Joint Letter Requesting Cycling Safety on Bayview

Our cycling advocate friends to the west and north of us recently sent a joint letter to several councillors and the mayor.  They requested for safety improvements on Bayview.  When you look at the map, it's quite striking how fragmented and incomplete the infrastructure is now. Please consider writing to the below councillors today in support of this.

To: Councillors John Burnside, Mary Fragedakis, Pam McConnell, Jaye Robinson, Kristyn Wong-Tam

CC: Councillors Josh Matlow, Christin Carmichael-Greb, Mayor John Tory

June 5, 2017

In light of the horrific and entirely preventable death of a 5-year-old on Lakeshore Blvd last week, we request the rapid installation of safety barriers onBayview Avenue between Pottery Rd and Moore Ave, and the initiation of a safety study - emphasizing cyclist safety - of Bayview Avenue over its entire route from Moore Ave to River St.

Bayview has been identified as a priority cycling corridor for over 20 years.  Bayview is the only on-street cycling connection from Midtown, North Toronto and Leaside to the Lower Don Trail system, the Don Valley Brickworks, and downtown either via Rosedale and the Sherbourne bike lane or via River St. This route is used by thousands of young and old people who ride bikes, from experienced riders to families out on a leisurely ride. This route is also used by speeding motorists as though it were a major expressway, despite Bayview being designated as a city road.  Evidence strongly shows that motorist speed is directly linked to collision frequency and severity, therefore this higher-speed corridor presents a high risk to cyclists. 

City Council in 2005 endorsed the Don Valley Corridor Transportation Master Plan, which recommended a full Environmental Assessment for Bayview. Unfortunately, this study was never completed. 

In 2016 the City reconstructed the roadway between Rosedale Road and Moore Avenue which included (1) installation of a guardrail on the east side ofBayview, between Rosedale Valley Road and Pottery Road and (2) widening of the paved shoulder from Pottery Road to Moore Avenue, so that it is in effect a bike lane.  Unfortunately, no guardrail was installed north of Pottery Rd, and simply widening the shoulder is an inadequate safety measure. 

Also in 2016 Councillor Fragedakis tabled a motion, approved by Council (2016.MM18.10) for a functional study of Bayview including cycling safety.  Unfortunately we learned earlier this month that City staff aren't even preparing to start this study.

This is unacceptable.  We don't need to wait for tragedies like this to happen before we install basic safety features such as guardrails on bike routes next to high-speed roadways.

Therefore we recommend to:

1. Designate Bayview Avenue from Pottery Rd to Moore Ave as a cycle track, in accordance with the City’s 2016 Cycling Plan.
2. Separate the new bikeway from the roadway using appropriate technology such as guardrails or Jersey barriers.
3. Service the new bikeway to cycle track standards (regular sweeping, pothole repair, snow clearing, etc).
4. Request Transportation Services to report how additional safety measures on Bayview Avenue between River St and Moore Ave can be addressed, including extending the bikeway south from Rosedale Valley Rd, widening the paved shoulder further, and closing the gap southbound between Moore Ave and Nesbitt Ave.
5. Fully engage with the cycling community as a stakeholder during the City study.

On behalf of the users of Bayview Avenue,
 

John Taranu & Tom Worrall Cycle Toronto Midtown Ward 16 & 22 Advocacy Group cycleto.ca/ward/22	Alex Korobchevsky & Georgina Wilcock Cycle Toronto Ward 25 Advocacy Group
Geoff Kettel & Louis Fliss Cycle 26 Ward 26 Advocacy Group cycleto.ca/ward/26	Peter Rogers Cycle Toronto Ward 28 Advocacy Group cycleto.ca/ward/28
Tom Flaherty Ward 29 Bikes Ward 29 Advocacy Group 29bikes.ca	Alison Stewart & Chris Hoyle Cycle Toronto Yonge Working Group cycleto.ca/yonge

-- 

Woodbine Bike Lanes Approved - First Ever Protected Bike Lane for East End!

City Council met last week and we're thrilled to report that the Woodbine Bike lanes were unanimously approved! Not much in Toronto's cycling world happens unanimously, so this is special!

It's also the result of some serious outreach efforts from our friends at Ward 31 and Ward 32 advocacy groups, the efforts of the local councillors who really pushed hard for this, and city staff who organized a massive public outreach.

