Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes)

[Northern Light]

To me the thinking here goes: "Well, we don't want to give the cyclists too much room, they might treat it as a bidirectional

The original intent was to have that side with a bidirectional cycle track, that's why there's so much space there.

But then the area councillors intervened.......

See this report:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-236454.pdf

Option 1 was the staff proposal.

The rest was appeasing the then councillors so it would get approved.

That would have been Robinson, and Fletcher.

 

[UntitledCyclist]

The original intent was to have side with a bidirectional cycle track, that's why there's so much space there.

But then the area councillors intervened.......

See this report:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-236454.pdf

Option 1 was the staff proposal.

The rest was appeasing the then councillors so it would get approved.

That would have been Robinson, and Fletcher.

Thanks for that explanation! I am still astounded by that proposal, even as an alternative.

In their diagram they show a wheelchair used in that narrow, painted gutter, wedged between fast moving bikes/ebikes and a curb. I cannot fathom how that passed muster as any kind of a plan, even if the local councillors rejected the 1 way + 2 way cycle track idea.

Pardon my lack of familiarity with this process, but how/when would the two councillors (one of whom is sadly no longer with us) have been able to intervene or kaibosh the staff recommendation?

Was there a follow-up report that just landed on Option 2, and did it explain why?

The only rational explanation is the idea to "identify space" to widen the actual sidewalk there when they do SoGR work. So the painted pedestrian gutter is a temp thing, but it's a bad one. Leaving as a wider cycle track until they get to widening the sidewalk would be far more sensible for all. And to be honest it's how it will be used anyway.

 

[Northern Light]

Thanks for that explanation! I am still astounded by that proposal, even as an alternative.

In their diagram they show a wheelchair used in that narrow, painted gutter, wedged between fast moving bikes/ebikes and a curb. I cannot fathom how that passed muster as any kind of a plan, even if the local councillors rejected the 1 way + 2 way cycle track idea.

View attachment 603801
Pardon my lack of familiarity with this process, but how/when would the two councillors (one of whom is sadly no longer with us) have been able to intervene or kaibosh the staff recommendation?

Was there a follow-up report that just landed on Option 2, and did it explain why?

The link was the follow-up report (supplementary).

That report was directed to be made to Council by Executive Ctte when approving last year's Cycling and Pedestrian works program.

The ctte did so at the behest of the local councillor.(s)

The only rational explanation is the idea to "identify space" to widen the actual sidewalk there when they do SoGR work. So the painted pedestrian gutter is a temp thing, but it's a bad one. Leaving as a wider cycle track until they get to widening the sidewalk would be far more sensible for all. And to be honest it's how it will be used anyway.

Right now, ECS (Engineering and Construction Services) is working on seeing if suicide barriers can be added to the bridge.

If the answer is yes, then that will likely be done in the late 2020s and everything will be re-thought then.

If the answer is 'no', its a bit murkier.

What the councilllors really wanted was a widened sidewalk, but that work would have been considerably more invasive than was done/planned. Put simply, it was out of scope, out of budget, and too big a change to ask for at the last minute.

In theory, the current intent would be to widen the sidewalk, possibly in conjunction w/various other Mx road works in the area associated with the Ontario Line.

But I don't think anything can be sorted like that until a decision is made on whether suicide barriers will be prioritized in the near term.

 

[PL1]

The link was the follow-up report (supplementary).

That report was directed to be made to Council by Executive Ctte when approving last year's Cycling and Pedestrian works program.

The ctte did so at the behest of the local councillor.(s)



Right now, ECS (Engineering and Construction Services) is working on seeing if suicide barriers can be added to the bridge.

If the answer is yes, then that will likely be done in the 2020s and everything will be re-thought then.

If the answer is 'no', its a bit murkier.

What the councilllors really wanted was a widened sidewalk, but that work would have been considerably more invasive than was done/planned. Put simply, it was out of scope, out of budget, and too big a change to ask for at the last minute.

In theory, the current intent would be to widen the sidewalk, possibly in conjunction w/various other Mx road works in the area associated with the Ontario Line.

But I don't think anything can be sorted like that until a decision is made on whether suicide barriers will be prioritized in the near term.

There were three of four weeks in July 2023 where during the evening rush hour, the bridge and pathway below were closed due to threatened suicides. There are not infrequently flowers attached to the bridge, or memorials below. I really do hope the city can implement the suicide barriers here and at the Overlea bridge (which I think is planned) in the next few years

 

[Northern Light]

There were three of four weeks in July 2023 where during the evening rush hour, the bridge and pathway below were closed due to threatened suicides.

I know a family who lost their son on the bridge.

There are not infrequently flowers attached to the bridge, or memorials below. I really do hope the city can implement the suicide barriers here and at the Overlea bridge (which I think is planned) in the next few years

It will happen on Overlea............ I'm looking into this bridge.

 

[Andy_in_Toronto]

Is this now the end of our cycling infrastructure, because the so called Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria from Brampton became rough?

Examples from his opinion piece the Star was even willing to print:
- “our winters make cycling impractical for most of the year”
- “Cyclists should go on side streets”
- ““We need more roads”

Honest question!

