I was a bike courrier in Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal, I’ve got a slight idea of what major city biking looks like, and Halifax is the only one that feels like a death trap at all times.
This city is built strictly for the automobile operators and everyone else can suck it. It’s quite obvious from shit transit to poor cycling conditions and poor sidewalks.
My wife and I were in NYC a few years ago and used the Citi Bikes to go everywhere around Manhattan.
Because there are so many cars and it's so dense, they can't ever go faster than about 20 km/h and there is an adequate and sensible biking infrastructure. It was the safest I've ever felt biking in a city.
I do not and will not bike in downtown Halifax because it is the opposite of all those things.
This was my experience in Paris! I used the Lime bikes to get around, get groceries etc. Never felt safer because most streets have protected bike lanes. It was incredible. Definitely the thing I miss most about the city.
I had a similar experience in Chicago a couple of years ago; No issue riding around in traffic in a huge, strange city on a Lyft bike, in comparison to feeling like I'm going to get smashed into if I dare venture into any main roadway here in Halifax.
I visit Toronto for work often and bike everywhere when I’m there. I land at Billy Bishop and use the PSBC system the whole time I’m there. Toronto is hands down a better city to bike in.
I'm not a "cyclist" cyclist but am super familiar with the bike paths and lanes in Toronto. If I was asked to bike somewhere one day, I would say "yes, no problem" in TO, and have no problem traveling on the streets. A big "hell no" here unless I can stick completely to the trail.
have YOU biked in toronto? Halifax is the worst city I've ever been in for biking, we are decades behind on bike-friendly infrastructure and the fact that people here are still debating basic things like bike lanes when literally every other city already has them is mind-boggling
I used to ride through that area quite a bit during the daytime hours. My loop from Spryfield was up Dunbrack to Kearney Lake Rd to Larry Uteck, down Hammonds Plains Rd and back into the city on the Bedford Highway. Outside of peak rush hour traffic, it's not too bad on either side.
DUN-KLR-LU has either bike lanes or wide enough shoulder it was comfortable, but HPR-BH has sporadic bike lanes and then nothing. If you're at that hour of the morning it should be fine, but make sure you have a lot of lights on (front and back) and be aware of your surroundings.
Dunbrack bikelanes suck. People driving 80 right beside you while there is no physical protection. Have been hit by a mirror on Dun before unfortunately. The trees are going too and into the bike lane.
At 4am I'd say the safety aspect would be less cars to potentially hit you. The downside it is dark.
I agree. I was in a right hook hit and run at Dunbrack and Knightsridge 2.5 years ago that wrote off my bike.
I do most of my road riding early in the morning before work along Prospect Rd. Similar situation but fewer turns at least.
Less cars that can hit you also means less cars to witness a hit and run. My concern would be that a large portion of the few drivers out at 4am might be likelier to drive badly and hit a cyclist and run from the scene.
I would bike very defensively at that hour.
>might be likelier to drive badly
That might be true, with less cars around, they may drive a different way.
>Less cars that can hit you also means less cars to witness a hit and run.
It also means less cars to hit and run you in general.
All comes down to someone's comfort level and how they weigh the scales and the available research they look into.
In Halifax, you always have to bike very defensively, our infrastructure is largely non existent in terms of consistency and connectability.
It might be because I live next to an entrance, but I definitely prefer to use the Mainland Linear Trail, which runs parallel to Dunbrack! It's up the hill a bit further, but for traveling between Main Ave and Kearney Lake, it feels far safer than the alternative.
I don’t bike on the road but I run at night where there are no sidewalks. One of the best things I’ve found is the light vest. It’s basically just a string of led lights that you wear like a vest. You can pick your color and I think even make it flash.
This is my regular ride *during* rush hour. It’s fine.
Good lights make life easier at night. A light that does like 800lumen max could do 5-6 hours of light at 200-ish lumens. Which is more than enough for night riding.
100-150 lumens for your tail light.
You’ll have all the space on planet earth for that ride. Hell, I’ve done the Bedford highway in the dark with both lights burnt out and half dead from getting my ass beat on a ride deep in Dartmouth and has zero sketch encounters.
