Cycling Toronto's Worst Road (Narrated) on July 27 [4K]

A 4K narrated Toronto bike ride down the worst road in Toronto and the entire province of Ontario as determined by CAA (Canadian Automobile Association). That ranking was certainly a worthy one as this ride travels the entire distance of Eglinton Avenue East from Yonge and Eglinton in midtown Toronto to where it finishes in Scarborough at Kingston Road. In my opinion this is certainly the worst road for cycling I have ever been on in Toronto. Recorded on Monday, July 27, 2020 just after 5:30 pm. The temperature was 32 degrees Celsius.
Recorded with a DJI Osmo Action in 4K at 60 FPS.
0:01 - South on Duplex Avenue
0:29 - East on Eglinton Avenue West
1:43 - Eglinton Avenue East
30:27 - Entering Scarborough (Victoria Park Avenue)
52:05 - The world's worst jaywalker
54:02 - Kingston Road
55:34 - Arriving at Bethune Park
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Cameras and Mics
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GoPro Hero 7 Black (helmet mounted cycling videos): amzn.to/3eZPjIe
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Shure MVL Omnidirectional Lav Microphone (my primary mic for walking+cycling): amzn.to/3fZc1kY
Rode SmartLav+ Lav Microphone (also works really well): amzn.to/3hIicL1
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[@junnymaeacebes3093]

To be honest , that road is better than our road here!The ride was a bit scary but overall it was great .. Thanks Johnny!

[@JohnnyStrides]

I don't remember the roads that well in Manila or Cebu City, but I do remember the sidewalks were a bit difficult to walk on at times! With all the scooters you'd think the roads would be pretty good?

[@junnymaeacebes3093]

@@JohnnyStrides 🔝difficult. It is not a sidewalk at all. I called it a " side car garage". And nah , not good -- too congested for scooters as well .

[@JTCFC1]

what city are you in??

[@glenkay4478]

I just found this video, thanks! I lived in Scarboro in the 1970's and worked at a plant on the southeast corner of Pharmacy and Eglinton, it's still there! I can't believe how much it has all changed in the past 4 plus decades! Golden Mile Plaza, Golden Mile Chev/Olds, General Motors, SKF, Lily Cup, etc. it's all gone

[@meerabandekar9377]

That was quite a bumpy ride!!! I enjoy all your videos, it feels as if we are on the road with you👍👍

[@JohnnyStrides]

It was indeed... appreciate the comments and thanks for watching!

[@verasileikis17]

Thank you so much for this. It was obviously a difficult ride and I was relieved to hear you say that you won’t be taking that route again. I hope your rest at that little park was refreshing and that when you finally got home, you had a good sleep.

[@JohnnyStrides]

You're very welcome! I certainly won't go this way again, at least not until the construction is done! I did have a good rest and then an even longer ride home. And then I edited the video.. then I slept :)

[@citydrivertours]

Toronto looks fantastic 👌

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thank you! Although this video is not a great showcase of it lol

[@AsariNextDoor]

Thank you for doing this video! I live in Scarborough but it's been a while since I've been out this way. I don't bike myself but I've always thought the Scarborough roads felt difficult to bike in because it's mostly cars, there's very few if any bike-only lanes and everyone speeds right past you. And the bumpy road on Eglinton looks extra dangerous. Most of the bikes I see here are on the sidewalks rather than the main roads, even though they're technically supposed to be on the streets. And if you do eventually do more videos in Scarborough, I'm not sure what would be good locations. Scarborough isn't very pedestrian friendly as there tends to be a lot of road between major intersections that is often not particularly interesting like you see on Eglinton. You might be able to do walks inside places like Scarborough Town Centre, but it's far from as large or interesting as Eaton Centre. The most worthwhile places to visit around here are the parks in my opinion.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks and those are some of the reasons why I struggle with filming in areas like Scarborough. I generally am biased towards more urban environments and the further you go from the core the less and less they are. I'll figure something out :)

[@rogerbaumberger2882]

Thanks for the video, i grew up in Don Mills , now living in German. Brings back lots of memories!

