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Cycling: Transportation services manager defies council on Adelaide "cycle track" bik

salsa said:
The best one I've see is along Eglinton W in Etobicoke. I like how it's wide, has painted lines, dedicated crosswalks, is well separated from the sidewalk, and is not too close to the curb.
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Yes. Eglinton in Etobicoke is the way these next-to-arterials should be done. With proper bicycle signals, there's no “cyclists dismount” signs to be seen.
 
I'm just wondering if Stephen Buckley, the general manager of transportation services, got one of those sweetheart severance deals with his contract. Personally, I would put a "unsatisfactory" down in his job review. Would recommend that his contract not be renewed because of his job performance.

This is moot, since I will not be doing his performance review.
 
Response from Councillor McConnell's office:
Thank you for taking the time to get in touch and share your thoughts. Councillor McConnell is a strong supporter of bike infrastructure and creating a more healthy, livable city.

We have gotten assurances from city staff that the pilot project has elements being phased in to test various treatments and lane configurations. That said, Councillor McConnell recognizes the importance of a physical barrier and wants to see that council's direction is followed as it was presented. The topic will come up at Wednesday's Public Works committee meeting and Councillor McConnell is working with other progressive councillors to ensure a solution. The issue is very much on our radar and a priority for Councillor McConnell.
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Emphasis mine.
 
Received this email from John Livey, Deputy City Manager (I sent him an email a while ago complaining about the cycle track project, the lack of bollards, and Stephen Buckley):

To: All Interested Parties

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your comments and suggestions regarding the Richmond - Adelaide Cycle Track Pilot Project. We appreciate your concern about the level of separation provided by the first phase of installation. Let us explain the rationale for the phased installation of the pilot project cycle tracks on Simcoe, Adelaide and Richmond Streets.

On June 10, 2014, Council adopted the Transportation Services staff report recommending cycle tracks be installed on Simcoe, Richmond and Adelaide Streets as a pilot project part of the Environmental Assessment Study to evaluate the feasibility of permanent cycle track installations. Transportation Services' goal was to implement these important new cycling facilities as quickly as possible, so that cyclists and drivers could adjust to the new street design during July and August when traffic volumes are lighter. There is generally a two to three week adjustment period for drivers when major changes are introduced.

The City did not have flexi-posts in stock for all three pilot project cycle tracks when the installation began on Simcoe Street in early July. A new two-year contract will be awarded this week for the supply and installation of flexi-posts for Adelaide, Richmond and other potential future cycle track projects.

The purpose of the pilot project is to evaluate the effectiveness of different design elements and treatments so that we can make the best recommendation possible for the design of a permanent cycling facility. The first phase of evaluation is to evaluate the effectiveness of the new $150 fine (new signs installed to advise drivers) and increased enforcement by Toronto Police Service with the painted buffer separation only. Two staff are walking the cycle tracks every hour to document obstructions in the cycle tracks by location, vehicle type, time of day, etc. On Simcoe Street, the first pilot project installation, flexi-posts were installed incrementally in response to observed problem areas. The Simcoe Street flexi-post installation will be completed this week. The second phase of evaluation, after the flexi-post installation, will enable staff to compare and contrast obstructions with and without flexi-posts.

A similar installation phasing and evaluation is planned for Adelaide and Richmond Streets. Flexi-posts will be installed this week in a couple blocks of Adelaide where we have observed drivers entering the cycle tracks well in advance of intersections to turn right. The flexi-post installations on Adelaide and Richmond Street will be completed in September as part of the new installation contract. Again the comprehensive before and after data will enable staff to properly evaluate the effectiveness of the flexi-posts and will inform recommendations for the permanent design as part of the EA Study.

It's important to note that there is no "separation device" which can prevent all motor vehicle obstruction of the cycle tracks because there will always be gaps to provide access to laneways, driveways and bus stops. However, Transportation Services will continue to monitor conditions and making adjustments throughout the pilot project, as necessary, to address operational issues. The objective is to strike the appropriate balance between separation design, education and enforcement to ensure that Simcoe, Adelaide and Richmond Streets are as safe as possible for cyclists while also accommodating other users of the road.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Lukasz Pawlowski (lpawlow@toronto.ca / 416-338-6583) or Daniel Egan (degan@toronto.ca / 416-392-9065).

More information on the Richmond-Adelaide Bikeway Environmental Study can be found at www.toronto.ca/cycling/richmond-adelaide.

Sincerely,

John Livey
Deputy City Manager

Stephen Buckley
General Manager, Transportation Services
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scamander24 said:
Received this email from John Livey, Deputy City Manager (I sent him an email a while ago complaining about the cycle track project, the lack of bollards, and Stephen Buckley):
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They should have said something about the supply of flexi-posts and the schedule for installing them, rather than just talking about evaluating and experimenting. That sounded a lot like unwillingness to install any real separation just because they didn't feel like it.
 
the lemur said:
They should have said something about the supply of flexi-posts and the schedule for installing them, rather than just talking about evaluating and experimenting. That sounded a lot like unwillingness to install any real separation just because they didn't feel like it.
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Evaluating and experimenting doesn't sound like an unwillingness to evaluate and experiment with separation.
 
picard102 said:
Evaluating and experimenting doesn't sound like an unwillingness to evaluate and experiment with separation.
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What Stephen Buckley said seemed to suggest that the transportation department was going to try some stuff with paint for the time being, because paint somehow amounts to separation and maybe paint by itself would be enough. It wouldn't have been hard for them to say right from the start that they didn't have enough posts just yet and that they were looking to install them gradually.
 
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