And it's not just a painted line!  Buffers and flexi posts!   Is this the best that cycling infrastructure can be?  No, not at all.  It's unlikely Scandinavian traffic engineers are going to get any best practice tips from this. BUT its moving in the right direction.  Buffers are better than single painted lanes.  And buffers turn into flexi posts, flexi posts turn into curbs or planters.   Curbs and planters turn into full fledged separated from vehicles paths like the waterfront trail.

You can read more here

Stay tuned for the installation!

Danforth East public meeting on Monday - help make bike lanes on the Danforth a reality!

There's a public meeting coming up next week for the section of the Danforth east of us. Not Ward30, but very close to us.  Below is Cycle Toronto's action alert, if you can make it out to the public meeting please do!

City Council recently reinstated the Danforth Corridor Study to determine the feasibility of bike lanes on the Danforth. This Monday, planners at the City are hosting a community meeting for a separate Danforth Avenue Planning Study, and we need you to remind them how important bike lanes are to the vitality, economy, and growth of the Danforth. This meeting is especially important as the study area intersects with Woodbine Ave, which is also being considered for future bike lanes.

The consultation will take place Monday, June 27th, 7:00pm to 9:00pm, at the Hope United Church (2550 Danforth Ave).

If you live, work, or play along the Danforth, this meeting is an essential opportunity to share your comments and concerns about cycling infrastructure with City staff. We urge you to go and have your voice heard.

Learn more about the project on the City's website.

Cycle Toronto is your voice at City Hall. We fought for bike lanes on Richmond, Adelaide, and Bloor, and the Danforth is next. Support our work by joining our more than 3,000 members or donate now.

We hope we can count on you. 

Jared Kolb

Cycle Toronto

Councillor Paula Fletcher urges PWIC Chair to Support and FUND the 10 year bike plan

Just in time for our Bikes Mean Business Event last week, Councillor Paula Fletcher issued a letter to the Chair of PWIC urging her to support and fund the 10 year cycling plan.  A copy of the letter is below:

April 19, 2016

Councillor Jaye Robinson, Chair PWIC
100 Queen Street West, Suite A12
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Dear Chair and members:

Bikes Mean Business

Cycling is more popular than ever in Toronto and I urge you to support, and fund, the 10 year cycling plan which will be in front of you at Committee on May 16^th.

The eagerly awaited Major Corridor Study for Danforth Ave for bike lanes on the Danforth (from the Prince Edward Viaduct to Danforth Rd.) is just one of many great initiatives included in the plan. Every day, the Danforth is both a popular destination and a major commuting corridor for thousands of cyclists in the City. I believe the time has come to conduct this study, and closely examine the implementation of a bike lane on the Danforth.

Cyclists are not only commuters, athletes, tourists and residents—they are also customersof our City’s small businesses along the Danforth. As we have seen from other cities the introduction of bike lanes have revitalized commercial strips, and increased retail sales. Additionally, cyclists have been shown to spend more money on average compared to those who arrive by car. Bikes really do Mean Business.

Recently, I have already been working with local BIAs, east end cyclists and City staff to enhance and increase our bike parking on the Danforth. Last year, Ward 30 Bikes canvassed local businesses as part of their Danforth Loves Bikes campaign. Over 70 businesses indicated support for a bike lane with many others curious to learn more.

This Danforth Corridor Study means local residents, business owners, the biking community, Bike Share, city staff and design experts would work together on the specifications for a Danforth bike lane. They would study how parking and traffic flow would be maintained at the same time as creating a safe commute for thousands of cyclists.

I urge you to support as a minimum $16 million in annual funding for the Cycling Network Plan over the next 10 years; and to include the Danforth Major Corridor Study in the funding envelope for 2017.

Sincerely,

Councillor Paula Fletcher
Ward 30 Toronto Danforth

Read the full post here:   http://councillorpaulafletcher.ca/2016/04/bikes-mean-business-on-the-danforth/

Bikes Mean Business!!

Last week our event Bikes Mean Business was a huge success!

