GTA

We spent rush hour watching cyclists and drivers navigate an ‘absolutely terrifying’ Toronto intersection. Most did it wrong

The driver of a silver four-door car merges late into the painted green lane on Richmond St., crossing a solid white line. Within seconds, the car is surrounded by cyclists: five on the passenger’s side, three on the driver’s.

When the light turns green, the cyclists proceed straight through the intersection, passing the car on both sides. The driver then turns right, onto Bay St.

That’s not what is supposed to happen.

The Star filmed drivers and cyclists using the busy intersection of Bay and Richmond Sts. for two hours at rush hour on Thursday. In total, we identified 609 infractions by drivers and cyclists. The majority of both navigated the intersection wrong, according to the city’s design.

The Richmond cycle track is the city’s most-travelled protected bike route. Bike traffic on the street has risen more than 600 per cent since the track was installed, with dramatically lower rates of collision, according to city data. No cyclists or pedestrians have been killed or seriously injured at the intersection in the last decade, according to police data.

Still, cyclists and experts who reviewed the Star’s findings called the intersection “confusing,” and said it is an example of how inconsistent infrastructure can make it dangerous to cycle in Toronto.

The Star’s analysis comes amid a wave of cyclist and pedestrian deaths on city streets as the city is implementing its Vision Zero plan, a push to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2021.

“Based on the information you’ve presented to us about the Bay-Richmond intersection, the Mayor will be following up with city staff about the Star’s findings and asking what modifications could be made to encourage more people to use it correctly,” Don Peat, the mayor’s spokesperson, wrote in an email to the Star.

 

Redes Sociais - Comentários

Artigos relacionados

Back to top button

 

O Facebook/Instagram bloqueou os orgão de comunicação social no Canadá.

Quer receber a edição semanal e as newsletters editoriais no seu e-mail?

 

Mais próximo. Mais dinâmico. Mais atual.
www.mileniostadium.com
O mesmo de sempre, mas melhor!

 

SUBSCREVER