General cycling issues (Is Toronto bike friendly?)

[Northern Light]

Makes me wonder how the City is still able to proceed with Parkside, but put other projects like Dupont and Danforth-Kingston on hold even though Parkside and Dupont both involve lane removals as would the Danforth portion of Danforth-Kingston. Speaking of that project, I know the Danforth Kingston 4 All group is organizing another event on Sunday, September 21 at 10 AM. Details and RSVP at the link below.

Danforth Kingston 4 All - Join Our Ride!

www.danforthkingston4all.ca

I want to say some stuff, but can't just yet.

That says something unto itself.

Just wanted to post so ya know I was reading.... as I always do.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Okay, Doug won’t allow bike lanes. How about running the 506 streetcar down Parkside from Howard Park to the Queensway and loop it back up Roncesvalles? Allow 24 hr parking on both sides. That’ll slow down traffic.

 

[nfitz]

I want to say some stuff, but can't just yet.

Well perhaps while you avoid that part of the Danforth/Kingston project, perhaps you can update us on the city consultation of putting better transit from Victoria Park station to Eglinton and Kingston Road, via Victoria Park and Kingston Road (from VP to Danforth), that I wasted my time attending city consultation for over 15 years ago? When I've followed up, I've been told they are still quietly working on it. For half a generation?

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

Cycle Toronto will be hosting a rally on Tuesday, October 21 to mark the one-year anniversary of Bill 212. Meet 5:30 PM at University & Armoury followed by a short ride to Queen's Park.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Okay, Doug won’t allow bike lanes. How about running the 506 streetcar down Parkside from Howard Park to the Queensway and loop it back up Roncesvalles? Allow 24 hr parking on both sides. That’ll slow down traffic.

The 506 should go north on Parkside Drive to an expanded Keele Station. The current bus bays at Keele Station are over flowing. The TTC should take over the gasoline station for a streetcar and bus bays. (The Bloor & Keele area used to b e a city dump.)

 

[evandyk]

LOL. I just pulled up google streetview to take a look at that corner and it looks like the google van with the camera on top couldn't fit under the subway bridge? There is streetview on either side of the bridge, but you can't "walk" under it, either on Keele or Indian Grove.

 

[afransen]

Yes, but because Parkside Drive is classed as a "major arterial", speed humps are not suitable according to the city's traffic calming policy; "Speed humps can be installed on local and collector roadways that receive winter maintenance."

Is the classification of a street as a major arterial compatible with a strictly enforced 40 kph speed limit?

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

Another update regarding Bill 212. Just found out this morning the appeal will be heard on January 28, 2026.

https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/2025/2025onca659/2025onca659.html

 

[nfitz]

Is the classification of a street as a major arterial compatible with a strictly enforced 40 kph speed limit?

Do we have a classification called "artery". We have "major streets"; and I think the majority of those in the old City of Toronto are 40 km/hr limits.

We also have "Avenues". And Parkside isn't designated as an Avenue. Though other nearby streets designated as "avenues" have 40 km/hr limits - such as Dundas, Queen, Bloor, and Roncesvalles.

 

[afransen]

I think the main argument for not putting speed tables that would regulate speed to 30 or 40 kph is emergency vehicles wanting to go much faster without being launched in the air.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

I think the main argument for not putting speed tables that would regulate speed to 30 or 40 kph is emergency vehicles wanting to go much faster without being launched in the air.

St. Joseph's Health Care Centre is on The Queensway. Because of the Queensway overpass over Parkside Drive (built in the 1950's), ambulances have to use the side streets to get to the hospital from Parkside Drive.

 

[ShonTron]

The TTC also objects to speed humps on streets that its buses use. A reasonable stipulation, especially with low floor buses that give a rough ride as it is. Alternative traffic calming measures, such as medians and curb extensions are used instead when traffic calming is used. (See Church Street in Weston, for example, which also provided access to a hospital.)

I actually prefer physical measures like curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and bump outs, as they’re easier on cyclists and have the same effect on high-riding SUVs and pickups, which aren’t affected as much when going over humps and bumps.

 

[Cambry Ardship]

This is very interesting (from the TPA annual report):

Not to diminish the importance of the regular users, but it's interesting to see how important tourists and infrequent users are to the financial viability of Bikeshare Toronto.

 

[H4F33Z]

The TTC also objects to speed humps on streets that its buses use. A reasonable stipulation, especially with low floor buses that give a rough ride as it is. Alternative traffic calming measures, such as medians and curb extensions are used instead when traffic calming is used. (See Church Street in Weston, for example, which also provided access to a hospital.)

I actually prefer physical measures like curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and bump outs, as they’re easier on cyclists and have the same effect on high-riding SUVs and pickups, which aren’t affected as much when going over humps and bumps.

The city of toronto finally learned about a thing called Speed Cushions (Speed bumps with divots for higher clearance and wider vehicles to pass through unimpeded) so they're going to be going with that whenever there's a bus route so that they can implement traffic calming on roads with bus routes while still allowing buses to move freely. However I think it is a bit much that the TTC is AFAIK the only system that doesn't run any revenue service on roads with speed bumps or raised crosswalks/intersections. Many other systems are fine with it.

 

[innsertnamehere]

Bikeshare's annual member pricing has always been shockingly low so I'm not surprised. They could easily increase membership cost by probably double and not see a huge decline in membership, especially if they shifted to a monthly membership fee ($14.99/month!). Annual memberships are well known in the marketing world to be discouraging for users who avoid large one-time charges.

Shifting from a $105/year fee to a $9.99/month fee would likely actually increase membership due the psychology of it, plus result in an effective fare increase of 14%.