CHRISTOPHER FLEURY
<Staff Writer>
I was very excited to see Andrew Cyr’s article “Staying Active at Osgoode” in the Obiter’s last issue. Although I enjoyed all of the suggestions for keeping fit, as someone who cycles to campus every day, it was refreshing to hear another advocate of dropping the metro-pass in favor of a bike. My only point of contention is with Andrew’s optimism about the city’s bike lanes. In my experience, getting around town has not been ‘a breeze.’ I don’t mean to pick on two words here. I was going to write a bike lane article anyway and I thought I would carry on in the spirit of last week’s ‘staying active’ suggestions.
As I’m sure that most of the readership has heard a Toronto cycling horror-story or two, I’ll spare you my daily brush with death and instead try to lend some hopeful insight into Toronto’s bike lane situation. It has been difficult to watch so much money being spent on infrastructure for cars and transit, and so little on bike lanes. I understand that not everyone loves biking as much as I do. But, bike lanes are an advantage for everyone and the roadblocks that are stopping them are much smaller than those of other major transit projects. With that in mind here are some thoughts from someone who has given up the metro-pass.
Before I begin, I’d like to make a couple of confessions. I love to drive and I miss my car. Before I came to Osgoode I spent a year as a heavy equipment operator. I love being behind the wheel and the sense of power and freedom that come with it. This probably comes from growing up in small towns where a car was the only feasible way to get around. But in Toronto, I’m not sure that any of those feelings apply. When I’m stuck in Toronto traffic that feeling of freedom is usually replaced with that of confinement. All of this is to say that I respect everyone’s decision to drive (or take the bus for that matter). I just think that given the state of Toronto’s transit system, we can do a lot better at providing alternatives.
At a cost of $2.6 billion the Spadina subway extension to York University is expected to be completed in 2015. As someone who is relatively new to Toronto I find it shocking that the city has found the political capital, not to mention the real capital, to make a project like this happen when not a single bike lane runs all the way north into this part of the city. This became even more shocking the first time that I biked up to Osgoode and realized I had cut 15 minutes off of my usual 60 minute TTC commute. If biking up Keele Street wasn’t a death trap, I’m sure that many more students would vie for the faster, cheaper option. Compared to $2.6 billion, and the billions spent on other transit projects, the cost of bike lanes seems like pennies.
Our own Osgoode Hall has taken some positive steps in ensuring proper infrastructure for bikers. As part of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, Osgoode has installed showers in the basement for cyclists or anyone whose commute causes them to break a sweat. Just as an FYI, the showers are for staff and faculty only. This is a great first step in encouraging cycling but until the roads are safe I think that showers are a secondary issue.
Aside from the financial roadblocks, the lack of political capital and the general unwillingness of many institutions to provide adequate services for bikers, I have heard one other major complaint about cycling to school: “An hour is way too long to be biking in the morning! There’s no way I can do that!” I really hope that this attitude isn’t as widespread as it seems to be. If you believe it to be true I’m not going to go on a ‘you can do it’ motivational tirade. I’d just like to give you one or two reasons as to why I believe it’s a worthy goal.
Physical activity is a consciousness-changing experience. Arriving at school every morning is the high point of my day. I’m addicted to the rush of endorphins and the feeling that I can do anything after I finish my bike ride. Not just biking but all physical activity builds focus and discipline and leaves one in a calmer state – able to sit and contemplate without distraction. I know that I am a better student because of it. Even if 45 minutes to an hour seems unmanageable, it is possible to hop on a bus for part of the trip. I promise the feeling of physical activity in the morning is worth the extra effort.
I’m feeling especially hopeful today as I spent the morning biking to school with the Law Union’s Cycling Committee (also known as ‘spoke-u-py’). We biked in a group from downtown and were able to navigate a somewhat safe route of back roads and bike paths. Although it took almost twice as long as my normal route, it was wonderful to feel like I wasn’t alone on the road. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that the best parts of the trip were on the dedicated bike paths and lanes, particularly the bike path that runs east of the campus, beside the route for the TTC buses. But until there are paths like this throughout the city I think an important first step is promoting a broader biking culture. If there is anyone else that would like to try biking to campus I would recommend biking with Osgoode Hall’s Law Union!