Recently interviewed by journalist Erica Scime, I wrote:
1. What is your name, age (optional) and occupation?
Tracey TieF, age 43, owner Anarres Natural Health www.anarreshealth.ca
2. How often do you ride your bike in the city?
daily, year round
3. Where and when do you typically bike? For what purpose? (ie. school, work)
school, work, social - everything!
Anarres deliveries, to classes, and to teach
day and nights
mostly Lansdowne to Broadview, Eglinton to waterfront & Islands
4. For how long have you been riding your bike in the city?
25 years
5. Why do you choose to ride your bike over driving, public transit or walking?
sustainable transportation
healthy
affordable
can go further and faster, carry more goods than walking
6. Does having your child with you while you cycle change things at all?
Yes, I am very much more safety conscious, and feel more endangered by bad motoring.
My eldest has been riding her own bikes since age 4, and my youngest is graduating from a rear rack mounted bike seat to bike cart and trail-a-bike.
7. Do you ever find riding in the city difficult or dangerous? Why or why not?
I am very accustomed to riding around the city in all seasons & weather conditions, yet not a day goes by without being endangered by at least one driver's mistakes and lack of consideration. I have been injured twice on my bicycle by motorists: once 22 years ago by a drunk driver, and 2 years ago when I was doored by a truck on King Street at Bathurst. As a result, I have spinal, pelvic and hip injuries I am still rehabilitating from.
8. Have you ever had any kind of altercation with a vehicle or driver?
When I am cut off I politely confront the drivers, who have inevitably been dismissive.
I regularly ask for license plate numbers and report problem driving to the police.
I have also been helped by drivers when they have witnessed bad driver's behaviours.
I really identified with Darcy Allan Sheppard who was murdered as a cyclist by a motorist because I myself go up to driver's windows regularly to talk to them about how they have endangered me. His murder for confronting an assaultive driver has seriously shaken me.
9. Can you recall having any other dangerous biking experience?
I try to forget!
10. Do you consider Toronto a bike-friendly city in general? Why or why not?
Many cities have thoughtful bike routes. We don't. We have bits and pieces. We need to follow through, then expand on, on our Bike Plan. We need the Tooker takethetooker.ca - a Bloor Street bike lane - and other East West routes. And the Northbound cycling path to Eglinton from the west was planned by a sadist.
11. How do you think Toronto could improve its bike lane situation?
Planned East West and North South routes as if cycling, and cyclists' lives, mattered in the life of this city!
12. If you plan on voting in the mayoral election, will this current issue effect who you vote for?
Absolutely. I care about sustainability and livability - that means self propelled transportation, affordable diverse housing, civic dialogue and local economy, health and food are priorities to me.
13. Do you think it is important for Toronto to improve bike transportation? Why or why not?
For Toronto to be a healthy, thriving city to live in, we need to support density, healthy lifestyles and basic courteousy over greed and unsustainable commuting. We need to put our collective feet down and spend public monies on public transportation, cycling and walking at the expense of private motoring. It comes down to that. For the sake of environment, public safety, health, sustainable density - for every good reason!
Tracey TieF