BikingToronto

An Early Ride Along the West Toronto Railpath

2009-12-07T10:21:00.002-05:00

James D. Shwartz, editor of The Urban Country, has made this great video of an early morning (and chilly) ride along the West Toronto Railpath:
Read about the railpath in James' article here.
Share your thoughts on the West Toronto Railpath in the BikingToronto Forum

via Duncan's City Ride Blog

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Toronto Cop Nailed for Bike Lane Parking

2009-11-24T11:41:00.004-05:00

A Toronto Police officer who parked his cruiser in a bike lane to get his lunch is getting no love from his superiors, who are coming down hard on his "stupid" and "unacceptable" actions.

On Sunday,the Sun witnessed a city cop sitting inside the Grillway Cafe, at Runnymede Rd. and Annette St., while his cruiser was blocking a bike lane on Annette.

The officer was parked there for at least 20 minutes before leaving the cafe with a can of pop and a paper lunch bag.

But instead of protecting their own, Toronto Police brass called the officer's parking actions "stupid" and "unacceptable."

Read the Full Article in the Biking Toronto Forum

[image of copcar in bikelane at Runnymede and Annette taken Fri, Nov. 20 from MyBikeLane.com]

Bikelane Parking Action Alert

2009-11-18T09:41:00.002-05:00

The Toronto Cyclists Union has a campaign going now to not only increase the amount of the fine someone gets for parking in a bikelane, but also to get parking enforcement officers to pay attention to bikelane parkers more:

Lend your voice in support of added enforcement for parking/stopping in bike lane infractions, and to double this fine from $60 to $120.
RE: Toronto Police Services Board meeting, Nov 19, 2009

The Toronto Cyclists Union will be making a written and in-person deputation asking that the fine for parking / stopping in a bike lane be doubled to $120, and that Toronto Police - Parking Enforcement be compelled to have it's officers begin prioritizing the ticketing of all manner of vehicles stopped or parked illegally in bike lanes throughout the city.

**Please take 5 minutes before 10am on Thursday November 19th to email your support for both of these requests being made on your behalf by the Toronto Cyclists Union.

The Union is also giving people some sample text to email to the Toronto Police Services Board in advance of the meeting... which I have made into an autofilled email link (clicking on this should pre-populate an email in your email client - I've tested it in Outlook, at least):

Subject: Bike Lane Parking Enforcement and Fine Increase

As a cyclist (and occasional driver) in Toronto, I would like to express my support for an increase in the set fine amount for parking / stopping in a bike lane to $120.

Additionally, I believe that Parking Enforcement Officers should prioritize more rigorous enforcement of the no-stopping in bike lanes bylaw.

Cars, delivery trucks and buses parked in bike lanes are a serious threat to the safety of cyclists in Toronto. Cyclists are most vulnerable when they are forced to move out of a bike lane to go around motor vehicles stopped in the lane dedicated to the safe passage of cyclists.

Sincerely,
Your name
Toronto Cyclists Union member / supporter.

Click here to open an auto-filled email, and customize it to your liking. :)

via the Biking Toronto Forum

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

BIXI is ready for Toronto, is Toronto ready for BIXI?

2009-11-17T22:15:00.002-05:00

Great post from The Urban Country about some previously unreleased details about the Bixi public bike system that Toronto is getting next year:

Photo by James D. Schwartz / The Urban Country

After a successful launch in Montreal last May, BIXI has served more than 1 million users – an amazing accomplishment for its first year.

The system is however shutting down now as Montreal prepares for the ensuing winter. On November 1st, BIXI started taking down the less frequently used stations and BIXI rentals will no longer be available after November 30th – making its triumphant return in May 2010.

But fear not Torontonians - I have been told the BIXI system in Toronto will have no such restrictions! The city plans to keep Toronto’s BIXI system open all-year-round! A detail that has previously not been released and I had to pry out of City Hall.

A recent article on BIXI in Toronto by Walrus Magazine re-ignited my BIXI nostalgia. You see, I had tested out the BIXI system in Montreal in July for 4 days and although the system isn’t perfect, I was amazed at the possibilities it has for cycling culture in Toronto.

