Honestly, the way Toronto has developed, particularly the suburbs, all the modes of transit are screwed. The streets don't work for anyone: car, transit, bike and pedestrian. And because everything is built out, there is no room for widening the roads to add bus/bike lanes. Any shift from one mode will inevitably feel like a "war" to users of the other modes.
All of the major E-W roads in Scarborough and through most of North-York, east of Bayview have an ROW designed for six-lanes.
Most do not use that space over their entire length. In those sections, widening a 4-lane cross-section to add separated bike lanes is entirely do-able.
Closer to the core, where cycling demand is also higher, there is far less room with which to play.
The six-lane sections of the suburban roads are more problematic, though, many have a central lane for turning movements, which if removed, could allow for bike lanes instead.
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While I support the Woodbine Bike lanes, I agree it would have been nice to build support for cycling in a steady way, first.
Regrettably, neither the cycling unit in Transportation, nor many councillors have shown an inclination for strategic thought.
Ideally, the east end would have had the Donlands bike lanes first, (no lane reductions required south of Cosburn).
Then Coxwell, between Upper Gerrard and Cosburn or O'Connor.
Maximize the roll-out of Bikeshare, incent more transit users.
Then begin rolling the Danforth Bike lanes east, then do Woodbine.
However, that would have required the cooperation of certain Councillors were not inclined to be cooperative.
It would also have required a clear-minded push from Transportation in an orderly way.
Neither happened.
Have to take what you can get and the political flak that goes with that.
