NAME: Timmi Von Gersfeld
LOCATION: Montreal, QC, Canada
OCCUPATION: Bicycle Homebuilder
Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
Montreal has come a long way towards recognizing the sharing of the roads with cyclists... Although this is still in its infancy and can only recently be felt, it has gained momentum and is accelerating fast. Two decades ago, it wasn’t uncommon for me to be cut off or run off the road by impatient drivers eager to shave off a second from their time to arrive at the next red light. Today, we have many bike paths in the city, which makes it safer to ride alongside the cars (except at intersections where drivers are still getting used to looking out for cyclists appearing from their side as they wish to turn), and the city has ambitious plans to radically increase the bike path network to cover most of the city. Finally we are starting to be recognized, but there is still much education to be done not only with drivers in general, but even with the police that also happen to be drivers with an anti-cyclist point of view. Still, despite the difficulties, I feel free riding in the city. Free from traffic jams. Free from looking for parking spots. Free and happy to show off my vintage Vicini racing bike, now converted to a singlespeed, restored and repainted.
What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
I used to like to ride alongside the roadways leading up north into the mountains for training back in the days I was racing. I can’t say I really had a favorite city to ride in—I preferred to ride in the countryside where drivers didn’t have “city stress.” Today, I’m finding that Montreal, with all the efforts it is making to integrate and facilitate cycling into the urban landscape, to resolve an impending transit problem and to integrate health-conscious citizens is becoming a nicer place to cycle. Already, those who own a car seem to be “out,” while anything on wheels without a motor is “in.”
Why do you love riding in the city?
As I mentioned, it’s the freedom from all the stress and hassles that you face when you have a car. The expenses, gas, insurance, worries, traffic, parking. It’s a liberating feeling to know that you’ll get somewhere just as fast as those sitting in their cars. And it’s just so much more convenient—park it anywhere, just outside where you want to shop, instead of worrying about parking logistics. The bike paths that motorists now HAVE to deal with... All of those little things combined just make it so great!
Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city… Poetry anyone?
There is a growing sense of community. I’ve met a few new people through my Facebook group, Vélo Montreal Cycling. I’ve discovered bike polo, which I love, and I’m starting to feel a sense of community wherever I go and cross paths with other cyclists.
Check out tiny.cc/velomontreal
