The Biking Lawyer
926 College Street M6H1A4 Toronto, ON, Canada

Our #CyclistsofToronto campaign got a bit derailed by #covid19 last year, but we are excited to showcase the stories and voices of our fellow cycling community members in 2021. Last year we profiled our friends Allie Wood of Amplify Collective, Bikepoc and Dismount Bike Shop. Stay tuned or even shout out other folks we should feature! Teaunna Gray with the beautiful camera work, and The Biking Lawyer LLP are back at it in 2021.... #community #bikes #bikelife #cycling #bikeshop #coffeeandbikes #wearableart #bipocradriders

In solidarity with Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project and sex workers across the GTA rad lawyer and Biking Lawyer LLP teammate Deniqua Edwards has written a piece exposing By-Law officers booking appointments and then entrapping sex workers with COVID-19 related tickets in the GTA. Deniqua provides a know your rights breakdown for sex workers finding themselves in these situations. We are offering free consultations to sex workers affected by this or who are tickete...d while working. Thanks to Maggie's for shedding light on this absurd and harmful government practice. Original image by @taylormade_xox with additions by Amplify Collective #sexworkers #gta #ontario #toronto #solidarity #community #knowyourrights #sexworkisrealwork #maggies #covid19 #pandemic #stateviolence #entrappment https://www.thebikinglawyer.ca//entrapping-sex-workers-can

This time last year I had just opened my firm on the one year anniversary of my near death. As we enter our second year our firm has grown and I remain forever grateful and stoked for the future. Today, I am in a settlement hearing for a cyclist seriously injured in a dooring incident. Wednesday I'm cross examining a police officer in an assault/anti-Black racism case. ... It's been a pleasure to serve my clients and community in 2020 and they can expect that same level of commitment in 2021. Individual cases. Community solidarity. Systemic change. The Biking Lawyer LLP Article by Veronica Appia LINK IN BIO: https://www.toronto.com//9803126-after-his-assault-toront/

Strength in numbers. A phrase etched on the wall underneath the West Toronto Railpath at DuPont. It's also a phrase that our team believes will help cyclists get fair treatment and justice in Ontario. We ride together and we must advocate for change together. Twice this week I've heard from cyclists failed by our justice system. Let them hear our community. We have a rebellious and defining voice.... Also new photos by teammate and rad human/creative genius Teaunna Gray Check out her new film "Reverence", one that honours Black stories, creatives, voices and visionaries. You rock friend. www.teaunnagray.com/films #bikelife #cycling #ontario #toronto #solidarity #community #ridetogether #bikesafey #justice #lawyer #thebikinglawyer

Looking forward to 2021! I'm excited to continue the solidarity work of @thebikebrigade, representing injured cyclists and survivors of violence, and growing The Biking Lawyer LLP. On the eve of the 2nd anniversary of nearly losing my life I remain forever grateful and perpetually stoked. What are you stoked for in 2021?... #morelife #stoked #bikelife #bikes #cycling #humanrights #personalinjury #thebikinglawyer @robinpueyo

Last night, hundreds of people on bikes rode in a memorial procession to honour 15 cyclists killed in the GTA. They were killed by people driving motor vehicles. We rode to Queen's Park and demanded vulnerable road user legislation be adopted and made law. Moments before I left for the memorial I had a call with the family of a Tillsonburg cyclist who I represent that was killed in a hit and run last year. Mike Jones. I rode in his honour and theirs. I rode for all of our fal...len fellow riders. #vulnerableroadusers #ghostbike #rip #cycling #bikesafety #roadviolence #bikelife #peopleonbikes Photos: @jo.koga and Greg AB Video: @thebikingvet Memorial ride recap https://jnyyz.wordpress.com//riding-to-remember-15-gta-c/

The Biking Lawyer LLP will remain virtually open and accessible to people who have been injured or experienced injustice. The holidays and a province wide lockdown are upon us. Email or call us at any time and we will be there to support you. [email protected] 647-725-7751... Be safe. Take care of each other. #thebikinglawyer #cycling #law #lawyer #ontario #personalinjury #humanrights #community #toronto #happyholidays #covid19

Since the summer and Black and Indigenous led calls to #defundthepolice it's important to recognize that we have yet to get the result our communities need. Please continue to pressure local governments. To that end please join Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) in calling and email local councillors tomorrow. LINK IN BIO. The City of Toronto’s 2021 Budget process is now underway. Join Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Toronto in calling and emailing City Councillors to ...demand defunding the Toronto Police Service (TPS) by 50%, and immediately redirect the funds towards vital community supports & services. TPS is the single largest expense item in Toronto’s budget. That means the largest portion of tax dollars are going to fund policing rather than meeting the direct needs of our communities. In 2020, the Toronto Police’s net operating budget was approx $1.1 billion - more than the City’s budget for Toronto Community Housing; shelters, support and housing services; transportation; employment and social services; and the Toronto Public Library COMBINED. Taking the lead from Black Lives Matter Toronto’s 2020 public demands (https://blacklivesmatter.ca/defund-the-police/), we are calling on Toronto City Councillors to take immediate action to prioritize the safety and well-being of our neighbours and community members. We know that it is Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, homeless, queer and trans neighbours and community members who disproportionately bear the brunt of systemic racism, ongoing surveillance, criminalization, and violence in policing. In 2021, Toronto can lead the way in re-defining public safety through community, not policing! Register and join us on December 8th at 12pm: https://us02web.zoom.us//tZIpf-itpzgjHt1A3pCdloUYxWVG6YDVP

