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NEWS: Curbside Cycle weathers assault on Bloor bike lanes (Jan. 2025)

February 12th, 2025 · No Comments

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Family business finds its niche and thrives despite Doug Ford

Aaron Enchin carries on the legacy to promote urban cycling. ROSE HABERER/GLEANER NEWS

By Rose Haberer

Since its introduction, the Ford government’s Bill 212: Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act has met with a symphony of local public outrage.

Rumours of Premier Ford drafting legislation to restrict the construction of new bike lanes and remove those on Bloor street began spreading as the summer heat softened in September 2024. Now, at the pinnacle of Toronto’s cold winter, with the bill having passed, the bonfire of protest continues to burn.

An example of this protest in the Annex community was when MPP Jessica Bell spoke at an Oct. 23 bike protest titled Rally and Ride for Road Safety at Queen’s Park, demanding the Ford government allow municipalities the freedom to install and maintain bike lanes without needing the restrictive approvals that Doug Ford insists upon. Hundreds of citizens gathered, ringing their bike bells in a melody of solidarity. 

The myriad detrimental effects of the bill on cyclists, safety, active transportation, and the climate are evident. But what about its impact on bike businesses?

In the heart of the Annex, at 412 Bloor St. W., near Brunswick Avenue, sits Curbside Cycle, a hip bicycle shop that serves as a cornerstone of Toronto’s cycling community. Owner Aaron Enchin believes the removal of bike lanes could severely harm establishments like his, but his primary concern lies with cyclists, particularly newer riders, who may feel uncomfortable and unsafe without proper infrastructure.

 “When you have good infrastructure, you have more accessibility, especially for people who feel less certain on a bike,” Enchin said. 

Enchin dismissed claims that bike lanes cause congestion, deeming them unfounded. He pointed out the numerous studies demonstrating bike lanes’ benefits for neighbourhoods. “The goal is to move people,” he said, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach to street infrastructure where all forms of transportation work together. 

Curbside is a cherished Annex institution with its lineage tracing back to an Annex curb—hence the name. In 1991, founder Don Watterson, stepfather to Enchin, launched the shop as a humble bike repair pop-up beneath a tent. They moved into their brick-and-mortar location in 1994. Don had a sudden realization about the gaps in Toronto’s cycling world: while the demand for urban mobility through biking was evident, there was a lack of bicycles designed specifically for city navigation. 

This realization became the foundation of Curbside’s mission—to promote urban cycling and foster a sustainable cycling culture in Toronto. Like a bike alchemist, Don began transforming mountain and road bikes into city-centric creations. Curbside is a pioneer of what is now a vibrant and diverse cycling community. In the time of flip phones and Spice Girls, otherwise known as the 90s, they had already begun morphing road bikes into flat handlebar bikes, giving rise to what we now know as hybrid bikes. Over time, Curbside grew into the Annex staple it is today, importing their specialized city bikes from the bike havens of Europe.

After Don’s sudden passing in 2017, the store was entrusted to Enchin who has upheld and expanded the Curbside legacy. He has continued to cater to urban cyclists, offering products designed to make navigating Toronto’s bustling streets more accessible. A standout example is the Brompton, a bicycle that folds seamlessly like origami, making it portable.

Walking into Curbside today is like stepping into a treasure trove of cycling history and innovation. The air is tinged with the smell of fresh bikes, each one ready to embark on its own journey through the city.

Enchin, who has been working at the store since his preteen years, reflects on what it meant to have the store passed down to him.

“I probably didn’t understand what I was involved in until much later. But keeping the legacy of Curbside alive and keeping Don’s vision alive became very, very important to me,” he shared.

When he took over the store, Enchin made it his mission to give back to the community and support the Annex neighbourhood. For him, that meant building trust with both the community and his customers by curating the best quality brands for cyclists.

“I’m here from the service side for our local customers, as well as being an online resource for people who want to learn about bikes,” he stated. The Bloor Street bike lane, which sits right outside the shop like a red carpet for cyclists, is a motivating feature for Enchin and the curbside staff. It stands as a testament to the accessibility that Curbside promotes.  He also highlighted the strong and loyal customer base that continues to support the shop. “Yeah, I think that honours Don’s legacy really nicely. It feels right, and we feel like we’re at home in the Annex,” he added. 

According to Enchin, the most rewarding aspect of running Curbside is the store’s deep-rooted connection with the community, a bond that has flourished since its inception. This past fall, Curbside partnered with Fiesta Farms to host a social event that brought their community together. Though a retail business at its core, Curbside goes to great lengths to engage with the local community, even working to address the bike lane issue. Collaborating with organizations such as Cycle Toronto—a nonprofit advocating for safe cycling infrastructure and policies—Curbside aims to make a tangible impact.

“We can come at the issue from a kind of brand or service side where we can help put people on bikes physically, whereas they can encourage advocacy,” he explained.

When asked about the store during his childhood, Enchin shared memories from what he described as a grungier era of Curbside. Back then, they sold both mountain and city bikes, much to his teenage delight. “We would make obstacle courses through the shop and ride our bikes around, trying not to fall over or knock anything over,” he recalled with a laugh.

But how has Curbside changed over the years?

The core mission of Curbside remains unchanged, but the company has evolved by offering a wider variety of bikes to cater to a broader range of cyclists. “The golden thread that runs through Curbside remains the same. We’re still trying to bring bikes to the everyday person,” said Enchin.

Now, with the “golden thread,” Enchin speaks of running through him, it’s clear that the heritage of Curbside continues to burn brightly. Don’s mission of championing everyday people is alive, even as Aaron adds his own unique mark to the legacy.

When asked what lessons he learned from Don, Enchin smiled and shared an inside joke: “Don’t forget about the long-fingered gloves.” Although it may sound humorous, for Enchin this piece of wisdom serves as a microcosm for running his community-oriented business. 

“Every item we sell is a person’s story, and we need to have something that serves every single person who walks through our door.” 

Enchin shared that Don had a remarkable ability to identify gaps in the market—spaces that reflected real needs—and step into them to transform them for the better. “That’s a lesson I’ve definitely picked up from him. It’s really a Don message,” he said. 

The people using bike lanes are not professional cyclists or road racers. 

Each bike offered by Curbside represents the everyday cyclist who relies on these lanes for transportation; for instance, a cargo bike might carry a parent with a child in the canopy, while a Brompton folding bike could belong to someone returning home with groceries in a pannier. 

A city bike may be used by a university student gripping its handles, and an electric bike might be used by an adult commuting to a 9-to-5 job. The Ford government’s bill is not just a restriction on bike lanes; it is a restriction on the people who depend on them.

Determined to meet every customer’s needs with the same care and attention to detail that Don championed, Enchin continues Don’s legacy—always striving to find the perfect “long-fingered glove” for every individual who walks through the Curbside door. 

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Tags: Annex · News