[@JohnnyStrides]

You're very welcome and have a beer and sausge for me over there!

[@denisegwilliams8614]

What a ride😳 it definitely not bicycle friendly but I still enjoy the site seeing and the little info you gave 👍 thanks for sharing keep these wonderful vlogs coming I really appreciate them🥰

[@JohnnyStrides]

I always appreciate your comments Denise! :) Thanks for watching

[@aaronhockey8935]

Thanks for a great bike ride after my pickup hockey game here in chandler, arizona, 2 assist 1 goal. Time for a pot pie dinner. I hope to return next summer.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Sounds like a heck of a game, congrats!

[@siddsakkik]

This covid time could have been the best time to repair those roads

[@JohnnyStrides]

True, but I think the on-going construction of the LRT would have just destroyed them again... although they could have fixed it up east of the construction for sure.

[@Nooki23]

Great (bumpy) ride! You should try walking around the top of the Bluffs all the way around to Rosetta McClain Gardens...absolutely beautiful!!!

[@JohnnyStrides]

I hope to get out there one day this summer and do just that!

[@carolkay4812]

Wow that was a scary ride !!! thanx Johnny

[@JohnnyStrides]

It was indeed! And you're welcome :)

[@christyo5505]

Ok... Now that is a very not so good road! It was a very bumpy ride needing so much dedicated attention.... Definitely not fit for bike riders. This is a different perspective... Taking us through the not so sweet... Nice and thanks Johnny for this experience ride video!

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks Christy! The idea of this channel is just to explore Toronto and show it like it is... although I do tend to gravitate towards nicer areas and roads :) Thanks for watching!

[@T.O.basics]

Some clarification is required. Although construction that began in 2011 was the building of the portals for the boring machines. Actual station construction, where the real bad construction began, didn't start till late 2015 beginning 2016. All stations were not all under construction till late 2016

[@JohnnyStrides]

That is true, Eglinton hasn't looked like a warzone the entire time. I merely stated how long the LRT has been under construction as per Metrolinx. The first tunnels weren't started until 2013 but that was on the west-end so it's been much worse on that side of town for a longer period verse the east-end which is only getting the LRT at surface level for the most part. It's still a project that's failed to hit its timelines and budgets but that's to be expected these days.

[@T.O.basics]

@@JohnnyStrides but the western portal was in fact not under Eglinton off to the north side. The eastern end a different story. That's why the tunneling was later starting on the east. As far as the delay and probable overrun, name me a project that comes in on time and budget.

[@ReyKuba]

Very good video mate.Greetings👍💖

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks! 👍

[@f3rnandom3ndoza19]

Hey Johnny! May you tell me what is the brand of the camera you use? And how do you make such a good stabilization of the video? Do you attach the camera to the helmet? Thanks!

[@f3rnandom3ndoza19]

By the way, are you riding a normal bike or a motor one?

[@JohnnyStrides]

It's a DJI Osmo Action mounted to a simple chest mount. As for the bike, it's a single speed. Cheers

[@jordanlebow9105]

Don't beat yourself up too much, Johnny. It was an interesting ride.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks! I thought it would make for an interesting and different ride. Not sure I want to ever do it again though lol

[@qwaqwa1960]

34B...I knew it well...

[@rubentorres3458]

El clima está bastante caluroso, y preciosa la ciudad, saludos

[@JohnnyStrides]

It is hot! Thanks^

[@davip8269]

Hey man, how are you doing? Next year I will do a 2-month internship in Toronto, do you think it is better to buy a bicycle to walk around the city or use public transport?

[@JohnnyStrides]

Good u? I am very wary of the idea of locking up a bicycle while you work in Toronto but if you have access to a secure place to lock it up then as long as the weather allows that's the way to go IMO. If not transit will be fine :)

[@davip8269]

@@JohnnyStrides Thanks for answering me man! The place has a parking lot, I thought I'd leave it there!

[@daciatravel.647]

Very good video! 👍👍👍📹🚲

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thank you! 👍

[@daveramesar6178]

love seeing the city that i lived in for close to 40yrs

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it!

