Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes)

[UntitledCyclist]

I wonder if @TwoWheelPoli involved himself in this at all:

Toronto Bids Portal

Suppliers looking to do business with the City are encouraged to register on the City’s procurement portal or to update their business profile on SAP Ariba, specifically their Canadian, Canadian Subsidiary or Non-American business status.

www.toronto.ca

Its a tender for major resurfacing and reconstruction of Winona Drive from Vaughan to Eglinton.

Two-Wheel was instrumental in getting cycling infra. put in here.

I saw cyclists making good use of this when I was reviewing Laughin Park for @Johnny Au over in the Problematic Park Design thread, here: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...n-why-some-parks-dont-work.32075/post-2246280

I didn't post the photo of that in that thread as it was off-point, but here, it fits.

View attachment 659904

oh my lord, this is so badly needed. It's among the worst bike-laned streets I've seen, though Palmerston south of College is up there. Brunswick north of Bloor too, and those are more heavily used routes.

I admit I didn't realize the city had to (or does) put out tenders for every street/bike lane resurfacing job. Is that because it's outside of state of good repair work, or does that all go through the same tendering process too? Seems awfully inefficient.

 

[Northern Light]

oh my lord, this is so badly needed. It's among the worst bike-laned streets I've seen, though Palmerston south of College is up there. Brunswick north of Bloor too, and those are more heavily used routes.

I admit I didn't realize the city had to (or does) put out tenders for every street/bike lane resurfacing job. Is that because it's outside of state of good repair work, or does that all go through the same tendering process too? Seems awfully inefficient.

Its that entire stretch of road, not just the cycling infra.

The marker for tender is scale and $.

Smaller projects are bundled other minor works contracts

 

[UntitledCyclist]

Am I missing any planned improvement to these gaps along Blue Jays Way?

The Wellington lanes are real success for Toronto bike infrastructure. Unfortunately, the primary route south to meet the Wellington lanes' eastern terminus is Peter, which has terrible bike lanes. Then south of King, on Blue Jays Way, the lanes disappear altogether for the last block to Wellington.

At Wellington, cyclists have to make a very awkward right with no paint or signal guidance to access the south-side contraflow to head west. Pedestrians often throng both E-W and N-S crossings making right-turns very hard.

Staying on BJW, below Wellington, the poor bike lanes return but end again a block before Spadina. Once again, a potential connector stops short. Ideally this lane would continue across Spadina onto Iceboat Terrace, or perhaps down Navy Wharf to Bremner and across to Fort York to connect to Dan Leckie and the Waterfront. Google has some dotted green routes along some of these, but in reality there is no city bike infrastructure, just potential routes.

There is a connecting trail under Spadina at the "Northern Linear Park" but it's not a marked bike route, and is more of a walking path.

I don't see anything addressing these gaps in the 2025-27 plans, though I know Wellington is planned to be extended west to York. To me, Peter/Blue Jays Way is a mess, but it's a nearly natural southern extension of St. George/Beverley that should repaved, and properly laned all the way south to Spadina. The connection between Beverley and Peter should also be improved. Soho is the easiest way to connect the two, but it's currently terrible with a 10 second green to get across the dogleg at Queen.

 

[UntitledCyclist]

Its that entire stretch of road, not just the cycling infra.

The marker for tender is scale and $.

Smaller projects are bundled other minor works contracts

It is indeed the entire stretch of road, especially north of Belvidere, not shown in your picture. Of course they aren't just going to repave the bike lane. The damage is especially impactful to cyclists as the northbound contraflow lane contains the worst of it.

I actually tend to face oncoming traffic or go up on the sidewalk rather than use that bit of lane.

 

[Northern Light]

View attachment 659965

Am I missing any planned improvement to these gaps along Blue Jays Way?

The Wellington lanes are real success for Toronto bike infrastructure. Unfortunately, the primary route south to meet the Wellington lanes' eastern terminus is Peter, which has terrible bike lanes. Then south of King, on Blue Jays Way, the lanes disappear altogether for the last block to Wellington.

At Wellington, cyclists have to make a very awkward right with no paint or signal guidance to access the south-side contraflow to head west. Pedestrians often throng both E-W and N-S crossings making right-turns very hard.

Staying on BJW, below Wellington, the poor bike lanes return but end again a block before Spadina. Once again, a potential connector stops short. Ideally this lane would continue across Spadina onto Iceboat Terrace, or perhaps down Navy Wharf to Bremner and across to Fort York to connect to Dan Leckie and the Waterfront. Google has some dotted green routes along some of these, but in reality there is no city bike infrastructure, just potential routes.

View attachment 659987

There is a connecting trail under Spadina at the "Northern Linear Park" but it's not a marked bike route, and is more of a walking path.

I don't see anything addressing these gaps in the 2025-27 plans, though I know Wellington is planned to be extended west to York. To me, Peter/Blue Jays Way is a mess, but it's a nearly natural southern extension of St. George/Beverley that should repaved, and properly laned all the way south to Spadina. The connection between Beverley and Peter should also be improved. Soho is the easiest way to connect the two, but it's currently terrible with a 10 second green to get across the dogleg at Queen.

Upgrading what's there, in terms of cycling infra on Peter/Blue Jays way, where it already exists, will happen to at least some degree this year, with Critical Interim Repair. (I don't know the extent of the work)

Further work will await full reconstruction of Peter/Blue Jays Way which is due in 2030/2031 currently.