The City of Toronto had indicated it would release more details in Fall 2009 in its May 26th Staff Report – but these details have yet to be released.

The Walrus Magazine article unfortunately left me with more questions than it had answered, so I began my own quest to get more information on a BIXI system for Toronto.

Eglinton LRT includes Bikelanes

2009-11-17T16:30:00.001-05:00

It's good to hear that like other LRT lines, the Eglinton Crosstown plans include bikelanes. :)

TTC to talk Eglinton line, critics wary

A draft plan of the 35-kilo-metre route -- which runs from Pearson Airport in the west to Kennedy Station in the east -- will be considered by the Toronto Transit Commission today.

While about 10 kilometres of the line would be buried through mid-town Toronto, its path through suburban sections of Etobicoke and Scarborough calls for a prohibition on left-hand turns at many major intersections and the creation of U-turn lanes mid-block so vehicles can change directions to access businesses or north-south corridors.

It would also create bike lanes along much of Eglinton.

Full Article

via the BikingToronto Forum

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

The Walrus looks at Toronto's upcoming Public Bike System

2009-11-09T23:11:00.003-05:00

Interesting post on the Walrus' blog last month on the forthcoming Public Bike System (or Bixi Toronto) planned to launch in 2010:

Driving the Lane: Toronto Prepares for Public Bicycling

Toronto’s updated plan, modeled after Montreal’s two-year old BIXI and the 20,000–strong Vélib “shared bicycle” program in Paris, proposes a start-up service area bounded by High Park in the west, Broadview Avenue in the east, Bloor Street in the north and Lake Ontario to the south. The projected system — roughly 300 rental stations with an initial capacity of 1,000 bicycles, to be increased to 10,000 over the next decade — will inevitably place a greater number of commuters on some of the city’s busiest roads. As a public transportation venture, a bicycle system presents a unique safety imperative. But are bike lanes the solution? Beyond their formidable logistic and financial considerations, would separate lanes ease the competing interests of cyclists and motorists?

I call city councillor Adrian Heaps, chair of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee. Beyond novelty users at the program’s inception, he expects that a public bicycle system will appeal to three distinct categories of riders: those who typically use taxis to travel short distances, those who currently use car-share services for shopping trips, and, in non-winter months, tourists. Ultimately, the councillor says, the TCAC’s goal is to reduce car traffic in the downtown core, not to convert drivers outright. Ideally, cyclists and drivers would learn to share without incident. Heaps, though, is skeptical about the partitioning of bike lanes on existing roads as an easy remedy. “Putting a bucket of paint on the road doesn’t make a safer bike corridor,” he says. “It comes down to mutual respect.”

Full Article

Discuss this on the Biking Toronto Forum

Duncans City Ride: Where We Park Our Bikes in Toronto

2009-11-04T10:22:00.002-05:00

Sure, we're world-famous for our post and ring bike racks... but where else is there to park your bicycle in Toronto? Turns out, you've got plenty of options...
There's the "Classic":

At BMO Field there are arches:
In Parkdale you get glasses:

Much, much more on Duncan's City Ride

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

SmartCentres Appeal Request Denied

2009-10-28T17:32:00.002-04:00

Back in April, SmartCentres appealed the OMBs decision to not allow a bigbox development in Leslieville.

News from Paul Young of the South Riverdale Community Health Centre is that this request has been denied:

The Ontario Divisional Court has just handed down their decision.
The request for appeal of the OMB's decision has been denied.

To quote our lawyer, Eric Gillespie,

"There is no ability to appeal from this decision, so this is the end for SmartCentres' case."

We'd like to thank Eric, the city lawyer Brendan O'Callahan, and everyone who participated at the OMB hearing or contributed toward helping the cause for our community!