[@canonto2008]

You could go into the Don Valley trail through Sutherland or Rumsey - north of Broadway - at the end of these roads. This way you could avoid Eglinton altogether.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Indeed you can. Although the purpose of this video was to show how bad Eglinton is lol. I took Kingston Road to the Danforth back as I wanted to see how the new bike lanes were going.

[@qwaqwa1960]

48:50 - 49:15 The white building on the left...my childhood home. Interesting Y-shape. Built ~1965, Wonder how it's doing...!

[@JohnnyStrides]

Neat!

[@shon0369]

That is one long gnarly road ,, you've got some grit my friend..I lived in the Yukon as well for some time and that road is worse than anything I've seen up there . WTF is going on with T.O. ?

[@JohnnyStrides]

I think they're just holding out till the construction is done before investing in it. In the meantime it's a dumpy ass road for sure!

[@kevinduke212]

do you plan on doing some bike trails within the waterloo and kitchener area some time in the future?

[@JohnnyStrides]

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to. Maybe someone out that way can get around to it?

[@BAIRESWALKER]

Great cycling tour!

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks 👍

[@Genious.]

Just when you think your local roads in your neighborhood are a complete disaster, Johnny Stries strikes again to show how wrong we are.

[@JohnnyStrides]

These.Are.Pretty.Bad. Where is your hometown? I'm curious, I'd love to see those roads on a streetview walk.

[@Genious.]

@@JohnnyStrides Oh, I'm also in Toronto at Coxwell and Danforth but some of the streets a little North get a little hairy. By the way, the horror show bike lanes on Danforth have gotten more complicated because they've given much of them to restaurants for their patios and now have moved the bike lanes out with cement dividers - which would be great, if not for the cars that park blocking your path to get into and out of them.

[@mrmountainhiker9646]

Great ride. What do you use to keep the camera footage so steady and even?

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks! I use a (slightly modified) chest mount and DJI Osmo Action, the camera really does all the stabilization work for me.

[@mrmountainhiker9646]

@@JohnnyStrides wow that's some pretty good stabilization...I've tried filmijg rides with a GoPro 4 and a chest mount and it's quite shaky I find...looking for solutions!

[@JohnnyStrides]

@@mrmountainhiker9646 Unfortunately you will need either GoPro Hero 7 Black, the 8 Black or the DJI Osmo Action. Those all have superior stabilization (Hypersmooth on the GP, Rocksteady on the DJI). Everything else is going to disappoint. I've learned my lesson the hard way lol.

[@mrmountainhiker9646]

@@JohnnyStrides good info, appreciate the reply!

[@alvaroboschet1231]

Very unusual video uou right Johnny really bad for driving thanks be careful.

[@JohnnyStrides]

You're welcome and I always try to be careful :)

[@nonavailable4000]

@ 14:21 Johny Strides : " there's a Marshals & a Staples !! , and i never even knew they were there !! " 14: :->Dana White : " Well if you don't know !! , Now you know !! "

[@JohnnyStrides]

lol.. nothing beats a good quote from the egg himself.

[@webdesign6776]

You could actually take Victoria Park, Warden etc. north and be in Markham.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Yup, although I know even less about Markham. Perhaps I'll plan a route out up there one day. It would be easiest to head straight up Yonge though.

[@T.O.basics]

Great video but once again you showed the whining people we have in Toronto. Travel on a road that has major major construction on it. It didn't pop up all of a sudden. It has been known for years. Take an alternate don't drive or bicycle on Eglinton till it's done.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thanks Bruce. To be fair to those who complain the conditions on Eglinton east of the construction are atrocious... it's understandable that it's bad (and should be avoided on a bike) along the LRT but this road absolutely deserves its reputation IMO. If I weren't out to record a video I'd never have taken it and acknowledged that in the video itself (and I certainly won't ride again further than Leaside until the LRT is finished).

[@T.O.basics]

@@JohnnyStrides and the road replaced

[@MR-pw6xi]

How did you wind up getting home? Did you take the subway?

