The reason that so many bollards marking the Woodbine Avenue bike lanes have been crushed may have a lot to do with trash and recycling collection.

Back in late November I wrote about how a large number of flexible plastic bollards that separate cycling lanes from vehicles on Woodbine had been crushed by passing traffic.

The absence of an unbroken line of bollards left cyclists feeling vulnerable, as well as wondering why drivers were running over them. It also had some people asking why the city doesn’t make them more visible, possibly using fluorescent day-glo colours.

Among the many emails about it from readers, one stood out for its theory on why so many bollards — which are supposed to bend and then pop back up when struck by a vehicle — were badly damaged.

“I use the Woodbine bike lanes, as does my family,” said Russell Gienapp. “And we do feel safer not having cars going right past us. But, that is not why I am writing.

“Since they went up I have watch the bollards getting dirtier and dirtier, scratched and generally beaten up. I actually thought that perhaps one or more of the most fervent detractors of bike lanes was taking their frustration out on their daily commute.

“That was until one garbage day my daughter and I watched a garbage truck slowly making its way up Woodbine driving over the bollards. I believe that is the cause of the broken bollards.”

It seemed a more likely reason for the high number of crushed bollards than drivers randomly hitting them with cars, so I ran it past transportation services, and also asked why they aren’t coloured to make them more visible.

Here’s the answer: “The colour of the bollards corresponds to the underlying paint colour. If it’s a white line, a white bollard is placed. If the line is yellow then a yellow bollard is placed. This keeps them in line with the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18,” which prescribes most of the traffic measures and devices used on provincial roads and streets. “We know that the issue of dirt and grime collecting on bollards and possibly reducing visibility would hold true, independent of what base colour is used.”

The city’s reply also noted that other measures to separate bike lanes from vehicle traffic, such as flower beds, barriers and curbs, will be tested in 2020.

As for my question about bollard damage caused by garbage trucks, the city offered what I would charitably call a non-answer. To me, that means the garbage trucks are at the top of the suspect list.

“Cycle tracks in Toronto must work in conjunction with other city services including waste removal. The way city trucks, such as solid waste vehicles, interact with bollards was an important discussion point when bollards were first installed.

“The method crews currently use for waste removal when working around bollards helps improve safety for collectors who would be otherwise crossing over a live cycling lane. City staff are constantly adapting the cycling network to work alongside the service delivery of other city divisions, including solid waste collection.”

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