My name is Caroline Breton. I was born and raised in Montreal. In 2005 work took me to Toronto. And a few later, at the age of 38, I discovered and fell in love with triathlons. I loved the rigor and routine that came from training for races, the support of the tri community and the fun of racing. It was a sport that also allowed me to disconnect from work, something I had not done in years. It took a longer for me to enjoy with cycling. I found cycling tedious and uncomfortable. I did it because it was part of triathlons. It took a 2 year pandemic and 8 month long lockdown for me to discover the pure joy of cycling. Early 2020, I simultaneously finished my breast cancer treatments and went through a separation. We sold the house. I moved and COVID became real. I found myself not only living alone, but also isolated. My family was in Montreal and my social life which revolved around master swims and group runs was all the sudden taken away from me. I was working from home. Sometimes going days without speaking to another human (live not on Zoom!). On a cold day of April 2020, when it became clear that this pandemic was not ending anytime soon, I took my bike out and rode around an empty city. Something I had never done before. I had been terrified of riding in Toronto and always headed to country roads. I wore snowboarding clothing because I was a fair weather cycling. The air was cold. The roads were empty. And I felt free. I started riding everyday. I would wake up early and go for 2-3 hour ride before work. As summer rolled around, a few of us would get together to swim Lake Ontario or ride in the still deserted city. As other parts of the country and the world was opening up, Toronto was still under a stay at home order and gyms, retails, pools, restaurants were still all closed. I kept riding. But as restrictions started to lift, traffic started to pick up. And the danger of riding in Toronto became real. Drivers, buzzing by you, honking because you are not hugging the curb, or simply not paying attention. I understand some of their frustrations. I see many cyclists flying through red lights and stop signs or not signaling their intentions. But I also hear of the cyclists who get hit. I have had a few close calls as well. I think we can learn to share the roads and I want to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Toronto is not a bike friendly city. But I would like it to be. This is why I am looking to get involved.