 

[Northern Light]

Ok.... a bit of digging later...... (err, w/some assistance)

From here:

Agenda Item History 2019.IE6.12

Agenda Item History 2019.IE6.12

secure.toronto.ca

 

[bearcat]

Ok.... a bit of digging later...... (err, w/some assistance)

View attachment 660013
View attachment 660014

View attachment 660015

From here:

Agenda Item History 2019.IE6.12

Agenda Item History 2019.IE6.12

secure.toronto.ca

I e-mailed Councillor Malik about the missing bike lane and the awful pavement condition on Peter and Blue Jays Way last October and eventually got this response, which I may have posted in this thread then:

"
Bearcat,

Thank you for reaching out. As Councillor Malik Office has advised below, Peters Street/ Blue Jays Way between Richmond St and Front St is tentatively planned for Critical Interim Repairs in 2025 but is still subject to coordination with other construction activities, available funding and competing priorities. There are a few conflicts on the corridor including Toronto Water work, but we are hoping the conflicts can be resolved.

Critical Interim Repairs are intended to provide immediate improvements to the road surface condition and maintain the road until more extensive rehabilitation efforts can be included within the Transportation Services Capital Works Program.

As part of Critical Interim Repairs, installation of existing pavement markings and bikeway barriers to current standards is included as part of the work. This includes repainting of the bikeways within the entire project.

In January 2019, City Council authorized maintaining Peter Street cycle tracks between King Street and Queen Street as a permanent installation: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2019.IE1.5. In June2019, City Council authorized bicycle lanes between King Street and Navy’s Wharf : https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-134711.pdf. The block between King Street and Wellington Street bike lanes were not installed due to development hoardings, which have only been removed earlier this year.

At the time of the Critical Interim Repair, the Peter Street’s cycle track markings and barriers will be upgraded to today’s standard, but Blue Jays Way will remain as painted bike lanes. The missing block of bike lanes will also be installed. After installation, staff can monitor the new bike lanes and if desired, can bring forward recommendations to upgrade the bike lanes to cycle tracks to City Council.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Best,
Becky


Becky Katz (she/her)

Manager, Operations and Maintenance

Transportation Services

City of Toronto"

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

I wonder if @TwoWheelPoli involved himself in this at all:

Toronto Bids Portal

Suppliers looking to do business with the City are encouraged to register on the City’s procurement portal or to update their business profile on SAP Ariba, specifically their Canadian, Canadian Subsidiary or Non-American business status.

www.toronto.ca

Its a tender for major resurfacing and reconstruction of Winona Drive from Vaughan to Eglinton.

Two-Wheel was instrumental in getting cycling infra. put in here.

I saw cyclists making good use of this when I was reviewing Laughin Park for @Johnny Au over in the Problematic Park Design thread, here: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threa...n-why-some-parks-dont-work.32075/post-2246280

I didn't post the photo of that in that thread as it was off-point, but here, it fits.

View attachment 659904

Sorry to disappoint you, but haven't taken much of a look at construction bids as of late. Having said that, I used to ride Winona on occasion and feel the biggest weakness is how it connects to Marlee (which council of course hit the pause button on recently).

 

[Northern Light]

Sorry to disappoint you, but haven't taken much of a look at construction bids as of late.

I was thinking earlier in the process, and influencing what upgrades may occur.

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

Knox has been painted in per this Reddit post!

https://www.reddit.com/r/torontobiking/comments/1lfcg6z/knox_ave_update_the_new_bike_lane_is_painted

 

[Cambry Ardship]

Sorry to disappoint you, but haven't taken much of a look at construction bids as of late. Having said that, I used to ride Winona on occasion and feel the biggest weakness is how it connects to Marlee (which council of course hit the pause button on recently).

So, the whole situation is complicated, because yes, the lanes on Marlee are paused, but the city is currently reconfiguring the Marlee/Eglinton/Winona intersection with moving lights and adding bike signals. So there's that bit of positive news!

 

[Bojaxs]

I shot a short video clip of some of the older bike infrastructure in Manchester.

https://imgur.com/a/Ubt7Svb

Here's what appears to be brand new bike infrastructure in the Deansgate area of Manchester. I was impressed by the amount of markings and lines on the paths.

 

[DSCToronto]

One of my neighbours recently got this update on The Esplanade raised track from the Cycling Team. I am still a bit puzzled as to why the work needed to wait for the park project to start but ..

"The raised cycle track on The Esplanade is being included as part of the David Crombie Park Revitalization project, which is scheduled to begin this fall. At this time, it’s still a bit early to confirm the exact start date for the construction. The project is still moving ahead, we just need some more time to finalize some details.

As soon as we have more information, we will be sending out some communication and update the project website."

Of course PFR are in charge of the park work and no sign of THAT contract being awarded yet.

 

[bearcat]

Harbour Street WILL run east of Yonge when the Pinnacle buildings are finished, and will then cross Freeland & Cooper and eventually hit Downes and end at John M Tinsley. There is already a cycle track on Downes.

View attachment 659520

The existing cycling infrastructure on Downes in case anyone is interested:

 

[Aplus23]

Paint on the road to me shouldn't be bike infrastructure - unless it's separated by poles or those concrete blocks or raised then it's just paint on the road and isn't really safer for anyone who isn't experienced