General cycling issues (Is Toronto bike friendly?)

[Fred.S]

Province is doing a 2-day online consultation for e-scooters, finishing tomorrow: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=30207&language=en

Looks like the proposal is for a 5-year pilot to allow e-scooters to operate similar to bikes/e-bikes.

 

[DSC]

Road work to reduce available lanes on a section of Sherbourne Street for two months



Sherbourne Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Carlton Street and Bloor Street East during road construction scheduled from September 3 until into November. This work will involve resurfacing the road and repairing sections of damaged curb and sidewalk to achieve a state of good repair.



During construction, the cycle track on Sherbourne Street will be unavailable. Signs will advise cyclists and motorists to share the single northbound and southbound lanes. There will be no parking on Sherbourne Street between Carlton Street and Bloor Street East.



Work on this project will take place from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., with some work after hours and on the weekend as needed for paving operations.



The 75 Sherbourne bus route travel times and stop locations will be affected by the renewal project. More information will be available at http://www.ttc.ca.



Local businesses in this area will be open as usual during the construction.



This work is part of the planned $1 billion construction to renew Toronto's aging roads, bridges, expressways, sewers and watermains. During the construction season, people are encouraged to plan their travel in advance and consider taking alternative routes or using public transit, obey signage around work zones for the safety of the work crews and be patient while driving.

 

[DSC]

Cherry Street bridge reopening today by 7pm

 

[salsa]

Cherry Street bridge reopening today by 7pm

Meanwhile, yet another downtown bike lane closes for construction.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1167517758684352512

 

[mdrejhon]

Province is doing a 2-day online consultation for e-scooters, finishing tomorrow: http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=30207&language=en

Looks like the proposal is for a 5-year pilot to allow e-scooters to operate similar to bikes/e-bikes.

FYI -- there's now a dedicated e-scooter thread.

Ontario Legalizing e-Scooters (segway, Lime, Bird, etc)

This probably will probably become popular in 2020 -- mark my words -- they are more addictive and tenacious than Uber.

 

[Jonny5]

TVO is premiering a doumentary on the infamous Igor Kenk on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

TVO Original documentary "Inside Kenk" shares an intimate portrayal of Canada’s most notorious bike thief

Toronto, Aug. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting September 3 at 9 pm ET on TVO and tvo.org, TVO presents the World Broadcast Premiere of TVO...

www.globenewswire.com

Inside Kenk

offers a thought-provoking portrait of this larger-than-life character, inviting viewers to get a deeper understanding of why he so thoroughly captured the public’s attention,” says John Ferri, TVO Vice President Current Affairs and Documentaries. “TVO Originals like Inside Kenk provide different perspectives on issues that matter; and this film does a great job of placing this story into the context of a neighbourhood and a city in flux.”

Before higher-end businesses and shifting demographics began changing the streetscape, Kenk’s cluttered bicycle clinic blended into Toronto’s pre-gentrified Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood on Queen Street West. Kenk’s name would be the first to come up whenever someone’s bike was stolen, and his shop brazenly sold stolen bikes back to their original owners. By 2008, the public and the police had had enough and Kenk was arrested and jailed. After his release from jail, Kenk sold his shop and disappeared. Ten years later in Switzerland, Kenk reflects on his past and his new life, pronouncing the world has not seen the last of him. Directed by Jason Gilmore and produced by Alex Jansen, the film uses archival footage, animation and recently captured interviews to tell Kenk’s story.

"We first started following Igor Kenk because we were fascinated by his intriguing, though sometimes contradictory philosophies, and how he stood as a symbol of old-world ethos at the centre a rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood” says Jason Gilmore. “Following up with him 10 years later, we were equally fascinated to see where life had taken him.”

 

[Allandale25]

Update on the Riverdale Sloped Path
City Staff were delayed due to waiting on the final comments from Metrolinx on the 90% design [earlier here I wrote that the design was 100% complete - I was incorrect].
TIMELINES:

• June 2019 – Comments were received from Metrolinx on the 90% design plans for the ramp.
• June/July 2019 – Comments were reviewed by staff and Consultant team to determine a way forward and respond to Metrolinx.
• The comments from Metrolinx on the 90% design plans included two significant new engineering studies that had not been previously requested. These include a Rail Hazard Assessment Study and an Integration of Electrification Requirements Study.
• • The new studies require additional funding to be allocated to the Consultant's purchase order. In the interim the Consultant team was directed by Divisional partners to proceed with the additional work.
  • A purchase order adjustment is in process for adding the funds to the Consultant's purchase order.
  • The two new studies are expected to be completed by October 2019.
  • Design refinements will continue to end of year with project tender anticipated in January 2020.
  • Construction expected to start spring 2020 with completion before end of 2020 (weather depending)
    
    --------
    
    ^Michael Holloway
    - slightly edited for this post - via Councillor Paula Fletcher's Constituency Assistant, Nicolas Valverde.
    