Left to Right:  Brandon (Ward 30 Bikes), Jared (Cycle Toronto), Billy (Chair of Danforth Mosaic BIA and owner Red Rocket Coffee, Councillor Fletcher, Sylvia (Ward 30 Bikes), John (owner of Allens' and Dora's)
- photo credit: Councillor Fletcher's office

This event was a collaboration between all the east end Ward groups within the #DanforthLovesBikes working group and Cycle Toronto. We pulled people from across the community and wider city to discuss and celebrate the amazing economic benefits of bike-friendly streets!

Yvonne Bambrick, author of The Urban Cycling Survival Guide and Executive Director of the Forest Hill Village BIA kindly MC'd our event.

Yvonne Bambrick introduces Billy Dertilis Chair of Danforth Mosaic BIA and owner of Red Rocket Coffee

The turnout was great - we had Dora's packed!

Councillor Janet Davis (Ward 31) and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 30) front and center

First to speak was Councillor Paula Fletcher who gave her full support for studying bike lanes on Danforth. She talked about the collaborative work going on to improve bike parking (Danforth BIA + Ward 30 and Ward 29 bikes + her office), and she talked Bike Share.  It's coming to the east side - scheduled for this year! And she reassured the audience that protection the viaduct lanes is something she is still pushing for.

And then we went right into the research and the facts.  Matthew Lynch from the World Council of City Data and from Toronto Cycling Think and Do Tank spoke to the pure statistics that have shown that bikes are in fact really good for business (full presentation in this link).

Nancy Smith from the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation who also spoke to the research and facts. (A Danforth research study can be found here)

Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon (Ward 32) followed up as did Councillor Janet Davis (Ward 32) who both gave enthusiastic words of support for a bike friendly Danforth that includes bike lanes!

Jacquelyn Hayward Gulati Manager of Cycling Infrastructure Programs from the City of Toronto staff kindly came out and spoke to the packed room about the 10 year bike plan and the process for consultation and collaboration. We were so fortunate to have city staff join us!

And then our host for the night spoke.  John Maxwell owners of both Dora Keogh's and Allens:

John Maxwell business owner speaks to the crowd

A strong supporter for a bike friendly Danforth his words were particularly moving.  He agreed with all the research that was presented, but added... there is more to life than business, right?  He ended his speech with very thoughtful words about life just being better with people friendly streets.

Billy Dertilis owner of Red Rocket Coffee and Chair of the Danforth Mosaic BIA added with more words about businesses that do want to see a bike friendly Danforth. It was really fantastic to have local businesses sharing their support.

Jared Kolb from Cycle Toronto wrapped up the night speaking touching on the concepts of working through change.

What a night!

After all the speakers everyone had a chance to enjoy drinks and to chat.  It was so good to see local Danforth BIA Executive Director Susan Puff in attendance, as well as owners of the Second Cup on Danforth and Dough Bakeshop.  Riverdale Cleaners was there too.  I saw some members of the Playter Estates Residents Association taking it all in, and a few from DECA. I'm sure there were many many more  there too.   The crowd was really diverse.

So behalf on all of us who planned this event, thank you to everyone who joined us that night!


- Ward 30 bikes




Presentation Resources:
Toronto Cycling Think and Do Tank: Cycling Economies

TCAT Bike Lane Economic Impact Study for Bloor Street Toronto 

TCAT BIKE LANES, ON-STREET PARKING AND BUSINESS: A STUDY OF DANFORTH AVENUE IN TORONTO’S DANFORTH NEIGHBOURHOOD

NYC Statistics and Facts from Bike Lanes and Street Redesign
 

Bike parking on the Danforth

You may have noticed that we've been looking at parking in our ward.  Major infrastructure projects like bike lanes on Danforth aren't slated in the city plans for at least another year, so it's something we're working to improve in the interim.  Previously we did some work on auditing bike parking in local parks. 

Last week we started a more comprehensive audit of bike parking along the Danforth.  First up, the Danforth BIA the stretch between Broadview and the Carrot Common:


Zoom in, have a look.  In this BIA, 119 ring & posts. = 238 spots. Of which 6 (5%) are fully broken and unusable, and 8 (6.7%) are partially blocked with street furniture making them very difficult to use. Thus, total = 11.7% need 311's attention (broken or not accessible).  Look at some of the shameful ones!

Try fitting a bike between the ring and post and the garbage bin

Great place to store construction equipment, outside of Broadview Station

Winner.  Post butted up against planner bed, newspaper box placed in front .  

