For those in the Scarlett Road / Dundas Street West / St. Clair Avenue West area of Toronto, the City has completed its Environmental Assessment to "address existing traffic safety and operational concerns and long term mobility needs" at this complicated and potentially dangerous interchange.
The recommended design includes two lanes in either direction with a bike lane on Scarlett Road.
As reported in TCAT News,
the City is considering installing a bike lane on Annette Street
between Jane and Dundas, and held a public meeting on April 17th to
discuss the plan with the community. Reports from our supporters
suggest that few cyclists attended this meeting, and the majority of
attendees were in opposition to the bike lane.
Discussions continue, and the local community is getting into the mix
urging the City not to alter plans for a bike lane on Annette Street
this summer. After opposition from some local businesses at the April
17th public meeting, the City is now looking to divert the bike lane
off of Annette in parts of Ward 13.
To learn more about World19 - the local group organizing residents in the area - and find out how you can help click here.
The Toronto Urban Renewal Network (TURN) is working for safer
cycling, pedestrian and transit infrastructure at The South Kingsway
and Queensway Interchange (SKQI), a car-oriented area located in the
southwest corner of Ward 13.
It's been a while since TCAT News last reported on the debate around a redesign for the South Kingsway-Queensway Interchange in Ward 13. The Toronto Urban Renewal Network (TURN)
has been busy organizing residents interested in designing and building
an interchange that improves safety and accessibility for pedestrians,
cyclists and transit users.
As mentioned in last week's TCAT News e-Bulletin, there is an important Community Council meeting coming up next Monday. The Toronto Urban Renewal Network (TURN) is working hard to get as many pedestrians and cyclists - especially those living in Ward 13 - out to speak in favour of a redesign for this dangerous intersection to more safely accommodate active transportation.
Yesterday at Etobicoke York Community Council,
the culmination of more than a year's worth of community organizing was
put to the test. Community Council had before it a report from staff
recommending a slightly modified configuration to this extremely
dangerous and unpleasant interchange in South Etobicoke. Members of the
Yesterday, TCAT News reported on the disappointing defeat for bike lanes at last week's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee
meeting. Cycling advocates from a broad range of groups have been
working hard in the past few days, trying to find out what can done to
Last week, TCAT News reported on immediate action needed
to show City Council your support for the Annette Street bike lane,
which is facing challenges to approval at City Hall. This effort is
being led by the local group World19.
TCAT has heard from City Hall insiders that the chances of overturning
the committee decision at City Council are looking pretty good, but the
e-mails of support are still needed to back-up this effort.
Last week cycling advocates witnessed the potential of a strong
political push for bicycling at City Council. Despite an initial
setback at the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meeting,
pro-cycling councillors voted to reverse the committee's decision to
install sharrows, and instead directed staff to install full bike lanes
instead. Ward 13 residents and Annette Street users can now expect a
full bike lane to be painted from Jane to Runnymede.
As reported in last week's TCAT News,
City Council voted to install bicycle lanes on Annette Street,
reversing the plan approved by the Public Works and Infrastructure
Committee to install "sharrows" instead. Sharrows are painted arrows on
the pavement reminding drivers to share the road, but they do not
provide the protected space on the road that bike lanes do. The Globe
The Toronto Star has a regular column called "The Fixer" that tackles City problems that readers alert them to. Recently they've called attention to a couple of persistent cases of blocked bike lanes.
The first is police barricades that have been blocking the St. George bike lane for about a year. When questioned by The Fixer, the Police agreed to find another place to store the barricades.
The Clean Air Partnership (CAP) is pleased to announce the release of a research report Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business Year 2 Report: A Study of Bloor Street in Toronto's Bloor West Village.
If you care about bikes, about the environment, about happy, healthy communities, or about safe and equitable transportation alternatives, this event is for you!
Date: Saturday June 18, 2011 (rain or shine!)
Time: 11 am: Get your free bike bell and hear ride logistics. 12 noon: Ride starts
Start: Bloor St. W. at the main gate to High Park
End: Queen's Park (Queen's Park Cres. W. at Wellesley)
The Clean Air Partnership (CAP) is pleased to announce the release of a research report Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business Year 2 Report: A Study of Bloor Street in Toronto's Bloor West Village.