    Images via "Lower Don Access Sloped Path Stakeholder Meeting July 19, 2018": https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/9742-lower-don-trail-improvements-stakeholder-meeting-july-2018.pdf

Source:

Ward14Bikes | # Update on the Riverdale Sloped Path | Facebook

# Update on the Riverdale Sloped Path. City Staff were delayed due to waiting on the final comments from Metrolinx on the 90% design [earlier here I wrote that the design was 100% complete - I was...

www.facebook.com

 

[Admiral Beez]

Now if they can address the bike path to nowhere from Pottery Road that stops dead at Rosedale Valley Road. From that point there’s no way to get to Gerrard unless you want to haul your bike up the Wellesley Park stairs or risk riding along River. And forget trying to get to Corktown unless you want to run the gauntlet of Bayview.

What should happen is Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road should return to one lane each way, and have the separated bike lane to Corktown and Gerrard.

 

[amnesiajune]

Now if they can address the bike path to nowhere from Pottery Road that stops dead at Rosedale Valley Road. From that point there’s no way to get to Gerrard unless you want to haul your bike up the Wellesley Park stairs or risk riding along River. And forget trying to get to Corktown unless you want to run the gauntlet of Bayview.

Rosedale Valley has a multi-use trail from Bayview up to Park Road.

What should happen is Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road should return to one lane each way, and have the separated bike lane to Corktown and Gerrard.

A better solution would just be to build a connection to the Lower Don Trail that's 250 meters away, and to the Riverdale Park bridge.

 

[Northern Light]

Source:

Ward14Bikes | # Update on the Riverdale Sloped Path | Facebook

# Update on the Riverdale Sloped Path. City Staff were delayed due to waiting on the final comments from Metrolinx on the 90% design [earlier here I wrote that the design was 100% complete - I was...

www.facebook.com

Metrolinx has been consistently delaying and obstructing new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in the lower Don Valley.

They have held up stairs coming down from the Dundas and Gerrard street bridges as well.

City staff are more than a little ticked off.

Metrolinx has been profoundly unprofessional. They don't even tell the City a reason for their attitude and obstructionism.

Very disappointing.

 

[Northern Light]

What should happen is Bayview from Rosedale Valley Road should return to one lane each way, and have the separated bike lane to Corktown and Gerrard.

Perfectly reasonable idea at least down to Gerrard (space gets much tighter south of Gerrard).

But, so far as I know, not in any plans right now.

A better solution would just be to build a connection to the Lower Don Trail that's 250 meters away, and to the Riverdale Park bridge.

Definitely being looked at, but not currently budgeted so far as I know.

The discussion I've heard is a new access to the Lower Don Trail connecting to Rosedale Valley Rd; not clear on which side of Bayview it would come down on, and whether it would be accessible.

A quick look at the space available gives a couple of different options. I think the more likely is to come down as a full ramp on the west side of Bayview, using space created by re-configuring the current Rosedale Valley Rd/Bayview intersection.

That would consolidate the island on the south side of the intersection and allow a gentle ramp up and over the rail corridor with the support columns on the west side of Bayview.

A ramp on the east side of Bayview isn't impossible, but its a bit tighter and would likely have to start well north of the current intersection.

It would be feasible to look at the west side alignment and then still put stairs, with a bike channel on the east side.

 

[facepalming_brooklynite]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1171807740903206912

 

[Towered]

So long as idiot voters keep electing idiot politicians in Toronto, easy, logical improvements that would protect cyclists and pedestrians will not materialize.

 

[Northern Light]

So long as idiot voters keep electing idiot politicians in Toronto, easy, logical improvements that would protect cyclists and pedestrians will not materialize.

In fairness, to voters in that area, they have elected Councillor Layton, and other pro-cycling councillors in the past.

While there are some bike-lane opponents on Council, from the suburbs in particular, I don't think they have much to do with the flawed design of these particular bike lanes, or most others, outside their own wards.

Transportation as a city department has treated cycling as an afterthought even when they have had clear marching orders from pro-cycling councillors, and an ample budget.

Its a unit that has been consistently short staffed and too often staffed by people who aren't passionate cyclists either (though there have been a few through the years).

This bike lane is beset by a department without a hunger to make things better, with insufficient design expertise as well.

Further, in the case of Harbord there has long been compromise w/the area BIA on the amount of parking retained.

To make Harbord work, the on-street parking will simply have to go, and it would serve the area well, providing room for buffered (separated) bike lanes, but also wider sidewalks and more trees.

You have an ROW of 12.9M give or take; and with bus service you really want the traffic lanes to be in the vicinity of 3.5M, if you allow 2.3M for a physically separated bike lane, you're 11.6M which does not leave
enough room for parked cars, but it could afford a 1.3M widening of the sidewalk.....

One could play w/the numbers, but I'm hard pressed to see parking co-existing w/the bike lane here.

This is a case of needing to express one's view to the councillor, and the BIA; and making sure to include positive suggestions around parking (whether you mean them or not, as it won't sell to the BIA to get rid of the parking without some alternative in place).

Alternatives could include pay-and-display on area side streets w/permit holders exempt, or, minimally adding green P off-street parking nearby.

Just in case someone here is feeling ambitious........

The councillor's email is: councillor_layton@toronto.ca

The BIA has a contact form here: http://harbordstreet.ca/contact

 

[salsa]