Orange spots are areas we thought could accommodate more parking, either racks or ring&posts.  Have some more ideas? please share in the comments.

We'll be working with the Councillor to figure out a plan to improve parking along the Danforth.  Stay tuned. Also, we'll be moving further east, Greektown is up next.

Draft 10 year Bike Plan: Another Round of Feedback for City Staff

Over the weekend City Staff from the Cycling Unit gave up a solid block of hours to meet with representatives from Cycle Toronto Ward Groups to talk about their latest draft map for the city.  Thanks to those who joined us on Friday night to brainstorm ideas

There we are at a table covered in maps. pic: CycleToronto

Are we still talking about a DRAFT map?  ya, we are.  Its a long process, but we can report back that it is careful and with thoughtful planning.  With a limited budget to spend each year, city wide projects need to be ranked to decide what happens when.  So we don't always get what we want when we want it, but know that other parts of the city are being worked on.  

Want more sooner?  Demand a bigger budget! Submit your comments to Public Works Infrastructure Committee - NOW.  The cycling budget will be discussed at the next meeting February 29th. Do it!

Back to the map, some interesting things:

- Eastern Ave over the DVP has something planned.  Sorry to say we didn't get many details about what they want to do there, but there was a spark of excitement in their eyes.  However, this one is a 'few years' away.

- Danforth, Danforth, Danforth! (sign the pledge if you haven't yet!). It's in the draft, it's been in every draft.  And for our Ward, I'd say this is *the* project they want to focus on. ya!

Want to hear more?  come to our next meeting to find out:

Tuesday March 1st 7pm

Ralph Thorton Centre

765 Queen St. East

Advocacy in Action: Ramp to Lower Don Trail

It's coming! Success!

Remember our ongoing work on the Lower Don Trail? This struggle to access the Lower Don Trail will soon be a thing of the past!

First Attempt

In 2012-2013, when the City of Toronto commissioned a Master Plan for the lower Don Trail, public consultations were held. At that time we advocated for accessible ramps to the trail.  But when the final plan was released we were all disappointed to see that more staircases were proposed to access the Lower Don Trail at Gerrard Street East and Dundas Street East, but without including ramps to provide universal access.

Second Attempt

Not satisfied with the result, advocates from across the community came together. With Ward 30 Bike's Michael Halloway taking the lead.  We did some scouting, mesasuring, calculating, and sketching, and came to the conclusion that a ramp option is absolutely viable. Ward 30 Bikes authored the April 2014 report “Creating Accessible Connections: Ramps to the Lower Don Trail at Dundas and Gerrard,” which was endorsed by Walk Toronto, Cycle Toronto Trails Working Group, Ward 28 Cycling Advocacy Group and Ward 29 Bikes. The Lower Don Trail project team reviewed the proposal and other community comments received. The project team unfortunately concluded that ramps could not be included in the project.

Third Times' the Charm

Still not satisfied, we took our concerns to our local councillor Paula Fletcher who in turn organized a site visit and then put in a formal request to the Parks and Environment Committee to reassess the accessibility issues.  Walk Toronto also submitted its own “Lower Don Trail Accessibility” report in August 2014. 

Success!

Paula Fletcher shares the good news at Bells on Danforth

And then we heard the good news.  In March 2015, the city confirmed that a budget had been allocated to make the pedestrian bridge at Riverdale Park fully accessible with a ramp! Paula officially made the public announcement in June at the Bells on Danforth ride, and the design consultation process is underway (yes, we are part of the design process!). If all goes to plan, we could have the bridge done by next year! Stay tuned for results of the design process and celebrations when it opens.

Thank you to all the advocates involved!  Ward 28 and Ward 29 bike advocacy groups, Cycle Toronto's Trails Working Group, Walk Toronto, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, the Riverside BIA and everyone in the community who voiced their support for accessible ramps.  

Get involved

Want to be part of projects like this?  Join us! Help bring positive change to the community, and positive improvements to our neighbourhood!   We meet the first Tuesday of every month at the Ralph Thornton Centre.



** note, this is a post I thought we'd published back in July, turns out it was still sitting in draft!  Oops... it's old news now, but it's still exciting news to share! **

Riverdale Ave - a new east/west bicycle route that makes Riverdale streets safer

A group of residents here in Ward30 got together a few years back to put their heads together on the increasing traffic problem in Riverdale.  They've since put together a draft proposal that aims to reduce traffic speeds, reduce total vehicle volumes, and discourage non-residential use of local streets.