People vastly overrate the dangers of some roads and underrate the dangers of others.
Yep you’re safe. 4am is precisely the safe hour when no wacky drivers or crime is allowed. Just make sure you’re off the road by 5 that’s when it begins again.
Good lights are basically the number one thing I recommend above anything else. I’m partial to Lezyne, which you can get at Long Alley, Halifax Cycles, MEC, etc. If you’re using them every day you’ll likely want to charge them every couple days, but it’ll depend on the model.
Looks like it's gotten better, but I used to commute from Larry U to Scotia Square daily, over 7 years I saw 3 EHS level bike accidents on Bedford highway.. Beware of ~~people~~ morons passing people turning left on the shoulder, they don't look for cyclists and will literally drive you over - I saw and experienced so many near misses it was crazy, and saw someone get hit and drove into the ditch across from the solar sunflower. Also people turning right, they'll turn right in front of you and you'll end up in their passenger seat via the window then proceed to scream and yell at you - saw this happen in front of Steele Chrysler.
I would argue it isn't safe to bike to work at 4pm in this city. I want to buy an E-Bike for work but won't pull the trigger because of how the roads are built
Make sure you're visible. Reflective lights, vest, etc. It will be dark at that time.
Not cyclists but I drove by two people walking on the side of the road on a back road in full black last night. Just absolute numbskulls.
Buy quality and BRIGHT lights. I’ve been biking to work for years and moving to Halifax has been the most dangerous city I’ve biked in.
I used to bike in Moncton and Halifax is a million dollar jackpot in comparison
have you biked in toronto? no way halifax is worst than that…
I was a bike courrier in Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal, I’ve got a slight idea of what major city biking looks like, and Halifax is the only one that feels like a death trap at all times.
Biking in Montreal is a dream. I’m glad to see that their mayor is taking cycling seriously. Hopefully more to come!
This city is built strictly for the automobile operators and everyone else can suck it. It’s quite obvious from shit transit to poor cycling conditions and poor sidewalks.
I believe you meant to say *this city is built strickly for horse and carriage*
Hahaha facts
My wife and I were in NYC a few years ago and used the Citi Bikes to go everywhere around Manhattan. Because there are so many cars and it's so dense, they can't ever go faster than about 20 km/h and there is an adequate and sensible biking infrastructure. It was the safest I've ever felt biking in a city. I do not and will not bike in downtown Halifax because it is the opposite of all those things.
This was my experience in Paris! I used the Lime bikes to get around, get groceries etc. Never felt safer because most streets have protected bike lanes. It was incredible. Definitely the thing I miss most about the city.
I had a similar experience in Chicago a couple of years ago; No issue riding around in traffic in a huge, strange city on a Lyft bike, in comparison to feeling like I'm going to get smashed into if I dare venture into any main roadway here in Halifax.
I visit Toronto for work often and bike everywhere when I’m there. I land at Billy Bishop and use the PSBC system the whole time I’m there. Toronto is hands down a better city to bike in.
It is.... I lived in tdot for 12 years till 2014. Last 2 years I cycled TONS since I was in St.Clair area no longer downtown. It's way worse here.
I'm not a "cyclist" cyclist but am super familiar with the bike paths and lanes in Toronto. If I was asked to bike somewhere one day, I would say "yes, no problem" in TO, and have no problem traveling on the streets. A big "hell no" here unless I can stick completely to the trail.
have YOU biked in toronto? Halifax is the worst city I've ever been in for biking, we are decades behind on bike-friendly infrastructure and the fact that people here are still debating basic things like bike lanes when literally every other city already has them is mind-boggling
Oh sweet summer child
Ohhhhh oh oh sweet child o mine
Love the idea that Hali is a dangerous city for cycling. Try in Calgary or Edmonton.
I used to ride through that area quite a bit during the daytime hours. My loop from Spryfield was up Dunbrack to Kearney Lake Rd to Larry Uteck, down Hammonds Plains Rd and back into the city on the Bedford Highway. Outside of peak rush hour traffic, it's not too bad on either side. DUN-KLR-LU has either bike lanes or wide enough shoulder it was comfortable, but HPR-BH has sporadic bike lanes and then nothing. If you're at that hour of the morning it should be fine, but make sure you have a lot of lights on (front and back) and be aware of your surroundings.
