BMO
Senior Member
Now after I've seen the path and gone past it everyday, and seen the crossings that are going in. I'm actually way more pleased with it aesthetically than I originally was.
I like how the city is going with bicycle traffic signals and proper crossings where these major paths meet major roadways. I prefer it so much more than the Mississauga "cyclists dismount" approach as they make no effort to accommodate cyclists.
From your links, "The intent of the Highway Traffic Act is to keep cyclists from ridign within or along a standard pedestrain crossing." As both are segregated cyclist crossings, it's legal to ride across. The rule of thumb I go by is if I'm using a pedestrian facility (sidewalk), I dismount on the red hand and go through the interestion like a pedestrian (walk on the white man); if I'm riding on a road or trail, I sit on my bike and wait for the green light.Note that Mississauga has started to put in some MTO-approved "Crossride" intersections, and it's my understanding that they were the first to work with the MTO to design/test this style of crossing.
I haven't tried these in Mississauga yet though, as the only trail I ever go near (but rarely on) is Burnhamthorpe East.
Related.... In Toronto, on Eglinton West, we've had similar designs for years, though I wonder if it fits within this MTO approval, and if riding through the intersection is legal or not.
-Vic
Note that Mississauga has started to put in some MTO-approved "Crossride" intersections, and it's my understanding that they were the first to work with the MTO to design/test this style of crossing:
http://www.mississaugacycling.ca/crossrides-are-here-1690.htm
http://www.mississaugacycling.ca/mto-approves-bike-crossings-631.htm
I haven't tried these in Mississauga yet though, as the only trail I ever go near (but rarely on) is Burnhamthorpe East.
Related.... In Toronto, on Eglinton West, we've had similar designs for years, though I wonder if it fits within this MTO approval, and if riding through the intersection is legal or not. Example at Eglinton and Royal York (Google Streetview):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Eglint...=SlqPqxj883Rq4QP2Cgadgg&cbp=12,93.17,,0,10.34
-Vic
Mississauga is certainly not the first to implement those, they have been present on the Martin Goodman Trail for many years now, and have been demonstrated to be unsafe and inneffective. They do absolutely nothing to improve the dangerous situation that is cycling in a crosswalk, all they do is bypass the law that prohibits such an activity precisely because it's so dangerous. If anything they make crossings even more dangerous by encouraging cyclists and pedestrians to cross onto different sides, creating additional conflicts. Anyone who has ridden the MGT when it's busy knows that it is much safer for all westbound traffic (both cyclists and pedestrians) to use the crosswalk, and all eastbound traffic to use the crossride.
As well, note that there is a pole in the path of cyclists on one of the examples on the Missisauga page. The sad part is that it's not uncommon to find that other places as well.
The crossrides on Eglinton West are safer because cyclists and pedestrians have separate paths so they do not need to reorganize themselves before crossing. At driveways, they are quite safe, because drivers can focus entirely on not running down cyclists and pedestrians. At intersections, they are just as unsafe as any other crosswalk, but safer than a crossride on a non-segregated path.
I agree that they're unsafe in the way they are usually implemented. I can totally see an accident on the MGT crossrides at Ontario Place. However, with proper signalling, I think they can be made safe. Car turns crossing the path need to be fully signalized and restricted wherever crossrides are installed.
I'm on the MGT pretty much every day. People ignore the markings as noted above, taking the safer alternative of staying to the right side. As noted, it's got nothing to do with car traffic but with plain common sense of staying to one side. A bigger problem is pedestrians who go against the flow, I guess thinking it's like walking on a road. Better signage could help with this too. Those barrier gate arm things at the crosswalks are probably the biggest danger. I've seen a number of near misses and minor incidents; so far, nothing major but it's bound to happen.
A bigger problem is pedestrians who go against the flow, I guess thinking it's like walking on a road. Better signage could help with this too. Those barrier gate arm things at the crosswalks are probably the biggest danger. I've seen a number of near misses and minor incidents; so far, nothing major but it's bound to happen.
The Finch Corridor "recreational trail" was supposed to be complete August 31, so I went down and shot a video of it on that day.
I thought the portion between Yonge and Dufferin would actually be finished ahead of schedule, because in mid July, it was open to the public and pretty much complete apart from landscaping, traffic signals and line painting.
Of the 3 things left to do, only the landscape was finished by the "opening date".
The section west of Dufferin is not even close to being rideable, let alone complete. It is not paved at all, and some sections are not even graded yet.
Hydro and Rail Corridor New Trails
All the asphalt is down for the Finch, Gatineau, CN Leaside, and Scarborough Pit Spur trail projects, which began construction last year. Signals, benches, bike parking and other fixtures are now being installed to finish these projects.
Thanks. That's weird. The latest newsletter from the City cycling department says:
Did they just forget Finch West?