As advocates for safe streets, we couldn't be happier to see like minded neighbours put their volunteer blood, sweat, and tears into making Riverdale safer.  We are thrilled with proposed speed reductions and bollards along the sidewalk in front of schools  - great idea!

But, there are also some issues with the plan that need to be addressed. Reversals of one-way streets in the current plan may compromise the ability of people to get around safely on bikes. Even more troubling is that one part of the plan includes adding "island parking" to the north side of Riverdale Avenue.

Here's the problem with island parking

On-street island parking compromises pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety by creating visibility barriers. People crossing the streets, both on foot and on bike, especially young children, become hidden to motorists. One study of child pedestrian injuries found that "the number of parked vehicles was the strongest risk factor on residential streets." Island parking could also make the entire roadway a "dooring" zone, putting cyclists at further risk. We need a solution based on evidence, not on creating a false sense of security.

We think this plan can be even better!

The solution: bike lanes

We've got something else that can narrow streets, benefit all road users... AND encourage less vehicle volumes.  Bike lanes.  73% of Torontonians say the lack of cycling infrastructure in the city is holding them back from riding more.   73%!  We want to give people the infrastructure to meaningfully reduce vehicle volumes.

Even with negligible bike infrastructure, Riverdale is already a community of active cyclists:

Our proposal

Through a combination of bike lanes, we propose a bike route along Riverdale Ave / Boultbee Ave.

Please see map layer titled:  "Proposed Riverdale Bike lanes".  The proposal includes a combination of contra-flow bike lanes, protected bike lanes and sharrows.




You can view our full proposal here

A bike route connecting Broadview to Jones Ave will:

• narrow streets (a riverdale traffic calming group goal)
• reduce vehicle volumes by encouraging other methods of transportation
• establish a safe east-west cycling connection to the existing Jones Ave bike lanes
• traffic calm the section of Riverdale in front of Pape Ave Junior School with protected bike lanes
• provide a bike to school route for:
• parents cycling with their kids to Pape Ave Junior School
• parents cycling with their kids to Blake Street Junior School
• students going to Earl Grey Middle School
• students going to Riverdale Collegiate Institute
• provide a safe bike connection to Riverdale Park East and the Lower Don Trail

(note, we assume that elementary school children ride along the sidewalk, and caregivers and parents ride safely beside them in the bike lanes)

We met with the traffic calming group hoping they would include our plans in their proposal.  We were unfortunately disappointed to find that they did not put forward any bike routes in their draft proposal.

Riverdale is an awesome neighbourhood.  I live here, my kids go to school here.  And until our kids get drivers licenses, bikes will be primarily how they get around the neighbourhood.  Will my 5 year old use a bike lane now?  no... but when he's a teenager he will.  All our teens will.  Let's give them safe options to travel around our streets.

Why our plan works

• Evidence shows that protected bike lanes increase pedestrian safety
• Evidence shows that motorists reduce their speeds significantly when encountering bicyclists on contraflow lanes
• Evidence shows Why Bike-Friendly Cities Are Safer for All Road Users
• the Riverdale Ave bike route supports all users of our streets, not just motorists

We scouted the proposed route in November last year and then in February this year we went out with City of Toronto Cycling staff who have noted that it's a feasible route with no impact to parking.

Take action!

If you share our views and want to make this a reality, we encourage you to take action.

Attend the Riverdale Traffic Group community meeting
Wednesday, May 13th, 7pm
St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 415 Broadview Avenue

Make your voice heard, and ask for a bike route to be added to the plan, and make sure the final proposal achieves the goal of safer and more welcoming streets for everyone.

Write an email
Send your email to: riverdaletrafficwg@gmail.com
Please also cc Councillor Fletcher and Ward 30 Bikes at councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca & ward_30@cycleto.ca

Comment on the proposal at myriverdale.ca
Go to myriverdale.ca to view the proposal, and add your comments in their news section: http://www.myriverdale.ca/news/

Ward Advocacy in Action? yes!

If the Cycle Toronto Ring & Post newsletter brought you to us, you might be curious what the story is, so let's give you a bit of background.  Ward Advocacy in action?  Yup, for sure!  The massive project at the TTC Leslie Barns has kept some members of our group very very busy.