Here's a few blog posts about the subject:

SmartCentres and their Dumb BigBox Parking Lot Plan for the Lakeshore Multi-Use Path (April 2008)

OMB Stops Walmart - Good News for East End Cyclists (March 2009)

SmartCentres Appeals Pro-Neighbourhood and Pro-Cyclist OMB Decision (April 2009)

This is great news for Toronto cyclists because not only will a 1,700 parking lot NOT be built, but the proposed SmartCentre plan called for multiple multi-lane driveways to be built across the multi-use path that runs along the north side of Lakeshore Boulevarde.

The development would have turned a nice and well-used multi-use path...

... into an intersection like the one at Lakeshore and Leslie:

via the BikingToronto Forum

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

West Toronto Railpath: Official Opening - Fri, Oct. 30

2009-10-26T13:31:00.002-04:00

Councillor Adam Giambrone invites you to the official opening of the West Toronto Railpath Park on Friday, October 30, 2009. Councillor Giambrone, the City of Toronto, and Friends of the West Toronto Railpath are pleased to open the first 2.1 km of this exciting recreational trail.

* Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
* Location: West Toronto Railpath entrance at Wallace Avenue (south of Dupont, west of Perth, north of Bloor). (map)

* Time:
o 2:00 p.m. – Opening Remarks
o 2:15 p.m. – Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
o 2:20 p.m. – cyclists gathered ride the trail and enjoy the sculptures
o 2:25 p.m. – interested participants invited walk 2.1 km and explore the trail and sculptures
* RSVP: Toronto Protocol RSVP Line 416-392-7667

The West Toronto Railpath Park is a new 2.1 kilometre multi-use trail that is perfect for cyclists, joggers, and people out for a stroll. Travelling alongside the railway corridor, it features extensive naturalized landscaping to create an appealing public space.

More Info (and Photos!) in the Biking Toronto Forum

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Duncans City Ride: Toronto Prepares for Public Bicycling

2009-10-26T11:39:00.002-04:00

From WalrusMagazine.com:

Driving the Lane: Toronto Prepares for Public Bicycling
by Emily Testa
What do Jack Layton and David Byrne have in common? Sure, Layton’s Twitter account tells us he’ll be busking on the Danforth this Saturday, but at press time, the range of his musical talent remains untested. No, it’s a shared interest in the future of cycling that unites the current NDP leader and former Talking Head, who will participate in an October 24 panel discussion at the International Festival of Authors. Along with Toronto Cyclists Union executive director Yvonne Bambrick and urban designer Ken Greenberg, Layton and Byrne will discuss the potential of urban planning — specifically, bike lanes — to improve the political climate of cycling in Toronto and around the world.

More at Duncan's City Ride

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

NYC: Bike Lanes in the Big Apple

2009-10-21T08:26:00.004-04:00

Want to know what's possible with bikelanes in a big city like Toronto? Look no further than New York (a much bigger city) for some inspiration. It doesn't take miracles to get cycling infrastructure like this... just political guts. :)

Bike lanes: In some cities people are literally dying to have them and some people go so far as to mark their own. Here in New York City, it feels like every time I get on my bike there is a new bike lane - sometimes on the left, sometimes buffered, and sometimes completely separated from automobile traffic. To understand these lanes, I had the opportunity to go for a ride with the NYC DOT bicycle boys. They explained the classes of bike lanes and showed off some of these inventive facilities. You can use Ride the City to find a safe bike route in New York City and watch this video to see what lanes are used on your route.

via streetfilms.org

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Queens Quay Revitalization Update

2009-10-20T16:19:00.004-04:00

Waterfront Toronto has released their October newsletter, which includes an update on the Queens Quay Revitalization:

Waterfront Toronto’s plan to transform Queens Quay into a grand lakefront boulevard was approved overwhelmingly at October’s City Council meeting. The recommendation to replace two lanes of traffic south of the streetcar tracks with a beautiful linear park stems from a two-year long Environmental Assessment (EA) process that featured extensive public input.
The plan will be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) in November for approval, and the public will have a 30-day comment period during which they can review the full project report and provide feedback.
If approved by the MOE, Waterfront Toronto will begin schematic design for the entire project area from Spadina Avenue to Parliament Street. This first phase of design, which is expected to take about four months, will result in a comprehensive layout of the street from end to end and will be followed by detailed design work.
The construction of the revitalized Queens Quay will occur in phases to match funding availability. The first phase of construction, which will begin in the central waterfront, will be determined during schematic design. Phase one construction is expected to begin about one year after approval of the EA and will take 12 to 18 months to complete. The design and construction process will include numerous opportunities for public feedback.

