Evergreen Brick Works Helps Usher In Cycling Infrastructure on Bayview

September 29, 2010 By 6 Comments

Don Valley Brick Works - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Evergreen Brick Works recently held their grand opening, and while events and a market have been held at the site all summer, access by bicycle has been somewhat limited.

Bayview, a street where the speed limit increases to 70 km/h (meaning 90 km/h to far too many drivers) in front of the Brick Works also has crumbling shoulders. Certainly an uninviting situation for anyone on two wheels.

However, the revitalization of the once abandoned site is bringing in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. In an e-mail from Dave Dunn of Cycling Infrastructure and Programs for the City of Toronto he explained that a new bi-directional and physically separated multi-use path will now connect the Rosedale Valley Drive multi-use trail to the Brick Works site. As well, a connection to Pottery Road will allow cyclists and pedestrians to access the site from the Lower Don Trail.

For added safety, Jersey barriers will be installed along Bayview separating cycling and pedestrian traffic, and the wooden bridge that runs under the Bayview access to the Don Valley Parkway is being repaired.

Here’s a Google Map created by Christina Bouchard detailing the changes currently being installed along Bayview (click for more details):

Photo via Flickr

Filed Under: 2010, development, Don Valley, Evergreen Brick Works, infrastructure, maps, separated bike lanes, Toronto

Don Valley Mountain Bike Trails in Crothers Woods

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

When you think of mountain biking, Toronto is rarely one of the major destinations that comes to mind. I mean, really, mountains in Toronto?

While we may not have mountains here, we do have ravines. And, if you’ve ever climbed up one of the steep roads leading out of the Don Valley, you know that a ravine can feel like a mountain at times.
Recently, I dusted off my old mountain bike and made my way to Crothers Woods in the Don Valley. Crothers Woods has the designation of being an Environmentally Significant Area, and this poses a problem for trail users. How do you continue to use trails on bicycles and foot when repetitive use adds to the problem of erosion?
Since 2004, the International Mountain Bicycling Association has been involved in building sustainable trails in this area. By using special tools and carefully planning routes, these trails are meant to reduce user impact throughout the woods, while still providing challenging terrain for all users.
Below are photos from my recent ride through Crothers Woods, click on each photo for a larger view.
At the bottom of the Bayview Extension and Pottery Road is where the trail begins:

Trailhead

The map in detail:
Map Detail Crothers Woods
The trail starts with a steep climb, turn back to the south and you get this view of the Don Valley from the top of the hill:
Overlooking the Don Valley, Bayview Extension, Pottery Road
Trail maintenance is ongoing, here’s one of the tools of the trade:
Sustainable Trails
The choice is yours:
Advanced or Intermediate Trails, the choice is yours
Hmmm… the advanced trail seems to be blocked:
The Advanced Trail Gets Difficult Right Away
Trails wind up and down the ravine walls:
The challenge of creating sustainable trails in the eroding Crothers Woods
To further challenge cyclists, many man-made obstacles are found along the route, this one crosses a gully:
The Valley of the Log Rides
And to get across you have to keep your bike straight:
Keep your line straight and fast
Duck!:
Not all obstacles are under you in the Don Valley Crothers Woods
No children playing on this teeter-totter today:
This teeter-totter is not for children
At the end of the trails I wanted to find the dirt jumps I’ve heard about. Taking a hidden path from within a parking lot leads you first under a bridge:
Under the bridge to the dirt jumps
The trail follows the west side of the Don River, and you can stick to the trail, or get creative along the way:
Why go around, let's go through the trees
The dirt jumps are impressive to say the least. This spot has been active for at least 15 years, with changes to the jumps happening all the time. This one was less dirt, but all jump:
A dirt jump, now with less dirt
Watch for overhead power lines:
Watch for power lines
The jumps get plenty of use:
Enjoying the jumps
You can learn more about Crothers Woods here and here.
Filed Under: Crothers Woods, dirt jumps, Don Valley, mountain biking, photos, Toronto