Cycling infrastructure (Separated bike lanes)

[turbanplanner]

I am wondering why the city couldn't do exactly the same configuration as they did on the West side of the intersection. There Bloor used to be 5 car lanes wide, and they converted it into 4 car lanes plus two bike lanes 0.5 car lanes wide. Not ideal, but seems to work okay.

West Side Current* Configuration (* I am not sure if this has changed with the construction on Bloor West of here)
View attachment 583869
West Side Past Configuration
View attachment 583870
Here on the East side of Bloor they also had 5 lanes, but converted into 4 car lanes plus a bike lane that is 1 car lane wide in one direction and no bike lane in the other. Is there a reason they couldn't do the same configuration as on the West side?

Ideally a car turn lane should be removed here, but if it can't, I think the eastbound bike lane can be narrowed and lose its buffering at the intersection with the four car lanes shifted South, if that allows to fit in a westbound bike lane.

This photo is out of date? It's 1 car lane in each direction and a totally seperated bike lane for each as well.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Would we be ok if a bin was put on a side street?

Sure, as long as it’s not in a bike lane. For example, here in Cabbagetown we have counterflow bike lanes on one way streets. A bin or vehicle placed in one of these lanes would force cyclists to exit the lane and proceed directly into head on traffic.

 

[turbanplanner]

Sure, as long as it’s not in a bike lane. For example, here in Cabbagetown we have counterflow bike lanes on one way streets. A bin or vehicle placed in one of these lanes would force cyclists to exit the lane and proceed directly into head on traffic.

I still think it's silly a bike lane is always more important than a car lane

 

[Admiral Beez]

I still think it's silly a bike lane is always more important than a car lane

I imagine you do. But where is this ever the case?

One justification would be that cars can more safely leave their lanes to navigate obstructions.

 

[bearcat]

This photo is out of date? It's 1 car lane in each direction and a totally seperated bike lane for each as well.

I am referring specifically to the configuration of Bloor at the intersection with Avenue, not further West, where it has been indeed two car lanes and two cycle tracks and space for permanent street parking in places, instead of previously four car lanes, two of which would be intermittently blocked by street parking outside of rush hour.

However, you are correct the photo is out of date, hence the word "current" above the photo is marked with an asterisk (*), with an explanation of "I am not sure if this has changed with the construction on Bloor West of here".

I found a YouTube video (

) posted 2 weeks ago which shows a more recent image of the location, where it appears to be under construction as I mentioned. I am not sure what the final configuration will be once the construction is done.

 

[crs1026]

I still think it's silly a bike lane is always more important than a car lane

Thus is trolling, and ten years too late.

If the bike lane is in place, maintaining an adequate safety level for users is not optional. The issue here was not one of priority or inconvenience, it was the hazard thst was created and the harm that resulted from a unilateral action by some person or business that had no authority to do so.

- Paul

 

[smably]

I still think it's silly a bike lane is always more important than a car lane

Oh, come on. This is an absurd position to take. Are you unaware that someone just died because of an obstructed bike lane, or do you just not care?

 

[turbanplanner]

I am referring specifically to the configuration of Bloor at the intersection with Avenue, not further West, where it has been indeed two car lanes and two cycle tracks and space for permanent street parking in places, instead of previously four car lanes, two of which would be intermittently blocked by street parking outside of rush hour.

However, you are correct the photo is out of date, hence the word "current" above the photo is marked with an asterisk (*), with an explanation of "I am not sure if this has changed with the construction on Bloor West of here".

I found a YouTube video (

) posted 2 weeks ago which shows a more recent image of the location, where it appears to be under construction as I mentioned. I am not sure what the final configuration will be once the construction is done.View attachment 584161

"I am not sure if this has changed with the construction on Bloor West of here"

I know I'm just responding to that part of your post

 

[turbanplanner]

Oh, come on. This is an absurd position to take. Are you unaware that someone just died because of an obstructed bike lane, or do you just not care?

A dumpster is a bit extreme, but I don't take the position some people here have that a stopped UPS van is "attempted murder"

I cycle fairly regularly just not for transport, I took a 30 KM ride yesterday. My point is people being selfish is a fact of life in the city?

I notice a VERY COMMON trend of dump (happened in this case) and cement trucks killing pedestrians and cyclists in the city, they also tend to ruin the road from dropping loads.

 

[NoahB]

A dumpster is a bit extreme, but I don't take the position some people here have that a stopped UPS van is "attempted murder"

I cycle fairly regularly just not for transport, I took a 30 KM ride yesterday. My point is people being selfish is a fact of life in the city?

I notice a VERY COMMON trend of dump (happened in this case) and cement trucks killing pedestrians and cyclists in the city, they also tend to ruin the road from dropping loads.

View attachment 584178

I biked 135.93km yesterday.

Just because my lycra-wearing butt can handle the chaos of the current road designs, doesn't mean that kids and other less experienced users should not be protected. Safe bike infra is meant to keep people safe.

A stopped UPS truck that causes a list to veer, of course, and get hit by a car should be liable. At least partially.

In our case the company that dropped that dumpster should definitely be held to account.

 

[turbanplanner]

I biked 135.93km yesterday.

Just because my lycra-wearing butt can handle the chaos of the current road designs, doesn't mean that kids and other less experienced users should not be protected. Safe bike infra is meant to keep people safe.

A stopped UPS truck that causes a list to veer, of course, and get hit by a car should be liable. At least partially.

In our case the company that dropped that dumpster should definitely be held to account.

I pointed out just to say I do in fact use the bike lanes, I agree with you partial blame is to lay on who/what is blocking a lane. At the end of the day though it was a truck that hit her, and that seems to be the biggest ongoing issue from what I can gather. a fully separate lane doesn't stop trucks with rushed drivers are poor sight lines hitting someone in an intersection...

 

[afransen]

I think ultimately the city is responsible for designing infrastructure that is fundamentally unsafe.