Dave Laird, a Leslieville resident, recently finished a 6,784-kilometre journey to cycle every single street in Toronto. The 52-year-old graphic designer spent five and a half years mapping the city's lanes and trails.
The 6,784-kilometre map of Toronto
The scale of Dave Laird's achievement extends beyond main thoroughfares. According to the report, the journey encompassed every cul-de-sac, dead-end street, and laneway within the city limits. By treating the city as a grid to be solved, Laird transformed the urban landscape into a personal project of discovery .
Laird, a photographer and graphic designer based in Leslieville,noted that the process allowed him to discover hidden gems, such as a secluded boardwalk-lined ravine trail near Sunnybrook Hospital. other highlights included the Cliffside Bluffs and the Highland Creek Trail, areas that helped him build what he describes as a "memory map" of the entire city.
Overcoming seven spinal fractures in 2024
The project was nearly derailed by a catastrophic mountain-biking accident in 2024. As reported, the crash resulted in Laird breaking his neck and back in seven different places, a trauma that forced a six-month hiatus from the saddle and a permanent retirement from mountain biking.
Returning to the streets of Toronto was a psychological battle as much as a physical one. Laird described the experience of returning to his pedals after the injury as "absolutely terrifying," yet the act of riding outside again became a catalyst for his recovery and the eventual completion of his goal on Tuesday.
The safety gap between the waterfront and Steeles Avenue
While the physical feat is impressive, Laird's journey served as a comprehensive audit of Toronto's cycling infrastructure. he specifically highlighted a dangerous lack of safe cycling routes connecting the waterfront to Steeles Avenue, noting that significant gaps remain in the network, particularly within Scarborough.
Laird also expressed frustration over the city's planning decisions, specifically the removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street West and two other major arteries. He characterized the dismantling of established cycling infrastructure as "wasteful," arguing that the on-road network is far below its potential capacity for safety and efficiency.
How open-source GPS trackers fuel urban exploration
Laird's obsession began not with a desire for a record, but as a way to avoid the monotony of a stationary bike while training for a 24-hour mountain bike race. He utilized an open-source GPS trail tracker to gamify his rides, a trend increasingly common among urban explorers who seek to "complete" their cities.
However, the project revealed the law of diminishing returns. As Dave Laird covered more of Toronto, the planning became exponentially more difficult, requiring him to wake up as early as 4:30 a.m . to visit isolated cul-de-sacs in northern Etobicoke before starting his workday.
Which 'two other major arteries' lost their bike lanes?
Despite the detail of the journey, some specifics remain unverified in the source reporting. While the report mentions the removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street West, it does not name the "two other major arteries" where infrastructure was ripped out, leaving a gap in the public record of Toronto's recent transit reversals.
Additionally, while the report mentions the use of an "open-source GPS trail tracker," it does not specify the exact software or application used, which would be a key detail for other cyclists attempting similar urban mapping projects in other major cities.
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