[@JohnnyStrides]

I took Kingston Road down to Danforth and then to Yonge. Then I road north to Yonge and Eglinton. Needless to say I was pretty beat lol

[@canonto2008]

I have biked from North Toronto to Port Credit through the trails. I am an average cyclist so I am sure you can do it! It is a very pretty path in the summer.

[@JohnnyStrides]

Yes, I've done that from Midtown but not the north. It's mostly downhill and flat too :)

[@qwaqwa1960]

28:20-29:00 etc. I remember when that tower went up. It was a big deal :-)

[@JohnnyStrides]

That's a Bell Tower right? I have read about it somewhere but can't remember lol. It's certainly an unusual sight...

[@qwaqwa1960]

@@JohnnyStrides Sorry...I don't recall. It could be prettied up...surely.

[@MaxKing10]

I'm sure once they finish the construction of the new LRT it will be back to normal Also Edit: Once you go north of Steeles on Dufferin they have a bike lane although not that long, pretty nice to have it. Roads are not bad at all north of Steeles. I guess York Region likes to maintain their roads 🤷‍♂️

[@JohnnyStrides]

I hope they fix Eglinton up once the construction is done! I imagine there will be a nice overhaul and some extra greenery added. It should look nothing like what it does now. I'd imagine that bike lane was entirely York Region's doing... don't tempt me to ride up there!

[@无名氏无名氏-r9y]

52:16 So dangerous 好危险

[@JohnnyStrides]

Indeed, not smart at all!

[@eloquentblack]

Looks like the average road in my city. I wish our worst roads were a fraction as good as the one you're cycling down

[@JohnnyStrides]

Really? What city is this?

[@eloquentblack]

@@JohnnyStrides Kyiv, Ukraine. Some roads have huge potholes, very uneven and wavy surfaces. Although for the past 4 years, the government has rebuilt about a half of those roads, there are still lots of them that have not been touched for decades

[@nahida5938]

What kind of camera do you use bro

[@JohnnyStrides]

For cycling I use a DJI Osmo Action

[@jordanlebow9105]

"Pothole District" Lol!!

[@jaonthemove3956]

That's hot...just like here in Malaysia. We are summer all year round. By the way, the roads are bad because of construction in progress i guess.

[@JohnnyStrides]

That is true, but they're also terrible once you get out of the construction zone :( It must be hot there!

[@pamrosina]

Those roads look familiar, hey are you in the US oh nope 🤣🤣🤣

[@JohnnyStrides]

haha... roads aren't our strong point...

[@pamrosina]

@@JohnnyStrides it's not ours either 🤣

[@IsmailKhan-nv5ex]

Nice

[@IsmailKhan-nv5ex]

How are you

[@qwaqwa1960]

Danforth & Danforth. EZPZ.

[@richardpo5802]

Old english is call bone shaker, or free massage, take care, beauty view

[@JohnnyStrides]

Thank you~ 👍

[@desuc5842]

If we had this road in Nigeria, it would be the best road ever

[@JohnnyStrides]

ha really? I'd think you have at least a few that are better...

[@无名氏无名氏-r9y]

44:48 So beautiful 太美了吧

[@pibbiumgaminghd]

more than half of the roads in russia are like that and nobody even thinks about fixing at least 60% of those bad roads, lol also, woah, you're almost at 11k! congrats

[@JohnnyStrides]

Wow, remind me not to ride a bike over there lol. And thanks!!! I should be there tonight :)

[@MassiveDick]

Dude I live near there you almost passed by my house. Like you were 1 minute away

[@JohnnyStrides]

Which area on Eglinton?

[@MassiveDick]

@@JohnnyStrides at 52:30 if you see the buildings on the left I live about a 3 minute walk from there

[@noemilopez9834]

👍🌸

[@JohnnyStrides]

👍 👍 👍 👍

[@arishzida6090]

And I don't think so any city in Canada worst I'm sure everywhere in the candan reliable quiet my question is why you say that I'm sure you're lie 🇨🇦💐♥️

[@toddfuller3765]

Nasty

[@JohnnyStrides]

it was pretty gross :(