In late 2012, the City of Toronto announced the completion of its first separated bike lanes (cycle tracks) on Sherbourne Street. By physically separating cyclists from motor vehicle traffic, cycle tracks are a key way to increase safety, de-stress cycling, boost ridership and reduce conflicts between road users in Toronto. Cycle Toronto conducted an on-line [...]
Few cyclists would dispute the claim that Toronto needs more bike lanes. In 2012, we saw a net gain of exactly zero kilometres of new bike lanes, thanks to the removal of the Jarvis lane and the introduction of the separated Sherbourne lane. We are lagging far behind scheduled progress outlined in the City of [...]
According to data covering Oct. 31, 2011, to July 31, 2012, and analyzed by the Star’s Matthew Cole, more than 4,000 motorists have been hit with the bike lane fine for parking on a street with sharrows. Read the full post: “Map: Parking tickets for bike lane violations” on the Star.
Toronto as a city is hardly overburdened with cycle lanes. There are just over 90 kms of bike tracks – not including off-street trails – winding their way through the region, often disjointed and rarely leading to or from anywhere useful. In comparison, the city ranks roughly on par with Vancouver, a city with a [...]
Face, meet palm. The vehicle in the photo was identified as one from the shelter, support, and housing administration division, according to city spokesman Patricia Anderson. She said the vehicles are used by workers providing street outreach to homeless people. “The people who use our vehicles know better than to park them in bike lanes, [...]
This is a loooong time coming. I remember the “trial” for this happening way back in 2006. Looking forward to this amazing new infrastructure! Queens Quay West between Bay Street and Spadina Avenue will become a one-way, westbound street starting on Monday, November 5 and ending at some point in spring 2013. That’s the bad [...]
On October 2, 2012, Toronto City Council voted 24-19 to remove the Jarvis Street bike lanes. By the end of 2012, the City will have fewer kilometres of on-street bike lanes than it did at the end of 2009. Despite increased ridership, City Hall has been reducing safe on-street cycling infrastructure and dismantling the bike lane [...]
One of the most ambitious studies of bicycle injuries ever conducted in Canada has reach a conclusion that won’t surprise anyone who rides to work: It is far safer to travel on a physically separated bike lane than on busy city streets. The research, led by Prof. Kay Teschke of the University of British Columbia’s [...]
A study by the University of British Columbia, published on October 18, 2012 in theAmerican Journal of Public Health, reveals that certain types of routes carry a much lower risk of injury for cyclists. The routes with the lowest risk to cyclists include bike lanes on major streets without parked cars, residential street bike routes, off-street [...]
One final effort to save the Jarvis Street bicycle lanes from removal was kiboshed after city council voted on Tuesday to move ahead of the lanes’ eradication. Many are left bitter. Those in the “Save Jarvis” camp, including city councillors, cycling activists and private citizens, put up a valiant fight to rescue the bike lanes [...]
Via Cycle Toronto: Join us next Tuesday September 11th from 4:30pm – 7:30pm for the second public meeting on bike lane upgrades to the Wellesley-Hoskin corridor at Seeley Hall – Trinity College (6 Hoskin Avenue, University of Toronto Campus). Help make separated bike lanes in Toronto a reality! Cycle Toronto is calling on cyclists and everyone who lives, works [...]
On Friday morning I propped my phone up on the rear rack of my bike and captured 16 minutes of morning bike commuters streaming westbound over the Prince Edward Viaduct. If you or someone you know traversed the Viaduct between 8:43 and 8:59 AM on Friday, you’re in this video. The Viaduct is one of [...]
On Monday, I posted about the Ride for Jarvis happening tonight… but I thought I’d send a reminder to try and ensure everyone knows about it and comes out for a great large ride in support of the Jarvis bikelanes. When: Wed, June 13th Time: 6pm Where: Allan Gardens (at Carleton and Jarvis – map) [...]
Watch For Bikes Initiative [The Urban Country] In lieu of proper bike infrastructure, how can drivers and cyclists better co-exist on our streets? This is a question that is pondered frequently on this website and was the basis for our ‘i share the road’ campaign. An annual initiative called “Watch For Bikes” also attempts to address this [...]
This Wednesday night is the 2nd Ride for Jarvis (here is the facebook event page). Below is your invitation from Cycle Toronto to come out to the ride. Following the invitation is a video from last year’s ride. I don’t really like the phrasing of a “protest”, as I like to think of it as [...]
