Hey guys, hopefully this isn’t too far out of the city to offer suggestions, but here’s my problem:

I’m planning a ride from East Oshawa to central Vaughan.

I’d like to keep the route safe, but don’t want to detour so far out-of-the-way, so a 4h one-way trip becomes a 7-hour one, since I’ll still need to come back on the same day.

I’ll obviously need to avoid the waterfront trail, as it’s quite out of my way. So, my options are either taking HWY 7 or Taunton/Steeles.

Google street view shows me some pros and cons to both, but they also lead to totally different parts of Markham, and some cycling infrastructure there seems either disconnected or forces me to take some rather busy roads.

Has anyone taken HWY 7 or Taunton/Steeles between Pickering and Markham by bike? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

EDIT: Finch Ave. looks to be another option.

    • Showroom7561OP
      2·
      5 months ago

      I contribute to OSM, so I’m well aware of cycleOSM and make use of it and the cycle map layers.

      But “cycling infrastructure” is often complex and nuanced around here.

      For example, some high speed roads have multi-use paths on certain sections. Knowing when/where/how to merge into them is typically down to experience of the area.

      And some areas that I’ve already mapped out require me to use the sidewalk for a short while in order to get to the trail links (because you can’t get to them directly from the road).

      This sort of hit-and-miss aspect is likely going to be the biggest challenge, second to headwind. LOL

      That said, I think I’ve planned out my route, and will do a final comb over with the help of Google street view to visualize what I can expect. Of course, if I just stuck to Taunton/Steeles, it’d be “easier” to plan, but not nearly as safe to ride with speed limits of 80km/h (plus 20 to 40km/h over because sPeEd LiMiTs ArE fOr LoSeRs!).

      I may, at some point, try Taunton/Steels from Pickering to Markham, just to see how it is, but not for this ride.

      Edit: minor correction for clarity.