Blog November 15, 2010
Cycling in the City
Fall foliage on the trails. Photo Credit: Rebekka Hutton.The trails leading to Evergreen Brick Works offer some of the best views of the city and taking the time to bike or walk them as part of your visit is definitely worthwhile. Whether you're new to cycling in the city or are a seasoned rider, the Bike Works offers great tips and assistance for safe biking techniques and keeping your wheels in prime condition. You're also welcome to join us at our Livable Communities Workshop on November 27, led by Gil Penalosa of 8-80 Cities, to learn more about biking in the city and how it is working in cities around the world.
Still not convinced? Read on to hear what Evergreen employee and avid cyclist, Rebekka Hutton, has to say about her daily commute on two wheels.
My Commute
by Rebekka Hutton, Urban Agriculture Manager
When the Evergreen offices were downtown, I used to spend a leisurely 25 minutes traveling by bike down through different neighbourhoods from Bloor and Dufferin, through the Annex, in through Kensington and around Chinatown. Now that we are settling in at Evergreen Brick Works, my new commute takes me further north, past a castle, through parks, and down into Toronto’s hidden ravine system.
Photo Credit: Rebekka Hutton
Photo Credit: Rebekka HuttonHow many people get to say they ride from Garrison Creek to the Don River to get to work!? This fall, the crisp weather has resulted in some spectacular fall foliage displays, and many mornings I have stopped to admire the view before riding down the hill into the valley. The view continues from our new offices where my desk faces directly into the quarry park, and the hills to the west.
Milkman's Run. Photo Credit: Rebekka Hutton.While I may not be able to ride all winter through the icy trails of the ravine, I do have a backup plan to continue my year-round bicycle commuting. A new, wide bike lane over the Bloor Viaduct will lead me to a warm and free shuttle bus from Broadview Station that will drop me at the office door.
Photo Credit: Rebekka Hutton
Comments
Way to go Rebecca!
I too cycle to work, weather permitting, and have been doing so for over a decade. My former work location had me using the Taylor Creek bike path as part of my route. Now, I use the Don Valley trails when I go the “long” way.
There are always lots of other commuters, so I don’t feel at risk and the quiet provides lots of time for reflection and de-stressing.
We are blessed to have these resources in the middle of our great city!
Fantastic photos - it is going to get colder and whiter in the coming months but I will be on the same route every day so hope to see you along the way. We are very luck to have this ravine trail, and all the others in the city. A little more work by the Parks department on them would help with safety (ruts, way finding, maps, etc), and maybe a few more people - “eyes on the park”, as Jane Jacobs use to say…it helps with safety and security.
geoff
It still blows me away each time I dip into the ravines that I’m in the heart of Downtown Toronto, 15 minutes from Yonge and Bloor. These pictures bring that feeling home.
Hi
I find the Brickworks to be particularly difficult to access by bicycle. The ravine path both downhill (rocky, sometimes muddy) and uphill (steep!) and to cut over from the Don River along Pottery Road to Bay View is not safe.
At minimum better signage, maps are needed. Best case is a way across Bayview and rail from the Don Valley path. Or I suppose a dedicated path on Bayview.
Thanks