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Proposal for rapid expansion of bike lane network is first item being debated at council today. Meeting starting any minute, streaming live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ddn46q6hfc">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
And here is background on the plan, which calls for 25 km of new bikeways, including on Bloor, Danforth, and University. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/05/25/city-proposes-rapid-bike-network-expansion-with-new-lanes-on-bloor-danforth-corridor-and-university-ave.html">https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/...
The bike network plan includes filling in the gap in infrastructure on Bloor by creating new separated cycling lanes between Avenue and Sherbourne. Bloor-Yorkville BIA has written in opposition, and their letter is worth a read. https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/cc/comm/communicationfile-101930.pdf">https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/m...
BIA says it wasn& #39;t consulted on the bike lane plan, and it could hurt businesses. "We represent a unique, high end retail node. Our section of Bloor Street is one of only two streets in Canada offering a world class shopping experience for both residents and tourists."
(Is it bad that I don& #39;t know what the other world class shopping street in Canada is?)
Alright, after some procedural votes, we are now onto the bike lane plan.
Councillor Cressy wanted to ask some questions about the plan to the TTC, but no one from the TTC is on the meeting.
Under questions from Cressy, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa says she supports the expansion of the bike network.
Cressy notes we used to have about 1.7 million daily riders on the TTC. Transportation GM says the transit system can only safely carry 30 per cent of its regular ridership in order to allow for social distancing. (Some of the proposed bike lane routes would mirror subway lines.)
Under questions from Cressy, Transportation GM Barbara Gray also says she supports the bike lane expansion. "We certainly believe that it will be critical to give people an alternative" to transit, she says.
Cllr Holyday, who has spoken against the bike lane expansion, asks whether the thousands of people who used to take transit into the core are expected to bike. "What& #39;s our plan for the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people... who can& #39;t or won& #39;t ride a bike?"
Holyday asks whether it& #39;s logical to assume that far more people will turn to driving instead of cycling "based on trends, and logic, and reason."
Holyday asks whether the temporary bike lanes in this plan are actually temporary. "These are more or less permanent changes, unless council removes them," he says. Gray: "We certainly consider them temporary" and staff will monitor, report to council before making them permanent
Cllr Layton notes that the new bike lanes were already included in the city& #39;s bike plan, and today& #39;s debate is just about how fast to install them. Gray agrees.
Layton says shortcoming of proposed expansion of cycling network is lack of connections north of Bloor. Gray says there is construction on Avenue Rd. that prevents immediate expansion, but city is exploring different options for Yonge.
Jacquelyn Hayward, director of transportation project design and management, says city could install bike lanes on Avenue Rd. between Bloor and Davenport, once development construction clears.
Cllr McKelvie with the cute background. (I think that& #39;s Baby Yoda?)
Cllr Thompson: "What will happen with film shoots and festivals in areas where you’ll have bike lanes?… Can we close bike lanes?" Gray: "We manage cycling facilities... all the time." She says "We& #39;ve been known to close them."
An increasingly frustrated-sounding Cllr Pasternak is still having trouble with his connection. He& #39;s trying to ask a question about how bike lanes near schools can co-exist with school buses.
Pasternak& #39;s connection is still choppy. "I don’t think it’s his fault. I think it’s the technology," Cllr Fletcher clarifies.
Cllr Colle with some cute cats in his background.
Cllr Colle says this expansion plan is focused on downtown. What should he tell people in his Eglinton-Lawrence ward who want to ride?
Given the dramatic drop in transit use right now, Colle argues the cycling plan should be more ambitious to give people alternatives. "Don’t we need something much more dramatic?"
Now onto speakers on the bike lane plan. Cllr Cressy: "As we learn to live with COVID-19" we have to "build a new and better normal."
Cressy says he does want the city to do more, but calls this proposed expansion "the biggest cycling move in our city’s history in one year." He says that should be celebrated.
Cllr Matlow moves a motion requesting staff study extending the University Ave. bike lane north to Eglinton, via Avenue Rd. and Oriole Parkway. Somewhat strangely, he doesn& #39;t speak on it.
