Cycling in Toronto can be a frustrating and at times dangerous experience, and riders trying to use a Bloor Street West bike lane earlier this month had confusion thrown into the mix by a recent ad hoc addition to their route.

Russell Kroll first alerted the public to an odd detour along Bloor last Wednesday morning, sharing on Twitter that the sudden cluster of signage and barriers was forcing cyclists "to come to a near full stop to make the 180-degree turn" for over a week, and forming a seemingly random bottleneck in the route "for no apparent reason."

It could have just been brushed off as another inconvenience for the cycling populace, but Kroll took his frustration and confusion to social media, asking "Why are there more traffic calming measures for bicycles than cars on Bloor Street?"

@311Toronto can anyone explain why this has been in the Bloor st bike lane for over a week? Forces cyclists to come to a near full stop to make the 180 degree turn. Causes a bunch up of bicycle traffic, for no apparent reason.

CC: @NotSafe4BikesTO @TO_Cycling @CycleToronto pic.twitter.com/zssZaWQblp

— Russell Kroll (@KrollRussell) May 11, 2022

Kroll once again encountered the detour on his route home later that day, but this time it was torn down. Moments later, another man appeared and put the barriers back in place.

So this guy came around a moment later and put it all back. Brian Thompson is his name (apparently)

🧵 begins now. pic.twitter.com/VejCzsOTED

— Russell Kroll (@KrollRussell) May 11, 2022

The man, who identified himself to Kroll as Brian Thompson, reportedly told the cyclist the obstruction was a measure put in place by a local BIA, meant to "slow cyclists down" after "two seniors have been injured by cyclists." Upon further investigation, Kroll determined that the affected stretch of bike lane didn't appear to even be within the coverage area of any local BIA.

Here is a zoomed in map from the City of Toronto site. You can see that 1968 Bloor St W isn't in ANY BIA. If I had to guess, I think this obstruction is around the "4" of the "04". pic.twitter.com/zJ7WQmAPxX

— Russell Kroll (@KrollRussell) May 12, 2022

Kroll took the fight to local councillor Gord Perks, and by Friday, the obstruction had been removed for good and the cyclist was able to declare a victory.

CONCLUSION: the obstruction is not only clear, but all the materials are gone! I declare victory. Weekend is off to a good start.

Ride on! 🚲

CC: @NotSafe4BikesTO @TO_Cycling @CycleToronto pic.twitter.com/gHX3iJP0yd

— Russell Kroll (@KrollRussell) May 13, 2022

But even with the detour removed, voices in the cycling community are concerned about these unsanctioned changes to cycling infrastructure.

Lawyer and cycling safety advocate David Shellnutt tells blogTO that "this kind of vigilantism is dangerous and could attract significant liability if the road safety cones were moved without authorization and someone was seriously injured."

If such a case was presented to his firm, Shellnutt says that "the first thing our office would do would be to put the business owner or individual responsible on notice of the claim."

"My hope is that city officials will visit this location, consult with the business owner and provide a warning," says Shellnutt, stressing that "bike lanes are created for the safety of cyclists and all road users, they are well thought out and should not be tampered with.

He has harsh words for the person or group responsible for putting up the detour, saying that "This is a flagrant and upsetting example of disregard for the safety of people on bikes."

Another cycling safety advocate, known on social media as NotSafe4BikesTO, tells blogTO that "Instead of erecting makeshift barriers that put people on bikes in serious danger, perhaps this person could direct their efforts towards volunteering for organizations that aim for meaningful change to street design and vulnerable road user safety."

"If he wants to keep operating as a lone guerilla urbanist, maybe he could brush up on the deadliest streets in Toronto and put his handiwork into slowing down drivers. He should also add his name to the list supporting Bill 54, which will 'apply mandatory penalties to drivers who break the law and cause injuries or death to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.'"