Biking the Better Way - Bikes & Transit

Most of Toronto's TTC (transit) users either ride a bus or streetcar, or walk to a subway station. However, despite the fact that 45% of TTC users own or have access to a bicycle, less than 1% of commuters currently access mass transit via bike. By comparison, in Denmark where the climate is similar to Toronto's, 25% of mass transit users use a bike, and in the Netherlands 44% of commuters bike and ride the better way (1).

The are many benefits to mixing modes in Toronto:

	Reduced downtown traffic congestion - just as the Kiss and Ride programs help to reduce traffic in the downtown core, bike and ride programs would also encourage people to leave their cars behind.
	Increased TTC ridership - in suburban areas, where buses are infrequent and the routes are time-consuming, bicycle access to subway stations would increase the feasibility for people to get to work by mass transit. People who find busing to the subway station too time-consuming, yet they live too far to walk, would be able to re-consider mass transit as a feasible, low-cost means of transportation. It would help reduce the auto dependency of suburban areas.
	Improve transit time for bike and ride users - it's often much faster to bike short distances than wait for a bus or streetcar, especially during times when service is infrequent.
	Less pollution - encouraging the use of bicycles (that are zero emission vehicles) and mass transit (which emit less pollution per person than car use) will help improve air quality in Toronto.

Mixing modes in Toronto

Allowing better bike access on TTC vehicles. Rush hour is actually 6 hours long, according to the TTC. Bikes are allowed on all TTC vehicles, EXCEPT between 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. - the hours when most people would want to use the TTC. Practically speaking, this makes it impossible to take bikes on the TTC except for purely recreational purposes.

There are several options for that could increase the opportunities for carrying a bike on TTC vehicles, including:

	bike racks on the front or rear of buses
	removing seats to create a storage area on vehicles (which could also be used for child carriers, groceries and baggage)
	allowing bikes on vehicles going in the non-peak direction or in outlying areas
	reducing the prohibited period
	charging an extra fee for the bicycle
	choosing vehicles that can accommodate bicycles and other bulky items so loading and unloading bikes does not interfere with non-cycling TTC customers

Creating sufficient bike parking at TTC stations

In 1994 there were only 550 bicycle parking spaces at rapid transit stations, insufficient parking for even 1% of TTC's daily users (1). Secure bike parking in a well-lit area is an essential aspect of a successful bike and ride implementation.

Installing bicycle parking to attract new mode-mixing riders would cost less than the efforts made to attract car drivers to "Kiss and Ride" stations because bicycle parking is more space and cost efficient than car parking. A typical car takes 17 to 30 square metres to park, whereas a bike uses up 1 to 1.7 square metres for storage.  

Providing safe routes to the subway stations

Safety is a common concern for people who are considering using a bicycle for transportation. There is a lack of bicycle facilities such as bike lanes that ensure a safe, comfortable route for people to ride to a subway station.

When calculating accidents based on a rate of total kilometres driven, the rate for motorists in Metro in 1990 was 4.73 accidents per 10,000,000 vehicle kilometres, compared with 8.92 accidents over the same distance for cyclists - roughly twice the rate. In 1990, there were 1175 cyclists injured and 2 killed in accidents with cars in Metro (2). Because bicycle accidents are under-reported to the police, the actual rate of bike accidents could be 4 to 6 times higher than actually reported (2).

While accidents with cars and trucks are only 20% of the total number of bicycle accidents (2), they result in the most injuries. Having bike lanes and widened curb lanes to provide room for cyclists on the road and reducing traffic speed will help provide safe routes to subway station for bike and ride users.  

Theft prevention

In 1991, more than 8,000 bicycles were stolen in Toronto, 2,500 more than were stolen in New York City and 50% more than Montreal. In 1992, reported bicycle thefts has risen to 11,745, with an estimated value of $6,000,000. The number of cases solved by the police was only 2.2% (2).

An ideal parking facility would include:

	locked bike parking - either using a cage or bike lockers
	a well-lit area, especially at night
	low cost to the user, or perhaps a discount when combined with a TTC pass
	parking that is in view of the subway attendant or monitored by video camera

by Regan McClure

1. TTC Bike and Ride Study: Final Report, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, May 1994. If you'd like to see a copy of this report, it's at the Intersection Resource Library at 340 Harbord St. 536-7999, or you can call the TTC.

2. Review of Bicycle Facilities on Metropolitan Toronto Roads: A Research Report, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto - Planning Department, Toronto, October, 1993. Copies of this study are available at the Intersection Resource Library