On the eve of City of Toronto - Your Local Government Councillor Gary Crawford and Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson announcing the removal of bike lanes in Toronto, a cyclists was brutally killed, in part by this city's lack of bike lanes and it seems the carelessness of it 2 car drivers. This is not an isolated incident. This is sadly a regular ongoing concern for us. Just last week, in this very spot, I was consulted by a young cyclist in the hospital fearing they'd lose thei...r foot after a truck ran it over south of Bloor on Dufferin. This is the midway point between my home and office. This hits close. Sending love to the family as we all mourn this senseless loss. cc Cycle Toronto https://www.thestar.com//woman-cyclist-dies-after-collisio

As we head into the winter months and a spiking pandemic the Bike Brigade's commitment to supporting our communities has only strengthened. We have several new partnerships, from delivering art supplies for @maggiestoronto to menstrual products for @twelvedonations and of course amazing food boxes for @parkdalefoodbank. This morning on a delivery we were profiled by @bttoronto @dina.pugliese and her team. Thanks for helping us spread the word of community support and solidarity during the pandemic and beyond. https://www.bttoronto.ca//bt-bright-spot-the-bike-brigade/

This morning Breakfast Television Toronto profiled Bike Brigade. We continue to deliver FoodShare Toronto harvest fresh food boxes, menstrual products donated by Twelve Donations, and even art supplies for Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project, just to name a few of the incredible groups we support. Check us out and join us for some solidarity cycling into the winter: www.bikebrigade.ca/volunteer

It's #givingtuesday. This year in part with @thebikebrigade I've had a chance to work with some incredible community organizations and continue to work with others. If you're able to donate today please do and/or support in other ways. Certainly, it is through their efforts that we will get through this and build a better society.... If you are starved for leadership from our elected officials/politicians look no further than these local leaders providing unsung support to our communities every single day. Thank you all! Please support our rad partners: @maggiestoronto @sisteringdropin @trccmwar @parkdalefoodbank @fyfoodbank @peoplespantryto @twelvedonations @cf___to And more! #solidaritynotcharity #mutualaid #toronto #Ontario #pandemic #covid19 #communityadvocacy #community #brokensystems #communitysolutions Video by the rad @darpaguandas of @fredicusdesign

Saturday morning I wrote a mediation memo for a cyclist seriously injured by a dangerous left turning car. Saturday afternoon I rode down to Bloor and Spadina with 17 other cyclists from @thebikebrigade and others to provide solidarity, safety and support to Indigenous Youth Activists taking action in solidarity with the Neskantaga First Nations, Mi'kmaq fishers, the Haudenosaunee land defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane and the Algonquins of Barriers Lake. Their #shutdowncana...da actions have been getting sparse media attention but are powerful and important to bear witness to. I/we are learning and expanding what it means to listen to and support our communities. Solidarity not charity. Amazing shots by the gracious @joshuabest cc @climatejusticeto @fridaysforfutureto nice working with you all as usual. #indigenoussolidarity #landback #communityadvocacy #lawyer #bikes #bikesafety #defundthepolice #toronto #ontario #antifascist #thebikinglawyer

Almost a year later and I have just received yet another email from a Toronto Police Service officer refusing to provide auto insurance information to a cyclist injured in a dooring incident. The government of Ontario needs to work with Toronto Police to address this huge gap in cyclist rights and safety. Failing to address this is actively harming individual cyclists and impeding their recovery by preventing them accessing NO FAULT medical care pursuant to the Accident Benefits insurance regime (which they are entitled to!). The officer's own words (partially): "I am simply not in a position which authorizes me to release it [insurance information of the car driver]. I can agree with you that it is a silly process for incidents such as these[...]" https://www.thebikinglawyer.ca//barriers-to-recovery-toron

It may be an absolute horror show down south but last night the sky was beautiful and 60 people on bikes, me included, delivered 126 @foodshareto boxes of food to people in need across Toronto. It's hard not to smile and find joy in that. Building mutual aid networks and community support/solidarity is how we will grow past this historic tragedy. It will be how we withstand this haunting wave of fascism. We are not immune. Best to be prepared, be connected and be together so that we can stamp it out in solidarity and love. #uselection #solidaritynotcharity #bikebrigade #Ontario #thebikinglawyer #sunset #foodsecurity #community #mutualaid #antifascist

Let us help light your way and keep the police off your back. Riding without a bike light is an offence under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act punishable with a fine over $100. Section 62.17 for details. We just received 1000 red rear lights and 500 front lights to share with the bike community. Come and get em friends. The dark months are upon us and these beauties are free! #bikelights #bikelife #bikes #cycling #Ontario #bicycles #redlight #tupac #thebikinglawyer #prettyokayatbikes