More and more cyclists are hitting the roads across the GTA fighting for space with the buses, cars and trucks that already claim the streets. In an occasional series, the Star will look at the issues that cause friction between drivers and cyclists.

For cyclists, the stretch of Bloor St. between Lansdowne and Dundas St. W. is an undulating minefield.

The four-lane road heads downhill and under a bridge just west of Lansdowne, rises, then drops again under the West Toronto Railpath. Gravel and other debris can collect in the gutters, and sewer grates and potholes threaten to snag a bike’s tires.

Cycle Toronto executive director Jared Kolb travels the stretch regularly when commuting from the west end to the organization’s office on Bathurst St. It’s a good example of a street where cyclists may feel safer occupying the centre of a lane, rather than sticking close to the curb.

“It’s crucial through that area,” Kolb said.

Most cyclists ride about a metre from the curb while riding in Toronto. But as they pedal along a treacherous stretch of road, they might choose to travel down the centre of their lane. They can avoid hazards and, if the road is particularly narrow, prevent drivers from passing when it’s not safe to do so.

“Anybody who rides on a regular basis in the city knows full well that you’re going to run into grates, you’re going to run into debris. You’ve got gravel, you’ve got the streetcar tracks, you’ve got a lot of construction going on, you’ve got parked cars,” said Patrick Brown, a lawyer and the head of Bike Law Canada.

So when can a cyclist occupy an entire lane?

“At any time,” said Toronto police constable Hugh Smith. “It’s the same rule that applies to a motorcycle and a car.”

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Under the Highway Traffic Act, most slow-moving vehicles should stay in the right lane or a close to the right side of the road or the curb “as practicable.”

That word — practicable — is important for cyclists. While cyclists will typically travel below the speed limit and stay close to the curb, obstacles occasionally make doing so….less than practicable. Or they may simply need to make a left turn.

“When I come off Bathurst and I’m...trying to get over to the Martin Goodman [Trail], there’s just a wack-load of gravel,” said Brown about one of the spots where he chooses to take the lane.

Brown commutes by bike into the city from Port Credit two or three times a week.

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To any cyclists taking the lane, Brown advises that they ignore frustrated drivers and stay put until they feel safe to move over.

As for any impatient drivers, Brown asks for patience.

“You’re really talking about an amount of time that’s nominal.”