Favourite Bike Lanes in Toronto

The weather is getting warmer (at least for this week of March) and we’re loving it. Many of us are dusting off our bikes and riding again in the city. 

We’ve already covered our favourite bike trips in the city in a previous post but today we wanted to show some love to our favourite bike lanes in the city, new and old alike.

Over the past few years we have seen more and more bike lanes exit their pilot phase and become permanent fixtures in Toronto. In addition, ActiveTO treated us to a few more cycle lanes installed in 2020 which we have thoroughly enjoyed, so we have decided to rank our favourites. 

1. The new bike lanes on University Avenue have us so excited! They are a great downtown connection from the Bloor bike lane to the Adelaide/Richmond ones making the north/south transition so much easier. Though University Avenue is bustling and you should always pay attention to the traffic, it’s hard to stop yourself from looking at the buildings along the way, especially when the sun sets and it reflects in all the windows. Our sincerest thanks go to Councillor Mike Layton for making this one happen.

2. Speaking of Bloor, are we the only ones who love a good bridge? Crossing over from Danforth Avenue to Bloor Street is such a fun ride. You get a full view of downtown Toronto and we love a good skyline picture. Riding over the viaduct is such a treat because you can take your time and stop to take pictures, enjoy the view or look down at the Don Valley, which is very hard to do when you’re in a car. 

3. Our last but not least bike lane is Sherbourne Street. Though it can get pretty busy, we love a protected bike lane. With the Zygg e-bike, the ride up north doesn’t take up as much energy as with a traditional bike so we can enjoy it as much as the way south!

What about you? Any favourite bike lanes in the city that we forgot to mention?

Try our e-bikes in person

If you’ve always wondered what it was like to ride an electric bike, now is the time to try it!

Every Saturday in March, between 10am and 2pm, we are holding test rides from our shop at Cabbagetown. You will be able try the new model Q or the models M and G. 

Whether you’ve never been on an electric bike, or you’re a current subscriber and may want to try a different model, just send us an email to confirm the time!

Let us know by email when you’d like to come so we can plan attendance in accordance with COVID restrictions. If Saturdays don’t work with your schedule, get in touch and we can arrange an appointment. 

We'll be respecting the physical distancing and masks rules put in place by the provincial government as well as disinfecting bikes in between test rides.

Debunking some e-bike myths

In the past few years electric bikes have become more popular in Toronto and around the world, adopted by couriers, food delivery riders and the everyday rider. Riding an e-bike is bound to draw attention, most of the time positive but sometimes you may hear comments on how riding an e-bike is cheating. 

We’re here to debunk this myth, along with a few others, so you can ride guilt free. 

Myth: E-bikes go too quickly

The Zygg electric bikes and most electric bikes on the market are legally limited to a maximum speed of 32 kilometres per hour. This is the top speed for assisted pedalling and not the average speed of cyclists. Most cyclists travel at around 20-25km/h so an e-bike isn’t substantially quicker. On average e-bike riders travel at 4km/hr quicker than a cyclist.

This myth may have some roots in the fact that e-bikes pass cyclists on cycle lanes making cyclists feel like electric bikes are going at too high a speed. We definitely recommend following the cyclist etiquettes we’ve put together to make sure everyone on the road is at ease.

Myth: You don’t exercise with an e-bike

Many believe that an electric bike is like biking but without the effort. We’re here to say this isn’t true. A 2019 study on the Physical activity of electric bicycle users compared to conventional bicycle users and non-cyclists showed that cyclists on e-bikes and traditional bikes have a similar level of physical activity. One difference between e-cyclists and cyclists is the average duration and kilometres of a bike trip which are significantly higher for e-cyclists. Another study has shown that mountain bike riders on e-bikes and on traditional bikes exert the same amount of energy even though the e-cyclists report not feeling the strain as much as when they did the same activity on a traditional mountain bike. Just because you’re not huffing and puffing doesn’t mean you’re not exercising.

Electric bikes are great for experienced or beginner cyclists whether it’s the need for a bit of assistance on your ride or the fact that you want to travel further. 

Myth: E-bikes are heavy

Electric bikes are slightly heavier than traditional bikes. At Zygg we do have electric bikes that are on the lighter side at around 40-50 pounds. The biggest addition to mass on a bike is your own weight rather than the bike itself. Riding an e-bike feels a bit like riding a traditional bike with full panniers.

Myth: You can’t ride an e-bike in the rain

There is nothing preventing you from riding your electric bike in the rain or even the snow for that matter. The battery is weather sealed making it safe for whatever weather conditions you want to ride in. To preserve the longevity of the battery we do recommend bringing it indoors when it’s cold out.

Myth: E-bikes are cheating

The one myth that seems to encompass all the others is that e-bikes are cheating. There’s a notion that because it isn’t the “traditional” way of biking that it isn’t really biking. E-bikes are sometimes inaccurately put in the same bucket as scooters or mopeds, however e-bikes are pedal-assist which means they boost the power of your own pedalling.

Electric bikes have also been known to affect people’s travel habits, replacing car trips with biking. And at the end of the day, why would it be considered cheating when you’re not in a race? 

On our side, we just can’t consider it cheating when all it does is make biking more accessible, takes away the hurdles that people may feel towards bikes (steep hills, fatigue…) and it’s fun and enjoyable!