Forgotten in the Detour: How Construction Zones Fail Cyclists

Every spring Ontario residents dust off their bikes and hit the road. The warm, dry weather is the perfect time to leave the car parked and enjoy the pleasures of cycling. Unfortunately, it is this same pleasant weather that commences the endless cycle of construction that engulfs our cities when the sun comes out and the days get long.

Cycling and road construction are like oil and water – they do not mix. Construction companies and municipalities spend countless hours coming up with complex traffic management plans to mitigate the impacts of construction on cars, however the safety and flow of bike traffic is an afterthought. Rather than designing comprehensive plans that serve all road users, traffic management plans disregard cyclist safety in their efforts to manage traffic flow. Often, intricate detours are provided for motorists while bike lanes become a temporary parking lot for heavy machinery or a storage space for construction materials.

A relevant example of construction gone awry can be observed in the Port Lands area in downtown Toronto. The bike route through the city to Cherry Beach is one of the most frequented cycling trails in Ontario. Due to the significance of the route, respecting the wellbeing and safety of cyclists in this neighborhood should have been a priority for developers, however, since this construction began, there have been countless examples of negligence. From blocked routes to construction debris, to heavy machinery left in bike lanes, the cyclists who once enjoyed this scenic route have been overlooked.

Bike lane in Port Lands blocked by construction

We are calling on municipalities across Ontario to put a stop to the callous disregard of the safety of cyclists. Though it may be simpler to ignore cyclists when planning and developing construction, it is incredibly irresponsible. If we want our cities to set a high standard and promote safety, cycling infrastructure and accident prevention should never be an afterthought. From the early stages of planning to the final product, all forms of transportation should be respected and prioritized. Until companies and municipalities address this issue, we are going to continue to fight to protect our community.

So remember, be safe out there this sumner. Stay vigilant when cycling in and around construction sites. If you see something that you percieve as unsafe, snap a photo and make an online report to the municipality. Then contact the team at The Biking Lawyer LLP. We are always ready to help, so if you have a question or a concern, give us a call. We are always ready to take action on behlf of our community.