Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes)

[nightstreak]

I don't often find myself agreeing with Councillor Burnside very often but this makes perfect sense, and I say this as a bleeding heart progressive who rides my bike through the winter.

Confiscating e-scooters and e-bikes​

Coun. Jon Burnside wants to give police the power to impound electric scooters and bikes when riders are caught using them on the sidewalk — dangerous behaviour that has become more common in recent years, according to city officials, medical researchers and police.

E-bikes have become synonymous with the food delivery industry, where workers say they are under considerable time pressure and sometimes take unsafe shortcuts to try to expedite deliveries. Although e-scooters are already illegal to ride in public in Toronto, police have no authority to seize them. Higher levels of government put no restrictions on their import and sale.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Mayor Olivia Chow said she is “open to Coun. Burnside’s suggestions.”
“I think e-scooters need to be managed much better,” she told reporters. “They should obey the laws and we will have traffic police officers lay charges if they’re caught.”

The Mayor agrees as well, probably because it's become impossible to ignore no matter what side of the ideological spectrum you're on. Everyone sees it. Between car drivers running red lights and racing past open streetcar doors without punishment and food couriers speeding down sidewalks and themselves openly and routinely running red lights (sometimes right in front of traffic cops!), being a pedestrian in this city has become a game of Frogger and there's nowhere you're safe anymore. Growing older when getting hit by even a bicycle could have life changing consequences, I say FINALLY!

I think the mere existence of this bylaw will get the word around and have food couriers behaving differently. Now, if we can get Toronto Police enforcing traffic violations on drivers... I'll leave that for another thread, but it's not "what about drivers?" it's not either or — it's both.

 

[PL1]

I don't often find myself agreeing with Councillor Burnside very often but this makes perfect sense, and I say this as a bleeding heart progressive who rides my bike through the winter.



The Mayor agrees as well, probably because it's become impossible to ignore no matter what side of the ideological spectrum you're on. Everyone sees it. Between car drivers running red lights and racing past open streetcar doors without punishment and food couriers speeding down sidewalks and themselves openly and routinely running red lights (sometimes right in front of traffic cops!), being a pedestrian in this city has become a game of Frogger and there's nowhere you're safe anymore. Growing older when getting hit by even a bicycle could have life changing consequences, I say FINALLY!

I think the mere existence of this bylaw will get the word around and have food couriers behaving differently. Now, if we can get Toronto Police enforcing traffic violations on drivers... I'll leave that for another thread, but it's not "what about drivers?" it's not either or — it's both.

If they do this (which I doubt would be a valid law), they would have to do the same for motor vehicle users that are fare more egregious. E-Bikes are an easy target.... I'd prefer enforcement of existing laws, and most especially on cars/trucks

 

[nightstreak]

If they do this (which I doubt would be a valid law),

It must be upside down day because now I'm agreeing with Councillor Holyday: "Police can confiscate illegal vehicles according to the Highway Traffic Act. e-scooters are illegal in Toronto." The city is looking away, but e-bike couriers violating the HTA are pushing their luck. Confiscating an illegal vehicle would be perfectly within the law.

they would have to do the same for motor vehicle users that are fare more egregious.

It's not one or the other, do both.

E-Bikes are an easy target.... I'd prefer enforcement of existing laws, and most especially on cars/trucks

Yes, I agree. Enforce existing laws. Fine careless drivers. Fine careless cyclists. Confiscate dangerous drivers' cars. Confiscate dangerous cyclists' e-bikes. I'm glad we could agree.

Two of these are bicycles. One of these is not. Any objections?

Photo: Toronto Star

 

[Northern Light]

If they do this (which I doubt would be a valid law), they would have to do the same for motor vehicle users that are fare more egregious. E-Bikes are an easy target.... I'd prefer enforcement of existing laws, and most especially on cars/trucks

I have to say, unusually, I'm leaning a bit more to someone else's pov than yours on this......

I'll tell you why. I have a friend whose now been hit by E-Bikes as a pedestrian, twice, both times, while walking on Bloor St, and was seriously injured once.

I'm more than happy to agree than car drivers need to be held to obey the law as well; no question there. But I accept than E-Bike riders have become a nuisance on several streets riding on sidewalks. I've encountered it with some close calls on Spadina. I'll tell you frankly the last time, I saw the rider out of the corner of my eye coming from behind) and he was too fast, and too close. I spun around and while prepared to jump out of the way, put my arm out as a stop sign and forced him to stop. I, ahem, suggested he move his bike off the sidewalk.

I'm not quick to anger, normally, I'm very laissez-faire and often think we live a in city that's a bit too pencil-pushy w/the rules. But on this file, I've had enough. So if I'm there, I guarantee we're at risk of seeing altercations; I would argue police enforcement is the better choice.

 

[nightstreak]

I have to say, unusually, I'm leaning a bit more to someone else's pov than yours on this......

I'll tell you why. I have a friend whose now been hit by E-Bikes as a pedestrian, twice, both times, while walking on Bloor St, and was seriously injured once.

I'm more than happy to agree than car drivers need to be held to obey the law as well; no question there. But I accept than E-Bike riders have become a nuisance on several streets riding on sidewalks. I've encountered it with some close calls on Spadina. I'll tell you frankly the last time, I saw the rider out of the corner of my eye coming from behind) and he was too fast, and too close. I spun around and while prepared to jump out of the way, put my arm out as a stop sign and forced him to stop. I, ahem, suggested he move his bike off the sidewalk.

I'm not quick to anger, normally, I'm very laissez-faire and often think we live a in city that's a bit too pencil-pushy w/the rules. But on this file, I've had enough. So if I'm there, I guarantee we're at risk of seeing altercations; I would argue police enforcement is the better choice.

