One of the tasks for the LGRAB Summer Games is to write a letter requesting/advocating for bike infrastructure. Given the current climate in this city, this is might be an exercise in futility, but it's still important.
It turns out that in the past week, I've biked to a few places that could really use more bike parking. I went to the bulk food store on Bloor, and the lone post & ring just outside was full, as were the other rings further down the street. I had to walk half a block to find a free spot. The thing is, there is plenty of space for a few more rings right in front of the store, and I'm surprised they don't have more for us crunchy-granola bike-riding pinkos.* Before that, I had gone to the bank at Dundas and Ossington, and again all three, count 'em, three bike rings were full. As was the adjacent tree. This time, there was no other option but to lock my bike to the rail, as several others had done before me. Again, there is room for a number of bike stands.
What to do?
The City of Toronto has a post and ring program -- you can request bike parking and the city will install it, maybe. I'm sure the program is gravy to the mayor and that it will be axed as soon as may be, because heaven knows we've already given cyclists enough space in the city... ahem. Anyway, I figure I should put my requests in while there is still some hope of having them honoured.
By the way, if you want to know how to do bike stuff in Toronto, the Toronto Cyclists Union has a very helpful "How to get stuff done" page.
Back to the city form. You can fill out an old-fashioned paper form, or there is a handy online application. I like the online form more, because there is room to say why an area needs the bike parking. Which I done did.
So that's task #4 of the LGRAB Summer Games completed.
*It might have something to do with unloading crunchy granola.
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