via waterfrontoronto.ca

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

New Off-Road Trail in East Don Valley

2009-10-13T20:31:00.002-04:00

Great news via the Don Watcher Blog:

Since the summer the city has been busy creating a new trail in the East Don. The new trail will link a park known locally as Milne Hollow which is accessible from Lawrence Ave. East just east of the Don Valley Parkway and an unnamed park at the north end of the Wynford Park neighbourhood.

The sign says that the eventual plan is to have the trail link up all the way south to the Forks of the Don although it may be a little tricky finding space south of Eglinton Ave. East since there is little wiggle room past the Flemingdon Park Golf Course. Here a few pix from the new trail.

Trail just south of Milne Hollow lined with limestone gravel

A little farther south the path lining changes to wood chips

The path as it goes under the CPR main line just north of Wynford Park

Talk about the new trail on the BikingToronto Forum

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

What Could the Future Hold for Toronto's Bicycle Station?

2009-10-07T15:41:00.004-04:00

From Duncan's City Ride:

With only one bicycle station currently in Toronto, the lifetime membership doesn't provide access to anything else, but that should change in the near future as some TTC stations (and hopefully elsewhere) begin adding their own bicycle stations.

However, since this is only a pilot project, then what could the future of bicycle stations in Toronto become?

First, let's go to Chicago:

McDonald's Cycle Center offers not only secure parking, but showers, repair service and even bicycle rentals. It's essentially a one-stop shop for cyclists.

via Duncan's City Ride

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Torontoist: Sharrows Land on Bloor

2009-10-03T18:24:00.002-04:00

Sharrows on Bloor at Yonge (top) and Church (bottom). Photos by David Topping/Torontoist.

Though they only last for three hundred metres so far, this is no small victory for cyclists. Bloor Street East, between just west of Yonge and just east of Church, has just gained freshly painted sharrows on both sides of the street. From what we saw today on the recently renovated roadway, they seem to be doing their jobs already: motorists are giving cyclists a bit more space than usual, and cyclists have moved a bit more into the road rather than towards the curb.

via torontoist.com

Posted via web from bikingtoronto's posterous

Learning about BIXI: Montreal’s Bicycle Sharing System

2009-07-29T08:56:00.000-04:00

Originally posted on the Forum:

Very nice post on The Urban Country about Montreal's new Bixi system, from the point of view of a tourist from Toronto:
The $15 million BIXI program – the largest of its kind in North America - consists of 300 bicycle stations scattered around downtown Montreal; supplying 3000 bicycles that are available to anyone with a working credit card. A BIXI user can purchase a membership for $5/day, $28/month, or $78/year. The membership entitles the rider to unlimited use of the BIXI system, providing the first 30-minutes of each trip for free. Additional charges only apply if the bicycle is used for more than 30-minutes at a time. Like Paris’ Vélib’ system - which offers 20,000 bicycles at 1,450 stations - it encourages users to take short trips to increase the user capacity.

Toronto eyes self-serve bike-rental operation

2009-07-29T08:47:00.002-04:00

Originally posted in the Forum:

The National Post had an article yesterday on Toronto pursuing a bike rental system:
"Toronto is looking to spend $11-million to buy 3,000 bicycles, stands and software from the Public Bike System, aka “BIXI,” run by the City of Montreal’s parking authority, says a May 26 report from Toronto’s public works and infrastructure committee. The report recommends the city enter negotiations with Montreal and return with a draft agreement in the fall."

Annette St. bike lane not a parking spot

2009-07-29T08:39:00.001-04:00

Originally posted in the Forum:

Cyclists love the new bike lanes on Annette St., except for a spot where it's filled with parked vehicles.

