This was in my bookmarks from way back, and it still amuses me. I don’t believe a word of it, but the concept is fabulous, darling!

I drove a car the other day for the first time in oh, about 13 years, returning our Autoshare car to its parking spot a few subway stops west of us.

I didn’t enjoy it. The car was a Suzuki Aerio, which felt enormous and tank-like. It was an automatic, which I didn’t like — the feeling of just putting my foot down and having the thing move, ack! Not that I ever got any good at driving a stick, but it’s less freaky. Visibility out the back of the thing was kind of bad, too. Fortunately it was dark and rainy — since I learned to drive in Vancouver, I’m most comfortable driving in the dark and the rain. Still, compared to my bike where I can see and hear 360 degrees, my situational awareness was significantly constrained.

I think I’d prefer the Toyotas in the Autoshare fleet. They’re smaller and shaped to be more open, especially the Echos. And maybe the Smartcars, since they’re small and can be driven in either automatic or manual mode.

Anyway, I didn’t hit anything.

The absolute best way to get from the Queen’s Quay bike lane to downtown (and vice versa) is via the well-hidden Skydome/CN Tower elevator, which is ride-in/ride-out for cyclists because of its two conveniently-located doors. Here’s how to find the thing.

First, here’s a map of the area:

If you’re coming from the north, come down John Street. At the foot of John there’s a ramp up towards Skydome and the CN Tower. Go up it; the wheelchair/bike ramp is to the right (circled in the photo).

Cross the bridge over the train tracks

…and look for the building on the left (circled in the photo) just before you reach Skydome:

Take the elevator down to level 1 then ride out to Bremner — see the photos below.

If you’re coming from the south (probably along the Queen’s Quay bike lane), turn north on Rees. Stay in the right-hand lane. Cross the expressway at the lights, head straight up the hill to Bremner, and turn right. About 100m later, just past the fountain, you’ll see a pedestrian crossing and some metal posts like this:

Turn left through the posts and head towards the base of the CN Tower.


Go through the door (circled in the photo below) and take the elevator up to level 3.

Then ride across the bridge over the tracks, down the access ramp to the left, and down the main ramp to the foot of John Street.

I’m a bad person — I hate the brand-new and long-awaited TTC buses, all 800 of them. Hate them. Yes, they run on biofuel and they’re shiny and new and all, but. But. But. They have about five seats, they’re narrow and bumpy, some of the seats have zero legroom, there’s nowhere to stand that’s out of the way, the doors are very hard for my arthritic wrists to open, and they smell like a McDonald’s when I’m stuck following them on my bike.

I should like them. But I just don’t.