around.

On your bike, there isn't a lot of room for error. Near BloorandSpadina, there was about six inches between me and the curb, with a car right on my elbow.

That means you're doing the usual set of simultaneous calculations as you ride along:Where is that car going? Is she going to cross the road? Wow, that car behind me sounds fast.Why is that bike riding the wrong way?

Would bike lanes make cyclists safer and get more bikes onto Bloor?

I don't know, but I personally would feel safer having a dedicated space to ride in.

Funny thing was, I turned off Bloor at St.George, onto a street that has a bike lane.There was dedicated space to ridebut in that space would regularly appear cars, pedestrians andturning trucks.

Separate from traffic, but how much safer?

This debate has raised the question once again of who Toronto's roads are for.

The former NYC transportation commissioner Janette Sadiq-Khan was in town recently and said our streets are "broken."

How will council vote on the project?We'll find out this week.