Detour signs, Cycle Toronto Ring & Post April 2015

The on-going construction, development and detours resulted in some very unsafe conditions.  Ward30bikes members Michael and Vivian (plus coordinated work from Ward 32's cycle group) spent countless hours working through this. Site visits, walk-a-bouts, community liaison meetings between the TCC / City Staff / Project Manager / us, safety walks with our councillor, and countless blogposts and video posts... all starting as early as October 2013.

We worked hard to advocate for the best possible ways to deal with detours.  You can read the full history here including all the ups and downs along the way.  Grab a cup of tea, it's been a long slog:  http://ward30bikes.blogspot.ca/search/label/LeslieBarns

And finally, a big thank you to the cycle advocacy members of ward 30 and 32 who worked on this project for volunteering so much of your time!

Riverdale Park East Revitalization - Ward30bikes was there

Last week a second community meeting was held wiht regarsd to improvements oplanned for the north east quadrant of Riverdale Park East (north east end of Ward 30).  On the list is a new hockey rink, pleasure skating pad, playground, zamboni storage and much needed improved access to the park.

The first community meeting was last summer in August 2014.  The second meeting was last week on February 17th.  A copy of the presentation from last week’s meeting has been posted here on Paula Fletcher's website.

And Ward30bikes was there! 

Ramp access!First excited thing to report, is that with regards to improved access the plan includes a new fully accessible switchback ramp access at Millbrook end of the park.  Anyone who has biked over for a tennis match or a swim in the pool should be happy to hear this news.  And I speak on behalf of families with strollers - it's about time!  I know plenty of parents who chose not to use the playground here because stroller access is extremely difficult.  So, if the plans get built, by 2016/2017 the switchback ramp will be in!

Covered hockey rink?
I think I raised this issue enough times at the meeting that the design team knows my sadness.  Unfortunately with budget (although they were cagey about how much is actually approved) there will be no covered ice hockey rink like Greenwood.  We were assured however that the design has been incorporated to allow a roof to be added in the future (should we hold our breath?)  Visions of CanBike lessons in the spring at this rink took a different shape in my head.  Sure there are lessons on uncovered rinks throughout the city, but having done a session at Greenwood last spring every time it rained (which was like almost every week), that covered rink was awesome!

Broadview cyclepath dreamsSecond, for better or worse the scope of this redevelopment has been tightly contained to the NE quadrant of the park and really only to the facilities mentioned above.  Desires for a multi-use bicycle path running along the top end of the park from Moncrest Ave to Jack Layton Way cannot be put into this plan.  But our dreams don't end here.  We'll keep pushing for future inclusion.  

Call to action
The time has come to have your say!  The design team has 2 options proposed and is asking for community feedback. Your feedback matters! Have a read of the presentation, and please complete their survey.

Survey closes March 3rd, 2015. Click here to fill in the online survey. (although it helps to read the presentation first)

Ward30 Planning Matters Open House - Ward30bikes was there

Last week Councillor Paula Fletcher and her office hosted a Planning Matters Open House.  The open house included representatives from the city, and local developers to speak about the on going and planned projects for our ward.  Portlands, Broaview Ave extension, Downtown relief line, the fate of the Gardiner, new condo developments - all there in one room.

It was a great community information night, and gave residents the opportunity to ask questions  and make suggestions directly to the people working on these projects.

And Ward30bike was there!  Questioning the plans, reiterating the desire for safe cycle infrastructure to the waterfront (had a great chat with the city planner about the Broadview Ave extension plans and getting access to that little Ward30 jewel Cherry Beach), bike parking along Queen St, and cycle connections across the DVP.    It was also great to see that Councilor Fletcher's office invited a familiar face from the City of Toronto cycling department.  When you get all these people in one room you can hear things like:  '...well we would want to work with the city on that bike lane connection' ' ... so you mean me?' and friendly laughter.

Aside from what we were advocating, it was nice to hear so many residents also express their desires for cycling infrastructure incorporation into these projects.  On the positive, Streetcar developments has in their plans underground weather protected bike parking for residents of their condos. Streetcar also has some ideas on their presentation board for building multi-use connections to some new (to be developed by the city) park space nestled around the DVP eastern Ave pocket (like a smaller version of Corktown Common). They had some big ideas up on their board including a new pedestrian / cycle bridge connection across the dvp parallel to Eastern Ave. The reality (and funding!!) of such an ambitious idea remains to be seen, but when they dream, they dream in fully accessible urban planning.

