Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes)

[Toronto1834]

Did anyone notice the whole Gerrard East project is on hold thanks to the morons at Queens Park? It involved removing just 2 left turn lanes which is now against the law. This project is already 3 years late.

Gerrard East Complete Street

The City of Toronto is planning to install new cycling infrastructure and pedestrian safety improvements, reconstruct the road, and improve the streetscape and green infrastructure along Gerrard Street East from Sherbourne Street to Parliament Street. Road reconstruction will also include...

www.toronto.ca

 

[Northern Light]

Did anyone notice the whole Gerrard East project is on hold thanks to the morons at Queens Park? It involved removing just 2 left turn lanes which is now against the law. This project is already 3 years late.

Gerrard East Complete Street

The City of Toronto is planning to install new cycling infrastructure and pedestrian safety improvements, reconstruct the road, and improve the streetscape and green infrastructure along Gerrard Street East from Sherbourne Street to Parliament Street. Road reconstruction will also include...

www.toronto.ca

Yeah. I take some issue w/this project was managed, though that's not entirely on cycling, there are multiple moving pieces here and others were behind in their work.

There are also non City players who affect these things, not necessarily on this project in a narrow sense, but by delaying or advancing some other project they change the priorities at any given moment.

As example of various push n' pull.........the intersection at Bloor/Parliament which was due to get Vision-Zeroed in 2017 is now penciled in for the 2030s.... I can pretty much guarantee by the time this comes up it will have to be redesigned all over again.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Nobody around here thinks that the City has done a good job with the Lower Don trail and the poor planning and project management @ Parks is a disgrace but the work on the extension of the Bentway is quite different as it is supported by private funds and, I assume, not being supervised by Parks.

Maybe private involvement will help on the Bentway.

As for the Lower Don Trail, here is the city's plan from July 2018. Eight years ago! I expect half the city staffers who worked on this report have retired by now.

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/9742-lower-don-trail-improvements-stakeholder-meeting-july-2018.pdf

Let's keep an eye on these guys and their snaillike progress at toronto.ca/lower-don-trail

 

[PL1]

Today was the appeal hearing of the Cycle Toronto judgement that the Ontario law to remove bike lanes is unconstitutional. Here you can read a 130-odd post thread on Blue Sky summarizing the arguments.

 

[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.

It was a matter of time, got hit by an e-scooter, the guy ran a solid red light at Queen and Bay, didn’t even attempt to slow down. I got a good bruise to show for it. I considered calling the police but what are they going to do, no license plate, he was wearing a helmet so no face.

I’ve always been a big proponent of making it easy and safe to ride a bike in this city, but it’s just blown in my face. I’m done with this BS anarchy on our streets and sidewalks. E-scooters need to at the very least have a plate if not fully licensed. They ride just as fast as a motorcycle on downtown streets, why do they not need to know the rules of the road like operators of other vehicles?

If anyone needs me, I’ll be over here with an ice pack on my ribs. I’m getting too old for this

 

[Coolibop]

I considered calling the police but what are they going to do, no license plate, he was wearing a helmet so no face.

Yes but, it won't get on record as an event. If you don't report, the city will claim there are less collisions and work contrary to what I assume you are trying to accomplish...

 

[Northern Light]

A public consultation for the Horner Avenue Road Safety Improvements will be held on Monday, February 2 (6 - 8 PM) at Alderwood Pool Meeting Room (2 Orianna Drive). If you can't make it, you can submit your feedback by Friday, February 13.

Horner Avenue Road Safety Improvements

January 2026: Attend the Public Drop-In Event on February 2 and complete the survey before February 13. The City is proposing cycling and road safety upgrades on Horner Avenue and Foch Avenue to improve safety for all road users. The proposed changes will be designed and consulted on in two...

www.toronto.ca

To save @Northern Light the hassle, I included a few relevant screen grabs from the PDF.



View attachment 710241

I've reviewed the project.

I'm dubious on the Horner changes. The choice here, as proposed is two unidirectional, unprotected bike lanes. I would prefer a 3.5M, bidirectional MUP, fully protected.

The boulevards are actually quite wide, and could be nipped a bit as well.

Foch is more challenging, there is heaving parking demand at the south end. I suspect this is GO Commuters parking for free as all homes have substantial off-street parking.

But the northern portion of Foch has low parking demand and few curb cuts, a cycling facility could be considered.

In the southern part, I would like to see Green P machines installed for the 3 blocks closest to the GO Station and see what happens to the demand.

 

[nightstreak]

Yes but, it won't get on record as an event. If you don't report, the city will claim there are less collisions and work contrary to what I assume you are trying to accomplish...

You’re right. The stats are absolutely skewed. People involved in bicycle collisions don’t have any way to identify a hit and run and there’s a perception that police don’t really take them seriously anyway because there’s no drivers license involved, no points deducted, it’s kind of a free for all.

I’ve thought about what you said and I decided that I’m going to report it. The guy was in one of those EMMO e-cycle bikes with a big e on the food delivery box. Are those rentals that food couriers rent when they come downtown to work? Should help narrow down to those who had a bike checked out at that time.