Memorial Ride for Vlad Zotov

Last Monday, 59-year-old Vlad Zotov with the Morning Glory Cycling Club was killed on Bayview Avenue just south of Evergreen Brickworks. This latest tragedy marks the third cyclist killed in Toronto within the past three months with the other two happened in Scarborough at Brimley & McNicoll and near Warden & St. Clair. By the time Helen and I arrived at Bloor & Spadina, Matt Cohen Park was packed unlike any of the other memorial rides I could remember. During the ride, someone mentioned over 400 cyclists turned out tonight, while there was a lot of media present.

We brought Mozzie for tonight’s ride to brighten the mood.

Here’s the ghost bike and banner ready to go.

The ride starting to assemble on Spadina Avenue.

Off we go with Joey Schwartz and Geoffrey Bercarich in front as usual.

Approaching Davenport Road.

Bicycles as far as the eye can see as we were about to turn onto Belmont Avenue.

Descending Rosedale Valley Road.

I recorded a video of the ride at this location which I had to do double speed to be able to upload to Twitter.

Thanks to the over 400 people who rode with us tonight for Vlad Zotov of @MGridetoronto. Here's a video of the ride going down Rosedale Valley Road which is sped up 2x. #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero #YouNeverRideAlone @RespectTO (1/5) pic.twitter.com/yH7ch4QjMQ

— Robert Zaichkowski (rzaichkowski.bsky.social) (@RZaichkowski) April 16, 2024

Riding eastbound on Rosedale Valley Road.

Turning left onto Bayview Avenue.

Along Bayview Avenue.

Here’s another video along Bayview as we got closer to the crash site.

The second video was shot along Bayview Avenue as the ride got closer to the crash site. #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero #YouNeverRideAlone (2/5) pic.twitter.com/66kqb2HpTq

— Robert Zaichkowski (rzaichkowski.bsky.social) (@RZaichkowski) April 16, 2024

The crowd at Bayview was so large that the police ended up closing off Bayview north of the Don Valley Parkway access road. The last time cyclists took over Bayview was for ActiveTO during COVID.

Here’s a 360-degree video I took to show the crowd.

The third video is a 360 degree view at the crash site. The last time cyclists took over Bayview was when #ActiveTO was around during COVID. #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero #YouNeverRideAlone (3/5) pic.twitter.com/PnWMFCheyf

— Robert Zaichkowski (rzaichkowski.bsky.social) (@RZaichkowski) April 16, 2024

Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto holding the banner as Geoffrey sets up the ghost bike.

Geoffrey with the ghost bike.

Here’s a video of Joey Schwartz calling on everyone to take a minute of silence to remember Vlad Zotov.

The third video is a 360 degree view at the crash site. The last time cyclists took over Bayview was when #ActiveTO was around during COVID. #BikeTO #TOpoli #VisionZero #YouNeverRideAlone (3/5) pic.twitter.com/PnWMFCheyf

— Robert Zaichkowski (rzaichkowski.bsky.social) (@RZaichkowski) April 16, 2024

A still shot during the moment of silence.

There were no speeches after the moment of silence, so Joey called everyone to head to Evergreen Brickworks before dispersing. Helen, Mozzie, and I took the Bayview path the other way home.

Here’s a final picture of the ghost bike with the crowd behind.

Thanks’s Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists and the Morning Glory Cycling Club for putting together tonight’s ride. RIP Vlad Zotov and remember, you never ride alone.

East Don Trail Part 2 & The Meadoway

On March 16, I visited the southern half of the East Don Trail from the Forks of the Don to a dead end where a tunnel will be installed under the Richmond Hill GO line. Being curious to find out what the other side is like – as well as how it will connect with The Meadoway – I did a 56-kilometre ride yesterday to check the northern half of the East Don Trail, as well as newest segment of The Meadoway that opened last fall.

March 2024 Public Consultation Overload

This year has been a crazy one when it comes to catching up on all the cycling related public consultations happening in Toronto. For this update, there are six consultations to review and a seventh we need to demand for. These six are the Wallace Emerson Neighbourhood Streets Plan, the Peanut Streets Plan, Steeles Avenue Eat Complete Streets, Steeprock-Bathurst Manor Cycling Connections, Beltline Gap Connections, and the Centennial Park Cycling Connections. Let’s dive in to see what they are all about!

Eglinton Catch-Up for March 2024

On Sunday, I wrote about the East Don Trail and had mentioned the eglintonTOday Complete Street project was expected to go to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee next Wednesday. Upon reviewing the agenda released this morning, it turned out the item will not be debated and will instead be dealt with in May. However, Motion IE12.4 covers several cycling projects such as Ferrand Drive, Galloway Road, Portland-Dan Leckie, Silverthorn, Weston Cycling Connections, and the Jones Street upgrades. Advocates are encouraged to e-mail iec@toronto.ca by Tuesday, March 26 at 4:30 PM to show their support for any items that are relevant to them. Now, let’s get back to discussing last weekend’s site check along Eglinton.

March 2024 East Don Trail Visit

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody!

Yesterday, I did a ride along the Lower Don Trail, checked out the East Don Trail, and checked the progress along Eglinton Avenue. Since the eglintonTOday Complete Street project is expected to go to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee on Wednesday, March 27, I will focus this post on the East Don Trail and discuss Eglinton separately when the final report comes out on Wednesday, March 20.

An Engineering Perspective with Matt Pinder

While Jun Nogami may be the only other Toronto based bike blogger today, there is another blog that started in Toronto ten years ago called “Beyond the Automobile”. The blog’s author – Matt Pinder – is a transportation engineer in Ottawa who has been exposed to cycling in the Netherlands, started the BIKE MINDS storytelling series in Toronto and Ottawa, and has been calling for improvements to a suburban development in Ottawa called South Keys. I spoke with Matt on February 9, 2024 to reflect on his advocacy and professional journey over the past decade.

Leaside-Danforth Consultation (+ Other Upcoming Events)

Tonight marked the second cycling consultation I attended this week after the West Parkdale bikeway one on Tuesday which was also well attended. There was some security present at this consultation; probably because of last week’s event in Etobicoke. Even so, I didn’t see any protest signs tonight and there wasn’t a petition against this project as far as I know of, while there were still some concerns to be had. I already discussed the project in an earlier blog post, but wanted to take this opportunity to provide some additional information, as well as highlight some other projects coming down the pipe.