W. K. Lis
Superstar
There is a cycling path north of Eglinton Avenue. Except for the missing section over Allen Road.
From link.
From link.
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Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes headed downtown)
- Thread starter MetroMan
- Start date
H4F33Z
Active Member
There is a cycling path north of Eglinton Avenue. Except for the missing section over Allen Road.
From link.
That's not the point. Trails do not equal on-street cycling infrastructure. Trails are mainly used for recreation and is not on Eglinton. A gravel path has a different purpose than a vibrant main street filled with shops, restaurants and other buildings.
Cycle tracks directly on Eglinton will provide a safe route on the road that people want to ride on. It also provides an alternative for transit users to hop on to a bike instead of taking the train during busy times. Eglinton is a major corridor outlined in the 10-year cycling plan, and main street plan. Bike lanes usually provide a safer road for everyone, and Eglinton Connect's plan is to provide parking, raised cycle tracks, wider sidewalks, green and patio space all in one package.
afransen
Senior Member
Off-street trails aren't necessarily bad. They just need to be fairly direct (minimal unneeded meandering) and provide reasonable access to points of origin and destination. In some ways they are desirable because there are less conflicts with cars and thus safer/more comfortable.
MisterF
Senior Member
Off road multi use trails are great, but for them to be as useful as on-street cycling infrastructure they need to be paved, lit, maintained in the winter, and go to actual destinations. Needless to say, almost all Toronto trials don't meet that description.
W. K. Lis
Superstar
Isn't that the same excuse given for not using the hydro corridor north of Finch Avenue for a LRT?
M II A II R II K
Senior Member
afransen
Senior Member
I posted this earlier today. #3026
sche
Active Member
^^^
If you go on Google Maps and look around the Netherlands, you see off-road bike trails all over the place. They are usually direct, often grade separated or have signal priority at crossings, and well integrated with the rest of the cycling network.
Really, the mentality with these off-road trails needs to just shift from being "recreational trails" to being real transportation routes. When we start recognizing these corridors as actual transportation assets, many things become no-brainers. Things like providing robust road crossing options (ahem, Beltline at Bathurst), direct routings (instead of meandering paths), separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists, and continuity over rail lines, river valleys, and highways. Pedestrian and cycling routes are really not that expensive compared to other projects.
Our trails in river valleys might always be purely recreational due to the topography. However, routes like the hydro corridors, the Belt Line, the path beside Eg West, and the W Toronto Raipath have real potential as commuter cycling highways (just the hydro corridors would connect NYCC, UTSC, York U, ECLRT, FWLRT, Kipling, Kennedy, Lawrence East, Finch, Finch West, and Old Cummer GO). They just don't perform as such right now because of poor design resulting from this recreational trail mentality.
afransen
Senior Member
Lighting is a big one. I have quite a bright light on my bike as some off-street trails are pitch black at night. Worse, I've had oncoming cyclists come right at me and I didn't see them until they were upon me (no lights, and a tiny reflector).
It kind of kills me that this stuff has largely been figured out but its 'not invented here', so we have to wait decades to see change that should be possible sooner. Never mind the tens of billions that will be invested over those intervening decades on inferior designs. I kind of laugh at the 'fashion bike lanes' you seen in marketing materials for new developments that don't actually look that usable, with car parking right on the lane for perfect dooring opportunities. Vancouver at least has a couple protected bike intersections, I'm not aware of any in Toronto. We pat ourselves on the back for having protected bike lanes. Most injuries and conflicts happen at intersections and we are still basically as bad as we were 20 years ago despite the improvements in mid block protection.
It kind of kills me that this stuff has largely been figured out but its 'not invented here', so we have to wait decades to see change that should be possible sooner. Never mind the tens of billions that will be invested over those intervening decades on inferior designs. I kind of laugh at the 'fashion bike lanes' you seen in marketing materials for new developments that don't actually look that usable, with car parking right on the lane for perfect dooring opportunities. Vancouver at least has a couple protected bike intersections, I'm not aware of any in Toronto. We pat ourselves on the back for having protected bike lanes. Most injuries and conflicts happen at intersections and we are still basically as bad as we were 20 years ago despite the improvements in mid block protection.
Allandale25
Senior Member
Northern Light
Superstar
Click through link here to the City's consultation page:
Bike Lane & Road Safety Upgrades on Davenport Road
This item (IE20.13) will be considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on March 23, 2021. It will be considered by City Council on April 7, 2021, subject to the actions of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee. The City of Toronto is proposing a number of cycling and...
www.toronto.ca
From said page:
To question or comment about this:
To submit comments, provide feedback and ask any questions about the proposed bike lane and road safety upgrades on Davenport Road, please contact Alyssa Cerbu at alyssa.cerbu@toronto.ca or 416-338-0503.
Northern Light
Superstar
Some brief video of a cyclist making use of the new off-road multi-use path on the south side of Kingston Rd, just east of Birchmount:
Northern Light
Superstar
robmausser
Senior Member
This videos a bit too long do you have one thats edited down a bit more please?
DSC
Superstar
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A new link onto Lower Don trail:
| Tender |
| Solicitation number: | Doc2780898047 | |
| Commodity: | Construction Services, Landscape Construction | |||
| Description: | Request For Tender - Lower Don Trail Phase 2 Improvements Ariba Public Posting: http://discovery.ariba.com/rfx/9618709 Posting Summary The Work of this Contract involves the new sloping ramp structure, improvements to the existing Lower Don Trail, steel staircase connecting the Dundas Street Bridge to the Lower Don Trail and the East Path accessibility improvements. The Work includes all appurtenances, fixtures, equipment, systems, building and civil services and municipal connections, to the extent and as documented and elaborated in the Construction Drawings and in the Construction Specification Project Manual, which constitute a fundamental component of this Tender Package. | |||
| Issue date: | January 20, 2021 |
| Closing date: | February 17, 2021 at 12:00 Noon |
| Pre-bid meeting: | Site Meeting Info - A Site Information Bulletin will be published as an Addenda ASAP in lieu of a Mandatory Site Meeting. | |||
| Buyer: | Suits, Martin |
| Phone number: | 416-392-7172 |
| Email: | Martin.Suits@toronto.ca |
| Location: | City Hall, 19th Floor West Tower |
| Client Division: | Parks, Forestry & Recreation |