A note for councilor, I would encourage that funding and implementing these multi-use connections, parklands and greenery be conditional on any development permits.  As one resident that night said, it would be a tragedy for our neighbourhood if this development took shape like the "ghetto-ized" concrete Liberty Village.

Speaking of Liberty Village, overheard was a few residents expressing concern of the potential congestion on the Queen Streetcar line that could result from all the planned condo development.  Definitely a concern that Queen could become the new King Streetcar.  The city of Toronto's planning department representative confirmed that they are running traffic studies for the area, so it's a start.

Finally a note of shame on the presentation of the former Jilly's landmark.  I wish I caught a photo of the Streetcar Developments presentation board that showed Queen Street with a fully redeveloped Jilly's. The street scene showed 2 streetcars slinking down the middle of the road.  On the north side two cyclists pedaled joyously. On the south side a carefree jogger crossed the street, with their delightful golden retriever in tow.  Pedestrians lined the streets casually walking and enjoying this car free utopia.

I questioned the developer.  'Are you proposing that Queen East become car free? '  'Oh no.  Hmm, you know developers... we'll get that picture changed'.

Looks so much like this:  designing nice streets is easy when you pretend cars do not exist

Connecting Riverdale to the Lake

Great turn out last night!  Thanks to all that came and especially to the students and their prof for putting together this amazing report.  

Full blog post to come...

Community Presentation - you're invited!

More Dundas bike lane closures - your action please!

Action required ASAP - by Mon Jan 11, 2015.

RE: Construction Staging Area - 1220 Dundas Street East (just east of Carlaw)

B/c of condo construction work by Streetcar Developments, "Transportation Services is recommending that City Council approve the closure of the sidewalk and a bicycle lane on the north side of Dundas Street East, between a point 70.4 metres east of Carlaw Avenue and a point 125.2 metres east of Carlaw Avenue, from February 11, 2015 to December 31, 2015." 

A temporary pedestrian walkway would be created in the bicycle lane, and bicycle lane would be gone for rest of 2015!  We've already had bike lane closures for condo developments in this area through most of 2014.

Please go to Agenda Item for more details, and to submit comments/suggestions.

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2015.TE3.42

Problems with the comments/suggestions button?  the button triggers a compose email pop up, copy and paste the below and send your feedback:

To: teycc@toronto.ca

Subject:  My comments for 2015.TE3.42 on January 13, 2015 Toronto and East York Community Council

Message body:

To the City Clerk:

Please add my comments to the agenda for the January 13, 2015 Toronto and East York Community Council meeting on item 2015.TE3.42, Construction Staging Area - 1220 Dundas Street East

I understand that my comments and the personal information in this email will form part of the public record and that my name will be listed as a correspondent on agendas and minutes of City Council or its committees. Also, I understand that agendas and minutes are posted online and my name may be indexed by search engines like Google.

Comments:

[add your feedback here]

Pt 3 - LSB/LDRT Intersection Hazards - Massing to the East of Logan

In Part 3 of the "LSB/LDRT Intersection Hazards" series, I get good video of drivers blocking the trail - at virtually every instance - as they try to make turns from southbound Logan onto westbound Lake Shore Boulevard.

In the second of these two video in Part 3, I look at the massing in driver's sightlines to the east of Logan that - in my opinion - is forcing drivers out across the trail in order to see to make their turns safely (for themselves and drivers on LSB anyway).

To conclude I present a possible fix for the driver sightlines problem.

LDRT/Logan - Driver Sightlines III - Turning drivers blocking the Trail



LDRT/Logan - Driver Sightlines IV - Massing to the east of Logan


Drivers turning westbound at Logan at Lake Shore Boulevard have to block the LDRT with their vehicles in order to get a clear view of oncoming traffic because in this observers opinion, their sightlines are blocked by a variety of fairly thin objects that together, mass to create a visual barrier as they try to understand the rate of approach of westbound LSB traffic.

This visual barrier complicates an already complicated intersection - which includes an east-west recreation trail, a railway line, and fast-moving highway traffic from the east.