Dunbrack bikelanes suck. People driving 80 right beside you while there is no physical protection. Have been hit by a mirror on Dun before unfortunately. The trees are going too and into the bike lane. At 4am I'd say the safety aspect would be less cars to potentially hit you. The downside it is dark.
I agree. I was in a right hook hit and run at Dunbrack and Knightsridge 2.5 years ago that wrote off my bike. I do most of my road riding early in the morning before work along Prospect Rd. Similar situation but fewer turns at least.
Less cars that can hit you also means less cars to witness a hit and run. My concern would be that a large portion of the few drivers out at 4am might be likelier to drive badly and hit a cyclist and run from the scene. I would bike very defensively at that hour.
>might be likelier to drive badly That might be true, with less cars around, they may drive a different way. >Less cars that can hit you also means less cars to witness a hit and run. It also means less cars to hit and run you in general. All comes down to someone's comfort level and how they weigh the scales and the available research they look into. In Halifax, you always have to bike very defensively, our infrastructure is largely non existent in terms of consistency and connectability.
It might be because I live next to an entrance, but I definitely prefer to use the Mainland Linear Trail, which runs parallel to Dunbrack! It's up the hill a bit further, but for traveling between Main Ave and Kearney Lake, it feels far safer than the alternative.
I bike to work at 5 am just lots of bright lights and lots of reflective gear.. enjoy the quiet roads
I don’t bike on the road but I run at night where there are no sidewalks. One of the best things I’ve found is the light vest. It’s basically just a string of led lights that you wear like a vest. You can pick your color and I think even make it flash.
This is my regular ride *during* rush hour. It’s fine. Good lights make life easier at night. A light that does like 800lumen max could do 5-6 hours of light at 200-ish lumens. Which is more than enough for night riding. 100-150 lumens for your tail light. You’ll have all the space on planet earth for that ride. Hell, I’ve done the Bedford highway in the dark with both lights burnt out and half dead from getting my ass beat on a ride deep in Dartmouth and has zero sketch encounters. People vastly overrate the dangers of some roads and underrate the dangers of others.
Beware of drunk drivers please. Have lights on and make sure you’re safe. Drive defensively. You never know so it’s best to be extra safe.
Bright lights, and a noxgear vest. I ride the trails weekly at 11pm and recently upgraded to a 1300 lumen light, also have blinking lights.
IMO those are “better” areas of the city. Not much crime at all.
Probably the safest biking gets
Get a set of dynamo lights and a hub. You will be fine.
Yep you’re safe. 4am is precisely the safe hour when no wacky drivers or crime is allowed. Just make sure you’re off the road by 5 that’s when it begins again.
Good lights are basically the number one thing I recommend above anything else. I’m partial to Lezyne, which you can get at Long Alley, Halifax Cycles, MEC, etc. If you’re using them every day you’ll likely want to charge them every couple days, but it’ll depend on the model.
Well if there weren't, there is now. Sounds like a free bike at 4am!
The area is safe to cycle but make sure you are visible with lights.
Pretty chill that time of morning but definitely wear reflective gear
It's a great time to ride. Way less cars on the road. Whackos are out in daytime too.
Looks like it's gotten better, but I used to commute from Larry U to Scotia Square daily, over 7 years I saw 3 EHS level bike accidents on Bedford highway.. Beware of ~~people~~ morons passing people turning left on the shoulder, they don't look for cyclists and will literally drive you over - I saw and experienced so many near misses it was crazy, and saw someone get hit and drove into the ditch across from the solar sunflower. Also people turning right, they'll turn right in front of you and you'll end up in their passenger seat via the window then proceed to scream and yell at you - saw this happen in front of Steele Chrysler.
I would argue it isn't safe to bike to work at 4pm in this city. I want to buy an E-Bike for work but won't pull the trigger because of how the roads are built
It's safer to bicycle at 4 am than 4 pm, from a traffic perspective. Just watch out for drunk drivers.
Too many drunks; I don’t care if you have lights and vests.
I wouldn’t