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Dead cyclists? It's their own fault according to Toronto mayoral candidate

"Roads are built for buses, cars and trucks, not for people on bikes."...

Normally we don’t report on provincial Canadian politics. In fact we have never before reported on provincial Canadian politics, but there’s a first time for everything, right?

We’ve always thought Canadians were up there with the more enlightened European nations when it comes to advocating cycling in urban areas. We might have to think again, at least as far as the city of Toronto is concerned. How else to explain that Rob Ford, the current front-running mayoral candidate for the city is actually taken remotely seriously after making this statement in a council meeting?

Nice touch, that bit about how his heart bleeds for those dead citizens who had the temerity to ride a bike on the road. Ford made the statement in 2007 but there is little evidence to suggest his stance has changed in the interim and judging by this item in Toronto's Globe and Mail, there are plenty more "colourful" remarks where the above came from.

In other Canadian cities, notably Montreal in whose Gazette newspaper we came across the quote, attitudes are more progressive. Indeed Montreal’s Bixi Bike hire scheme is effectively the model for its London counterpart which uses the same bikes and docking station infrastructure.

The author of the Gazette article expresses how lucky he feels to live in Montreal rather than a city run by a politician like Ford who is “stuck in the car-centred, 1950s mindset.” Mind you, judging by his waistline, even if Councillor Ford does take up the mayoral chains of office there are no guarantees about his tenure. He looks like he might have a heart-attack scheduled for circa 2012. There's a lot to be said for shark-swimming...
 

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Dave Krentz | 13 years ago
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There's more. Mr. Ford won the election and was recently sworn in as mayor. Speaking briefy at the ceremony was Canada's answer to soccer hooligans, Don Cherry, a prominent hockey commentator. The highlight of the speech for me was when Mr. Cherry showed his love of cycling by blasting "all the pinkos out there that ride bicycles and everything." Mayor Ford's 4-year term is off to a great start ... face-plant right out of the start house!  39

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Rim Raider | 13 years ago
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Isn't that Boris in a fat(ter) suit and tidy hair?

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ike2112 | 13 years ago
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So....he wants people to cycle on the sidewalk then?

I'd happily cycle straight into him. It'd be a cushioned impact for me.

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OldRidgeback | 13 years ago
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He sounds like he has the charisma of our own charming Nick Griffin. We can only hope that having alienated joggers, cyclists, gay people, immigrants and presumably Jewish or black people (if I'm following his theme correctly), the pool of would-be voters for this clown is limited to the remaining drinking buddies he hasn't so far beaten up or his immediate family members.
And of course he wasn't charged for driving under the influence because he did not, as requested, provide samples.
To quote a not particularly PC football chant (is there any other kind?) I believe relevant in his case, "You f@t b@st@rd, you f@t b@st@rd, who ate all the pies?"

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londonplayer | 13 years ago
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You've all got this so wrong. We should concur with this guy. Obviously, I have been mistaken all along that riding my bike is a good way to keep my carbon emissions low and keep fit.

Mr Ford has worked out the best way to live. He eats 7,000 calories a day and never takes any exercise. He has an impressive physique to show for it and apparently has many fat munters fantasising about him every night.

He will die of a heart attack due to furring arteries but at least he will not face the agony of being crushed to death by a selfish motorist. He has made the right choices in life and looks better for it too.

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Mike McBeth | 13 years ago
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Dead, overweight, under-excercised right-wing politicians? It's their own fault.

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OldRidgeback | 13 years ago
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Look at that bell, no surprise he doesn't like fit people on bikes or jogging.

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catbells | 13 years ago
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What an arsehole.

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DaveP | 13 years ago
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He looks like he could do with putting in a few miles on a bike.. or a swim with sharks.  3

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mrchrispy | 13 years ago
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lol - where's lois?  4

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Dave Krentz replied to mrchrispy | 13 years ago
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I actually live in Misissauga, west of Toronto. Our mayor, Hazel McCallion -- who is 89 -- could probably drop Mr. Ford in a sprint finish as easily as Cav could!  15

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Dave Krentz | 13 years ago
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Imagine ... Peter Griffin for mayor  2

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jazmine | 13 years ago
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Rob Ford is making friends everywhere. He has PO'd runners, transit riders, cyclists, gays, immigrants, women.....

DO NOT assume he represents Toronto, just a portion that is angry at everyone.

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