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A beautiful video of two happy kids shows why bike lanes are so important

Brian Tao was riding in Toronto and captured the perfect image

Photo by: Brian Tao
June 18, 2023
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Bike lanes are for everybody, and they make cities better. Whether you ride a commuter or a racing bike, whether you’re on a delivery or cargo bike, cycling infrastructure creates safer options for everyone. That also means for families. More and more families are opting for bikes to take their little ones to school or around town. Cycling advocate Robin Richardson says that riding, whether together or using cargo bikes, trailers, or child seats, is a great way to get from A to B.

“What detractors often don’t understand is that people walking and cycling aren’t only doing so for recreation; these are increasingly popular modes of transportation for daily trips such as commuting, shopping, and taking kids to school,” Richardson said. “My family uses the Yonge Street bike lanes for all of these purposes, and we’re not alone.”

Watch these kids give a passionate and convincing argument for bike lanes

In order to feel safe doing so, cities need infrastructure. Not just a little bit of paint on the road. Separated bike lanes are the best way to ensure that cars won’t “accidentally” drive into the lane or park in them. When cars park in bike lanes, it creates an extremely dangerous situation for cyclists. If you’re unable to stick to the dedicated area for bikes, you’ll have to ride into traffic. If you’re in a big city during rush hour, this can not only be scary but risky. Even more so if you’re carrying precious cargo.

This is the incredibly scary situation for kids when cars park in bike lanes

Brian Tao captured a beautiful moment when he was riding down University Avenue in Toronto. It’s a busy road that is used by many drivers during the day, but with the recent addition of bike lanes, it’s far safer for cyclists. Tao noticed two adults with kids along for the ride. The two little ones were loving it and chatting as they were ferried along. Then, the best part, the pair reached out and held hands.

The moment is very cute but also shows the importance of creating safe infrastructure. These two kids are the future, and hopefully, so are more and more bike lanes. Initially shared on Facebook, the video is now on Twitter. Former Chief Planner of Toronto, Jennifer Keesmaat retweeted the clip, and as of Sunday, it has 30,400 views.