Our Saturday column targeted a Toronto police trailer loaded with crowd-control barricades blocking the southbound bike lane on St. George St., in front of the Chinese consulate between Bloor St. and Davenport Rd.

First Section of West Toronto Railpath is Open

2009-07-09T17:56:00.000-04:00

The first section of the Railpath is finally open... Vic Gedris has a few cool photos of it:

West Toronto Railpath Party Parade!

2009-06-19T18:06:00.001-04:00

From BikeLaneDiary:

Support Bikelanes on the Danforth!

2009-06-18T11:40:00.003-04:00

The Danforth BIA seems to be starting a campaign against bikelanes on the Danforth... setting up a petition for their members to say they do not support bikelanes because they don't want to lose parking.

This seems rather short-sighted, so I wonder if they've thought of who shops in their stores and how they get there.

I have sent them an email saying that I support Bikelanes on the Danforth, and also sent it to the Greektown BIA and the Danforth Mosaic BIA... who also may be thinking about bikelanes.

You can send these 3 BIAs an email as well. Clicking here will open up an email in your mail program addressed to the BIAs with the subject line that you support bikelanes on the Danforth.

If you'd like to fill in the body of the email with info about you living near the Danforth or that you travel there to shop, that would be helpful too.

The emails of the BIAs are:

bia@thedanforth.ca
bia@greektowntoronto.com
info@danforthmosaicbia.com

Here is the text of my email, if you want to cut-and-paste it into your email:

Hi there,

I *support* bikelanes on the Danforth... and if the city does it properly, it can be a win-win for cyclist and business.

For instance, what if the city's report recommends making parking on the Danforth permanent? Instead of having driving customers rush out of your stores at 4 pm to avoid getting tickets? What if those driving customers stayed in your stores because parking was allowed even during rush hour?

Please consider that although a lot of people use the Danforth to commute to downtown from Scarborough or further points east... all they are doing is going *through*... they do not stop. They do not shop.

Another great reason to support bikelanes on the Danforth is that they help encourage a walkable and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood. The more comfortable people feel on the street, the more time they are going to spend there... meeting friends, browsing in stores, and eating a meal. Bikelanes not only provide a buffer between moving car traffic and pedestrians, but cyclists can stop and park and shop easier than car drivers can.

Please give some consideration to how many of your customers get to your stores by what transportation method. It is my experience that although there is some street parking on the Danforth, as well as "Green P" parking lots, a lot of your business comes from residents living nearby walking to your stores, or biking to your stores, or people living elsewhere in the city taking the subway to your stores.

People spend money. Cars don't. Make the Danforth people-friendly!

Public Works Committee Approves 24 km of Bikelanes

2009-06-04T15:08:00.002-04:00

As BikingToronto let you know on Monday... The Public Works Committee discussed 24 km of new bikelanes at their meeting yesterday... and improved them all. Here are a couple excerpts from news articles about it:

Toronto Sun: New bike lanes approved by city
City councillors swear they're not "anti-car," but their public works and infrastructure committee is most definitely "bike-friendly". Yesterday, the committee approved 24 km of new bike lanes throughout the city, authorized staff to work towards setting up a public bicycle sharing system a year from now with a private company, and vowed to find a way to punish motorized bike riders using the sidewalk.

National Post: More bike lanes, but not on Bloor – yet...
As the public works committee today approved the installation of some 24 kilometres of new bike lanes in Toronto, defenders of the driver railed about the cost, while cyclists complained the city is neglecting the most obvious east-west artery – Bloor Street. But for the chair of the committee though, addressing Toronto’s dearth of dedicated space for two-wheeled commuters has become a personal challenge.

Need to know where all these new bikelanes are going to be?

