The Danforth BIA seems to be starting a campaign against bikelanes on the Danforth... setting up a petition for their members to say they do not support bikelanes because they don't want to lose parking.
This seems rather short-sighted, so I wonder if they've thought of who shops in their stores and how they get there.
I have sent them an email saying that I support Bikelanes on the Danforth, and also sent it to the Greektown BIA and the Danforth Mosaic BIA... who also may be thinking about bikelanes.
You can send these 3 BIAs an email as well. Clicking here will open up an email in your mail program addressed to the BIAs with the subject line that you support bikelanes on the Danforth.
If you'd like to fill in the body of the email with info about you living near the Danforth or that you travel there to shop, that would be helpful too.
The emails of the BIAs are:
bia@thedanforth.ca
bia@greektowntoronto.com
info@danforthmosaicbia.com
Here is the text of my email, if you want to cut-and-paste it into your email:
Hi there,
I *support* bikelanes on the Danforth... and if the city does it properly, it can be a win-win for cyclist and business.
For instance, what if the city's report recommends making parking on the Danforth permanent? Instead of having driving customers rush out of your stores at 4 pm to avoid getting tickets? What if those driving customers stayed in your stores because parking was allowed even during rush hour?
Please consider that although a lot of people use the Danforth to commute to downtown from Scarborough or further points east... all they are doing is going *through*... they do not stop. They do not shop.
Another great reason to support bikelanes on the Danforth is that they help encourage a walkable and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood. The more comfortable people feel on the street, the more time they are going to spend there... meeting friends, browsing in stores, and eating a meal. Bikelanes not only provide a buffer between moving car traffic and pedestrians, but cyclists can stop and park and shop easier than car drivers can.
Please give some consideration to how many of your customers get to your stores by what transportation method. It is my experience that although there is some street parking on the Danforth, as well as "Green P" parking lots, a lot of your business comes from residents living nearby walking to your stores, or biking to your stores, or people living elsewhere in the city taking the subway to your stores.
People spend money. Cars don't. Make the Danforth people-friendly!