May we suggest moving the trail as far south as far as possible; removing the 16 inch concrete barrier between the trail and the rail spur; moving the trees to the north side of the trail (into a bioswale construct please).

In this amateur planners' opinion, this would move the trail about a metre south, and at the same time clear driver's sightlines right where they would need to stop to avoid blocking the Trail. As well, the trees are suffocating right next to the roadway because of the carbon dioxide, ozone and the carbon monoxide massing there; moving them 3 metres away into a bioswale, might create vigorous growth - rather than a maintenance bill to replace them regularly.



mh

Pt 2 - LSB/LDRT Intersection Hazards - Driver Sightlines

Conflicts between Drivers and Lower Don Recreation Trail users at Lake Shore Boulevard and the neighbourhood streets running north-south out of South Riverdale - Morse St, Logan St and Booth St - are the usual coarse of events when motor vehicle drivers try to make the dangerous and heart pounding merge onto the fast Lake Shore Boulevard.

The specific behaviour that is causing the perception amoungst cyclists that these are really dangerous places, is the vast majority of driver's habit of nosing into the Lower Don Recreation Trail (or completely blocking it) almost every time drivers make turns onto the LSB at these three intersections.

I watched for an hour and a half as drivers - confronted with so many vectors (and different qualities of vectors - cyclists at one set of speeds, joggers and at another speed) actually make mistakes - and force cyclists to brakes or steer evasively to avoid being hit as the driver slams on their brakes also - just in time to avoid collisions.

In these two videos I use the camera to imitate how a driver in a car sees the intersection, by standing where a driver would be seated with their car stopped at various places - behind the stop line; halfway into the Trail; and right across the trail - in order to understand what's going on:

PART I

LDRT/Logan - Driver Sight Lines I 2014/08/27 6 39pm


A multitude of sign posts to the east of the Logan/LDRT intersection blocks driver's sightlines to the east - obscuring high speed motor vehicle traffic speeding off the light at Carlaw. This seems to be the reason drivers are moving forward such that they block the entire width of the Lower Don Recreation Trail here as they try to make their turns westbound onto the Lake Shore Boulevard.

PART II

In the second of these videos I talk about a great conversation I had with a driver, a resident nearby, who noted a West sight lines issue that I hadn't seen. From a driver's point of view, a fence blocks their view of cyclists coming eastbound towards the intersection:

LDRT/Logan - Driver Sight Lines II 2014/08/27 7:21pm


A fence to the west of the Logan/LDRT intersection blocks driver's sightlines to the west - obscuring cyclists coming eastbound on the LDRT. This seems to be one of the reasons drivers are nosing halfway across the Lower Don Recreation Trail here as they try to make their turns westbound onto the Lake Shore Boulevard.



mh

LSB/LDRT Intersection Hazards

LSB/LDRT Intersection Hazards



.. I end with "..it's a big problem ... at Morse..." - and I go on to say (as my battery over-heats) - 'at Logan and Booth.'

That is - Conflicts between Drivers and Trail Users - where the motor vehicle drivers are nosing into the Lower Don Recreation Trail (or completely blocking it) as they try to make a dangerous and heart pounding merge onto the fast Lake Shore Boulevard from these small side streets.

In some cases I watched as the driver, confronted with so many vectors - and different qualities of vectors (cyclists at one set of speeds, joggers and at another speed...) - that they actually make mistakes and force cyclists to slam on their brakes of steer evasively to avoid being hit as the driver slams on their brakes just in time.

More videos on this are coming right up.

I spent 2 hours at Logan/LSB/LDRT tonight (Wednesday, August 27, 2014) between when this video was shot( at 5:24 pm) til about 7:30pm.

I saw the switch from commute cyclists dominating the traffic pulses along the LDRT, to recreation cyclists dominating the flows. The numbers never decreased. And all the while, motor vehicle traffic maintained a steady volume - both on the Lake Shore Boulevard and motor vehicle drivers using Logan southbound to get onto the LSB.

Very interesting.

Thinking that making Logan a through-street down to Commissioners with a signaled intersection at LSB, might be the best way to solve all this.

'Almosts' (bikes getting almost hit by cars) happen every few minutes at Logan. At the signaled intersections - like Carlaw - 'almosts' happen *just* once an hour. :\



mh