 

[PL1]

Is this now the end of our cycling infrastructure, because the so called Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria from Brampton became rough?

Examples from his opinion piece the Star was even willing to print:
- “our winters make cycling impractical for most of the year”
- “Cyclists should go on side streets”
- ““We need more roads”

Honest question!

View attachment 604034

What a crap opinion piece

 

[christiesplits]

Is this now the end of our cycling infrastructure, because the so called Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria from Brampton became rough?

Examples from his opinion piece the Star was even willing to print:
- “our winters make cycling impractical for most of the year”
- “Cyclists should go on side streets”
- ““We need more roads”

Honest question!

View attachment 604034

Great response from cycling advocate Alison Stewart (via Twitter).

 

[Admiral Beez]

Great response from cycling advocate Alison Stewart (via Twitter).

View attachment 604063

Oh, I hate Gig Workers and the way they race their ebikes down the bike paths, running stoplights, riding recklessly, putting regular cyclists and anyone who dares to walk across the path at greater risk. I am hoping that the near-cancellation of the foreign student program will reduce their number. I'm a big fan of separated bike lanes, but the users I want to serve are commuters (who would otherwise drive), students going to school (who would otherwise be driven) and recreational cyclists (who may increase in number due to greater safety). We didn't install bike paths so that your McDonalds arrives faster. But that said I have never, not once used a Gig Worker to bring me my food - instead I get off my duff and go get it, sometimes on my conventional bicycle.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Presser out on the legislation.

The Ontario government is making life easier for drivers by introducing legislation that would, if passed, require municipalities to receive approval from the province before installing new bike lanes that would result in the removal of lanes for traffic. Municipalities would be required to demonstrate that the proposed bike lanes won’t have a negative impact on vehicle traffic.

So no outright ban, which leaves no room for nuance, but rather an approvals process from the province.

Incredibly micro-managery.

 

[generalcanada]

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Presser out on the legislation.



So no outright ban, which leaves no room for nuance, but rather an approvals process from the province.

Incredibly micro-managery.

You read that wrong, it is a straight up ban.
Every bike has a "negative" impact on traffic because thats the whole point of them lol.
Welp might as well close up this thread. GG guys

 

[TwinHuey]

Oh, I hate Gig Workers and the way they race their ebikes down the bike paths, running stoplights, riding recklessly, putting regular cyclists and anyone who dares to walk across the path at greater risk. I am hoping that the near-cancellation of the foreign student program will reduce their number. I'm a big fan of separated bike lanes, but the users I want to serve are commuters (who would otherwise drive), students going to school (who would otherwise be driven) and recreational cyclists (who may increase in number due to greater safety). We didn't install bike paths so that your McDonalds arrives faster. But that said I have never, not once used a Gig Worker to bring me my food - instead I get off my duff and go get it, sometimes on my conventional bicycle.

Electric Scooters & Electric Bicycles

Electric scooters (e-scooters) are unsafe and illegal to ride in Toronto. Choose kick scooters and bicycles that are not battery operated, and ensure children and youth wear a helmet when they ride. E-scooters are illegal and unsafe, especially for youth under the age of 16.

www.toronto.ca

 

[Admiral Beez]

Electric Scooters & Electric Bicycles

Electric scooters (e-scooters) are unsafe and illegal to ride in Toronto. Choose kick scooters and bicycles that are not battery operated, and ensure children and youth wear a helmet when they ride. E-scooters are illegal and unsafe, especially for youth under the age of 16.

www.toronto.ca

Sure, but like with the below By-Laws that are constantly ignored, the rules are meaningless without enforcement.

349-12 Leashing and walking dogs
485-7 Failure to remove graffiti
548-2 Littering
591-2 Construction noise
608-13 Camping in Parks
743-9 Fouling and obstruction

I hope this woman sues the ebike operator. Yes, she should be more careful, so legal fault would be shared.

How woman was struck by e-bike while next to food truck​

 

[Obsidian]

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

Presser out on the legislation.



So no outright ban, which leaves no room for nuance, but rather an approvals process from the province.

Incredibly micro-managery.

You forgot the part that the province also considering forcing the city to remove existing bike lanes on Yonge, Bloor, Avenue, etc..

He also repeatedly implied the existing bike lanes on Yonge Street, Avenue Road, College Street, Harbord Street and Bloor Street in Toronto will be reviewed by the province.

He said the lanes are "staying in right now," but suggested the provincial government could require the city to do so at a future date pending a review of data related to the lanes' impacts on travel times for drivers.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lanes-legislation-ontario-ford-sarkaria-1.7352228

On the upside removing a parking lane for a bike lanes seems perfectly fine. Which could backfire on all these "small business owners" who campaigned for this.

 

[DanielMar_Toronto]

You forgot the part that the province also considering forcing the city to remove existing bike lanes on Yonge, Bloor, Avenue, etc..

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bike-lanes-legislation-ontario-ford-sarkaria-1.7352228

On the upside removing a parking lane for a bike lanes seems perfectly fine. Which could backfire on all these "small business owners" who campaigned for this.

What this really shows if someone wants to make a difference for Toronto, get gotta become the Premier, not necessarily the mayor.