Here is a Google Map of all the proposed regular bikelanes (red) and contra-flow (allowing travel on one-way streets) bikelanes (green):

Toronto Moving Forward on BikeSharing

2009-06-01T16:20:00.003-04:00

Great news... after issuing an REOI (Request for Expressions of Interest) for a Public Bicycles Project in April, Toronto is moving ahead... with one item on the agenda (page 27) of the June 3rd Public Works and Infrastructure Meeting (PDF file) being to negotiate with the Public Bicycle System Company:

The General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:

City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation
with the City Solicitor, to undertake negotiations with the Public Bicycle System
Company, as the sole respondent to the City’s Request for Expressions of Interest which was pre-qualified as a potential vendor capable of offering a public bicycle system not dependant on advertising within the street right-of-way, to develop a proposal to implement and operate a Toronto public bicycle system at no cost to the City and, if successful, to report back in Fall 2009 on a proposed draft agreement, in order to launch a public bicycle system in Spring 2010.

I am a bit wary of this, personally... if the agreement will be during this upcoming Fall... there doesn't seem to be enough time to set up a well thought-out and bug-free system by Spring 2010. Montreal's Bixi was a few years in the making.

I'd personally prefer to see the City take their time on this to make sure it's done correctly, rather than rushing it through to appease environmental or cycling interests.

What do you think?

New Bikelanes being Discussed at June 3rd Public Works Meeting

2009-06-01T09:38:00.002-04:00

The Public Works Committee is discussing (pages 25-27 - PDF file) a bunch of new bikelanes on June 3rd. They come to 24.1 km in total.

Here is the list:

The General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:

1 City Council approve the installation of bicycle lanes on the following roadways:
a. Bellamy Road North, from Porchester Drive to Brimorton Drive;
b. Bloor Street West, from Mill Road to Beamish Drive;
c. Brock Avenue, from a point 25 metres north of Seaford Avenue to Florence
Street;
d. Crescent Town Road, from Dawes Road to Victoria Park Avenue;
e. Huntingwood Drive, from Victoria Park Avenue to Birchmount Road;
f. Lansdowne Avenue, from Rideau Avenue to Dundas Street West;
g. Moore Avenue, from Welland Avenue to Bayview Avenue;
h. Rathburn Road, from Mimico Creek to Islington Avenue;
i. The West Mall, from the Queensway to Bloor Street West;
j. The Westway, from Martin Grove Road to Royal York Road; and
k. Trethewey Drive, from Jane Street to Black Creek Drive.

2. City Council approve the installation of contra-flow bicycle lanes on the following
roadways:
a. Argyle Street, from Northcote Avenue to Lisgar Street, from Dovercourt Road
to Ossington Avenue, and from Shaw Street to Givins Street;
b. Bellwoods Avenue, from a point 90 metres north of Queen Street West to
Robinson Street;
c. Glen Cedar Road, from Dewbourne Avenue to Eglinton Avenue West;
d. Fermanagh Avenue, from Roncesvalles Avenue to Sorauren Avenue;
e. Florence Street, from Brock Avenue to Sheridan Avenue;
f. Gladstone Avenue, from Waterloo Avenue to Argyle Street;
g. Havelock Street, from Lindsey Avenue to Dewson Street;
h. Lindsey Avenue, from Brock Avenue to Dufferin Street;
i. Maitland Place, from Jarvis Street to a point 100 metres west of Homewood
Avenue;
j. Shaw Street, from Dundas Street West to Harbord Street;
h. Waterloo Avenue, from Dufferin Street to Gladstone Avenue.

Here is a Google Map of all the proposed regular bikelanes (red) and contra-flow (allowing travel on one-way streets) bikelanes (green):

It looks like the city is trying to make bicycle travel in the west-end of downtown a little easier, with little bits of contra-flow bikelanes connecting up popular cycling streets.

Bells On Bloor Rolls This Sunday!

2009-05-29T09:49:00.005-04:00

Come out to support cycling, and safer bike lanes (or, well, just MORE lanes period)!

Bells on Bloor, Toronto's largest ever pedal-powered parade, is this Sunday, May 31! Leaves from High Park, Bloor Street Entrance, at 12:00 noon and rides to Queen's Park.

Twitter
BellsOnBloor

Facebook Event Page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61985699030

Website
http://www.bellsonbloor.ca

Petition for bike lanes on Bloor
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/bike-lanes-on-bloor