The worst part is that a pedestrian should be able to at least feel safe on the sidewalk. When crossing the road your alert level goes up. Imagine not being able to turn that off, even on the sidewalk. I live near Yorkville where these are pervasive on the sidewalk and work in the Financial District where it's even worse since many of these couriers take the GO from Union Station at the end of their shift.

Again agreeing with Councillor Holyday (what is going on????), he pointed out that these e-bikes can weigh 40kg without counting the weight of the person and many of them have been modified to go well beyond their factory limited speed. A 70kg rider on a 40kg e-bike going 40km/hr, hitting a pedestrian is 1.3 metric tons of force, enough to kill someone, certainly enough to break bones.

These food couriers are going fast but they're also distracted looking at their phones. Look, I sympathize with them. The food delivery apps encourage speed and cutting corners. In addition to consequences for the e-bike users themselves, city should mandate scrutiny over these food apps' policies. Any app rules that make it difficult for couriers to follow within legal constraints should result in loss of a license to do business in the city of Toronto until it's corrected.

 

[Tuscani01]

I've had more close calls with E-bikes than auto's, so I don't think the attention this issue is getting is disproportionate either. It's become so much worse over the past few months especially.

 

[PL1]

Part of the issue is that e-conveyances appeared faster than regulations could keep up with them. I'm of the opinion that pedal assist should be legal up to say 30 km/h, but self propelled e-bikes are limited to 20km/h. Anything faster should be a moped and require a license, plate, etc. I'm sure many people have suggested this up-thread or in other threads here.

Part of the issue is that everyone wants their delivery apps, but no one wants to pay more for the delivery.

I loathe the way many of them drive. I saw one running the light at the McDonald's near Coxwell and Danforth absolutely smoke a pedestrian (who was crossing with the Walk sign). One went through the same red tonight – the bike had no lights on at dusk.

I don't mind regulations, but (like I said), we need enforcement of everything.

 

[TwinHuey]

City Council approved the Cycle Plan - with amendments that others may be able to evaluate. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.IE26.6

Thanks for posting that @DSCToronto!

Before I break out the confetti… @Northern Light , can you confirm my read of this?

Looks like Council approved the Kingston Rd cycling infrastructure, dropped the no-right-turn-on-red (per Kandavel), but kept the 50 km/h speed limit.

Am I reading that right?

 

[TwoWheelPoli]

Thanks for posting that @DSCToronto!

Before I break out the confetti… @Northern Light , can you confirm my read of this?

Looks like Council approved the Kingston Rd cycling infrastructure, dropped the no-right-turn-on-red (per Kandavel), but kept the 50 km/h speed limit.

Am I reading that right?

And added back some parking spaces, but you did read this correctly, @TwinHuey.

In other City Council news, Councillor Cheng's motion to explore revising Transform Yonge to allow for installation without removing traffic lanes passed 20-3.

Last, but not least, the West Scarborough Rail Path motion from Councillor Kandavel passed 20-1 and the lone no is NOT Holyday.

 

[NoahB]

I remember seeing Wellesley Street East upgrades on the map, but it is not mentioned in the motions above. What happened to it?

 

[max]

I remember seeing Wellesley Street East upgrades on the map, but it is not mentioned in the motions above. What happened to it?


View attachment 703578

It is still happening, searching the motions it wasn't mentioned, so it is approved as presented. For details on the project, see the "Report from the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services on Cycling Network Plan - 2025 Cycling Infrastructure Fourth Quarter Update" attached to 2025.IE26.6.

The relevant passage being:

Wellesley Street East Upgrades (Ward 13)
In 2026, Wellesley Street East between Jarvis Street and Sherbourne Street and
between Ontario Street and Parliament Street is planned to receive watermain
replacement and major road reconstruction. This planned work provides an opportunity
to upgrade the existing bikeway and improve safety for all road users. No motor vehicle
lanes would be removed through this project.
The existing 'quick-build' cycle track would be enhanced with permanent poured-in-
place concrete curbs and raised bike/bus platforms at TTC bus stops. Additional
improvements include a raised crosswalk at Wellesley Place to enhance pedestrian
Cycling Network Plan: 2025 Cycling Infrastructure - Fourth Quarter Update Page 62 of 65
visibility at the intersection; installation of bicycle signals at Homewood Avenue,
Sherbourne Street, and Ontario Street; and modifications to curb radii, where possible.
In consultation with TTC, a new Wheel-Trans Accessible Loading pick-up and drop-off
zone location would be added on the northeast corner of Wellesley Street at Ontario
Street to service the grocery store and surrounding community. To accommodate the
new Wheel-Trans stop, the existing conventional bus stop would shift a few metres
east. There are no additional changes proposed to any existing parking or loading
zones.

Details on Item - 2025.IE26.6 approved at council are here: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.IE26.6

 

[StreetcarRider]

Meanwhile, over at the gigantic ramp in Riverdale:

 

[bearcat]

I drove by Power Street along Adelaide yesterday and looks like there is work happing on the intersection and bike lanes there!

 

[pawlyshyn]

I drove by Power Street along Adelaide yesterday and looks like there is work happing on the intersection and bike lanes there!

Any bike lane development is good news, but I still don’t understand this one. I guess it will let training riders go to the end of Adelaide and loop around to go back along Richmond.

 

[DSCToronto]

Any bike lane development is good news, but I still don’t understand this one. I guess it will let training riders go to the end of Adelaide and loop around to go back along Richmond.

Are they really extending the Adelaide bike lane the 100 yards from Parliament to Power? I think they planned to do sidewalk work at Adelaide and Power but bike lane in that block seems a bit foolish since bikes cannot go east of Power as it’s the Gardiner on ramp.