Cycling Good Cheer 2022

Today was the third annual ride down Yonge St with Santa, organized by the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition to promote cycling infrastructure along Yonge St.

We are gathered at North York Centre. Here Rudolph is interviewing Santa for the media.

The gang’s all here so we can get ready to go.

I’ll note that Santa has a new ride this year, courtesy of Happy Fiets. His trailer has a trick set up that detects when you are slowing down, and then applies the brakes on the trailer so that you are not overrun.

Off we go.

Just after the most dangerous part of the entire ride: the 401 underpass.

Rudolph leads the way up from Hogg’s Hollow.

Santa is all smiles going up the hill this year.

Up the other incline from Lawrence.

We pause at Davisville where another group is waiting at the northern end of the Yonge cycle track.

Good to see Joe and Kay.

Also we are joined by Frosty the Snowman.

Starting up again from Davisville.

Here’s another one of those bus stop platforms. I was looking for a ramp, but of course in this case, they are not necessary since there is an adjacent cycle track.

Passing by the Kartik Saini ghost bike.

Another pause at the Summerhill LCBO.

Some refreshments and hot chocolate are on offer.

Alison from CycleTO is on message.

Dave of NRBI, and Arianne.

Frosty is revealed to be one of the Richardsons.

We turn west on Bloor. Here Santa is greeting the shoppers along this stretch.

We’ve turned south at the ROM.

Santa takes the lane.

Getting ready to cross at Armoury.

Headed to City Hall past the courthouse.

Here we are at Nathan Phillips Square.

Councillor Diane Saxe reminds us that there are votes coming up in the spring having to do with the bike lanes on Yonge.

Quite the cast of characters.

Santa and Rudolph.

Finally, Santa with all his reindeer.

Thanks once again to Albert and TCBC for organizing today’s ride, to Happy Fiets for providing rides for Santa, Rudolph and Frosty, to the marshalls who helped keep everyone safe, to Councillor Saxe who rode with us.

Thanks also to everyone who showed up, especially due to the overlap with the World Cup final. Have a Happy Holiday, and here’s hoping for a safe 2023 for everyone.

And as always, Bromptoning has a wonderful video of the whole ride.